Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"We've done a bad job, but it's because we need more money!"

OK - that's not a direct quote. Here's the actual quote:

Transportation Security Administration managers at Newark Liberty International Airport say security has "slowly diminished" over the years.
That was one of the findings in a performance analysis obtained by The Star-Ledger of Newark that was circulated during meetings led by TSA Area Director Jim Blair on Thursday.
The newspaper reported that Newark-based managers acknowledged a series of embarrassing lapses produced what they described as "a lack of faith in our ability to provide world class security" in travelers' minds.
The report said "understaffing, complacency and lack of focus," along with a lack of direction, poor communication and checkpoint design contributed to the decline in security.
The managers proposed changes in training and accelerating hiring to boost staff to handle labor-intensive full body scanners that were installed last fall.
Here's a better idea: scrap the TSA and put airport security in the hands of the airport and airline owners who have an incentive to provide actual, customer-friendly security.

2 comments:

  1. kathryn--
    I love your blog. I am extremely upset with our loss of rights in this country and one of the major areas that is occurring in is in our airports. Just this past weekend, I was traveling with my boyfriend through JFK airport and he opted out of the full body scan. TSA then proceeded to treat him horribly and make him wait for nearly 30 minutes for the pat-down. As he was waiting, he tried to help an elderly, handicapped woman through security and got scolded for "touching her belongings."

    What has this country come to? I am completely convinced that we are being taken advantage of more and more as time goes on and many Americans are too stupid to even notice.

    Anyway, keep up the great work on your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Alie! (And sorry to hear about your boyfriend's experience...it probably put him one step closer to not flying!)

    ReplyDelete