Better Roads Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/412488
I recently went on a short trip to New York City with one of my closest friends. It was just an in-and-out weekend to spend a few days together catching up away from our busy lives of work, family and all the other activities/groups, etc., in which we are involved. During our little getaway, we went to a concert at Madison Square Garden. I was very excited. I had never been there. Upon entry, we were searched, patted down and then searched again. Not a problem. I get that security was looking for people bringing in drugs and alcohol. During the search of my "giant mama purse," they found a bottle of water and some gum – the kind that is square and you push out of the package. They said they had to confi scate it because there was no way to ensure it was truly gum and not some kind of drug tablet. I get it. They're taking precautions. As my gum was being taken away, I asked if I could please just have one piece of it before they took it away. "The peppermint really helps with my nausea," I told security, explaining that I'm six months pregnant. After patting me down again and feeling my bump, they agreed to let me have a piece. After all that, I was very taken aback and extremely disappointed as I tried to enjoy the concert. I was suddenly surrounded by marijuana smoke. I'm not talking someone lighting up a joint and passing it around. I'm talking thick smoke as in it would be hard for anyone to breathe. Now, I don't participate in that and neither does my friend, and it's not my job to judge or police people. However, after the extreme pat down and inspection at security on the way in, I was a bit miffed and baffl ed how so many people could bring in drugs. So I left the section where I was (I obviously didn't want to chance breathing in all that smoke, especially since I'm expecting.), and went to stand at the bottom of the section to the side. I was quickly told I couldn't stay there. When I explained to the bouncers/security folks why I left the section and that I'd be happy to return to my seat but couldn't because of the smoke, the guards just looked at me and said, "What do you want me to do about it?" It seems that the extreme pat down was all smoke (literally) and mirrors. This response started me thinking about our nation's transportation system. The President and Congress acknowledge we have a problem. They talk about how we need to make changes. But I don't see it being done. We're currently in a holding pattern until MAP-21 expires at the end of May, but it's time to make your actions speak louder than your words. It's time for Congress to do as they are saying – not as they are doing! It's time for action. What are you doing to help lawmakers take action? Let me know at tinabarbaccia@ randallreilly.com. Y by Tina Grady Barbaccia, Editor-At-Large tinabarbaccia@randallreilly.com Better Roads November 2014 5 Do as I Say, Not as I Do Editorial Editor-At-Large: Tina Grady Barbaccia Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Online Managing Editor: Brian Ethridge Production Editor: Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Editor Emeritus: Kirk Landers Truck Editor: Jack Roberts Construction Editors: Tom Kuennen and Brian Morrow editorial@betterroads.com Design & Production Art Director: Sandy Turner, Jr. Production Designer: Timothy Smith Advertising Production Manager: Linda Hapner production@betterroads.com Construction Media VP of Sales, Construction Media: Joe Donald sales@constructionmedia.com Corporate Chairman/CEO: Mike Reilly President: Brent Reilly Chief Process Offi cer: Shane Elmore Chief Administration Offi cer: David Wright Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Vice President, Events: Stacy McCants Vice President, Audience Development: Prescott Shibles Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault 3200 Rice Mine Road NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 800-633-5953 randallreilly.com For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: betterroads@halldata.com or (800) 517-4979 Better Roads TM magazine, (ISSN 0006-0208) founded in 1931 by Alden F. 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