Neil_and_Family_5
Dec 2020
I am a music director of a high school band and was touring NYC with 100 students from another country. NYC was the culmination of 2 years of fundraising.
During our visit to the Empire State Building, we were on the Observation Deck and it was very crowded and I was stuck near the back. As I am vertically challenged, I could see very little. In front of me was a permanent telescope available for public use with a little platform. On the platform was the word 'Stand'. So I did. And I could see a beautiful view. Unfortunately, within seconds I was told by one of the security on sight to get off the platform (the one that specifically suggests one should stand there). My response was to oblige but I asked why it was I could not stand where obviously it is meant for standing. His response was to not be a smart ass or else face arrest. He then called for back up. Other people around who could hear the conversation, started to get irate at this officer for being so unreasonable and it was getting tense so rather than escalate the situation further, I told my students to meet me in the foyer. I had to cut my visit short and leave alone.
Back on terra firma, or at least in the foyer, I registered my complaint to the supervisor. His response was that the staff are overworked and the specific officer was probably tired. Which means what exactly? Was the action condoned?
It is unfortunate that my only visit to this remarkable piece of engineering (I doubt I will ever get a chance to visit again in my lifetime) was marred but an overzealous and power hungry staff member. It certainly left a sour taste in my NYC experience, one that I will relate for the rest of my days.