OF COURSE, THE SYSTEM IS STILL SAFE...

PHILADELPHIA - Just ask two brothers from Northeast Philadelphia, who were reportedly assaulted by separate packs of teenage punks in separate incidents on the El last week, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

On Saturday, William Costa, 47, of Mayfair, told SEPTA "Transit Police" that he was pushed from behind and knocked to the ground by two girls, then kicked by a boy as two other girls videotaped the incident at Frankford Terminal at around 08:10 last Thursday morning. William Costa suffered a broken index finger and needed four stitches above his eye.

The assailants fled onto a westbound train at Bridge-Pratt, which is home to the SEPTA "Transit Police" Zone 4 station. SEPTA's Jerri Williams told the Daily News that the incident was reported, "... she said she had no notes of his being kicked and that the police report indicated there were only four female assailants."

It makes one wonder where exactly the "Transit Police" were during the morning rush hour. Most times, it's virtually impossible to find a "Transit Police" officer at Bridge-Pratt, but when officers do patrol the area, the general attitude seems to be issue citations for offenses that most law enforcement agencies would file as criminal complaints.

Meanwhile, Joseph Costa, 57, of Parkwood, was assaulted by a different group, this time at 20:00 Friday evening at the 60 St El Station. In that incident, Joseph Costa was struck in the back of his head with a board, then was attacked by 10 teens - 8 boys and 2 girls - who kicked and punched him while he was down for about 90 seconds.

Philadelhpia Police arrived moments later, and reportedly told the other Costa that he was the seventh victim on the El this week.

Adding insult to injury, a witness reportedly told Joseph Costa that he knew some of the attackers, but didn't want to get involved for fear of retailation.

"That's Philadelphia for you," Joseph Costa said.

Sure as hell is...

POSSIBLE STABBING AT 69 ST

UPPER DARBY, Delaware County - Few details are available, however, during the PM rush hour last night, SEPTA "Transit Police" and Upper Darby Township Police were investigating a report of a stabbing on the El at 69 St Terminal. The incident was reported shortly before 5:00pm Tuesday night. No other details, including the condition of the victim or any description of suspects, were available as of this posting.

There was also a report of a passenger struck by a northbound P&W train at West Overbrook Station, Haverford Township, Delaware County. The victim's legs were reportedly over the platform when he was struck by the train. The victim was removed to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Earlier in the day, there was a report of an injured passenger on the El at 11 St Station, causing delays between 8 St and 15 St. During the mid-day hours yesterday, El service was operating on the eastbound platform while the investigation was ongoing on the westbound platform, reportedly in the area of 8 St.

The reported stabbing comes just days after an overnight assault on the Broad Street Line over the weekend. In that incident, a group of teens reportedly assaulted a 14 year old boy on a northbound train as it approached Allegheny Station. The group responsible for the attack reportedly boarded the train at Susquehanna-Dauphin Station. No arrests have been reported in that incident.

News reports indicated that there were no cameras on the Broad Street car where the assault reportedly occured. The incident comes less than two months after the SEPTA Board approved a contract to purchase "Wimax-based" video surveillance systems for 72 B-IV cars, on top of the 53 systems already in use on the Broad Street Line.

But, of course, the system is safe...