Hey, there! Log in / Register

City warns state authority to not lock main doors during large events at convention center

The Boston Licensing Board voted yesterday to issue a warning to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority over an incident at the Pax East show in April in which security guards locked a front entrance at the South Boston convention center to funnel attendees into metal-detector lines.

The vote by commissioners Keeana Saxon and Liam Curran - board Chairwoman Christine Pulgini was not present - means little unless the authority is cited again for similar problems.

BPD detectives cited the authority on April 7 saying the locked and duct-taped door could have caused problems if Pax goers had to suddenly flee the convention center in an emergency.

At a hearing on Tuesday, they told the board that when they arrived for a routine inspection, a large cluster of attendees were near the shut door trying to get out - and that it took at least ten minutes for a security guard to retrieve a key.

Authority officials disputed that, saying a guard with a key was standing right at the door and that in any event, the center has lots of exits - and workers to get people out quickly.

Neighborhoods: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

Idiots! I'm sure there were plenty of people with keys at the Coconut Grove November 28, 1942.

up
Voting closed 0

Locking doors at the South Boston Convention Center during any event, no matter how small or large, is downright foolhardy--and dangerous, to boot.

Didn't the staffpeople at the Convention learn anything from the Coconut Grove fire, the Station Club fire down in Warwick, RI, or the equally catastrophic event at the "Who" concert in Cleveland, OH, when several concert-goers were trampled to death, due to the fact that only one of the eleven doors to the arena in question were opened?

Obviously not.

up
Voting closed 0

They're not paid to think of things such as security and safety.

up
Voting closed 1

They're not paid to think of things such as security and safety.

Then, what are they paid for?

up
Voting closed 1

To be symbols of the security theatre.

up
Voting closed 0