The Metropolitan Transit Authority has with the cooperation of a Queens Supreme Court judge defended two useless, vile and cowardly transit employees who did nothing but push a panic button as a rape victim made eye contact with him and pleaded for help. The New York Post ran an article today in which the victim shed her anonymity and blasted the decision which absolved non police transit employees of any responsibility to help strap hangers in distress. The Post reported her story as follows.

Maria Besedin told her terrifying story two days after Queens Supreme Court Justice Kevin Kerrigan tossed her lawsuit -- ruling the booth clerk and conductor who saw a pervert drag her off in 2005 had no obligation beyond calling cops.

"I held his gaze for at least five seconds, yelling, screaming, 'Help! Help!' " Besedin said of station agent John Koort.
But all he did was press the panic button to notify his bosses of trouble.

The story gets worse. John Koort, the testicularly challenged token booth clerk had company in cowardice. Harmodio Cruz, a train conductor called in a trouble report but did not stop the train.
The victim, Maria Besedin intends to appeal the heartless decision of the judge. When interviewed by the Post, her expectations were modest. She stated as follows to the reporter from the Post.

"I wasn't expecting a hero. I was just expecting a . . . system where everything could be done, call the cops immediately, talk over the intercom, say, 'The cops are coming, we see what you're doing' . . . I'm certain it would have prevented this horrible thing."

Unfortunately, the rapist was never caught. Was his distinctive crime style compared to other criminals? He was a foot fetishist who started off with kissing his victim's feet. are there no criminals who have been identified and linked to similar crimes? Are there victims of domestic violence who might have reported an abusive spouse with similar hangups? It's time for this crime to get higher priority. Sadly enough, a lot of crimes only get solved if people make noise about them.

The Transit employees have made enemies of the riding public. Many citizens protested when plans were announced to leave selected train stations without any employees present during off hours. The legitimate presumption of the public was that human beings in booths and around the stations would discourage attacks such as those endured by Maria Besedin. We the riding public have been proven wrong. I have a proposal for the Transit Authority.

1) All token booth clerks, subway conductors and maintenance personnel must pass the police entrance examination and physical. They will be expected to come to the assistance of passengers in distress. Those unable to meet the new standards would be terminated. Those who stay on under the new terms would get a raise in pay to reflect their increased responsibilities.
2) To underscore the commitment of the public to assurances of subway safety, there should be a subway and bus boycott. For one day, ride, walk or carpool to work to protest the Transit Authority's indifference to rider safety.
3) Fight for the legalisation of dollar vans. I have many times come home late at night and gotten a seat and courteous service from these hardworking individuals who supplement the lousy service of the Transit Authority.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority has told the citizens of New York to go to hell. Now it's time to fight back. If they want more money, let them work for it.

I hope that someone adopts this case and chases down whatever leads there might be. New Yorkers are scared. And New Yorkers are angry. We do not want to go back to the lawless days of New York under John Lindsay. And with judges like Kevin Kerrigan, that is a real possibility.

Article reprinted with permission from Rudistettner.com
Article on rudistettner.com accompanied by video.