First day of the subway strike

I had a feeling the strike would happen. The staff seemed unhappy and angry. Over the past couple week trains have been slowing mysteriously, stopping and having to make extra stops. I think it was part of a work slowdown. One night, three big guys, MTA overnight tunnel staff, burst into a car. They had tools - bars, hammers and posts - oddly intimidating all. They had pro-strike buttons and seemed to be checking for attitude. Last Thursday, hours before the strike first was scheduled, drivers would honk their horns at each other - something they never do. They are angry and want to be heard. It's going to cost them dearly though, 1 million a day Hopefully it will be short because from what I hear from people in the city today, it's a mess. They seemed to have some public support for this strike yesterday, but tomorrow may be a different story.

Fortunately, I did not have to fight with the millions of other struggling to get to and from work today. When I was out in my neighborhoods I saw so many more cars on the road but few pedestrians. There was open hitchhiking and everyone a bit in a daze. I am just about 10 blocks from a big station where they were having MTA employee demonstrations. I sat next to one at breakfast who was on a break from picketing. He was selling it but I couldn't tell how many were buying. I was on the subway last night and the ticket person behind the glass was giving a speech to the groups of questioners. Most wished her luck but Harlem is polite - like the south, and people in the community stick together. So while we may not hate the neighbors for going on strike New Yorkers may end up turning against the Union and the leaders. They'll have plenty of time to think about as they walk to work.