The Tech Fix for some Bigotries.
Of course, I'm guilty as much as the next guy--well, maybe not as much, I like to think. I know I succumb to the usual inadequacies of the mind. I know I am incapable of ascertaining the true prevalence of a group's supposed characteristic; and, statistical science offers no hope--perhaps rightfully so. But there is no reason why technology cannot assuage the prejudices of humans.
In my last post I digressed and railed against the African-American Customer Service Representative at Geico. Regardless of motivations, technology can prevent misplaced ire (such disdain should be placed squarely on the policies of the corporation). The way to do this is to disguise the voice of the representative and that of the customer--the respective names should also be aliases (there is actually no reason why our name should be available to an employee--just the account number). That's right, I propose that all live customer representatives should have Siri's voice and we can have--I don't know--let's say Bill Gates' voice. In this way, we do not increase our perception that such-and-such a group of people act a certain way.
Let us not stop there. It has occurred to me in the past that the Judicial System in this country should also be anonymous. No juror should get to see the perpetrator--that's old school. They shouldn't get to know his/her name. In court, the perpetrator is shown only on a monitor and his/her face is altered to, let's say, the face of an angel (get it? innocent until proven guilty?) The jurors will never know if they are sending one of their own up the river or a member of a group hated by them. Any slip by the prosecutor or a witness about "this [put in euphemism]" will be grounds for dismissal of all charges.
I personally believe technology can come to the aid of all our shortcomings and that even a Luddite can come to love it.
In my last post, I took exception to a cop who asked me to put down my anti-Schumer protest sign. Apparently, he was right (in a way). Please see following text copied from the PABT rules book. As you will note, freedom of speech (what newspeak calls "expressive activity") is expressly prohibited if it's on rod or stick as mine was. But the truth is that I could have fought him on this because the polity clearly talks about "Continuous" expressive activity. Is it continuous if I'm carrying a sign on a stick on my way to my transportation? I hardly think so. In any event, the next time I go there, I'll remove the stick--that should restore my freedom of speech. They can't regulate against that because then they'll be asking us to remove tee shirts with expressive activity on them.
In my last post I digressed and railed against the African-American Customer Service Representative at Geico. Regardless of motivations, technology can prevent misplaced ire (such disdain should be placed squarely on the policies of the corporation). The way to do this is to disguise the voice of the representative and that of the customer--the respective names should also be aliases (there is actually no reason why our name should be available to an employee--just the account number). That's right, I propose that all live customer representatives should have Siri's voice and we can have--I don't know--let's say Bill Gates' voice. In this way, we do not increase our perception that such-and-such a group of people act a certain way.
Let us not stop there. It has occurred to me in the past that the Judicial System in this country should also be anonymous. No juror should get to see the perpetrator--that's old school. They shouldn't get to know his/her name. In court, the perpetrator is shown only on a monitor and his/her face is altered to, let's say, the face of an angel (get it? innocent until proven guilty?) The jurors will never know if they are sending one of their own up the river or a member of a group hated by them. Any slip by the prosecutor or a witness about "this [put in euphemism]" will be grounds for dismissal of all charges.
I personally believe technology can come to the aid of all our shortcomings and that even a Luddite can come to love it.
In my last post, I took exception to a cop who asked me to put down my anti-Schumer protest sign. Apparently, he was right (in a way). Please see following text copied from the PABT rules book. As you will note, freedom of speech (what newspeak calls "expressive activity") is expressly prohibited if it's on rod or stick as mine was. But the truth is that I could have fought him on this because the polity clearly talks about "Continuous" expressive activity. Is it continuous if I'm carrying a sign on a stick on my way to my transportation? I hardly think so. In any event, the next time I go there, I'll remove the stick--that should restore my freedom of speech. They can't regulate against that because then they'll be asking us to remove tee shirts with expressive activity on them.
VIII. Continuous Expressive Activity Directed At The Public
A. For the purpose of these regulations, "expressive activity" refers to the following: Continuous display of a sign to passerby, continuous distribution of literature to passerby, continuous speech addressed to passerby.
B. Expressive activity is prohibited in PATH except that such activity is permitted in the area set forth in Section E(2), subject to the regulations set forth hereinabove and hereinafter.
C. No person, while engaged in expressive activity, shall:
1. Carry on any commercial activity;
2. Distribute food, flowers, or any other product;
3. Place any chair, table, or other structure on the floor, except as specifically provided herein;
4. Misrepresent through words, signs, leaflets, attire or otherwise such person's affiliation with or support by any organization, group, entity or cause, including any affiliation with or support by PATH, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey or a subsidiary thereof;
5. Carry a sign or placard attached to a rod or stick in any interior space, or plaza areas.
6. Engage in the solicitation of funds for immediate receipt in any interior space.
7. Enter or remain in any space at, adjacent to, or within ten feet of, any of the following: turnstile; vending machine; doorway, entrance or exit; elevator or escalator; stairway or landing; telephone; dining area; sale or service counter kiosk or booth; building lobby or hallway; bench or seating area; line of persons for service, such as a line at a kiosk or automatic teller machine; curbside check-in area or vehicle loading or discharge area; restroom; designated waiting area; or bus gate. The ten-foot restriction does not apply any space within an area specifically designated as a place where expressive activity may occur.
8. The General Manager of PATH, or in his or her absence, the person designated to act in his or her stead for general management purposes, may prohibit expressive activity on PATH property which would otherwise be permitted in the event of, and during the pendency of, an emergency condition such as a snowstorm, fire, accident, power failure, transportation carrier schedule interruption, or other condition of such nature and character that the conduct of permitted activities would cause a danger to persons or property during the pendency of such emergency condition.
9. (a) Persons shall conduct expressive activities in the designated areas of
the PATH system only pursuant to a permit obtained pursuant to Section D, for the use of one or more of the areas designated on the attached schedule and diagrams of the PATH system, when those areas are not occupied by construction or maintenance activity affecting a permanent structure, subject to the number restrictions set forth on such schedule.
(b) Tables measuring no more than 60 inches by 30 inches are permitted in the designated areas.
(c) Expressive activity on the Concourse of the World Trace Center station is subject to the following restrictions:
i. Expressive activity is permitted only in the area designated as C on the attached diagram.
ii. A permit will be issued for use of one of the subdivisions of C, designated locations C-1 to C-8 on a first come, first serve basis.
iii. Coordinated expressive activity by 25 or more persons is subject to the following restrictions.
a. Coordinated expressive activity by 25 or more persons is permitted in areas locations C-1, C-2, C-7 and C-8 only.
b. An applicant may request permits for use of locations C-1 and C-2 in combination or use of locations C-7 and C-8 in combination.
c. A permit may not be granted for use of locations C-1, C-2, C-7 or C-8, or any combination thereof, for coordinated expressive activity by 25 or more persons if a permit has been issued for use of any adjacent location for expressive activity.
d. A permit may not be issued for use of any location adjacent to C-1, C-2, C-7 or C-8 for expressive activity if a permit has been issued for use of C-1, C-2, C-7 or C-8, or any combination thereof, by 25 or more persons.
e. No more than 90 persons may use each of C-2, C-7 or C-8 at one time for expressive activity, and no more than 45 persons may use C-1 at one time for expressive activity. A combination of any of these spaces may not be used by more than the total of the maximum number of persons who may use each of the combined spaces.
1. Carry on any commercial activity;
2. Distribute food, flowers, or any other product;
3. Place any chair, table, or other structure on the floor, except as specifically provided herein;
4. Misrepresent through words, signs, leaflets, attire or otherwise such person's affiliation with or support by any organization, group, entity or cause, including any affiliation with or support by PATH, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey or a subsidiary thereof;
5. Carry a sign or placard attached to a rod or stick in any interior space, or plaza areas.
6. Engage in the solicitation of funds for immediate receipt in any interior space.
7. Enter or remain in any space at, adjacent to, or within ten feet of, any of the following: turnstile; vending machine; doorway, entrance or exit; elevator or escalator; stairway or landing; telephone; dining area; sale or service counter kiosk or booth; building lobby or hallway; bench or seating area; line of persons for service, such as a line at a kiosk or automatic teller machine; curbside check-in area or vehicle loading or discharge area; restroom; designated waiting area; or bus gate. The ten-foot restriction does not apply any space within an area specifically designated as a place where expressive activity may occur.
8. The General Manager of PATH, or in his or her absence, the person designated to act in his or her stead for general management purposes, may prohibit expressive activity on PATH property which would otherwise be permitted in the event of, and during the pendency of, an emergency condition such as a snowstorm, fire, accident, power failure, transportation carrier schedule interruption, or other condition of such nature and character that the conduct of permitted activities would cause a danger to persons or property during the pendency of such emergency condition.
9. (a) Persons shall conduct expressive activities in the designated areas of
the PATH system only pursuant to a permit obtained pursuant to Section D, for the use of one or more of the areas designated on the attached schedule and diagrams of the PATH system, when those areas are not occupied by construction or maintenance activity affecting a permanent structure, subject to the number restrictions set forth on such schedule.
(b) Tables measuring no more than 60 inches by 30 inches are permitted in the designated areas.
(c) Expressive activity on the Concourse of the World Trace Center station is subject to the following restrictions:
i. Expressive activity is permitted only in the area designated as C on the attached diagram.
ii. A permit will be issued for use of one of the subdivisions of C, designated locations C-1 to C-8 on a first come, first serve basis.
iii. Coordinated expressive activity by 25 or more persons is subject to the following restrictions.
a. Coordinated expressive activity by 25 or more persons is permitted in areas locations C-1, C-2, C-7 and C-8 only.
b. An applicant may request permits for use of locations C-1 and C-2 in combination or use of locations C-7 and C-8 in combination.
c. A permit may not be granted for use of locations C-1, C-2, C-7 or C-8, or any combination thereof, for coordinated expressive activity by 25 or more persons if a permit has been issued for use of any adjacent location for expressive activity.
d. A permit may not be issued for use of any location adjacent to C-1, C-2, C-7 or C-8 for expressive activity if a permit has been issued for use of C-1, C-2, C-7 or C-8, or any combination thereof, by 25 or more persons.
e. No more than 90 persons may use each of C-2, C-7 or C-8 at one time for expressive activity, and no more than 45 persons may use C-1 at one time for expressive activity. A combination of any of these spaces may not be used by more than the total of the maximum number of persons who may use each of the combined spaces.
D. Permit application shall be made, and acted upon, as set forth below:
1. A permit application shall be submitted in writing no later than thirty-six (36) hours preceding the commencement of the activities far which the permit is sought, and no earlier than seven (7) days preceding the commencement of the activities for which the permit is sought.
2. Permit application shall be submitted in person to the Permit Administrator of PATH, or the designee thereof, during the hours of 9:00 AM to 10:30 A.M. and 1:30 PM to 3:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
3. (a) The permit application shall set forth the type, time, location and
duration of activities to be conducted, the name, address and telephone number of the person making the request (in the case of a group, it shall be sufficient to supply the name, address, and telephone number of the person who can be contacted if problems arise concerning the granting of the request).
(b) If a person making the application indicates an affiliation with an organization or group, the name and address of a local representative of the organization or group to act as a liaison will be requested; however, refusal to provide such information shall not be grounds for denial of a permit.
4. Each permit shall be valid for a period of time specified by the applicant, not exceeding fourteen (14) days pursuant to a single application.
5. (a) Renewal applications shall be made in the same form used for new
applications, and shall be processed as if they were new applications.
(b) All locations will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, without regard to renewal status.
(c) The use of space previously used pursuant to a permit is not guaranteed by acceptance of a renewal application.
6. (a) A permit for any location will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
(b) An application will be denied only if the area requested is unavailable, the application is incomplete, or the application discloses that the activities to be performed thereunder will violate these Rules.
7. (a) A permit will be issued, or the application denied, by the PATH Permit
Administrator, or a designee thereof, no later than 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the application, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by PATH.
(b) The reason for the denial of an application shall be set forth in writing.
8. (a) Upon the denial of any application for a permit, or the failure to issue
a permit by 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the appeal, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized by PATH, an applicant may submit a written appeal to the PATH General Manager, or a designee thereof, setting forth the reasons why the application should be granted.
(b) An appeal shall be submitted in person to the PATH Permit Administrator, or a designee thereof, during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The PATH Permit Administrator, or the designee thereof, shall cause the appeal to be delivered to the PATH General Manager, or a designee thereof.
9. (a) A written decision denying the appeal, or issuing a permit shall be
made no later than 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the appeal, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by PATH.
(b) If no decision is issued by 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the appeal, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by PATH, the appeal shall be deemed to be denied on the basis of the original decision denying the application.
10. Any person whose application for a permit has been denied may seek review of the final decision denying such application in a proceeding commenced pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Laws and Rules of the State of New York, or action in lieu of prerogative writ in the courts of the State of New Jersey.
11. (a) Upon the issuance of any permit, a badge indicating the area and time
period in which the activity will take place will be issued for each area.
(b) Such badge must be worn on the upper left breast of the outermost garment and be clearly visible at all times during which the area is used.
(c) A person who obtains permission to use an area or areas on behalf of a group may obtain the badges for the members of the group for use by such persons actually engaged in expressive activity; however, the number of badges issued will not exceed the maximum number of persons who may engage in expressive activity at one time in the area or areas.
12. Each time a person or group ceases use of a designated area for expressive activity, such action shall be reported to the Permit Administrator of the PATH system or a designee thereof, and the badge or badges described above must be returned, so the availability of the area for use by another may be recorded.
13. For the purposes of this regulation, "holidays" refers to the following:
1. A permit application shall be submitted in writing no later than thirty-six (36) hours preceding the commencement of the activities far which the permit is sought, and no earlier than seven (7) days preceding the commencement of the activities for which the permit is sought.
2. Permit application shall be submitted in person to the Permit Administrator of PATH, or the designee thereof, during the hours of 9:00 AM to 10:30 A.M. and 1:30 PM to 3:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
3. (a) The permit application shall set forth the type, time, location and
duration of activities to be conducted, the name, address and telephone number of the person making the request (in the case of a group, it shall be sufficient to supply the name, address, and telephone number of the person who can be contacted if problems arise concerning the granting of the request).
(b) If a person making the application indicates an affiliation with an organization or group, the name and address of a local representative of the organization or group to act as a liaison will be requested; however, refusal to provide such information shall not be grounds for denial of a permit.
4. Each permit shall be valid for a period of time specified by the applicant, not exceeding fourteen (14) days pursuant to a single application.
5. (a) Renewal applications shall be made in the same form used for new
applications, and shall be processed as if they were new applications.
(b) All locations will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, without regard to renewal status.
(c) The use of space previously used pursuant to a permit is not guaranteed by acceptance of a renewal application.
6. (a) A permit for any location will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
(b) An application will be denied only if the area requested is unavailable, the application is incomplete, or the application discloses that the activities to be performed thereunder will violate these Rules.
7. (a) A permit will be issued, or the application denied, by the PATH Permit
Administrator, or a designee thereof, no later than 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the application, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by PATH.
(b) The reason for the denial of an application shall be set forth in writing.
8. (a) Upon the denial of any application for a permit, or the failure to issue
a permit by 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the appeal, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized by PATH, an applicant may submit a written appeal to the PATH General Manager, or a designee thereof, setting forth the reasons why the application should be granted.
(b) An appeal shall be submitted in person to the PATH Permit Administrator, or a designee thereof, during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The PATH Permit Administrator, or the designee thereof, shall cause the appeal to be delivered to the PATH General Manager, or a designee thereof.
9. (a) A written decision denying the appeal, or issuing a permit shall be
made no later than 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the appeal, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by PATH.
(b) If no decision is issued by 5:00 PM of the day following submission of the appeal, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by PATH, the appeal shall be deemed to be denied on the basis of the original decision denying the application.
10. Any person whose application for a permit has been denied may seek review of the final decision denying such application in a proceeding commenced pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Laws and Rules of the State of New York, or action in lieu of prerogative writ in the courts of the State of New Jersey.
11. (a) Upon the issuance of any permit, a badge indicating the area and time
period in which the activity will take place will be issued for each area.
(b) Such badge must be worn on the upper left breast of the outermost garment and be clearly visible at all times during which the area is used.
(c) A person who obtains permission to use an area or areas on behalf of a group may obtain the badges for the members of the group for use by such persons actually engaged in expressive activity; however, the number of badges issued will not exceed the maximum number of persons who may engage in expressive activity at one time in the area or areas.
12. Each time a person or group ceases use of a designated area for expressive activity, such action shall be reported to the Permit Administrator of the PATH system or a designee thereof, and the badge or badges described above must be returned, so the availability of the area for use by another may be recorded.
13. For the purposes of this regulation, "holidays" refers to the following:
New Year's Day January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Third Monday in January
Presidents' Day Third Monday in February
Memorial Day Last Monday in May
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day First Monday in September
Columbus Day Second Monday in October
Veterans Day November 11
Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November
Day after Thanksgiving Fourth Friday in November
Christmas Day December 25
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Third Monday in January
Presidents' Day Third Monday in February
Memorial Day Last Monday in May
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day First Monday in September
Columbus Day Second Monday in October
Veterans Day November 11
Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November
Day after Thanksgiving Fourth Friday in November
Christmas Day December 25
E. 1. There shall be no expressive activity at the following PATH locations:
Christopher Street; 9th Street; 14th Street; 23rd Street; Harrison; and Newark.
2. Expressive activity shall be permitted at the following stations, in the specific areas designated on the attached drawings: World Trade Center; 33rd Street; Grove Street; Exchange Place; Hoboken; Pavonia-Newport; and the Journal Square Transportation Center.
Christopher Street; 9th Street; 14th Street; 23rd Street; Harrison; and Newark.
2. Expressive activity shall be permitted at the following stations, in the specific areas designated on the attached drawings: World Trade Center; 33rd Street; Grove Street; Exchange Place; Hoboken; Pavonia-Newport; and the Journal Square Transportation Center.
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