Solicitation in the Subway
Entertainment or just plain annoying?
Group 4
Stephanie Bellamy
Jacqueline Garber
Tommy Wasilowski
Sarita Zhen
See
Facts
• There are 468 subway stations in New York City.
• Approximately 5 million people use the New York City subway
on an average work day.
• There are 36,127 sworn New York City Police officers.
Introduction
• The subway is the most efficient method of commuting from point
A to point B.
• It can be hectic during peak hours when many people are heading
to and from work.
• The subway can be a dangerous place due to the lack of
censorship and security on every platform and subway car which
can lead to serious injury and even fatality.
• In its simplest form, commuting on the subway can make many
people feel unsafe and disturbed.
How relaxing is your commute?
Introduction
• Commuters are often disturbed by subway performers who solicit
them for money while they prepare for a long day at work and/or
want a relaxing commute.
• While some performers are actually entertaining, they are a
disturbance for commuters who are seeking to accomplish
something during their commute.
Have the patience to commute?
Survey
When surveyed about performers in the subway, 10 students in this
class had the following results:
• 60% were male and 40% were female.
• 20% use the subway between 0-1 time a month.
• 50% use the subway between 1-4 times a month.
• 30% use the subway between 1-4 times a week.
• 70% found the subway performers to be annoying.
Survey
…continued
• 70% found the subway performers to be potentially
dangerous.
• 60% said that the subways would be better if the
performers were not allowed.
• 50% knew that performers in the subway trains themselves
are illegal according to the MTA rules.
• 60% said that if penalties and fines were stricter, people
would be less inclined to perform in subways.
Judge
Do you think this is dangerous?
• Subway performers can be entertaining and very talented.
• Sometimes as opposed to being disturbing, they draw a crowd.
• Is the subway the proper place to draw a crowd?
Entertainment goes wrong
MTA Rules of Conduct
• No person may perform any act which interferes with transit
service, obstructs the flow of traffic on facilities or conveyances, or
may tend to interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the
facilities.
• No person, unless authorized by the Authority, shall engage in any
commercial activity in any facility and any conveyance. Commercial
activities include advertising, display, sale, lease, offer for
sale/lease, or distribution of food, goods, services, or entertainment,
this includes the free distribution of all the above.
• No person shall engage in any non-transit uses upon any facility or
conveyance. Non-transit uses are activities that are not directly
related to the use of a facility or conveyance for transportation.
Catholic Social Teachings and Subway Performers
Human Dignity
Everyone is created in the image and likeness of God and has
dignity and self respect. People are entitled not to be harassed
or put in danger when riding the subway.
Community and the Common Good
We must take into account everyone else’s rights and wellbeing and act towards the greater good of the community.
Since those who do not perform in subways exceed in number
those who do, it is for the greater good that subway performers
be banned.
Catholic Social Teachings and Subway Performers
…Continued
Participation
People have a right and a duty to take part in decisions that
directly affect them and not simply accept the decisions of other
people. We should have a part in deciding what affects our
happiness, well-being, and safety when riding the subway that we
pay for.
Act
Solutions
• People can send letters and arrange conferences with city
officials in regards to their concerns.
• The MTA could have a division of employees monitoring the
subway stations throughout the entire day making sure that
there are no performances going on.
• The police officers should walk through subway cars themselves
making sure that the MTA Rules of conduct are being followed
and that everyone on the subways cars is safe.
Our Specific Proposition
• Instead of the MTA trying to eliminate all performers in the
subways, performers can be regulated.
• There could be specific, non-congested, designated areas where
performers could engage in their acts.
• Each performer should have a Performer’s Permit which they
would have to apply for with the MTA and have to pay for.
• Undercover police officers could monitor that each performer has
a permit and that rules aren’t being broken.
• Required permits would help keep order in the subways and the
permit dues would help finance this plan.