I remember going to the papal visit in SF in 1987 with Mom. The popemobile drove right through Golden Gate Park. We rode Muni to within two blocks of the park.

But, three million people?! I don't believe John Paul II drew a tenth of that to SF!

all Pope, all the time.

I STILL think he's going to announce the existence of alien life on other planets...

just kidding....sort of...

..."complex organic chemicals" spewed from a volcano on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons.

Sell it at 150% markup!

Thing is, Pope Francis is probably at least 10 times as popular as President Obama. At least it seems that way.

Anyway I know we'll get through it and for the city it is the experience of a generation.

right now about the government invasion of Texas, and I wouldn't believe those, either.

a fucking nightmare. I live about 1/2 mile North of the city. I work about 1 mile north of the city. The week before he comes, when the World Meeting of Familes or what the fuck ever, and the weekend he's here, is going to be a goddamned nightmare for traffic. The Trains are only stopping at a few stations, and only making inbound trips in the AM, and outbound trips in the PM. For people like my husband and I who use the trains/EL/subway/busses to get to/from work, we're basically stranded. My husband and I are RN's---he works in the ER and has no idea how he is going to get to work that week, because the train that takes him to and from work isn't going to be able to take him to and from work. The 2 busses I use to get to and from work aren't going to be able to take me to and from work.

ANd these aren't rumors, these are on SEPTA's website. This is information from the Mayor's mouth.

It's a goddamned nightmare and as a Philadelphia resident, I get *no* benefit from it *at all* aside from a monumental headache and the possibility of both members of the household losing our jobs because we don't have wings to fly across the city to get to our jobs.

The site does say they are expecting 1.5 million people for the event. Don't you think they would need substantial planning to accommodate that many visitors?

you know what? I'll do it for you:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Philadelphia-City-Constructing-Fence-Around-Center-City-for-Pope-Francis-Visit-Sources-311525071.html

Yeah...so I guess you aren't all up to date on everything in Philadelphia. Would you care to discuss this further, or are you going to argue that the news stations, all four of them, are equating this to the Takeover of Texas?

Did you think I was making all this shit up? Just asking?

So maybe you're not all up to date on everything in Philadelphia, either.

http://articles.philly.com/2015-07-11/news/64281987_1_pope-francis-center-city-vatican-sponsored-conference

Mayor Nutter confirmed Thursday that parts of Philadelphia will be fenced in for security during the visit by Pope Francis in September, but dismissed speculation that the whole of Center City will be behind chain links.

"Whoever is saying that somehow all of Center City is going to be shut down has no idea what they're talking about," Nutter said at a news briefing at City Hall following a trip to Mexico.

"There's never been any discussion with me where the idea of all of Center City being enclosed, encapsulated, shut down, has ever been discussed," he said.

SNIP

Some fencing - height and type to be determined - will go up in parts of the city where the pope is expected to appear, Nutter said. The security measure is typical in other cities for large events involving world leaders, to restrict access through metal detectors.

He said it would not be the first time Philadelphia has seen such fences. "There was fencing out at the July Fourth show just the other day. . . . Fencing is not a new concept in this city."

since the outrage has been explosive but there is still the plan to do this...

much to your dislike.

Homeland Security people have been spouting this since the beginning.

Do you have any links connected with Homeland Security and what they're saying?

they have been building a fortress around this town with advanced surveillance and demarcations and very very high-tech equipment the likes of which have never been seen here. Everyone here knows this. You can see it on the streets. They are going to have extreme security and surveillance and are eliminating all traffic inside the red zone for the duration. There will be security at every point en masse. The powers that be have stated that a fence of some type will probably be constructed as well. This was a general news release over and over again which we have heard on every channel and from every source. The Federal Government is handling all of these arrangements and have told everyone else to step aside. Any cop over a certain rank can tell you that. I don't know what your point is but your attempted hijack of this thread is duly noted.

Asking for information to back up rumors and anecdotes isn't a hijack.

It just seems odd to me to connect road repaving -- the kind of maintenance that is done in my city every year -- with a "National Security Red Zone." And with 1.5 to 2 million expected visitors, it makes sense that you have safe sidewalks and useful signs, too.

Maybe you should take your concerns to this organization, since they seem to think the medical community will be prepared:

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/06/27/philadelphias-medical-community-preparing-for-popes-visit/

Doctor Michael DellaVecchia, president of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, says hospitals routinely carry out exercises in the event of a disaster, or when a high profile dignitary comes to town:

“We are always going through a process of alerts and a process of rehearsals and drills.”

But he says with the Pope coming to town, and another million and a half visitors, it’s time to raise the bar, and that includes having staff ready for the unexpected:

“Our personnel will be available and readily accessible, and a lot of them where there is an alert, will be staying at the hospital until the alert is over.”

SEPTA is public transportation. The fence is part of Mayor Nutter's plan to Bring the city to a standstill. No car traffic through Center City either. That's probably not on Septa's website, either.

How about this....you're in Washington State, right? I lived in Seattle for 13 years. Not everything that happens everywhere gets filtered everywhere else. People in Philly know more about what's happening here than people in the PNW.

Just because the details of the pipes visit aren't being broadcast on NWCN doesn't mean it's not happening the way the OP says. Read some local news and stop comparing this soon to be quagmire with some nutty teabagger takeover fantasy.

The difference between this and jade helm is that this is really happening and this really will affect people

Heddi: Please let me know in no uncertain terms if I ever post anything about our area which is out of line, false, or misperceived by me (always would be unintentionally).

I'm sorry for what you are going to be going thru. We are moving in with my daughter downtown so I can get to my dental office for local emergencies of the dental variety. I'm not sure that this isn't some civil defense exercise which they're superimposing upon the visit. The hospitals are on full alert and they have to figure out how to house three shifts of employees for three or four days.

"And these aren't rumors, these are on SEPTA's website. This is information from the Mayor's mouth."

But regardless, why are you surprised there has to be a lot of preparation for what they think will be a million and a half visitors? Don't you think any city would be working hard to prepare for that?

Or are you objecting to the visitors?

In a city with limited parking for residents, with 1.5 million visitors pub Trans isn't an option. Except when it Is. Hospitals aren't closing, and they're not staffed by robots. People do live and work in the city and they all aren't getting a week off. People still have to get from place to place, and it's unrealistic to 'just walk' to get places.

This was poorly planned for a person of this promenance and a crowd of this size. We're 2 months out and no firm plans in place. My job isn't just some whim....it's a health care facility that I will feasibly not be able to get to. My husband works in an ER that he will not be able to get to. The surprising part is the massive clusterfuck the city is allowing this to be.

Major hospitals in Center City: hahnemann, u penn, jefferaon. Trauma centers. Massively important infastructure. All inaccessible during this chaos. The citizens should not suffer for a feather in the mayors cap

The reason the Pope is coming is because he will be saying Mass at the World Meeting on Families, an every-three-years event which is expected to draw 15,000 delegates from different religions from countries around the world.

Apparently the Secret Service is directing a lot of this. I'm not sure what you are saying should be done by the Mayor or Philadelphia. Ban large-scale events? Assume that special security isn't needed and that a terrorist attack is unlikely?

Maybe chose a location that isn't surrounded my numerous level-1 trauma centers and major highways and interstates, a location smack dab in the center of an already crowded city that relies on public transportation. Put him in one of the numerous stadiums at the southern end of the city, that way the center Core of the city can be used, the people who live and work here can get to the homes and jobs, and not fuck shit up on the scale that it being, and continues to be, fucked

IF I have friends that want to come in for the visit, I will offer them our guest room.

I don't thin you will have to worry about that level of security — what you describe seems a bit over the top. On the other hand, at least a Pope visit in getting infrastructure done!

The pope is visiting DC after Philly, right?

going on for his visit in NYC, since I wasn't aware of any big preps here. Turns out there aren't anywhere near the preps Philly is doing. He'll only be in NYC for 40 hours. The Vatican wants the focus on Philadelphia. Lucky you.

Given what's been going on, it's understandable, but is this really the sort of country we want to live in. A place where a visit by a very popular religious leader causes our leaders to spend millions to protect him from hit men and criminals and jihadists and of course your ordinary every day garden variety wackos all of whom can easily arm themselves to the teeth because of our laughably lax gun laws.

DC & NY probably have the security infrastructure in place already, what with the Government and the UN but Philly has to shell out the big bucks and annoy the hell out of ordinary citizens.

I hope His Holiness's visit is a safe one--seriously the guy's probably more in danger from opponents in his own Vatican (keep eating in the mess hall there along with everyone else Frank) than one of our nut jobs but this is America and we are becoming an armed camp.

that an event on Family that is drawing 15,000 delegates from around the world might be seen as a good time for a high-profile terrorist attack.

OTOH, they're probably also trying to figure out how to handle 1.5 - 2 million extra people, just in terms of traffic.

nt

my visit to the art museum that weekend should be rescheduled?

some hotels cancelled people's weddings which had been booked for years.

er, Philly, and head for a resort where you will be fawned over and catered to, paid for by the rental of your house for the weekend. Then you'll have to come home and clean up whatever mess they left.

Fortunately, he's not coming out here. It's a poor state even if it is heavily Catholic. Besides, he'd head to Santa Fe, not my town. However, were I in your shoes, I'd go on vacation while renting my dump out for an obscene amount of money. Even if they trash the place, it's a winner of a situation.

PHILADELPHIA - One-day passes for Regional Rail travel during the Papal Visit will go on sale next Monday, July 20 at 9 a.m., SEPTA announced. The passes will be sold online through a new e-commerce website that will launch when the pass sales begin. SEPTA is limiting the number of passes that will be sold, and requiring pre-purchase of the passes, to keep crowd numbers consistent with the capacity that will be available on Regional Rail trains.

...


All riders using Regional Rail on Sept. 26 and 27 - including regular SEPTA customers and visitors - will be required to pre-purchase a special one-day Papal Visit Pass. No other fare instruments, such as TrailPasses, will be accepted. Papal Visit Pass purchases are non-refundable.

...

A limited number of One Day Regional Rail Passes will be available for sale for each station starting at 9 a.m. Monday, July 20. Each One Day Pass will cost $10, and will be valid for one passenger. Standard shipping fees apply.

Up to 10 passes can be purchased in one transaction through the e-commerce site. Those planning to travel on Saturday and Sunday will need to purchase passes for both days.

All passengers travelling on Regional Rail during these days will have to purchase a Papal Pass, including seniors and children over the age of 5. Customers with a valid PA Disability Transit ID Card or Medicare Card can purchase reduced fare passes through the e-commerce site for $5; they will then be required to show their valid ID along with the Papal Pass at the time of boarding. Reduced fare pass sales will be limited to a single purchase.

...

When customers purchase the One Day Regional Rail Passes, they must select their outlying station and time slot. The name of the station will be printed on the back of the pass. It will be valid only for travel from the specified outlying station during the selected time slot, and for travel from Center City back to that station after the Papal Visit events. All riders using Regional Rail on Sept. 26 and 27 will be required to pre-purchase these passes. No other fares, passes or cash, will be accepted. Pass purchases are non-refundable.

A link to the e-commerce site for One Day Regional Rail Passes will be posted on this website when passes go on sale Monday, July 20. The same site will be used for the sales of a special three-day Papal Visit transit pass, which will go on sale starting Monday, July 27. The special three-day Papal Visit transit pass will be valid for travel on all SEPTA subways, buses and trolleys from Saturday, Sept. 26 through Monday, Sept. 28. Customers can also use tokens, transfers and weekly and monthly passes on subways, buses and trolleys.

I was there before he arrived and left town the day before he got there, and it was absolutely unbelievable. Hordes.

Forget everything you take for granted: Driving, parking, eating, peeing, walking down the street. None of it will be possible within several miles of his venue. The paris subways were completely jammed, no room on sidewalks, no busses, no cabs, no parking. I couldn't get outta there fast enough. It was actually terrifying, and I was gone well before he got there.

If you live there, either treat it as a blackout/nuclear explosion, and plan on not leaving the house for anything for a week, or, find someone you know and rent the house to them and get the hell outta there.

I'm not kidding. It will be worse than you can imagine.

I was here for the last papal visit but I think that this is gonna dwarf that one.