So my email exploded this morning re: this story in today’s NY Post – particularly the last bit.
At around 4:30 a.m., cops arrested four men who had allegedly sneaked into the Second Avenue Subway tunnel carrying Roman candles and cameras.
The men told cops that they were part of an “urban explorers” group and that they planned to use the fireworks for light for photos.
Eric Ruggiero, 25, of Manhattan; Jacob Bloom, 21, of Glen Cove, LI; Braiden O’Sullivan, 21, of Connecticut and William West, 27, of Massachusetts were charged with criminal trespass after Harlem resident Jerry Jackson alerted cops that the four had descended into the tunnel around 112th Street.
“Just because we got bin Laden doesn’t mean it’s over,” said Jackson, a truck driver and Army vet. “We still have to remain alert.”
Since I know some of these characters, I’m going to straight up put this on blast to counter some of the ridiculous press and internet comments that are sure to come out in the coming hours.
First up, I want to address this ridiculous comment that ‘Just because we got bin Laden doesn’t mean it’s over’. Straight up, Fuck you and anyone who thinks like this. It’s over. Bin Laden is Dead. Al Queda has not been able to pull off any sort of relevant attack in the US in 10 YEARS now. It’s BEEN OVER for years now. How much longer should we all be suspicious of our neighbors and snitching on things that have nothing to do with us?
Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, G.W. Bush very famously gave a speech (probably the only good one he ever gave) stating that we should all move on with our normal lives, not be afraid, and enjoy all the freedoms that living in this country entail. That is exactly what these explorers were doing. ‘Exploring’ is a very healthy, normal hobby for many many people. By living in fear – in this case – fear of 4 white guys in Harlem – the terrorists win. 4 very harmless people get put through the system for the horrible crime of going into an abandoned, concrete tunnel with fireworks aiming to take some very artsy, creative photographs. Instead of ‘if you see something say something’, I say – we have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Is exploring against the law? Sometimes. Should those laws be changed? Maybe. Could situations like this just be completely averted if the MTA opened up places like the old Harlem segment of the 2nd ave subway to tours, or artist productions? You fucking bet.
The Harlem section of second avenue subway runs from 110th street to 120th street. it is a huge open underground space that would be ideal for artist use, public educational tours (school kids would LOVE it), arts and events – all in a neighborhood that arguably could use a very unique attraction. There’s no tracks, no third rail, and no plans to use this segment of tunnel even when the ‘2nd avenue stubway’ finally opens between 63rd and 96th streets.
We’ll update with more info as it comes along. For now, so far as we know, these 4 guys are still ‘in the system’, – i.e. – in a cell somewhere. No contact with family or friends thus far so far as I’ve heard. I don’t know about you, but I’m offended my tax paying dollars are being spent right now persecuting such people, especially considering the current budget problems in NYC. (Really Bloomberg? You want to throw basically harmless people in jail for doing something dumb, and then close firehouses and fire 4000 teachers? Someone tell me how that makes any fucking sense?)
(As for the other idiot that went through the Path tunnel – clearly this person is insane. Only an insane idiot would go near a cross river tunnel, especially one owned by the Port Authority, which has cameras and cops everywhere – and then claim to have left a bomb down there – clearly that guy needs more than a night in jail… he needs some mental help, assuming the story is true)
Update:
Hilariously, Howard Stern chimed in on the arrests:
And of course, it’s movie poster worthy!
Proper credit for the above goes to Rob Dobi.
Just to update, all 4 are out of the system and probably drinking heavily as I type this.
