DEMONSTRATION DURING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION MAY HAVE IMPACT ON BMCC CAMPUS OPERATIONS
July 29, 2004
Next month’s Republican National Convention may have an impact on BMCC and its students. The Convention will take place from Monday, August 30th through Thursday, September 2nd at Madison Square Garden. Other than some street closures in the vicinity of the Garden, the convention and its delegates should have little direct impact on the college or its operations.
Indirectly, however, the community should be prepared for some disruption. On Sunday, August 29, protesters plan a massive protest march down West Street culminating in a rally on the corner of West Street and Chambers – right in front of BMCC. Organizers estimate that as many as 250,000 people may participate.
We do not yet know what time the rally at Chambers and West will take place, for much of the day BMCC will be virtually inaccessible by car. Students and employees coming to campus are encouraged to use mass transit and be prepared for large crowds in the subway stations and streets near the campus.
During the convention students and employees who live near or pass by Madison Square Garden, should be aware of street closures in the immediate vicinity of the Garden. Closures will begin on Sunday, August 29th and are as follows:
West 31st to West 33rd Streets from 6th to 9th Avenues will be closed to vehicle traffic. Between 7th and 9th Avenues, pedestrians will need to have a business-related purpose to enter.
West 32nd between 6th and 7th Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic. It will become a Pedestrian Mall, providing access to Penn Station up through Penn Station’s 7th Avenue entrance under the MSG marquee. People will be able to enter Penn Station through the entrance at 34th & 7th Avenue but not from 8th Avenue.
7th Avenue will be closed from 42nd to 29th Streets during the 13 hours when the convention is in session. At other times, at least one lane will be open in the MSG area and all lanes will be open elsewhere.
8th Avenue will be closed during the convention hours from 23rd to 34th Streets. Since 31st Street at 8th Avenue will be a designated protest area, additional lane or avenue closures are likely south of that point at other times during the week.
The MTA will be re-routing bus service on both 7th and 8th Avenues.
The Convention will not be in session during rush hour and it has only one session during the day, on Monday from 10:00am to 1:00pm. The evening sessions will take place Monday through Thursday, from 8:30pm to 11:00pm.
