Subject
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Scientologist cult "Stress Test" tables

Sir or Madam:
Over the past few weeks, the Scientologist cult has been setting up "Stress
Test" tables in the Shuttle passage going from the 42nd St/Lex Ave station.
They aggressively harass passengers walking along the corridor to take their "Stress
Test" in an effort to recruit them into the cult. Also, their tables block
the free flow of pedestrian traffic in the passage, creating a very hazardous situation.
It is my understanding that the only people that are legally allowed to set up any
kind of stationary position in the subways are the musicians that are registered
with the MTA "Music Under New York" program. Everyone else - cults, vendors
and musicians - are prohibited from setting up within the subway system. Is there
any way that I can lodge a formal complaint with the MTA against the
Scientology cult that is creating a dangerous and harassing situation in the subways?

Thank you.

Regards,


Discussion Thread
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Response - 12/22/2004 03:13 PM
This is in response to your recent e-mail to MTA New York City Transit reporting
scientologist followers setting up Stress Tests for passengers at the 42nd Street-Grand
Central Station.

We regret if you experienced difficulty while using our subway system. New York
City Transit and the Transit Bureau of the New York City Police Department are also
continuing to work together in an effort to prohibit panhandling in the subway system.
The Transit Bureau is vigilant in thwarting illegal activity and enforcing subway
rules, with uniform and undercover police officers patrolling the system at all
times. NYC Transit has an extensive public awareness campaign to educate our customers
that soliciting for charities is not legal on our trains and in our stations. This
campaign includes vividly displayed signs in train cars pertaining to rules of conduct
with respect to a wide range of customer behavior.

Therefore, supervision in the Transit Bureau has been alerted to the conditions
you reported at the 42nd Street-Grand Central Station, and will take steps to deploy
their officers accordingly. In addition, personnel in our Division of Station Operations
will monitor the location in question and any illegal activity observed will be
reported immediately to field supervision and the Station Command Center via the
Emergency Booth Communication System and/or the booth telephone for appropriate
action. Each station service booth has an emergency booth communication system
(EBCS), which is to be immediately activated by the station agent whenever an emergency
situation exists, an illegal activity is observed, or upon a customer’s request.
Since activation of the EBCS does not require the
agent to pick up a handset, it is not always obvious when a call is being made.
Station agents are regularly reminded to activate the EBCS to summon police assistance
upon observing panhandlers or illegal peddlers.

On a daily basis, our Department of Subways’ Rapid Transit Operations (RTO) Control
Center receives reports from their personnel regarding persons who are observed
actively violating the rules of conduct concerning quality of life issues in the
subway system. The Control Center notes each incident, which is then reported to
the New York City Police Department’s Transit Bureau for assessment and enforcement
action. The Control Center also categorizes and produces a total of the number
of incidents that occur daily within each RTO District.

Finally, it may interest you to know that the “Music Under New York” program, which
is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, provides for musicians
to perform in some areas of our subway stations. However, these musicians must
be registered with this program and are subject to specific rules and regulations
regarding their performance in the subway.

If you wish to report a crime, vandalism or harassment in the subway system, please
note that you may report it to an MTA employee, police officer or contact the Transit
Bureau directly at (718) 243-3441. Otherwise, you may call the MTA Police at (888)
MTA-911PD (888-682-9117).

We take the concerns of our customers very seriously and thank you for bringing
this matter to our attention.