Posted Oct. 2008 at 4:55 p.m.

I've got to go old-school and say "hecky naw" regarding a CTA slight that I heard about from a fellow South Sider this afternoon.  I've got no bias, as I love my North Siders and hang out all over this swinging town.  If I have a bias, it's a bias against bias.

So, evidently, does Danielle, a rider who let "Going Public" in on a little exchange with an employee at the newly unveiled ctagifts.com store.  Apparently, those cool customized rep-your-stop gifts I shouted out in this week's column, do not yet include South Side stops of 87th and 79th.

Stunned, South Side?  Well, here's a note from customer service that Danielle forwarded to me after she complained about the MIA merch.

"Hello-
We are still working on developing more merchandise and had hoped the South Side merchandise would be available before we launched. Please sign up on our mailing list at CTAGifts.com to stay informed on the latest in CTA merchandise."

Danielle called this note proof of South Side bias and I have to agree.  It was rather short-sighted of the CTA not to have all the stops ready to go.  it does feed into the notion -- real or imagined-- that we get slighted South of Cermak.

Why not wait and unleash all the inventory at once to make it fair?   

This store just got started, but seriously, the CTA may want to rethink their approach to these inventory issues.  And don't worry, Danielle.  All we need are black T-shirts, some old-school puffy paint (in Red), and inspiration from CTA signs on the southern part of the Lines. We'll make our own darn shirts until the CTA store gets its act together. 

Posted April 24, 12:30 p.m.

It's sad news about a stabbing that took place near the CTA's Morse station early Thursday, but this occurred in a car, and not on CTA property, according to reports I've seen. 

But today, ironically, I received a letter from a Wilmette rider about an alleged assault on the CTA's Red Line.  Here's what the rider told me about the experience:

I think the CTA really needs to have more security on trains.  I was mugged and assaulted on the CTA red line.  There were people on the train just watching me get beaten by 9 people!  No one called 911, or even pressed the emergency button.  If they would have made any effort maybe I would not have broken two bones and been scarred for the rest of my life.  I was eventually pushed off the train onto a platform where the beating continued and ended with me having to run away with two broken bones.  I had to have surgery on both bones and missed one month of work.  When I tried to contact CTA all I got were answering machines and people who were too busy to call me back, or were always on break when I called.  The police didn’t do anything either which wasn’t a shock to me at all, they said they were going to assign this case to a detective.  The detective called me two weeks later and said hes going on vacation for a few weeks.  So in the end I will never take the CTA again, CTA you lost a customer for life, and please CTA and Chicago Police get your [bleep] together!!!!!!

Most of the security complaints I hear are directed at the South Side of the line, especially at 95th, where riders have complained of out-of-control vendors, aggressive panhandlers and a lack of visible police presence. 

CTA Prez Ron Huberman told me he has made the police kiosk at that station more  evident to the riders, and recently made sure that officers can process ne'er do wells right at that location.  Amen! 

But tell me: Do you feel safe on the CTA, and if not, what would you like to see done?

Do cameras cut it for you?  Personally, I'd like to see a dedicated CTA police squad with uniforms, rather than so many undercovers.  The cameras are a great idea, but nothing stops would-be criminals like the idea of immediate arrest. 

Crime is everywhere, and we know it isn't the fault of the CTA or something unique to the system, but let's come up with some constructive ideas to make riders safer.  Heck, I'll even try and share them with the CTA.