Paging Alanis Morrisette
By Mitch Berg
Former transit reporter mugged on his first light-rail ride:
When Chuck Laszewski and his 75-year-old neighbor set out to watch the Minnesota Twins play on Sunday afternoon, they were looking forward to great seats and a nice Father’s Day at the ball game.
They made it as far as the light-rail station.
Laszewski and his neighbor, Bobby Thomas, were fumbling with the ticket vending machine at the Lake Street stop on Hiawatha Avenue when they were blindsided by muggers just after a train left the platform around 12:45 p.m.
The attackers punched the men in the face, then chased them down the platform when they fought back and tried to run away. The muggers, whom Laszewski described as two men between the ages of 18 and 22, knocked down Thomas and took his wallet.
“He actually took some tougher shots than I did,” said Laszewski, 52.
“It’s really unconscionable what happened to him.”
This is in the middle of the day, in a ramp that’s rarely empty during the day, especially on game days:
Attacks such as Sunday’s are fairly uncommon, [Metro Transit spokesman Bob Gibbons] said. “The platforms are not a very smart place to engage in criminal activity, because of the camera system and the emergency telephones.”
Laszewski, who wrote about transportation for the Pioneer Press before switching to a job at a nonprofit group that advocates for public transit, said Sunday was the first time he had tried to buy light-rail tickets. On Monday, he laughed ruefully about the irony. “The minute I go use transit, I get popped.”
But that won’t stop him from boarding light rail again, he added. “We need it, and I’ll continue to ride it.”
Er…now that you’ve finally started?
Anyway – heal up quick, Chuck.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 am
“We need it, and I’ll continue to ride it.”
For really, really wide definitions of the word “need”. Because we don’t have a bus transit system or anything.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 am
There are camera’s everywhere. And a crowded (usually) daylight platform. Even the criminals are smarter in St Paul.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 am
You pay your money and you take your chances!
“Laszewski described as two men between the ages of 18 and 22”
That’s the best they can do for a description? Probably just a couple of misguided/misunderstood youths. Maybe just youthful exuberance.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Dang it, when can WE get in on this action in St. Paul? What’s holding up our train?
What, our criminals don’t deserve the same working conditions as Minneapolis’ criminals enjoy? We have to hang around stupid bus shelters and freeway ramps, they get nice new train stations?
That’s discrimination, that’s what that is.
.
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
nate, the attackers were probably mad because the light rail violated their civil rights.
For those not following the story, the NAACP sinks further into irrelivence….they are suing because the central corridor light rail system is violating their civil rights.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:49 am
I’m sure these two “good Samaritans” were worried about potential suicide bombers boarding at the Cedar Riverside LRT station.