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The empty city: Downtown, Easter Sunday
By adamg on Tue, 04/14/2020 - 9:19am
Nate Swain flew a drone above downtown's empty streets on Sunday.
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Comments
Can We Stop The Covid End Of Days Drama, Please?
There are people who are celebrating the lack of people moving around like it is a good thing. This is one example of it.
First of all, Post Office Square looked like this on a Sunday in the 80's so this person is not breaking any new ground here.
Secondly, people have lost their livelihoods here. There is no construction going on at One PO Square. The drone goes by three places where I get food during a workday. The offices are empty. The people who work there are not getting paid. Do you think the person who works in the FedEx office at 10 PO is getting by right now? Is the busboy who works in the smackable face clientele restaurant next door to FedEx making bank right now? No.
All of you who are saying this is a great thing; go jump in a lake. You want peace and quiet coupled with cleaner air, move to Presque Isle, because you can't have an urban environment and have the other. I want my city back.
Who's celebrating?
Who exactly is celebrating here? Documenting what is happening is a very important thing, and it's videos like this that will be important in the future. Not just when people talk about this pandemic, but also when people talk about architecture and urban design. Videos like this are artifacts that we are preserving now for the future.
Who
This is a video, Johnny, not a "celebration". Do you understand the difference? If you don't, then can I ask you why you participated in this "celebration" by watching it if you are so opposed to it? Seems hypocritical - but you won't admit that, I'm sure.
You refer to "all of you", yet you are the first comment to post here. To whom are you speaking if you are the only one or the first one in a room?
I've been in that FedEx since the shutdown, Johnny. Would you care to name which FedEx person you were talking about? Because there were FedEx people there. I didn't ask how they were "getting by", nor have you ever asked, I'm willing to bet.
Good luck with your anger and bitterness.
Who said it's a good thing?
Who said it's a good thing?
This video is just documenting the facts of the current situation.
One small problem...
It's not your city.
Brian
I know. It's not Reveah so it ain't yours either. Go yell at someone about you not wanting to pay for things because you think it is unfair that things cost money.
Hey, you know what's funny?
Marty Walsh said almost the exact same thing when we were shouting at each other in front of horrified witnesses in front of the Frogmore not too long ago!
"You don't even live heah anymoah! You're a punk. Stop being a punk" were his eloquent words.
Did the video say any of that?
I'm confused. This is literally just a video of Boston without crowds. How is it glorifying or dramatizing any of it? It's just an interesting and uncommon view (sorry, don't recall drone photography being a thing in the 80s....).
Any drama you're getting out of this post and the video are just from your interpretation and readiness to get offended.
I just think it looks interesting
You're the one bringing the drama. :-)
Relax.
Nobody is celebrating. The only people who think anyone is celebrating are the Trump cultists who swear this whole thing is a Democrat conspiracy to affect the 2020 election.
Simply put, we're witnessing history. When have cities across the world been seen as this empty, other than in movies? These moments should be documented for future generations (or even our current ones) to learn from to hopefully prevent this kind of shutdown from being required again.
Spooky
You wont see that too often.....I hope.
Suggested download if not Authorized
Yes it is wonderful video but,,,,,
B4UFLY
Free from the FAA
Regarding
LAT 42.35647
LONG -71.05616, Post Office Square
Class B Restricted Airspace - Logan Int Airport KBOS - Authorization required
Boston National Historical Park, 0.10 mi
Three Hospital Heliports, M.G.H., Tufts, B.M.C.H.
Two seaplane landing areas, Cape Air and Tailwinds
DHS, DOD, Group Boston, USCG base, 0.75
There was one a couple of years ago out over Southie including Castle Island right under 4R and 4L.
There is enough to worry about up there without drones and lasars too.
maybe not legal but
The surrounding buildings are much higher than the drone ever gets. Planes don't fly between the buildings. So, is there really any danger, or harm?
Speaking as a (non-drone) pilot...
This strikes me as a case of most likely safe but definitely not legal per FAA regs. If the feds caught me doing this, they could pull my certificates.
I'm less concerned about the UAS pilots who operate knowledgeably within the spirit of the law more than the letter. I'm concerned about the ones who think they know what they do or don't need to worry about, but don't.
If there are any planes
flying 40 feet off the ground in between those buildings, they probably have bigger things to worry about than a little RC copter.
(Your comment isn't wrong, just... incongruous.)
Helicopters, especially medevac
Are not flying 40 feet off the ground, but if the drone gets any higher...
Much of Boston is actually off-limits to drones due to proximity to Logan and heliports (our many hospitals!). It's a federal rule and is not totally arbitrary; we should respect it.
Some Trainings aren't announced
https://www.universalhub.com/2016/super-secret-helicopters-are-back-endl...
Any Day After Midnight . .
I'm guessing that the people who are mesmerized by empty streets are mostly 9 to 5ers. Because the streets of the city can be seen empty every day of the week in any circumstance. Just go out overnight. You don't get the sunlight, and you run across the occasional Eversource or Verizon crew in a hole, but you'll see and own vast empty streets of the Financial District, Downtown Crossing, etc. just the same.
History Lesson
In the forgotten 70s us local punk rockers of the time had the desolate and deserted nighttime financial district all to ourselves with Cantone's (Broad Street), the Space (Batterymarch Street) and the short-lived Maverick's (somewhere around there). The only other signs of life in the area were the very separatist lesbian bar Saints (no men allowed) and the somewhat more liberal Somewhere (men tolerated, if barely). Fun times!
I was out on Easter
The weather was nice and I decided to take a walk to the public garden. It was not empty - either at the garden or along Boylston Street. As a matter of fact, it was too crowded for my comfort (with families having their kids running around and nobody wearing masks) so I cut my walk short.
This was taken at 7 - 7:30 in the morning
Not exactly a time for bumper to bumper traffic on a Holiday Sunday either.
Dont encourage these pests.
Dont encourage these pests.
The Globe and Uhub are always posting drone footage since its free easy content, but having these gnats flying all around is like all the smallpenis motorcycle dips that roar around trying to get people to look at them. I've been to National Parks, state and local ones (the Arboretum is a frequent target) where these drones interrupt everyone else trying to enjoy being outside.
I miss quiet Sundays in
I miss quiet Sundays in Massachusetts. Those went away after the blue laws were voted away in 1992.
Lonely Financial Zone
Lonely Financial Zone
That part of Boston is normally empty
In the before times you would see very few cars or people there on a Sunday, especially early ion the morning.
They have $9 parking there for a reason.
Is there a law?
That says videos with no words have to have annoying repetitive "music?" Where do they get this "music?" Is it like free clip art? This video was eerie and sad, but I had to mute it after the first two minutes. Also I kept wanting to control the drone with my mouse, send it somewhere besides the same four blocks. Not that I'm complaining or anything.