Before I analyze what went wrong with the bomb scare the other day, let me point out a few facts:
1. The lite-brite mistaken for a bomb was placed on the bridge about a month or so before it was reported. Many people commented on it on various websites and message boards about how clever it was, in reference to the TV show it was promoting.
2. The two kids who were arrested for installing the LED sign are employed by a marketing company.
3. We don't have enough cops.
4. I was stuck in traffic for 3 hours and nearly missed a deadline because of this fiasco.
OK, now here's what the Mayor did wrong. First, he strained police resources to respond to this "potential crisis" which exposed a major weakness in our first response system. If this were a real bomb, it wouldn't have been pretty.
Once they realized it wasn't a bomb, the situation should have ended. But Menino was embarrased. He needed to wipe the egg off his face so he did what every politician does best and passed the buck. Turner Broadcasting, the two kids, the marketing firm, fans of the cartoon. Turner looked the best at the end the day; they took on all responsibility, paid a couple million bucks and got some nice print (no such thing as bad news).
Despite Turner's good will, Menino still insisted that the two kids are thrown in jail for...for...for what? Doing their job? I can point out a hundred more harmful things that you've done on the clock, Mr. Mayor. They work for a marketing company, they were instructed to place those LEDs there just the like hundreds of similar LEDs placed around the country by similar kids. Should they be thrown in prison as well?
The only good to come out of this was the handling of the press by these two kids. They answered every question with haircut remarks. "What do you have to say about the chaos your actions have caused." "That's not a hair question. I'm sorry." Priceless.
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