BART General Manager Bob Powers issued the following statement regarding the man who was recently cited for eating while waiting for a train in Pleasant Hill:
“Moving 415,000 riders each day comes with complexities and there are laws in place to keep our system safe, welcoming, and clean.
I’ve seen the video of the incident involving a man eating on our platform and our police response. Eating in the paid area is banned and there are multiple signs inside every station saying as much. As a transportation system our concern with eating is related to the cleanliness of our stations and system. This was not the case in the incident at Pleasant Hill station on Monday.
The officer asked the rider not to eat while passing by on another call. It should have ended there, but it didn’t. When the officer walked by again and still saw him eating, he moved forward with the process of issuing him a citation. The individual refused to provide identification, cursed at and made homophobic slurs at the officer who remained calm through out the entire engagement.
The officer was doing his job but context is key. Enforcement of infractions such as eating and drinking inside our paid area should not be used to prevent us from delivering on our mission to provide safe, reliable, and clean transportation. We have to read each situation and allow people to get where they are going on time and safely.
I’m disappointed how the situation unfolded. I apologize to Mr. Foster, our riders, employees, and the public who have had an emotional reaction to the video.
I’ve spoken to our interim Police Chief about my feelings related to this incident and our Independent Police Auditor is conducting an independent investigation. He will report his findings to our Citizen Review Board.”
159 comments
you can’t eat on bart but you can smoke pot, do drugs and use it as a toilet
… they all would and should be cited as well !!
And BART just caved. He did what was wrong, against the rules, the law and common decency. Where is the respect for law enforcement? Where is the respect for others? If the scumbag complied, that would have been the end. But no. He had to make it all about him, saying over and over that he did nothing wrong. NOPE! Signs are posted. The officer gave a verbal warning.
BART should NOT have apologized. BART should have said, there’s more of this for everyone who fails to follow basic rules and laws including the heroine addicts, criminals and scum that occupy the BART stations.
agreed!
100%
No backbone, BART! That continues to encourage disrespect toward law enforcement. You’re not helping the situation.
Here are some etiquette tips for subways and trains in Japan.
Just copy and paste to your browser.
https://journalistontherun.com/2015/07/23/train-etiquette-in-japan/
Send Bob Powers to Japan to learn how to say sumimasen (sue-mee-mah-sen), which means “excuse me” in Japanese, this will often do the trick.
WE WANT TRAYS AND CUP HOLDERS AT THE BACK OF EVERY SEAT ON BART!
Due to fake news this bum got sympathy from many. He fought the law and the law won. Just another slime ball.
The man-eating the sandwich is seeking notoriety.
Too bad he couldn’t have been cited for being a jerk.
I agree with you. I also think the officer should have issued a citation and left it at that. Every time I see people eating in the train or platform, I had wished they would get a citation. There are reasons why we don’t want people doing that. Also sleeping too.. Like taking up more than one seat. Disgusting rude behavior.
@lovepopcorn
The officer can’t issue a citation to a person who refuses to provide identification. For obvious reasons.
The problem, as usual, is with the “woke” part of the US population and the media who provide the fake narrative. No, this guy wasn’t arrested for “eating the sandwich”, he was arrested for failure to provide identification and resisting arrest. And the officer has acted absolutely appropriately.
It appears the new manager is doing the right thing and supporting the officer. The citizens behavior was adolescent at best and he should be ashamed. He’s basically a child walking around in adult size clothes.
Thanks for the note. I guess I was hoping this so called new manger was going to do the right thing. If this is the way it’s going to be he needs to go along with all the other arrogant board members
Sounds fair enough. I’m on board (no pun intended).
Would seem to be a case of Lack of Respect or Law Enforcement along with the customer being STUPID while breathing.
How about telling the special little snow flake to find another way to get around for 90 days. Disrespect BART, find another way to get around.
Is there a worse place in this country to be in law enforcement?
How about… DON’T EAT ON THE TRAIN EVERYONE!
Sounds like he’s blaming the cop for the guy acting like a jackass. I guess now the BART Police will be prohibited from enforcing BART rules and regulations to make sure they don’t offend anybody.
Not only did the dude keep eating in front of the officer as he was told that he is prohibited from eating on the platform as clearly posted but the female sounding individual in the background filming the incident should be site as well. These indidviduals are not interested in cooperating and should be treated accordindly…
I took BART to and from work for years, since it first started actually. I still do about once a month to go into the City. In all that time I have seen thousands of people both eating and drinking on the trains and platforms both coming and going. Even parents sitting under the sign about it have been handing their kids take out to eat and drink on the train. This is actually the first time I’ve even heard of someone being called on it.
They only got away with it because their was not a BART police officer nearby. This guy Foster got exactly what he deserved.
108RS
I’ve seen thousands of people run red lights without getting pulled over, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t get a ticket if a cop saw them.
?? Why can’t you eat while waiting for Bart?
Unfortunately its because there are alot of people who are pigs & just drop food & trash. Thats why no food or drinks are allowed in the stores either.
Because people abuse the system. If everyone used the trashcans provided, there would be no problem. Sadly, a good majority of people just leave their trash on the ground or on the benches. If everyone did this, it would not only be a mess, it would be a health issue. I’m surprised it hasn’t been already, considering the amount of trash I already see left even with the warning of citation. Sooner or later the rats will come and disease will follow. With all the homeless at the stations, it probably won’t be long before we hear reports.
Because people do not throw their trash in a trash can. They leave food out for birds and rats to eat. Someone else is supposed to clean up after them. No sense of responsibility. Now do you understand why no food on the platform or on the train?
Basically, common sense no longer exists in cali. ‘Nuf said.
Good question Buddy!
If you take CalTrain, you can eat and drink on their cars. But, used to be, on BART you get to Be treated like a child, incapable of being considerate of others, not smart enough to treat trash as trash. I’m sure it’s all in the philosophy of leadership – and today’s leadership needs a wake up call. Too bad CalTrain can’t be allowed to run BART.
@Recall
BART’s ridership is almost an order of magnitude higher than that of Caltrain.
Which means a lot more filth generated by two-legged pigs who can’t be bothered to put their trash into the trashcan.
CalTrain is an entirely different riding experience from BART because it is a train rather than a rapid transit system. The seats are configured like a regular train, individual, high back, two-abreast facing the same direction, limiting the number of riders in each car and providing a greater degree of privacy for each rider.
BART, on the other hand has seating facing both directions, some seats facing the center isle, low-back seats, hang straps for standing passengers, and at times are packed with seated and standing riders shoulder-to-shoulder, creating what can only be described as an “intimate” riding experience.
These differences in car design and seat configuration may account for the difference in policy between the two in regards to eating and drinking onboard. They were each designed for entirely different purposes, one a passenger train, the other a rapid transit car. I would argue that the passenger train was designed for comfort while the rapid transit car design is strictly utilitarian.
Why should Gen Manager Bob Powers apologize? The guy was being a jerk. The cop went a little overboard but only after the guy started to argue with him. Instead of being a jerk, he should have owned up, admitted he was wrong and put the sandwich away. It’s not a big deal and he probably would have been given a warning. As for the woman in the background, she should mind her own business.
By apologizing, Mr. Powers is giving the ok to act the fool on BART property.
Why are they apologizing for enforcing the law?
The man called the police officer all sorts of bad names, like “ni**a”, and he’s now getting an apology.
Disgusting the General Manager doesn’t support the law or the law enforcement officer. These people are rude to the officer, break the law and do not cooperate with the officer. He was resisting arrest and the officer upheld the law and his oath of office. What is wrong with you GM? I’ve ridden BART since it was built and it is perfectly clear the no food, drink or smoking is allowed once you put your ticket in and pass through the gate. Ignorance of the law is what? NO EXCUSE!
The sandwich eater is a punk and anyone that takes his side is what’s wrong with California. His parents should be fined as well for failing to do their job.
Thank you, Mr. Bob Powers, for taking the time to provide the broader context. I just about gave up on BART…I was tired of the crime, filthy trains, delays, etc. I appreciate that we have rules (laws) in place, that can be enforced to help BART users remain safe and ride in comfort.
The emotional reactions of people simply fuel fake news. Too often, I catch myself making judgment or opinion about a situation in which I do not know the full story, context, or broader perspective…it’s good to take a step back.
Thanks to our veterans on Veteran’s Day.
I ride BART all the time I see people drinking their Starbucks eating their scones and what have you looks like another barbecue Becky incident possibly racially motivated
Thanks Bart General Manager, Bob Powers, for giving me the laugh of the day. Laws in place to keep your system safe, welcoming and clean???? You might have the laws, Mr. Powers, but you sure as hell don’t enforce them. Look at your stations inside/outside and your trains for cleanliness and as far as safety goes….look at your track record of the number of people who have been robbed, harassed or cars broken into in Bart parking lots. Now I admit that the Bart Cop was enforcing your laws but I think ya gots worse issues to solve than eating on a platform.
After Reading this statement…..I am still upset At “Bart”police. The other call was a report of a “drunk woman” what happened to that priority. Let’s be real here. Racial Discrimination played a big part here..are we afraid to admit that? Because if we are, then we are part of the problem!
Diana , there is no proof that the eater was racially prejudiced against the Officer. He was probably homophobic but I repeat, no proof that he was racially prejudiced.
That makes you part of the problem . Your words , not mine .
@Diana
I agree that you are part of the problem, jumping to conclusions without a shred of proof. Take a look inward first.
Ohhhhhh p-l-e-a-s-e!!!!
Dee…. did you leave something out?
Diana,
You are a fool. Where in the video did you hear anything about race, you are a racist.
108RS
The race card: Used by those who don’t have the intelligence and intellectual ability to create logical, objective arguments.
@Diana:
“The other call was a report of a “drunk woman” what happened to that priority.(Sic)”
Do you have information regarding whether the officer had already finished with the response to the drunk woman, or that he ignored that call in favor of enforcing the food policy with this “gentleman”? I can’t find that anywhere.
I will NEVER ride your system. I will NEVER allow my family to ride your system. You worry about a man eating but drug paraphernalia, supplies and products are found on and around your trains and stations. You worry about a man eating but you allow women and young men be heckled and harassed by mentally ill, drug-addicted, and sexual predators. You say you are doing your best to keep order at all your facilities. I say your pulling the “PC” card and I don’t deal with “PC”. That in my community means “Pile of Crap”.
Sincerely
Joanne Harms
Yes Yes Yes!!!
You’re apologizing to this Snowflake weinee?? He was clearly in the wrong and wanted to provoke an incident so he could sue BART. Enough is enough with apologizing which like the words homophobic and racist are becoming null and void with overuse.
Sandwich eater is a freaking idiot. I hope he got the ticket and it sticks.
if BART were a restaurant, we’d be reading one of those “Dirty Dining” articles…
This guy obviously thinks he’s special and the rules don’t apply to him. Everybody else has to follow them but he lives by his own code: The Code of Jerk.
I’m glad to see the General Manager clarify the situation, but I never doubted that someone eating on the platform was in the wrong, defiant, looking for trouble, and a large part of what is wrong with BART. I hope this is the first step Powers takes to return BART to what it was designed to be, a clean, efficient means of transportation for people who respect the rules.
Okay, I just re-read General Manager Power’s statement again, and I see he did apologize to Mr. Foster, who I assume was the guy eating the sandwich. I think he needs to be apologizing instead to the riders about the fact that some people think they can get away with this, and worse, behavior on a public transit system. And, maybe saying that he has a plan in place to stop all these BART scofflaws and restore BART to the clean, safe public transportation system it used to be.
It looks to me like Mr. Foster and his girlfriend setup the whole thing in order to film it for whatever reason pathetic, needy-for-attention reason. In that case, they are both jerks and they would do well to apologize to us who watched them being jerks in public. Or, better yet, … Mr. Foster needs to apologize to BART riders in general, and the officers specifically, for his bad behavior that day.
Sorry but I will eat and drink on BART if I have to. It’s not hurting anyone. Neither was this guy. They don’t do much about druggies shooting up in the bathrooms or elevators and every other day there is real crime, but let’s cite or arrest folks eating. I also think that if this man were white, the cop would have kept on walking.
@AnonZ –you are a typical entitled slob. Eat at home or in a restaurant or get your own automobile filthy. It is hurting those of us who are required to wear nice “clean” clothes to work. We need to add dry cleaning costs to our already high cost of commuting. No matter what the race of the slob, we still get our clothes just as stained.
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Don’t be afraid to enforce the law because he’s African American!! He’s just another jerk upset because he got caught breaking the rules.
wow not supporting bart policy or officers
I know these officers need their jobs to support their families but they should walk and anyone who would seek to be humiliated by bart for doing their job should refrain from seeking employment as an officer
a disgrace and as RJ said the lack of respect for officers has come to a head and it is just a matter of a short time before the rioting and laws in general are not respected and lawlessness ensues.
Bart should fire that GM and enforce their policies for the whole of the paying riders.
try that in texas yall ….
The guy is not following the law of no eating or drinking on the platform. But I’ll be honest… I really don’t care. BART police have more important things to do than waste their time arguing with some idiot who refuses to stop eating. Police prioritize, and this is hardly a priority. And, no – I’m not a liberal. Too much time was wasted on something very minor. Move on, and handle real crime. This is very petty, all the way around. The video is embarrassing. Our tax dollars are being wasted on a skinny guy who was eating? Okay, thanks for sharing.
Nice Sell Out comment. So you wouldn’t have any issues with people loitering in front of your house for hours…..because the Police should be out there focused on the real crime.
Dear Bay Area Rancid Transit –
Enforce the law. Those breaking the law, cite or arrest them. Next, stop paying broom pushers law degree wages.
Follow the rules Jack Ass, if not do the time or pay for the crime. Simple
I’ve had many Bart police officers walk by me while I eat waiting for the Bart train. Maybe cause I’m 6ft tall blonde and blue eyes that they didn’t approach me. Life is great.
I don’t eat or drink at BART, but I see people do it all the time. I’ve also seen BART officers ignore it. It’s officer discretion. If they really want to enforce don’t eat or drink, they shouldn’t sell food and drink at the BART station. BART is setting themselves up. It’s public transportation, and he’s eating not breaking into houses or selling drugs.
As a law enforcement officer on Malibu Beach, I wrote many citations to attractive women.
108RS
See, I’m all for this guy getting in trouble. He broke the rules.
The problem is they don’t enforce jack otherwise. Start enforcing ALL the rules. Not just the easy-pickins like sandwich guy.
If they actually enforced everything, including sandwich guy, we’d have a much nicer transit system.
Just because you’re a minority and you broke the law and you filmed it doesn’t mean you’re in the right. Pay your ticket sucka lol. Ahahahaha
Well, someone missed the point.
first off, these 2 people are idiots and trying to antagonize the officer. you are not supposed to eat on BART , there are signs everywhere! Do what the officer says, throw your food away and move on.
second, I wish BART police were as aggressive with the homeless, panhandlers, and bums that ride BART as they were with this guy. It would be a much safer system to ride.
The real crime is that goofy looking clown’s outfit
No kidding. Wonder how long it took him to find that hat to match his shoes. That’s some serious shopping right there.
Well, I see a lot of remarks about people eating on the train, so a cop does something about it and everybody is upset. It sounded like he was asked not to but continued to eat anyway. He had a chance to not escalate the problem, but choose not to. Looks at our parking lots, parks. streets and freeways. Can you imagine what Bart would look like if everyone could eat and drink on it.
This is why BART Employees sit in the booth with their head down, and BART police hide in their cars. The climate at BART has changed and the employees get in trouble if they try to enforce any rules.
It just keeps getting worse it started with Lateefah Simon and now even worse with Janice Li as BART Board Members. Janice actually held a rally at Montgomery and told everyone to bring for and eat it, so brake the rules is ok at least some of them.
Both of these new directors could care less about the employees or the actual paying passengers. They are all about making everyone else pay so the criminals that fare evade are protected. It’s truly horrible and I don’t know how those two got elected.
Why isn’t Claycord breaking this story? You have a BART board of directors promoting rule breaking on BART.
She needs to be fired.
so this is for the entitled people ‘
the laws are the laws if you want them changed or feel they are not right or feel they need to be changed <<< yes I said it again we are talking about entitled here. then address the law makers with a change
showing disrespect when of course you want respect is as childish as it comes
just like blaming police for response time when you hold a over 100 person illegal party and things get out of hand …..
stop being disrespectful and you might get some back
saying other people do it is again childish and really low and again disrespectful
the bart Gm or manager or what ever he is
by not showing respect for the laws brought forth by his own entity should be fired and the police should have a sit down as to the continued police services for bart …..if no respect is given to police officially by bart than why are they there …
and a simple word that nobody seems to understand or give weight to
ESCALATION … an increase in the intensity or seriousness of something
THIS word is used to describe things that should not happen
bringing race into every side show or slip and fall or escalation or disrespect of authority ….is childish as well
just as the bystander taking the video
so instead of trying to help the situation by talking to the guy and saying hey dude relax just put the sandwich away for a sec all good
nope it is recorded so it can be used as a race baiter ….
even escalated to help with viewership
these are not adult acts or even citizens helping out citizens
its a total disrespect for the officer and the laws and the platform and others around as well as americans as a whole for each video uploaded becomes a silver dagger to further make America look childish and weak to the world
I wonder when china invades if you will be looking for an officer or military officer to save you then ….
japan tried it and they are 1/10th of the size of china
so keep acting like children and see where it gets us
If he was eating when the cop first saw him and was still there when the cop came back – surely he could have left the paid area – ate – and then go back to catch the train.
However, if there were other people eating the cop only issued this guy a ticket – then BART has to give us a reason why only this guy got the ticket.
And no this isn’t like speeding on the freeway – the cop could easily cite a lot of people very quickly in that environment.
It is really that simple. Don’t start none, Won’t be none.
A typical response from governments and their agents in the Bay Area:
“We have rules for a reason. But sometimes the rules don’t have a reason. We really don’t want to say. We prefer not to take a stand on any specifics so cops and citizens are left to work it out themselves, because that ALWAYS ends well.”
Hey, can I get your address so I can come drop my trash in your front yard since I don’t really feel like putting it in a garbage can- there is a reason for the rule— if you dont like the rules, dont ride BART– simple
Only if you learn how to read and interpret the words on the screen. So no.
FOLKS !, . . . . this is CA, . . . . The LEFT Coast.
Where disrespectful behavior is tolerated.
Until liberal politicians and sycophant minions they appoint are gone, expect this type of behavior to increase.
Every morning, at the Lafayette station, a young woman who enters the train with a drippy, sloppy peanut butter sandwich. At this point the train is packed like sardines, but she doesn’t care. So, it is an ESTABLISHED PRECEDENT, and accepted behavior. Not to mention the fact there have been several photos of caterers bringing food onto the train. So, they need to be consistent.
Are the caterers setting up a buffet? or just carrying food on the train? I think it’s actively eating/drinking or is no food, even in a sealed container forbidden? Just using common sense, I’m guessing the law is eating/drinking, which would preclude the caterers from committing a faux pas.
My issue is that BART is generally filthy and officers’ first priority should be safety ON TRAINS as trains are moving. Not enough police presence on trains all the time and there is often spilled food, feces, needles, discarded clothing, and trash on trains. This means most observable transgressions happen on trains while trains are moving. Having to see this petty law enforcement on the platform just shows for all to see that PD is lazy and just not present on moving trains, where they are critically needed. People are tired of dangerous situations on moving trains and this is why such an emotional reaction to the “arrest” video from the public. I have been attacked on BART on a moving train and know what I am talking about. Also, condescending posts from BART on Facebook or an insult to all travelers who feel hyper vigilant for their safety and scared for their lives on moving trains. I cannot stress more to BART that people are tired of the conditions and lack of recognition of these conditions on moving trains.
So, public is told not to confront scofflaws…LE officer warns scofflaw (with respect)…scofflaw reacts like two bit punk…officer confronts scofflaw (with respect)…and manager disrespects officer and public…typical Bart mo
Idiot that thinks he’s “entitled” to ignore the rules or maybe he can’t read! There are many reasons for not allowing eating/drinking at a BART station. We all pay for a safe and clean transit system. If I was a judge, I’d put him on cleanup duty for a couple days. This nut got his 15 minutes of fame in 3. I wouldn’t want this notoriety. Example on how things can escalate.
This is a very poorly written press release. First of all he apologizes to Mr Foster, without telling us who Foster is. Is he the scofflaw ? we don’t know and he doesn’t tell us.The larger point is the weasel words the GM used. I can’t figure out what his point is. Is he condemning the Officer or not? Who knows?
The end result of this type of press release is the cops say , “Screw it “and give up. Look at Chicago and Baltimore as current examples of civic leaders who can’t decide whether to support law enforcement.. The cops go fetal.
Apologizing to Foster and those having an emotional reaction to the video? Very weak.
My bet is the officer was asking Foster to obey the rules and made the decision to cuff and cite him based on Foster’s insulting behavior. Good for him.
The guy could have put the food away when the officer asked him to and pull it out of his backpack once the officer was gone. The guy doesn’t look to be starving so he could have waited a little longer to eat. It’s not following the most basic rules that is turning BART trains into a disgusting mess on rails.
So the officers can’t KEEP HOMELESS PEOPLE off the train?? Cops just be standing and talking! N
Sounds like yet another, look at me, look at me. And make sure someone records me. Did you get my good side?
This was all planned by the “influencers” folks. Nothing to see here.
Was hoping we could all ignore these wannabes. But alas, hope is not a strategy.
Lot of patience shown in that clip. I learned very young in Capitola to just shut up and listen to cops. Even if you want to curse them under your breath, flip them off as they drive away, whatever you need to do to vent, but don’t do it to their face or your life will get very hard, very quickly.
Blatant disrespect is never going to lead to a good outcome for anyone, police or citizen.
If BART doesn’t want people eating on the system, maybe they shouldn’t allow food vendors at their stations.
Also, the sign says no food beyond this point/entry, so am I suppose to empty my lunch pail when I enter BART on my way to work?
While they were walking down the stairs. There was a white lady holding a Starbucks cup. The cops said nothing to her. Double standard?
How do you know if there was anything in the Starbucks cup?
If you were hiring new employees and a pre-employment background check turned up this video of his behavior would you hire this person?
His actions and subsequent video posting might just turn out to be a CLM (career limiting move).
Stupid Law. We could change that law if we really wanted to. I think we should.
I am glad that the rules are finally being enforced…..
Bart is run just like PG&E and look how that turned out.
How do you balance wanting to expand ridership during breakfast, lunch and dinner? Banning eating or drinking (I always carry my water with me) is not the way.
All Mr. Foster had to do was say, yes officer, sorry, and put the sandwich away. After he boarded Bart finish it. Does not take a Rocket Surgeon to figure that out.
Act that way on a traffic stop and see if you don’t get cited.
Same thing. Infraction is an infraction.
Someone needs their mouth washed out with soap, not just any soap but 1950s black, gritty Lava bar soap, it worked on me.
Since there were a number of others eating the Bart officer should have called the station attendant and request an anti-eating announcement be made. Going after this one man was arbitrary.
In Italy eating and smoking is allowed on the outdoor platforms. They provide ash trays and trash cans.
My son received a citation for eating on a train years ago. While he did not agree with the rule, he complied with the officer, got the citation, and paid the fine, in the end. The problem with our society is those of you who continue to defend the “problem child’s” in society. The guy deserved what he got. He is not a victim. He was a smart-ass and deserved to be treated like such.
I had a BART booth attendant chastise me, when I came back from going somewhere, because she ASSumed I tried to skip paying the fare when my clipper card was not read by the fare gate when I entered the station. Where is my apology!?
guessing it might be in the same place your head is
Folks, Here’s a link to your guy.. The president of the board. He needs to go. He’s a career politician that could gave a rats ass about the safety or protection of paying customers. He’s a complete fraud. Look him up yourself. Check out his facebook page. He’s a clown that does’t deserve to be running such an important transit system for so many hard working people in the ay area. Vote hime OUT!
https://www.bart.gov/about/bod/bodMembersDetail_09
You can’t eat on the platform but you can do drugs on the train . What a joke
You can’t do drugs on the trains………only till you get caught.
108RS
Me. Foster was in the wrong here. Why is that even a question? The officer, for whatever reason, chose to enforce a law that states no eating on the platform. Mr. Foster was disrespectful, rude and down right trying to start trouble. He stepped into the officers personal space on at least one occasion, and I believe he did that because he was looking for an altercation. He wanted the fight. We don’t know what happened before the video started, but the press release stated that the officer had walked by and asked and when he returned. He decided to enforce the law.
The officer we should be given praise for his patience and calm response to an irrational unpleasant individual. This officer should be applauded for his calm demeanor. This video should be considered to be used for officer training.
Zero Respect.
I believe BART management apologized to the guy who stabbed that beautiful young woman last year because its police cause some disruption in his life. Seems they don’t quite have a grasp on managing a public transit system.
Maybe this officer should be assigned to working ON the moving trains. We need someone like him to confront the countless people breaking rules on the trains making things very unsafe and uncomfortable for the law-abiding riders.
I don’t agree with breaking the law…BUT this man claimed this officer went directly towards him while passing up other riders who were eating. It seems like the officer singled him out. I honestly do not understand this rule. They have drug addicts, homeless people, murderers and fair jumpers who get away with all of that…yet EATING is a BAD thing?? Wow. I don’t ride BART enough to even know about this silly rule. I would rather see a sandwich wrapper on the ground than a used needle in a seat cushion! What is the rationale behind not eating anyway? Please explain. Food allergies? Litter? Vomiting if you eat something bad? I do not get it.
I noticed that the part about him walking past other people who were eating is not in the video. Are you just taking his word for it?
@ Ninja Nurse
Actually if you think about it, there are some really good reasons not to allow eating on BART, discarded food and wrappers draw vermin. Hard enough to see rats and cockroaches on the rails without having them on the trains too. Also, in a crowded train or station, the smell of salami sandwich could be downright nauseating.
They have to start somewhere. If they’re ever going to return BART to a clean, reliable, and safe public transportation system, they will have to start doubling down on minor infractions and very gradually ramp up enforcement of all crimes. What they will have to do is change the very permissive culture which has developed, the one that is such an affront to paying passengers. They will need to re-establish the authority of BART police so that scofflaws like this guy are sufficiently intimidated enough to cooperate. And, above all else, they need to be consistent. This guy mouthed off to the officers and was disrespectful (we knew he had problems with respect to begin with), and it got him what he deserved.
The guy is basically an adult with the mentality/maturity of a child. His childish actions are just like a kid who has a tantrum when they don’t get their way.
Did the guy even have a ticket???
When I rode BART a group of high schoolers would get on a clean early morning train every morning, ride a few stops and leave half the car, floor and seats, littered with food and fast food wrappers. There is a reason for the law.
General manager how dare you apologize to an individual breaking a law, any law, and who does not follow the orders of a police officer. You are among the disgusting political figures in the community that can not stand up for what is right. You are “ playing the game “ and have lost credibility and my respect.
I agree! The guy is caving due to the media that has bent this to be the old race card. I am sick of people who think this person has his civil right to break our laws. The officer was right. The man was breaking the law.
Agree!!!!
Mr. Powers my ass, Mr. Weak!
It’s laughable they worry about clean trains and people eating on a platform but it’s acceptable people crapping in the streets, and drug needles everywhere that’s Hilarious
Where do I sign the petition to get rid of Bob Powers??
Maybe it was one of those really delicious hero sandwiches from Canesa’s in Clayton….
I might argue with the Cop myself!
Once again the law/ rule breaker is made out to be a hero.
Is there any way to send this claycord story with all the comments to the GM of Bart? I too am disgusted by the apology to a belligerent, law-breaking, “I’m going to play the race card” piece of s**t. And shame on the media for once again making the story so one-sided, for drama’s sake!
I’m sure it will be brought to his attention. Huge boo-boo on his part…. He’s shown he’s spineless.
Call BART GM and leave a message, (510) 464-6060
All Bob Powers is doing is undermining the Police. If he does not like it change the law.
obviously the gm of bart believes he is entitled
just like this foster kid
as well as the others here who say well why didn’t the officer talk to this person or that or everyone does it or drugs and needles and bums
entitled mentality is running rampant in sanctuaryville
problem is its spreading like wildfire and not one person is trying to stop it
it is out of control and will eventually cause an implosion of self pity and more of this behavior
obviously by defending this disrespectful entitled kid you are endorsing this kind of behavior and defending entitlement and disrespect of the police and their job …..so do not be offended when someone tells you off at your job
you voted for this and allow this ….
this will be the norm until it escalates further
you must be proud it obviously sounds like it
Black Cop/White Sandwich Guy = No Story
White Cop/White Sandwich Guy = No Story
Black Cop/Black Sandwich Guy = No Story
White Cop/ Black Sandwich Guy = Race Card! Racist Cop! – “Video this Girlfriend!” – Law Breaker is VICTIM!, National News! Stand by for LAWSUIT!
Geez! Not a bad day’s work for a BART Cop…. at least he didn’t shoot him.
So very true
Is one of those rules not typically enforced unless the officer is in a bad mood or discriminating. Your tax dollars at work. Great job officer.
There’s no bias in media….
https://news.yahoo.com/black-man-put-handcuffs-police-170516695.html
Mr. Foster was brought up in a world where parents teach their children (often by observation) that anything is okay as long as you don’t get caught, and if caught, try and deflect the blame.
We’ve been in trouble.
Fire the BART board of directors otherwise nothing will ever change
Just when you think California can’t get any more removed from reality and common sense, now there have to be public apologies to people breaking the rules? I wish the people, of all colors, who believe in the social contract, follow the rules and understand the mission of law enforcement could live together and the one who think that laws don’t apply to them could be by themselves….they would get just the society they deserve.
I tell the kids that I coach that ‘I don’t care who else was doing…….’ If I look up and see you doing…… then you get to do lots of push-ups. When the kids whine I sit them on the bench. I tell them it is about accepting personal responsibility. It doesn’t matter if someone else got away with something. Yes, it sucks! If you get caught then you get to do the time.
If the kids argue or debate with me about getting caught then the kid and I get to talk to their parents. If that doesn’t work, well the kid can always go somewhere else. I have to say that I have been very fortunate that I’ve not had to send a kid somewhere else, and I’ve dealt with very supportive parents.
Based on what I saw in the video this guy needed a person in his life that taught him some personal responsibility. Yes, it sucks when you get pinched for something that others got away with.
I would like to believe that had he cooperated and either put the food away or provided his name things would have gone a lot better. Now however he is going to have folks either think him the hero of the oppressed or the guy that didn’t have the sense God gave a stone to put the food away when warned.
Worked for a boss who hit the parent lottery, his management skills were best I’d seen on 30 plus years.
You can probably appreciate this video. I give URL to new parents, new hires at my work and new bosses fresh outta college.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo&list=TLEBtiTlRNvbVgBM9md8erXvjUK3E3GrzG
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/Randy/pauschlastlecturetranscript.pdf
You never see this type of behavior on the ferry system.
BaddaBing
well, at least one of the Directors has now had the guts to say the GM was Wrong…
Which Director said the GM was wrong?
I think it was Allen. Wrong was my word. She said things like humiliating and cop was doing his job. sfgate.com is where I saw it. Haven’t seen it elsewhere yet.
I read elsewhere that Foster admitted to having previous contacts with Police.
And Foster does not accept the GM apology and is considering suing. Is anyone surprised?
This has nothing to do with racism. There are signs that state what activities are prohibited.- Follow the rules and there won’t be an issue do what you’re asked and be respectful of one another. The no eating and drinking keeps the trains and surrounding areas clean for all. Nothing worse than sitting were someone has spilled something
if everyone would throw away the garbage in its proper place and not have a maid to do it for them there wouldn’t be any signs of no eating or drinking anywhere but can you imagine sitting in a wet seat or on an uneaten hot dog or hamburger or having hot coffee spilled on you while on a Bart car on your way to work or a party or a business meeting? he should have gulf it down or simply go back inside finish your food and on with your business instead he had to show how stupid and disrespectful he is and think all it’s ok and then cry about the end results he got what he wanted
Well, you’ve literally failed to meet your mission statement. It’s not safe, it’s not reliable and it’s definitely not clean. Who cares about someone eating chips before boarding a train? There are garbage cans up there on the platform, are there not?
No they are not refuse cans. Deal with it.
The eater was arrested for not providing his name. Cops can do that. The eater was disrespectful of authority which was poor judgement. Cop could have also shown better judgement by issuing a warning rather than a citation for a crime that really shouldn’t be a crime. Poor behavior all around here.
“ Cop could have also shown better judgement by issuing a warning .. “
That’s exactly what he did . The eater completely disregarded the warning. Time for a citation .
This has nothing to do with a man eating a sandwich on BART. The man refused to provide his name and became combative with the officer. Shame on BART for caving on this. Riders were already complaining there isn’t enough police visibility on BART….what do you think is going to happen now? What police officer will want to confront anyone when they will be reprimanded and in jeopardy of losing their job? This officer handled this situation by the book and was not in the wrong at all. Shame on you BART!
Hold on so shooting up Heriin and robbery’s are tolerated but someone eating food is when you want to intervene this is ridiculous
In the Police Academy they taught us there is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law for which it was intended. A man eating a sandwich while allowing dopers to run wild is plain insanity.
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