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.
Metro To Boost Officer Patrols After Recent Attacks Leave Passengers And Operators Injured
Mayor Karen Bass joined by Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian, LA County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda L. Solis during a press conference on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
(
Juan Ocampo
/
L.A. Metro
)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday announced plans to push for more law enforcement presence on Metro's transit lines in the wake of series of assaults that have injured passengers and bus drivers.
A day earlier, Bass, who serves as chair of the Metro Board of Directors, ordered a surge of law enforcement presence aboard bus, rail cars and at stations to crack down on the violent attacks.
On Monday night, a rider was stabbed at the Vermont and Athens Metro station in South L.A. The attack is one of three within the past week for Metro.
Despite the attacks, Metro’s latest statistics show that overall crime has been declining as ridership levels increase.
Support for LAist comes from
About the safety motion
The motion Bass plans to introduce next week will direct Metro to increase the daily deployment of public safety personnel with a focus on rail cars, buses and Metro stations with the highest incidents of crime and public safety issues. It would entail having members of the L.A. and Long Beach police, L.A. County Sheriff's deputies, and Metro security officers actively patrolling the buses and rail cars with overlapping shifts.
The motion also calls for Metro to create a “unified command” to make sure cell service works at all underground rail stations and platforms even during transit so riders can call for immediate help.
Mayor Bass joined by Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian, LA County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda L. Solis during today's press conference.
(
Courtesy Metro
)
“In 2024, there is no reason this should be an issue, and yet we know there are dead zones in our system. We have a responsibility to fix this issue as quickly as possible,” L.A. City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky said.
What's next
The motion will be voted on at the next board meeting on May 23.
Support for LAist comes from
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at the new conference Thursday that despite the investment in homeless outreach services and public safety for the Metro system, safety continues to be the number one concern for riders and that it feels like officials are fighting an uphill battle.
“Much of this is a symptom of the dysfunction and failure of government at various levels, including at the federal and state levels, that spill over onto our transportation system, and I'm talking about the issues surrounding mental health,” Barger said.
Last month, Barger introduced a motion at a Metro board meeting calling for “hardening access points” to control who enters the rail system.
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
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist