White House sidewalk to be closed to public permanently

[webfact]

White House sidewalk to be closed to public permanently

REUTERS

 

Tourists take selfies by the original South Lawn security fencing at the White House in Washington May 28, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Secret Service said it would end public access to a sidewalk along the south fence of the White House beginning on Wednesday night.

 

The sidewalk has been closed nightly from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. since 2015 and will now be off-limits around the clock, the Secret Service said in a statement.

 

The closure will "lessen the possibility of individuals illegally accessing the White House grounds," Secret Service Communications Director Cathy Milhoan said.

 

In March, a man scaled a fence east of the White House at night and was on the property's grounds for 16 minutes before being detained. He never entered the White House, the Secret Service said.

 

President Donald Trump was inside the residence at the time of the March 10 incident.

 

The intrusion was the latest in a series of breaches at the White House in recent years. Security has been boosted, including the installation in 2015 of sharp spikes on top of the black iron fence that circles the 18-acre (7-hectare) property.

 

Blocking use of the south fence sidewalk will not obstruct the public's ability to view or photograph the White House and its grounds, the Secret Service said, adding no additional "physical" barriers would be installed.

 

The same restrictions are in place on the north fence of the White House grounds, according to the Secret Service.

 

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-20

 

[elgordo38]

WOW Trumps security costs seem to jump by the day. Maybe they could open the sidewalk the days when he is in Florida which is most weekends. Yes Obama your golf days and security were in the piker category compared to the Donald. 

[connda]

Pesky public.  Who do they think they are?  And what do they think America is?  The land of the free or something like that.  They should not be allowed inside the beltway.  Too great of a security risk for all of the honorable politicians who sacrifice day-in and day-out to provide the public with what they need (as opposed to what they think they want).  It's a tough job, and shouldn't be hindered by allowing the hoi polloi to visit the capitol, and god forbid get anywhere near the hallowed grounds of that White mansion on Penn Ave.  

[Andrew Dwyer]

That's just come at the wrong time for all the Bangkok street food vendors who were gonna relocate to there !!
[emoji51]

[graemeaylward]

In UK, access to Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official residence has been blocked for years, I think at least 25 years for security reasons!

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[maewang99]

you could drive your car right past the front of the White House not so long ago....

not just walk by it and now that's cordoned off too.  for the "general population" that is.


it's really a different world.  and I don't think we can or should make any simple explanations or rants on it... just note it is a sad passing.... sad as far as I am concerned.... that it has come to this.......

but for one rant [ blah blah blah there's always an exception :-)))) ] .....

it's ****not**** gonna be Great Again in the USA....

 

    THIS has THAT written all over it.... Mr. Trumpie.

 

        who cares! now let's go play golf on a really nice golf course. 

            where only certain folks can get in. hmmmm.......

 

I think I 'get it'.... when will Trumpie's base get it too?

maybe never. maybe they 'believe' they can be 'big' someday too.

or maybe Trump is their personal surrogate... like on a TV show.



  
  

Edited April 21, 2017 by maewang99

[the guest]

America, 'land of the free'.... not even close !

[Srikcir]

On 4/20/2017 at 8:44 AM, webfact said:

The closure will "lessen the possibility of individuals illegally accessing the White House grounds,"

No, closure will lessen reliance on incompetent secret service agents. Better to punish the public than to deal with ineffectiveness of the secret service at the White House.

[maewang99]

CBS news says that it was the Secret Service that decided this.... on their own.... they decided this.. it wasn't approved by Trump..... and it's only the south fence or something that is affected.... not the whole White House.... that means the other sidewalks are still open? (say what?).... and it is merely "permanently restricted".... it's not actually closed... but it is to the general public.  



 

Edited April 21, 2017 by maewang99

[elgordo38]

On 4/20/2017 at 11:09 PM, connda said:

Pesky public.  Who do they think they are?  And what do they think America is?  The land of the free or something like that.  They should not be allowed inside the beltway.  Too great of a security risk for all of the honorable politicians who sacrifice day-in and day-out to provide the public with what they need (as opposed to what they think they want).  It's a tough job, and shouldn't be hindered by allowing the hoi polloi to visit the capitol, and god forbid get anywhere near the hallowed grounds of that White mansion on Penn Ave.  

Congratulations you win the satire of the day award. I like well presented satire and this is a good one. 

[55Jay]

Very restrained course of action.  The SS (Secret Service), would prefer a missile proof dome over it.

 

Edited April 22, 2017 by 55Jay

[Srikcir]

On 4/20/2017 at 8:44 AM, webfact said:

public access to a sidewalk along the south fence of the White House

Yet there are no fences at Mar-a-Lago. It's even more exposed than the White House.