# WC Fields was right, Philadelphia to close **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 8, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292 "2015-08-08T03:08:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/21 "2015-08-08T21:55:10Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > As I understand it, the Pope comes with somewhat more protection than Hitchbot. > > … The Pope uses protection? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/22 "2015-08-08T23:52:01Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Well, yes but the “100m people in a 3 mile radius” thing threw me off the track until I could figure out what he really meant. I also did a double take, but I picked up the usage quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/23 "2015-08-09T00:37:17Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > After seeing what Philly did to Hitchbot, I understand the extra police presence. That was necessary. A hitchhiking robot is as useful as an enema for cantaloupes. And in retrospect, an atrocity to catholic sheepheads. I will be a mess in the area during this crapal visit. Of course, there is another alternative to the city planning that they’ve come up with for this… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/24 "2015-08-09T01:39:59Z")
I live mere blocks from the Parkway, this will be like having July 4th conditions for 4 days with a much larger footprint. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/25 "2015-08-09T05:30:10Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The Pope uses protection? Meh. Who am I to judge? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/26 "2015-08-09T17:44:56Z")
Anyway and whatever the numbers, as others have stated, not just that kind of exclusion zone but those _restrictions on use of transit_… what a mess. BTW I must correct myself it’s not a 3 mile radius it’s as the OP stated a 3 \*square mile \*space but it’s most of what anyone wants to see of Philadelphia and will be on from Friday to whenever an all-clear is given. [Map.](http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2015/08/05/nutter-pope-francis-wmof-security-perimeter-map.html#i1) FFS, _most of the campuses of both Drexel and UPenn_ on the other side of the Schuykill are within that Green Line. Is this an admission that the Philly authorities are not confident in their ability to exert control,being able to handle it if everyone who wants to see the Pope AND everyone who normally moves through the zone, all showed up? So they’d rather the latter stay put. > [@D\_Odds](#): > > Many, many moons ago, when we were still using abacus (abaci?) for accounting, we always used ‘m’, and for old-timers, some habits die hard. It is archaic, for sure, but when note taking I’ll often use m for thousands and mm for millions. I only do that when I take notes in Spanish (mil, millones) and by now I’m moving to K for the thousands. And the “roman numerals” thing didn’t convince me. Roman thousand to me is and has always been M, nevermind case and font. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/27 "2015-08-09T18:05:43Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The Pope uses protection? So much for the old joke: “You no play-a da game, you no make-a da rules…” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/28 "2015-08-09T22:11:02Z")
It’s Filadelphia. What did you expect? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/29 "2015-08-10T19:47:05Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Anyway and whatever the numbers, as others have stated, not just that kind of exclusion zone but those _restrictions on use of transit_… what a mess. Yep! Normal cities _add_ transit service when there’s a big event downtown, if not more trains at least longer trains. [Example.](http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/service_updates/air_water2015.html) [Example.](https://www.metrotransit.org/metro-transit-providing-extra-service-for-major-league-baseball-all-star-week) [Example.](http://www.caltrain.com/riderinfo/specialevents.html) [Example.](http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Event-services) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/30 "2015-08-13T18:48:13Z")
NJ was feeling left out of this clusterfuck… [New Jersey transportation officials](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pope/20150814_Papal_visit_impact_ripples_out_from_Franklin_Bridge_in_NJ.html) [quote=] warned drivers on Thursday that if they don’t have any business in Philadelphia that weekend to stay 50 miles away from the city. [/quote] > [@New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox](#): > > if people can’t walk miles to and from papal events and stand for hours, they “might want to reconsider going.” Yeah, let’s close the city because so many people are coming, then advise them **not** to come because the city’s closed & they’d need to walk too far. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/31 "2015-08-13T18:55:17Z")
Well, presumably the NJ Transportation Commissioner didn’t have any say in whether to close the city. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/32 "2015-08-14T01:35:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, presumably the NJ Transportation Commissioner didn’t have any say in whether to close the city. Maybe, but visitors may be arriving in Camden, 4.5 miles away from Philadelphia, and deciding to walk (because that would be the only way to get to the city center). Jersey may not have any say, but they’ll be feeling the pain. ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/33 "2015-08-14T12:00:38Z")
I live in South Jersey and work in Center City Philly and we got an email from management recently that basically went “for the week leading up to the Papal visit, the office will be open. You won’t be able to park in the deck, that will be closed off starting Monday. Mass transit will be crowded and limited, so please **plan a few extra minutes to get into the office** ”. That became a bit of a joke. It’s going to take hours to get from outside Philly to inside Philly for days leading up to event. NBC10 this morning is reporting an estimated 1.5 to 2 million visitors for the weekend. It’s going to literally double the population of the city. I know it’s fashionable to make fun of Jersey, but the NJ Transportation Commissioner had good advice … “if you have no reason to go there, don’t go anywhere near Philadelphia”. 50 miles away seems about right. [Hotels](http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2015/03/02/bucks-county-hotels-nearly-90-booked-for-pope-s.html) [in a huge radius](http://wnep.com/2015/06/02/hotel-bookings-up-in-lead-up-to-popes-visit)were booked months ago. Not to mention [those not staying in hotels](http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Philly-area-Families-Asked-to-Host-Visitors-for-Popes-Trip-284089231.html). ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/34 "2015-08-16T08:29:24Z")
> [@Runestar](#): > > My 86-year old father, who has Parkinson’s, and my 83-year old mother, who’s just had knee replacement surgery,live in Centrr City a few blocks from Rittenhouse square. They’re well in the ‘no go’ zone. I have one brother who lives across the river in New Jersey and another one who lives in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia. Heavens knows how they’d manage to get to my parents house during these three days if something goes wrong. > > Shutting off the entire downtown just for the sake of the Pope, and basically trapping everyone who lives there, is a ridiculous overreaction. Not to mention extremely dangerous for its older residents. There are no words to express just how angry the people who live here are about this… I hear ya. 2 MILLION people are expected to visit the city for the Pope, in a city of only 1.5 million . . . . .that said, I cant understand why special passes of some sort cant be issued to the 100,000 denizens in the Pope Zone. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/35 "2015-08-16T08:31:16Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > NJ was feeling left out of this clusterfuck… > [New Jersey transportation officials](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pope/20150814_Papal_visit_impact_ripples_out_from_Franklin_Bridge_in_NJ.html) > > Yeah, let’s close the city because so many people are coming, then advise them **not** to come because the city’s closed & they’d need to walk too far. :smack: Pretty much Philadelphia has said “FUCK YOU” to anyone from New Jersey that wants to see the Pope. I get the city wants to keep the Pontiff safe, surely theres a better plan. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/36 "2015-08-17T02:43:47Z")
I live in northeast Fluffya (try saying it with a Rocky accent). Assuming, now foolishly I see, that the folks who were planning this knew what they were doing, I initially wanted the Pope to come to Philly. I expected it would lead to tourist dollars for everyone. Then, after the Pope had agreed to come, they started talking about the closings, about SEPTA and PATCO not honoring regular tickets or passes etc. The head of Philly’s Fraternal Order Of Police, was on the news. He was getting a bunch of calls from the cops who were being told that they were needed to provide security. They weren’t being told how they would get there, where they would eat, sleep, or pee or how much they would be paid. I usually visit my girlfriend on weekends. She lives in Jersey. I usually take Septa, more Septa, then the NJ Patco high speed line to a station where she picks me up. That ain’t happening. I don’t see how she can drive over any bridge that would be useful. They’re all going to be closed to non-ermergency vehicles. The whole thing looks like a disaster waiting to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/37 "2015-08-17T20:54:10Z")
THe latest security map. [http://www.philly.com/philly/infographics/321846572.html](http://www.philly.com/philly/infographics/321846572.html) Not much change, really. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/38 "2015-08-17T21:07:23Z")
All of this is entirely in line with my visit a few years ago to Philthy, a city to which I hope to never return. There were _so many_ things the city and its surly denizens couldn’t get right, even on repeated tries… ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/39 "2015-08-18T17:08:54Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Your cite doesn’t support that usage, as far as I can tell. I suggest instead you use “100k” to mean “one hundred thousand”, and that this form will be readily understandable. > And I agree that the level of shutdown is nuts. For what it is worth - and getting way off topic - we use MM when referring to oil and gas volumes, so 300 MMbbl translates to 300 million barrels of oil. Have fun in Philidelphia. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292/40 "2015-08-24T19:00:09Z")
Jeebus, I lived in DC when Gorbachev came to visit. The SS and police closed one street for the length of one block for the week – 16th Street in front of the Soviet embassy. I worked on that one street, and even at that it was no problem. They made a list of people working in the dozen or so effected buildings. I had to pass through a checkpoint and get cleared every morning before walking onto my building. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wc-fields-was-right-philadelphia-to-close/727292.md?page=3)