On the agenda (.pdf) at today’s Special Meeting of the BART Board of Directors:
3. Interruption of Cellular Service in a Portion of the BART System on August 11, 2011. For discussion.
The hearing stems from BART’s decision to temporarily shut down wireless communications in order to disrupt a planned protest. The controversial move was not supported by some directors.
“I’m still just a little concerned that the board of directors, the policymaking body, did not have a voice in this,” Director Lynette Sweet said on KQED Radio’s Forum. “We’re held accountable by the public for BART’s actions, and if I’m going to be held accountable, at least allow me the privilege of voting to say yes or no on doing something that drastic.”
The action also touched off a debate as to the legality of BART’s action, and angered online activists that have targeted the transit agency because of the July shooting death of Charles Hill by a BART police officer. Computer hackers, working under the banner of a loosely formed group called Anonymous, then broke into BART-related web sites, releasing the private information of customers and BART police officers. In addition, a series of protests organized online have disrupted train service as BART closed down certain stations during evening commutes. Forty-five people were arrested during the latest action on Monday.
The BART board meeting was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. BART should be webcasting it live here when it starts.