Look, we might not personally be into peeling off our Jordaches, knocking knees with de-pantsed trailblazers, and risking communicable diseases during the No Pants Subway Ride. But it's pretty much the cuddliest, least threatening post-undergrad collegiate-aping event this side of Bomont. Sadly, that's not how the MTA feels—which is what subway motorman Christopher Chase, who was written up for participating in the event this winter, recently discovered: "I think it's stupid," said Chase told the Daily News. "I don't see the point in making such a big deal over nothing. I wasn't on duty or in uniform or anything like that, and it was a public event."
Chase, 39, who has worked for the MTA for nine years, was written up for "conduct unbecoming" for going in his skivvies on his day off (he was actually officially on vacation during that time) for the No Pants ride in January. In addition, he was "reinstructed" on the MTA's code of conduct, and ordered to promise in writing that he would "refrain from any future behavior that could sully the MTA's reputation."
"We received a complaint and had to look into it," MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said about the photo above, which Chase posted to his Facebook wall. Although he wasn't officially "disciplined," Chase was upset enough to get his union involved: TWU Local 100 lawyer Betzabeth Sanchez wrote in a complaint to the MTA that the writeup was "plainly unreasonable" and a "chilling" violation of the right to free speech.
