Shake and Wake

Even though I don't live in New York anymore, I still keep up with what's going on in the city via websites like Gothamist and NY Magazine. I read this week on Gothamist that the NYPD is going to start cracking down on people sleeping on the subway (shake and wake). Too many people have been robbed and/or assaulted while dozing on the subway, so the police want to stop people from becoming crime victims. I don't think I ever slept while on the subway when I lived in New York. It just seems like a recipe for disaster. Homeless advocates fear the shake and wake tactics are simply a cover for the NYPD to harass the homeless who often ride the rails and sleep in the cars. If you've ever ridden the subways in NY with any consistency, chances are you've encountered a sleeping homeless person. Sometimes the stench of these folks can fill an entire subway car. I learned the hard way that when you see an empty or near-empty car and the others are filled, chances are that car is empty for a reason, probably because it stinks like a landfill. I think shake and wake is actually a good thing. Sleeping on the subway, whether you're homeless or not, just isn't a good idea. Yes, we're all tired after a day or working or a night of drinking, but sleeping on public transit just isn't a good idea. You need to be aware of your surroundings or at least awake.