Are they gonna do anything about disorderly vagrants or nah

The laziness bunch of NYC employees after the cops. So I'll believe it when I see it.

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The station agents are going to be training in Krav Maga to take down any disorderly passengers.

They're not NYC employees

I have a feeling we are going to see a bunch of headlines about subway agents being assaulted very soon

Why's that?

Use that noggin of yours there brother.

They aren't law enforcement, they're station agents. Not their job.

Just fucking get rid of them. Their role has not be useful in YEARS - for an agency who cries for money every time the sun rises it would be nice if they actually looked internally and eliminated useless ass roles

They may be lazy, but they aren't NYC employees.

This is why we have unions.

Uh, you didn't answer my question.

Now there are more people on the platforms alone at all hours. Come on man, I know you can use that brain a little bit to make the connection. You got this.

Why would a station agent stand out on an empty platform at all hours? The article clearly says they can return to their booths when they'd like.

Hey. You two be nice

You're almost there man.

They are supposed to be in the booths during their breaks. When not on their breaks, they are supposed to be out on the platforms

> Davey said the metal and glass enclosures will not be removed but workers can return there during breaks or whenever they see fit.

Or more like this is what unions can create.

They won't do shit if you're getting murdered right in front of them. They can't refill cards. They literally have no purpose but to sit there and do nothing. No point in having them there for years now.

But I feel less lonely seeing them there

Come on lil guy, 🙃 Why do you think you're being downvoted buddy? 🥹 Come on champ can you fire up your old thinking organ 😏 maybe get your lil brain to do a lil thinking for you big guy buddy friend 😺

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You will feel even less lonely when they are out of their booths.

Y’all seen a station agent do anything?

All they do is say “no” or play on their phone.

Even with turnstile scofflaws, they don’t get off their chairs.

It must be the easiest gig in the city.

It’s no wonder the waitlist is a decade long for employment

Yeah unions are not always good. Look at the police or teachers unions. Reddit just likes unions a lot for some reason.

Stop hanging out in the subway station, Dennis.

They should not be fired, they should be offered new positions and retraining within the MTA. Protect their salaries too so they don’t lose anything, but make them do something productive. It is absurd that the union is protecting literal do-nothing jobs.

Because the agents will be sitting on the floor with no booths to protect them.

(Not seriously, and I'm not sure if this is the joke Thtguy1289_NY intended)

One time I asked them for help. After stumbling to get out of focus from their sudoku, they were actually really helpful. But I don't know what their purpose actually is since people comfortably jump the turnstile in front of them all the time.

That’s not their job

What’s wrong with the teachers union?

Gothamist wouldn’t publish that, NY Post would put it on the front page.

Out of curiosity what kind of help are we talking about? Directions? Or reporting something? I believe you but I don’t see what more info they can provide that google maps can’t provide (directions)

They suppose to run after the jumper and force him to pay? Guard the turnstiles like a soccer goalie?

I was in NYC on holiday last year. I’m from a different country, and was having trouble buying a week ticket. The machine took my money but didn’t print out a ticket. I approached the booth asking for help and was told that isn’t really their job. The turnstile then didn’t work for me, so I asked for help again and was told that wasn’t their job either. Curious as to what they actually get paid for

I’m sure it’s the same for many MTA office employees. Just replace the booth with a cubicle.

Ill believe it when i see it, i swear an article like this is posted like twice a year "For sure Booth clerks will have a different job this week guys"

The Dane Cook of Martial Arts

The PATH has had their agents outside for years

lol if the cops don't do shit, why would they?

you and i and probably most people in this sub can probably navigate a city where we can't even understand the language in but some people...some people are like my aunt who still haven't figure out more than 1 way home to the same place shes been living in for the past 20 years.

One of them helped me retrieve my AirPod that fell on the tracks at 42nd street. It was waiting for me in an envelope with my name the next day. She even cleaned all the soot off before she closed the envelope.

They give directions, especially when trains aren't running or shit is rerouted. I watch them give directions all night to dumbasses who don't/can't read the posters plastered all over. And they are eyes an ears for like 25 an hour tops. You think that's where mtas money issues lie? They call for cops constantly, many times over the intercom when they know cops are at the station but in a different area or on the mezzanine. I swear most of you dudes just like to bitch all day about nothing like goddamn babies.

Unions are good. Teacher's unions are good. Police unions are the exception. The working classes of the entire world like unions, outside of right-wing Americans obediently lapping up every scrap their uber wealthy masters throw them.

1. But there are "right wing" union members. The Rockaway Republican club has or had several union members as its leaders.

2. Why are police unions bad? Either one supports unions (as I do) or not. Are there any other unions that are "Objectionable"?

3. Only internationalists care what "The Working Classes" of the world like. Why should I care about what Peruvian metal lathers or Polish mill workers like? I don't even care what many Americans like.

4. Most working class people don't identify as "Working Class" because they don't romanticize their socio-economic position and aspire to "move up".

5. If you don't see the irony of someone from one of the toniest areas in your borough playing Socialist, you should check the mirror. East Tremont to West Farms, maybe, but Riverdale isn't exactly "the hood. Just saying.

Surely they have a device called a phone? You know, to call the police and say "hey I have some weirdo acting real crazy please come kick him out"?

Yeah they don't carry phones

Ehhh. I’m a teacher and I’m very thankful for our union.

One time a bored agent let me in for free. I was about to buy a metrocard and she called me over and said I’ll let you through.

They do, it take police a while to respond. They put in a call to the control center which then notities police dispatch. Police dispatch then puts out a call for a unit to respond.

We in this country ask the same questions all the time.

Well, not those things, obviously. It really is such a horrible intro to nyc.

Teachers don’t make shit. What planet are you on??

Trust me, that did not tarnish my view on NYC. Best place I’ve ever been too. I would move there in a second if i had the chance.

I believe Karate was the Dane Cook of martial arts

They got an ex-Mossad guy that comes in on Thursdays. Tuesdays he does a really rigorous spin class.

while this seems like the norm, occasionally u have agents that go above the norm. i saw one outside her booth actively directing people to buses when they closed one the lines for maintenance. saw her chase after people to tell them which bus to take instead

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Step 3: Jump the turnstile or go thru the emergency gate as someone exits.

They’d have to get out to chase you then. But that requires leaving the booth.

Not one time have these people been helpful. Not when your metro card gets glitched, not when the machine takes your money, they only took cash etc etc. They suck.

> Davey said the metal and glass enclosures will not be removed but workers can return there during breaks or whenever they see fit

Hmm

Also not their job

That's sweet but I have been here 25 years and I have no idea what the booth folks do. They did give out horrible masks when they were required on the subway. I do think they would call someone if an actual murder was going down but I am not certain about that. Glad you had fun!

Same is true for most office jobs in general but this sib loves its white collar cushy gigs and hates anything remotely blue collar

Lol who would they call? The nypd is also busy loitering on their phones

At that point, just jump the turnstile. The few times i’ve hopped it is because the turnstile would take the money off my Metrocard and not let me through.

That is a 50/50 chance at best lol

Yea there are some, but for every one good both agent there are 20 who do less than the bare minimum.

You need to read lips to understand anything they say. So antiquated.

How do you use OMNY if you don't have a smart phone or credit card?

They were helpful when I was in HS and didn’t have my metrocard, or just lied. They always held it down.

Yeah, they’ve opened the gate for me several times when I had a stroller, I’ve had some travel questions answered, and I’ve bought some metro cards from them.

Still fine if they go away, but just answering your question honestly.

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• They do not perform any MetroCard transactions anymore.

• The stroller issue could be solved by installing an OMNY and MetroCard reader at the gate, or by installing ADA compliant turnstiles like every other sane country has done.

• The blue MTA help points can be used for directions.

I’m not attacking you or saying you’re wrong or anything, but every conceivable function that station agents perform can be replaced by more efficient, usable, and cheaper alternatives.

Totally. Travel agencies were once useful, but now it’s pretty ok if they go away with all our added technology.

You assume they even care

Really? I'm always surprised when people visit NYC and have effusive praise for it. What, in your mind, sets it apart from London, Paris, Tokyo, or any other cosmopolitan city?

I spent years living in the former soviet union and they still have plenty of pointless jobs like this left over. When I came back to NYC I was really struck by the similarity as it pertains to MTA booth drones.

It is completely unique in the world, as are those cities. Paris is a total dump right now though

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I was at a station where the MetroCard machines and the Omni readers were broken and the booth guy told me to get fucked. How are they going to replace that very important function?

booth agents are the most glaring example of the waste and inefficiency of the MTA. they have not had much responsibility for years, and have been downright useless since 2020 when they stopped accepting cash. they should have been eliminated a while ago, but of course unions and bloated bureaucracy don't allow for rational decision making

You buy an OMNY card

Might not agree with this one. My grandma still uses her travel agency and it's pretty nice. Sure she pays a bit of a premium, but she tells them exactly what she wants and they handle the rest. I've come to see them as a travel concierge type of service. If you're not a fan of endlessly comparing plane tickets and combinations of hotel stays, it's a good option.

Yeah for sure, that’s actually why I said “pretty ok” rather than “totally ok” since I do know that older generations still like to use them, but of course those generations are dying out slowly. I actually used a travel agent 11 years ago to help me set up the most efficient trip possible so I could be in certain cities on certain days in order to complete an around the world trip (with a prize involved) in 11 days. Definitely worth it to have an experienced human help me sort out something that was already a bit overwhelming.

Just jump.

I hate farebeating and farebeaters - but it should not be this difficult to give someone your money. The MTA sure as hell makes it a chore.

How the fuck are there still no OMNY machines in stations???

>Curious as to what they actually get paid for

hit me up if you find out

It’s also not their job to consolidate metro cards anymore…

It’s Reddit, lower your expectations

I’ve always loved cities, loud and noisy and alive. NYC just had an energy to it that I can’t get enough off. I’ve been a few times, and done/seen all the touristy stuff, but also just walked around and explored quieter areas. The people, the architecture, the multiculturalism, the food, all stand out in my memories of NYC. I’ve been to Paris, and also loved that, but they are two very different animals. NYC is much more alive. I’m very into art and history and both NYC and Paris have an abundance of that, which is probably one of the main reasons they call to me.

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lmao. I see them waving at people they know as those people jump the turnstiles.

They could not care less. Literally.

There were ad hoc construction delays and they gave some good advice on where to go and what trains to take to navigate the construction? Even if it was something that was easily googleable it doesn't mean they weren't helpful to me.

Perfect example of a reddit debate lord trying to argue over everything right here.

They give you an envelope to get refunded lost money on a lost or stolen card.

They used to take money or credit card payments but that may no longer exists.