This story ran on page 1 of the Boston Globe on
9/24/2001.
By Adrian Walker, 9/24/2001
In the middle of the fourth inning at Fenway Park Saturday evening, a moment occurred that would have been downright startling two weeks ago. Lately, it has become almost predictable.
A near-capacity crowd took to its feet to sing along to with Frank Sinatra's recording of ''New York, New York.'' It wasn't a huge musical triumph, but it was a reminder as if reminders are needed of the sea change in everyone's psyche. A similar sign over the same song came earlier in the day. Before the game, I was in a restaurant near Fenway when Sinatra's Gotham anthem came over the television.
Normally, that would have been the start of a hearty round of anti-Yankees chants. This time, it inspired sympathy and scattered cheers.
There's much to celebrate about the newfound sense of unity and shared purpose. It's stirring to see Boston's laughable ''rivalry'' with New York set aside in favor of things that really matter. Unfortunately, our solidarity with New Yorkers does not necessarily extend to some Bostonians.
I refer not to our beleaguered Muslim and Middle Eastern neighbors, but to the besieged administration of the Massachusetts Port Authority.
At Massport, the battle rages about the uncertain futures of Virginia Buckingham, the executive director, and Joe Lawless, the director of security.
The planes-turned-missiles in the attack on America were hijacked from airports in three cities but only in this one has the attack been followed by continuous calls to find someone to blame.
The anxiety over Logan is Logan Airport is understandable. Logan has Logan, which is run by Massport, has a history of questionable security, reflected in heavy fines against both Massport and the airlines who operate operating there. Just two years ago, one passenger eluded security, stowed away on a plane, and flew to London.
Even in the wake of the attacks and the new round of security regulations that have followed travelers in and out of Boston say they have inadvertently boarded planes with what are supposed to be banned items after being waved through by airport security personnel. Some experts have expressed the opinion that our beefed-up security isn't much better than our watered-down security.
Still, there is no evidence that failures on the part of Massport personnel led to the hijackings. As far as anyone knows, the hijackers did not break any laws until after they had boarded. It isn't clear that any regulations then in place would have stopped the hijackings. That doesn't seem to matter, somehow.
While Although concerns over Massport security are obviously creditable, some critics are pursuing another agenda. Most of Buckingham's critics this time around are people who opposed her appointment. For them, this is partly a chance to vent their frustration over the whole Weld-Cellucci era.
No one in this terrible time is defending business as usual. But I think one can deplore the rush to judgment especially when that judgment is as politically motivated as in this case. I think it is important to possess more facts before debating who should resign, or who should replace them. That isn't what's happening, though.
That airport security must be overhauled is now tragically obvious. And the airlines must be relieved of checkpoint security, a job they never wanted in the first place.
It is possible that the management we have at Massport is not the management we need. If that's the case, then Buckingham and Lawless should go and I won't be sorry to see them depart.
But a moment that has brought out the best in so many people should not be reduced to tired partisan politics and score-settling.
At this moment, of all moments, it's time to give the old battles a break.
Adrian Walker can be reached by e-mail at walker@globe.com
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.