TWEETER CENTER DISTORTION
Meeting The Chief
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The TC Image -- You Decide!
UPDATE '03: Security
The Three Year Wrap-Up
Why This Site... Why Not Meet
Meeting The Chief
Signs, Signs, Everywhere
Parking Lot Photos
Discussion
More Toilets
Like Woodstock, Man!
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Big Bro, Where Art Thou?
UPDATE '03: Big Bro & 495
Matters Made Worse
Some Final Thoughts
About Man Alive

"Great Storms Announce Themselves With A Gentle Breeze"
Three concert seasons later, it is apparent that one entity,
should be totally responsible and accountable for the
design and implementation of all safety, security
and decency at the Tweeter Center.
 
 
Meeting Chief of Police, Arthur O'Neill... June 2001

 A Good Meeting... A Good Chief

 

Soon after the concert, I began my report.  I also made trips back during the days and evenings to better understand the parking lots, grab some of the pictures that populate this report, and otherwise absorb the idea of a major venue's parking lot having one main entrance / exit.

I really only had a very rough draft of this report when I ask to meet with Chief of Police, Arthur O'Neill.  We met within an hour of my call. 

As this report is not - and never was - intended to be a witch hunt, I wanted to inform the Chief of my concerns and report, which at the time was not in a website.

I wanted to gain an understanding Chief O'Neill's efforts and gain an insight into detail staffing, control... and honestly the carding of minors while allowing drinking in a parking lot that clearly states that it is illegal.  Frankly, I don't care about the drinking by people of legal age.  I think that responsible drinking is part of the fun and experience.  But, I am concerned for the waiver that it establishes, with respect to liability.  And obviously, I also wanted to know about the Sani-Kan (port-a-toilets)... and how the number of "Kan" are determined. 

I -- and I'll bet that most other people -- understand the difficulty of the Chief's and his force's position.  The old joke question about how one treats a 500 pound canary holds the same answer for a large crowd of drinking hard rockers.  You control them gently through containment and only apply the arm when it's absolutely necessary.  This method still works when everything goes well.  But it is fraught with liability when it doesn't.  Anyway, one senses this careful but casual approach through the detail police in the parking lot who are in shorts & golf shirts, on bicycles... and oh yes, still "packing 9mm heat."  Arrests are made!  I can attest, 

Back to the meeting:  We met for about an hour.  And we had a good conversation about the above.  We also discussed other topics.  We parted by his mentioning that he was going to discuss the matter with The Center... and I give him a copy of my draft.  I believed that he would discuss my issues.  And with at least one matter -- the overgrowth between the access road and limo parking where guys were urinating -- I believe that he did.  The area was totally cut to the ground within a week or two.

However, that was it.  There were no additional Sani-Kans placed, and there was no additional care given to them. 

Of course, this is not the Chief's jurisdiction; it is the Town Selectperson's and the Town Board of Health's responsibility, who no doubt are following meager regulations defined by some "code."  ( One can look north to Foxboro where the Patriots' new, quarter-billon-dollar stadium is being built to include port-a-toilets on its "improved" parking lots.  How can can such a public health fiascos exist? )

To wrap:  When I left, I was pleased that we met; knew more; felt that I was heard, but honestly knew that The Tweeter Center and its sponsors would hardly roll over with out either (1) an incident (2) being muscled into stricter regulations, or (3) being embarrased by this or a similar report.

My decision to publish this report on the Internet works to #3 above.

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