Posted on 02/02/2006 3:24:32 AM PST by Panerai
A rookie MBTA commuter rail conductor who allegedly harassed women and girls on the Rockport line with X-rated wisecracks and saucy talk is facing discipline after one fed-up mom dropped a dime.
“I was totally disgusted,” said Jennifer Barrett, 24, of Gloucester. “This guy should not be working with the public.”
The trouble started in December, Barrett said, when new conductor Junior Rodriguez remarked that her 7-year-old daughter, Tiarra, had a “ghetto booty,” slang for a large behind.
“I’m like, ‘Excuse me?’ ” recalled Barrett, who said she also overheard the conductor making inappropriate comments to two young women on another day.
One time, Barrett said, she sat up after reaching down to pick up her 2-year-old daughter’s pacifier only to find the allegedly randy railroad man leering at her.
“He said, ‘Oh, yeah, show me more of that.’ Then I realized he was looking down my shirt,” she said.
Rodriguez, 31, was hired in April 2005 by MBCR, the contractor that runs the T commuter rail service. He was yanked off the rails pending an investigation the day after Barrett complained, T spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.
Efforts to reach Rodriguez at home and through his union yesterday were unsuccessful.
An internal disciplinary hearing in which Rodriguez was accused of violating the MBTA code of personal conduct was held Jan. 27, Pesaturo said. The hearing officer has until the end of the week to decide the case.
“The general manager of the T has spoken with the general manager of MBCR, Paul Lundberg. Both are very concerned about the allegations,” Pesaturo said.
Roger Lenfest, a United Transportation Union Local 898 official who represented Rodriguez at the disciplinary hearing, said he couldn’t comment on the allegations while the hearing officer’s decision is pending.
Barrett said she’s relieved she can ride in peace. “With all the young girls that travel, too, that was my biggest concern,” she said.
One time, Barrett said, she sat up after reaching down to pick up her 2-year-old daughter’s pacifier only to find the allegedly randy railroad man leering at her.
So, this is a prior incident?
"she also overheard the conductor making inappropriate comments to two young women on another day.
And this is yet another incident?
The trouble started in December, Barrett said,
So this incident happened before the other two?
And she kept going back and sitting by the same guy? With her daughter?
The timeline doesn't seem right, and the whole story seems somehow to not fit.
Maybe it's bad reporting, but something here doesn't sound accurate.
I won't ask how old you are but having children at 17 is not all that common among responsible people these days. 17 year olds should not be having babies in my opinion. I know that is not PC to say, but it is my opinion. I would be willing to guess that this woman isn't married because her husband would have kicked the crap out of this guy if he existed. I grew up in a major east-coast city. i went to public schools. I have a nose for certain types. I hope I am not wrong and generalizing, but when I hear this woman's quotes and hear about her being in her early 20's and having a 7 year old with a ghetto booty while piking up her 2 year olds pacifier, all while riding on public transportation, I say this woman is not reliable. She may be telling the truth. But she lacks reliablity.
It began when kids started repeating what they heard their parents and grandparents say in their own homes.
Good points all.
But, making a bad attempt at a comical comment (ghetto booty) is far from from public lewdness (c'mon little girl, gimme some of that thang).
The article lacks context. It could well have been innocuous.
Not at all.
It is something to smack him in the mouth about for damn sure!
"It began when kids started repeating what they heard their parents and grandparents say in their own homes."
LOL
That's how I became such a good cusser.
People just need to loosen up.
_____
Are you kidding? I have a great sense of humor, but if some weirdo was looking at and commenting on my little girl's heiney, I'd have a problem with it. It's amazing what people can find acceptable when its not them dealing with that crap.
So it would be okay if some strange man talked to your baby girl that way or leered at your wife's boobage?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So do I and right now I detect something that stinks.
OMG! You are assuming so many things. I can't even begin to say. What you are saying is extremely bigotted in so many ways. Wow.
We have no idea if this is "some weirdo" looking at a "little girl's heiney."
It may well have been some good-natured fellow who kids a little too much and allowed himself to get a little carried away.
Some people are WAY too sensitive to the words of others. He didn't touch her, he said some words. That's it.
Honestly, if some train conductor commented that my little girl had a "ghetto booty," I would laugh and take the comment in the nature it was given.
If, however, he demonstrated through words or deeds that he was interested in her in a sexual way, I would get physical.
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You're off base in this case. Any adult (or adolescent) male that makes any reference to a child's body belongs on a watch list. I've raised three daughters and once threw a guest out of the house for making similar comments. I made sure I did it loud too so that everyone else there knew why the creep was forever persona non grata.
You may live your life with standards as loose as you like...I was raised to protect children.
You make some serious assumptions about things you know nothing about.
I have a wife and two daughters. If you think anyone on planet earth is more protective of their wife and daughters than I, you are delusional. I am almost psychotic in that regard.
But, then, I know the difference between good-natured jesting and a true threat. Some people can't see the difference.
Honestly, if some train conductor commented that my little girl had a "ghetto booty," I would laugh and take the comment in the nature it was given.
I notice you ignored the rest of my post. The part where I said what would happen if it were a real threat........
Nevermind.
So your loose standards should apply to everyone but you? Ok then.
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