Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA Metro releases report tracking 'public safety surge'
(
L.A. Metro
)
Topline:
L.A. Metro released its latest safety data from April on Thursday that showed a decrease in overall crimes, but a rise in crimes against people. The report comes after a series of violent incidents on or near the transit system over the past couple months.
What the numbers say: Metro’s data from April showed an 18.9% decrease in reported crimes overall, but a 15.6% increase in crimes against people on both buses and rails.
The report also showed 12 operators were assaulted in the same month.
Support for LAist comes from
Metro’s preview for May: In its latest report, Metro also released a snapshot of crimes between May 20- 29 after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered a surge of law enforcement patrols aboard bus, rail cars, and at stations to crack down on violence.
The agency recorded 97 crimes, with most of those for trespassing, between May 20 and May 29.
Full safety data from May will become available on July 18, according to the transit agency’s calendar.
The backstory: In May, Bass announced that riders should expect a significant increase of law enforcement in the L.A. Metro system. The Metro Board of Directors also approved the mayor’s motion to improve cell service in every transit station.
The board in April also approved an emergency designation to retrofit their bus fleet with shatterproof, tempered glass that would fully enclose drivers, according to Metro spokesperson Patrick Chandler.
The cost to install the barriers is more than $5 million, and the agency aims to have all of its buses retrofitted by the end of the year.
The added safety measures come after a series of violent incidents at or near Metro transit systems, including a stabbing at the Vermont and Athens Metro station in South L.A. last month. In response, Metro buses operators also held a possible sick out weeks later to protest what they described as unsafe conditions for operators.
Support for LAist comes from
"We share the concerns of Metro employees and riders about the recent increase in severity of crime on the Metro system," Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero said in a statement to LAist. "Our employees deserve a safe workplace, and our customers deserve a safe ride, so nothing we are working on is more important than addressing public safety on our Metro system."
What's next: The Metro Board of Directors will meet again on June 27 for their regular board meeting. You can find the stream and agenda here.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist