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Bloomberg: Port Authority Wrong To Halt PATH Train Service For Obama Visit

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg says trains between New York and New Jersey should not have been halted because President Barack Obama was in town.

Train service to and from the World Trade Center station was shut down for over three hours Thursday because of Obama's visit to the trade center site.

Obama went to the site to view what was once Ground Zero.  The president then greeted construction workers who were among those building One World Trade Center. He also met with elected officials, including Bloomberg, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

During the tour, the president left his mark on Ground Zero forever by signing a beam that will be used to finish construction of the Freedom Tower.  That beam was also signed by the First Lady, Cuomo, Christie and Bloomberg.

Host John Gambling mentioned the shutdown during Bloomberg's weekly radio show on WOR Friday.

Gambling said the Secret Service wanted the trains halted. Bloomberg responded, "Well, you don't have to say yes. This is our city.''

Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman said that when dealing with the safety of the president and the first lady, the agency follows the recommendations of the Secret Service and its own police department. He said that's "not negotiable'' and "just common sense.''

Do you think PATH service should have been shut down for President Obama's visit? Sound Off below.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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