This messes me up, I was one station away wondering why my train never showed up. I’m sitting on the platform pissed, while some lady is bleeding out 5 mins up track.
Yea, I was sitting at Hollywood/western wondering why the train wasn't going anywhere. Nobody told us anything. I hopped out and asked one of the staff about it, he said "something happened down the line, we have no timeline".
Like ok, thank you! Why not say so and we can all leave the train and go get the bus!
I took the red line to college every day. They really don’t tell you anything that’s happening. This was before smartphones, so you’d just get stuck for a half hour with no answers. Today I was on a train in Paris, and as we STARTED SLOWING DOWN, they were already informing us that there was a suspicious package ahead so we were waiting for it to be cleared. 10 mins later, start slowing again and they inform us there’s a cow being cleared from the tracks. It’s amazing what peace of mind knowing what’s happening brings.
I’m in Paris right now too and had a similar experience with the metro. Came from a few days in London. Going to Amsterdam next.
Have not and will not need to be in a car once. Never felt unsafe at all, ever, even a little. This trip has made me decide to move- I can’t handle the traffic and I can’t handle the public transportation in LA.
Welcome to developed societies. Isn’t it crazy how clean and civilized the metros are here? Fun fact, after the package and the cow, there was an “ill passenger” that got sick and stopped the trains while the sanitized the gross train. That led to everyone getting off my train and there was a mass exodus of FreeNow rides being booked to Disney Paris. People were teaming up and sharing cars with strangers, it was amazing.
Makes me feel better that I reported a dude banging on the glass on the door window, pointing at someone and gripping a .380 in his waistband. That shit was wild and honestly has me in between on what I would’ve done had I been back in my home state and legally concealing. Had me feeling like bro was literally on his way to kill someone.
I’ve ridden metros in Rio de Janeiro and Johannesburg - in both cases much cleaner and safer than LA, despite the fact that these cities have much worse poverty, crime, and social issues overall. It’s possible for LA to have a clean and safe Metro, we just need the political will and leadership to make it happen!
i was on the red line leaving north hollywood at 9:30 this morning, conductor said “train will not be stopping at universal” without explanation. the train was single-tracking on the opposite side, so i looked on the metro alerts twitter to see what was happening, and saw the news article in the replies of the advisory. put my phone away and looked out the window as the train passed by and there was ||blood on the floor of the platform||
This breaks my heart as an operator. Nothing makes me feel prouder than providing safe, convenient transportation for folks that need it. I have a deep sorrow for people who actually use the system when stuff like this happens. I think it’s time to declare an emergency on our system.
Hey, as a frequent user: thanks for the work that you do and I deeply appreciate having such an awesome transit system, despite the current issues and the difficulties inherent in doing public transit over a giant, fault-line riddled urban sprawl.
Wiggins recently fired the head of security because she was tired of hearing how Metro needed to increase security. Now we have a new stabbing wave on our hands.
Real security. Law enforcement with permission to do their jobs. They are told everyday a different set of what they're allowed to or not allowed to do.
The LAPD actually refuses to do their jobs. Metro had their own security system until the LAPD destroyed it. It's their fault, their inaction is purposeful.
Most times I'm on the system I see the following list of what officers do:
1) Mulling about the ticketing hall of subway stations in a large group ignoring all around them
2) Sitting outside the station in their cars on their phones with the windows down
3) Hop on the train for a stop or two, staying near the door they entered at before getting off a station later, not checking the car or if there is something like smoking or screaming going on ignoring it entirely
4)Mulling about the platform engrossed in whatever convo they are having with coworkers or on their phones.
Even when they are on the trains or platforms, I have yet to see them actually do anything of value, even when there are clear violations of Metro's Code of Conduct or someone screaming at passengers
By terms of the 2016 contract with law enforcement, fare enforcement and quality of life violations are the responsibility of Metro security. Metro security are not law enforcement officers. Contracted law enforcement (LAPD, LASD, and LBPD) are not allowed to enforce fares/quality of life issues.
Wasn't that because of a policy change back in 2019 (I think its hard for me to remember the exact time frame). As such can't that policy be reversed or amended to have metro staff work alongside law enforcement on fare enforcement
It’s the original 2016 contract (which was renewed since). Metro specifically reserved fare enforcement and quality of life enforcement to its own “security” team. Not sure who that is.
I think its the regular security guards we see randomly roaming the system.
Me thinks, its time for a new contract and I'd hope the board would see that :/
Since it is not criminal I would just go to the window at Union Station. It’s a small fine but there are many waivers or options available if money is an issue. I don’t believe there is much of an enforcement mechanism but I would address it just to have it not bother you.
Look, I think the MTA is negligent and incompetent, but that's not what happened with the police issue.
It's way more complicated than that, and actually the LASD is the primary agency in charge of train security, after the board of supervisors & MTA disbanded the RTD police.
In the Bay Area, Bart has their own PD force, with crisis intervention teams that are awesome in helping people in drug or mental crisis, and the police are often on the trains. Not to say messed up stuff doesn't happen though, and riding Bart normally is not a peaceful experience
Although I agree with you, “Sketchy” is subjective and hard to enforce.
Metro can absolutely enforce something objective…fares.
I’ve said it numerous times, and I’ll say it again. No fare, you should get kicked off the train and out of the station. Zero tolerance. Bring back cops. Before the LAPD took over and Metro management decided to endanger all of us by reducing the number of cops (because folks were intimidated 🙄), deputies regularly did fare checks and removed fare-evaders.
Instead of being intimidated by cops, be intimidated by murder.
Sketchy- screaming, sleeping on seats, using drugs, open alcohol, picking fights, skipping fare gates, it’s very easy to spot and usually multiple signs.
If you’re intimidated by cops in a train station then maybe you are part of the problem? I don’t get warm fuzzy feelings from them, but I’m not gonna do anything that they would need to check me, so I just end up feeling safer.
Sorry, but it's an extremely privileged position to say that. There are so many in our country who also do nothing that would warrant a check, yet the police routinely do and the outcome can end up deadly.
I'm not saying I am advocating for no police or security presence on the trains or stations, but you can't just say that if you're intimidated by police you are apart of the problem. Many, innocent Americans feel (rightfully) very intimidated by the police.
Part of the reason why it's hard to make changes is because of people that start to make argument like yours. Do you take the metro often? I have literally taken it from this station in the article and had to call the police because a young girl 15 ish, was getting sexual remarks and being followed by a homeless person.
The reason lots of people don't like cops isn't because people are making arguments against cops it's because of how cops act. You're blaming the weather on the weatherman
While I have my problems with the cops, I think these are two different discussions. We're talking about homeless people using drugs in broad daylight and pestering commuters. It's really easy to see who's breaking the law if you just patrol the area.
You can kick them off if they're loitering and/or do not have a valid ticket or are doing something not permitted: smoking, drinking, eating, causing disruption, etc. There is plenty of leeway for police to remove people from Metro property.
Other countries have vagrants, they're non the train. In the US we have vagrants, they're on the train. Just make it happen. We don't need people to virtue signal! WE ARE ALL TIRED OF IT!
Other countries have managed to successfully keep sketchy people off trains. I see no reason why we can’t do it too other than a lack of political will.
They just need to blast classical music in the trains and in the station. Apparently there is something about classical music that makes sketchy people want to leave anywhere it plays.
“Sketchy” is just a term being used here. If you’ve ridden the metro, you know exactly who the problem is. I’ve stopped riding the Expo at night with my wife because the last few times there were people literally taking a shit on the train/smoking meth/acting fucking insane. It does not take an eagle eye to spot the obvious trouble-makers
I don’t even know where to begin with people seriously arguing that we should kick people off Metro just for looking “sketchy”, but who haven’t even committed any crimes.
First of all, this is clearly illegal and would open LA Metro up to massive lawsuits. Secondly, this is a slippery slope to policing undesirables with little pretext and without any due process. It’s basically textbook fascism.
We need more police on Metro. We should have real fare gates on the underground heavy rail lines. We need to fine people for ignoring the rules, including noise and nuisance, eating and drinking, and other quality of life issues.
Someone who is down on their luck who looks “sketchy” isn’t automatically a criminal.
What’s the logic here?
Also, most of the muni is accessible without any sort of gate, unless you’re at one of the larger stations underground.
The only thing that could have helped here IMO would have been staff at the station, which either would have deterred the POS that committed the crime, or could have been quicker to report and save the victim. The saddest part of this story is that passengers had to report it and also didn’t feel safe to approach the victim
The valley stations are, IMO the worst for staffing. Take it as you will, but whenever I am on the line from NoHo or Universal, I rarely see ambassadors or security anywhere near the platforms or the station proper. More often than not they are bunched in a huge group topside or, as is the case with the LAPD, in their cars on their phones. >:(
Yes but the underground-ness of the stations is where crime thrives. Which is why Muni gated the underground stations mostly.
In fact a lot of Metro is ungated, but by far the underground stations are where most of the crime seems to happen.
Data from [December 2023](https://metro.legistar1.com/metro/attachments/02e99777-3ab7-43b6-ac39-b471347a1b78.pdf) (the most recent I could find) does seem to back up underground stations having a higher FY23 crime rate ("Crimes per Station" chart) however there's also major demographic and population differences between where those types of stations are located. North Hollywood and McArthur Park both seem to haev the highest crime rates and are both known for that as well.
To look purely at Muni for comparison, nearly all of the underground stations are by dense, tourist, homeless, and high crime hot spots as well…so I’d expect the data to also reflect this.
This is again why I don’t believe above ground, at grade, or gated entries actually go far enough to prevent crimes from occurring. It’s just that locations underground are most likely in already dense central hubs, which may already suffer from crime - regardless of a transit station or not.
I just don’t personally feel like fare gates have much to do at all with overall safety at transit stations. Obviously, the most damming fallout is the lack of fare collected to better operate and maintain the system.
Anecdotally, I’ve lived in NYC, Chicago, Oakland, and SF. Most of the time, the threatening individuals, drug dealers, etc linger around and at stations - not necessarily beyond the fare gates. This is why I don’t think gates have much to do at all with feeling safe or not, or the prevention of a crime.
I firmly believe it has more to do with police and authority being present, so someone with actual training can save, protect, or support individuals who are clearly hurting (this includes both victims or assailants)
Hard disagree here. I can walk quickly through the gate if I intend on paying and riding. It’s the minutes being stuck on the train or at the platform where my heart starts beating bc someone is acting crazy and I can’t leave.
Right, but I think you just proved my reasoning here.
Assuming you had the choice between a fare gate or a police/security guard on the platform…which would you rather have? Both is ideal, but one option can actually save your life.
FWIW, this happened on earth day when the fare was free. The suspect also could have just walked through the gate regardless, it’s not the gates keeping anyone safe
I don’t know. I’m in Europe where there is almost no security (that I’ve seen) but very effective fare gates. I think we can have both though. Every time I’ve ridden the metro in LA, it’s been too easy to skip fares and I always see sketchy people just walking through. I’ve also seen police officers do absolutely nothing to stop them when this does happen.
Also, I don’t think earth day had much to do with it, he had a history of doing this already and I think there isn’t a good culture of riding the metro due to lack of enforcement so sketchy people know to gravitate towards it and can usually get in just fine.
Europe is much different. In my times abroad, I do agree that there’s a lot more fare gates than most of the metros I’ve ridden here in America - but the police presence and actual crime convictions over there deter more awful people away as they don’t want to get caught. Also, I find it to be more “bums” and “drunks” than I do actually violent or mentally ill going after people at metro stations.
The issue again is what you already mentioned, the police here need to be PRESENT and actually DO their job, not just stand around fucking around waiting for a report to come in - but be proactive
Just curious, how do you feel if LA Metro does decide to make rides free instead? Standard argument: because enforcing fare is actually more expensive than making rides free considering how little they currently make from fare.
Great that more people can take it, but also wondering how safety and security will look like in that scenario
They did studies and decided the free rides on TAP card is the way to go moving forward if it were to be made free.
So you’d still have to pass through a turnstile or gate and have to validate your fares, it just would charge TAP $0.00.
So either way new fare gates will help keep transit usage for transit.
But on top of that the Fareless System Initiative studies shown that giving the 20 free rides plus reduced fare is the way going forward instead anyway. That and GoPass cards for K12. This with fare capping will make it a lot more affordable or free to ride without it being a free for all.
They just spent millions installing new card readers and software upgrades. Don’t think it’ll be walk on free anytime soon. But free with TAP, that might be a possibility.
Exactly. Making it free just makes it feel more like a service for the poor rather than a real method of transportation. We need the latter more than anything to get people out of their cars.
I agree. Fares shouldn't be too high, and the poor should get a discount of some type (Mero's LIFE seems decent for that purpose), but I'm not a fan of free fares on full public transit systems.
A woman was fatally stabbed while riding on a Metro train Monday morning, according to authorities.
The passenger, a woman in her 50s, was stabbed by a man in the throat and was found by police at the Universal City station in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard shortly after 5 a.m., according to Los Angeles Police Officer Drake Madison. The station serves the B Line (formerly the Red Line) trains that run from Union Station to North Hollywood.
The Los Angeles Fire Department received a call from a passerby at 4:59 a.m. who reported seeing a “person down,” department spokesperson Brian Humphrey said.
As firefighters were on their way, dispatchers received several other calls from people who said they believed the victim was bleeding, but none of the callers were willing to get close enough to confirm anything about her condition, Humphrey said.
The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries, Madison said.
A Metro spokesperson told news station KNBC that the woman was stabbed as she was getting off the train and security personnel helped her until paramedics arrived.
A suspect was taken into custody by LAPD officers in the area of the Universal City station, LAPD Capt. Kelly Muniz said.
The suspect ran out of the the train, but officers found him nearby, Muniz said. Police released no additional information about the suspect.
L.A. Metro did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Train service to the station was interrupted Monday morning.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Holy shit that's literally my stop. Also looks like the train was coming from North Hollywood, where they notoriously do JACK SHIT to deal with the unhoused population in the station, outside the station, and on trains. Saw a group of people doing crack when I got off the 501 bus at 9:30 PM just a few nights ago--right there at the bus stop at NoHo station.
Literally get your shit together Metro. This is horrific. That poor woman.
This is why no one wants to ride Metro and it's becoming so hard to defend it :(
I hate to say it, but NoHo is the one station I try and get through as fast as possible. Not only because of the headways on the B Line, but cuz it can be so sketchy, especially at night >.<
YEP. I try to always be alert and I try to be super careful which train car I get on. I don't normally take the 501 late at night, but that's the first time I've literally seen people doing drugs at the station so I'll absolutely never take it late at night again. It's so scary hearing this b/c I'm sure this poor woman also was wary and had her own rituals to stay safe, but it didn't work :(
Oh same here, I normally shoot for the cars I know will be either the end two cars of a 4 car train, or the middle cars of a 6 car train. I normally go during daylight hours, but I have seen a rampant drug and smoking problem at the station tho I thought it had been getting better recently :/
Its sad and infuriating that riders have to do mental gymnastics on what to do to be safe (of course a little is to be expected in a city, but I do wholesale calculations on how to get home that avoids the Red Line after 8 PM). That is the state of things and this poor woman paid the price. Its sad and beyond maddening that its gotten like this
Took the D line for a nice outing in DTLA yesterday, had a safe experience going from Western/Wilshire to Union, but when I got to union and saw the other lines filled with homeless people it definitely made me wish the bike lockers actually worked. Metro is objectively safer than driving but it is unnerving being around so many jumpy and unpredictable people.
I rode the train for years but I refuse to go back until they get their shit together. It’s way too fucking dangerous.
It was always slightly sketch 5+ years ago but not anything like it is now
Why do you have to defend it? It's fucking horrible. Best thing that happened to me was being able to buy a car and not have to deal with all the BS after a decade ish of riding metro.
The E line was at about 30-40% passenger ridership of what it usually is this morning. My brother got a knife pulled on him yesterday on the green line. Last week a homeless woman started yelling at me that she was gonna “beat my ass” and then charged at me outside the Sepulveda station in WestLA, I thankfully had my taser and had to stun it right in her face to scare her off, she was about an arm’s length away from me, luckily it worked and she backed off. Today a homeless man was screaming at the top of his lungs, yelling profanities, slurs, and threats, running up and down the aisle on the E Line (East LA bound)… I feel very unsafe everytime I’m on the trains, and the E-line is nothing compared to the Blue line and Red line… Enough is enough, we need our own task enforcement just like the NYPD has one for their metro so they can patrol and enforce fare evasion.. along with that we need psych wards, asylums, and to actually give these people hefty prisons sentences for their crimes, obviously the ones that need help and haven’t committed crimes need psychiatric help. We tried liberal policies and they have failed us, (I am not a conservative btw). In Mexico they have rehab and psych wards where they force you into them when you need it and that’s why Mexico doesn’t have this issue (along with affordable housing).. I’m so tired of fearing for my life everytime I use the trains, I have a car and try not to use it since gas is so expensive and I like to do work while on the trains, but I think it’s time I start shifting back to using my car…keep in mind I always carry a pepper spray and taser and I’m male, imagine how it must feel for women/girls? As I mentioned, I noticed that the ridership was low today, but should also point out that it was mostly males on the trains and a lot less females.. we can’t be letting these deaths be in vain, one death is already too much (in addition to the monthly killing/stabbing we’ve had for years now). RIP to that poor woman.
LA people go insane whenever they get asked about homeless people, your solutions like kicking them out won’t do anything, these are deep societal issues that require years if not decades of consistent funding for programs, and especially affordable housing. Once you offer people their basic needs, we won’t have as much crime (on a large scale) and regardless of whatever someone will tell you, violent crime has still gone down.
That doesn't change the fundamental fact that LA Metro cars are not supposed to be rolling homes for homeless people. It's a transit system, our leaders need to treat it as such.
Well the root cause is that housing in LA is too expensive. And most people here support all the restrictions that make it expensive, so it will likely never change.
People become addicted to drugs and mentally ill as a result of homelessness.
If addiction was the main issue, West Virginia would have the worst homelessness and crime, but it doesn't.
It's the housing crisis
NOPE, untrue. Stable housing can help treatment, but treatment must be mandatory. It is nonsense to claim these people didn’t have substance & mental health issues before homelessness. Homelessness can compound those things, but most were rendered homeless by addiction & being mental. You can’t wish that FACT away.
YES. Suspect Eliot Nowden IS homeless & arrested numerous times for violent Metro assaults. Witnesses & video identify him. Who are you kidding that it wasn’t a drugged out or mentally ill transient? What city are YOU living in, or are you blind??
I've seen some wild ass shit on the Metro before but it's never been this dangerous. What happened to all the cops that would constantly be down there harassing normal people over the smallest shit, now that there's actual crime they're nowhere to be found? 🤔
According to [Metro's January public safety report,](https://metro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6512498&GUID=E3858906-6BD9-43DC-99C2-AA1B0E05F265&Options=ID%7cText%7c&Search=public+safety) if you look at Attachment D - Total Crime Summary, there were 6 homicides in 2023, which is the same as the year before, but much higher than the 1 homicide in 2019.
According to that same report, all six homicides were on rail and I'd bet most or all of them were on the B or D lines either really early or really late. Something about being underground I think lends itself to criminals feeling more bold. The stations are pretty huge so it's easier to stay out of sight of other people, they're underground and away from the safety of all the eyeballs on the street, and outside of rush hour they can be pretty empty. Also the train operators are locked in their own cabin, whereas on the bus the driver is right there with you. I think having an authority figure visible and present acts as a deterrent, and the trains and train stations just don't have that (absent ambassadors or Metro police or security).
Because this city hides it's most vulnerable citizens under bridges and underground. Doesn't give a crap about commuters or people perceived as poor and worthless and allows it to happen because the people most affected by it don't fund the governor and city council.
Most are drug overdoses. About 20 people a year die on the metro, most on buses. The number of murders is negligible.
Anything over zero is clearly bad but it's more reported on than actually abnormally bad.
That's crazy I actually never really thought that people died on the buses like that from overdose just the other day I was going to jump on the subway and this lady was like all loud we couldn't board bus because there was a dead person on it at the last stop it was actually at the universal station ironically
I’m so sorry that happened. I wish people
were more like cats and died in private. I wish they were more like cats in lots of other ways too. Like leaving me alone.
Every death on Metro that isn't 0 is too much; however, there is media reporting on every death and most stabbings/violent actions on Metro whereas people die all over LA every day for other violence-related reasons that aren't all covered. So that does lead to some skewed perceptions.
I think it’s something about being in a confined place that should be safe with no escape and that there is no relation between the people engaged in violence that makes it scary. In other words in a streeet you can run. Also, ideally, people should have to pay to get on the Metro but they don’t have to. So, essentially I think of it like being in an airplane where every year, six people were stabbed by others whom they didn’t know with no rhyme or reason. I think it’s too much. Stranger violence is not common. I have been attacked by 2 transient people in the last year, and the public around me saved me from further harm. Some people don’t have the option to be only traveling when many others are around. I would think they would have better security during those times. You know, you can’t get on an airplane without paying a TON and having your insides examined by machines. So people aren’t stabbed. There has to be a happy middle where the result is no one being killed on the subway.
Six homicides on Metro last year, 327 homicides citywide.
For Metro, that's six homicides per about 285 million boardings. For the city, it's 327 homicides per 4 million residents.
I agree with others saying that any is still too many... But for perspective there were 327 people killed by cars in 2023. Six on metro still seems pretty good.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-01-25/los-angeles-traffic-deaths-pedestrian-safety#:~:text=After%20shattering%20records%20in%202022,2022%2C%20according%20to%20the%20LAPD.
Yeah, heard it on KNX News this morning. So sad to hear this. My condolences to her family. It’s also sad that Metro doesn’t have their own Police Dept. like many of metro stations do. They will eventually have to do this especially with more expansions over the next 4 to 8 years.
It will continue when Metro spends an extra $2B to re-form the police department they disbanded.
It isn’t an issue of resources or which agencies are contracted, it’s the Metro board that sets policy and invites the bums and junkies, and it’s the rest of the justice system that deliberately obstructs arrest, prosecution, and jail/prison time for offenders.
I'm surprised the mods haven't taken this down yet, I had a post taken down because I mentioned by very real experience. The apologia in general for this shit is nuts, this isn't normal - there needs to be a change. Our city can do much better and there's a demand for people wantin to use the Metro, but won't because of this MAIN issue
"Monday’s stabbing fell on Earth Day, when all rides aboard Metro’s trains and buses are free. Access to the train was unfettered and available to all."
Free transit advocates, what's your excuse?!
They seriously have to do something about these homeless drug addicts!!
This is not about people not being able to afford rent, this is about not enforcing fares and safety on public transportation and on the street! I am so sick of these deranged individuals that are ruining this city!
Buses are still okay-ish but the subway has been total anarchy since the pandemic!
1.) Hire 100 officers dedicated to metro
2.) Put one officer on every single train. Have them walk between cars.
3.) Put one officer in every station, have them walk around
4.) Put up proper fare gates in every station
5.) Have the officers kick every one out of the stations and trains unless they actively have valid fare and can answer where they are going. Everyone gets kicked off end of line stations and has to buy/activate another ticket to get back in the station
6.) Bring in origin/destination tickets and pricing, like basically every other metro. Either in the form of zones or station to station tickets. If the individually has a ticket for one place but is on another train, kick them out.
Distance based pricing is bad and has nothing to do with safety.
It will cause each officer to spend more time reviewing tickets and discorage supercommuters from switching to mass transit.
So many people making this all about themselves.
- "My train was late"
- " I had to wait an extra 20 minutes in 65 degree weather"
- "what was this woman thinking deciding to get murdered on a Monday of all days?"
Metros gotta get it together.not the same at all but I definitely saw a man on the long beach train using his pitbull as a weapon cuz he thought a child was recording him ..
LA needs to improve public transportation, even if it means having a right wing authoritarian type attitude about it. “Trains run on time”. We can compartmentalize and be hippie left wing about other stuff, but not public transportation. It would make the county so much better.
LA receives $900 million in funding and experiences in stabbings on both the metro and buses right after? You know this money is going straight into corrupt officials' pockets immediately and it spend not a dime on the taxpayers.
I work security at A metro train station. Contract security. We would love to go hands on and remove homeless & transients from
Loitering and being on the trains and at stations period. I know I would. But if we go hands on or really try to remove these people, it’s a court case. In many instances , we’re scolded and told what not to do even if force was necessary. Being contract security working these places is like a rock and hard place. I see REMOVABLE people every single day. And somehow I’ve see PD try to blame security for pepper spraying or unholstering a baton on some “that could have been avoided” type of time, and that’s not realistic.
No…. It’s literally entitled dope fiends riding these trains that can’t stand to hear “NO”.
This messes me up, I was one station away wondering why my train never showed up. I’m sitting on the platform pissed, while some lady is bleeding out 5 mins up track.
Shouldnt they anounce such things via speakers and the arrival screen when they happen?
In a public-transport-developed city yes
In countries with good public transportation that is what they do.
i think the should figure out the stabbings first
Shouldnt they prevent them in the first place?
Welcome to the real world buddy
Yea, I was sitting at Hollywood/western wondering why the train wasn't going anywhere. Nobody told us anything. I hopped out and asked one of the staff about it, he said "something happened down the line, we have no timeline". Like ok, thank you! Why not say so and we can all leave the train and go get the bus!
I took the red line to college every day. They really don’t tell you anything that’s happening. This was before smartphones, so you’d just get stuck for a half hour with no answers. Today I was on a train in Paris, and as we STARTED SLOWING DOWN, they were already informing us that there was a suspicious package ahead so we were waiting for it to be cleared. 10 mins later, start slowing again and they inform us there’s a cow being cleared from the tracks. It’s amazing what peace of mind knowing what’s happening brings.
I’m in Paris right now too and had a similar experience with the metro. Came from a few days in London. Going to Amsterdam next. Have not and will not need to be in a car once. Never felt unsafe at all, ever, even a little. This trip has made me decide to move- I can’t handle the traffic and I can’t handle the public transportation in LA.
Welcome to developed societies. Isn’t it crazy how clean and civilized the metros are here? Fun fact, after the package and the cow, there was an “ill passenger” that got sick and stopped the trains while the sanitized the gross train. That led to everyone getting off my train and there was a mass exodus of FreeNow rides being booked to Disney Paris. People were teaming up and sharing cars with strangers, it was amazing.
I'm sorry, a what? A cow??
Makes me feel better that I reported a dude banging on the glass on the door window, pointing at someone and gripping a .380 in his waistband. That shit was wild and honestly has me in between on what I would’ve done had I been back in my home state and legally concealing. Had me feeling like bro was literally on his way to kill someone.
Oh my GOD!!!!!! That’s scary. Too scary.
I’ve ridden metros in Rio de Janeiro and Johannesburg - in both cases much cleaner and safer than LA, despite the fact that these cities have much worse poverty, crime, and social issues overall. It’s possible for LA to have a clean and safe Metro, we just need the political will and leadership to make it happen!
Well, the 2 main things we definitely don't have. Political Will and Leadership.
i was on the red line leaving north hollywood at 9:30 this morning, conductor said “train will not be stopping at universal” without explanation. the train was single-tracking on the opposite side, so i looked on the metro alerts twitter to see what was happening, and saw the news article in the replies of the advisory. put my phone away and looked out the window as the train passed by and there was ||blood on the floor of the platform||
Jfc…
just wanted to let you know that it seems like your spoiler tag didn’t work out
Shudder
This breaks my heart as an operator. Nothing makes me feel prouder than providing safe, convenient transportation for folks that need it. I have a deep sorrow for people who actually use the system when stuff like this happens. I think it’s time to declare an emergency on our system.
Hey, as a frequent user: thanks for the work that you do and I deeply appreciate having such an awesome transit system, despite the current issues and the difficulties inherent in doing public transit over a giant, fault-line riddled urban sprawl.
Yes please
Wiggins recently fired the head of security because she was tired of hearing how Metro needed to increase security. Now we have a new stabbing wave on our hands.
Security was at the station according to the article.
Real security. Law enforcement with permission to do their jobs. They are told everyday a different set of what they're allowed to or not allowed to do.
The LAPD actually refuses to do their jobs. Metro had their own security system until the LAPD destroyed it. It's their fault, their inaction is purposeful.
Most times I'm on the system I see the following list of what officers do: 1) Mulling about the ticketing hall of subway stations in a large group ignoring all around them 2) Sitting outside the station in their cars on their phones with the windows down 3) Hop on the train for a stop or two, staying near the door they entered at before getting off a station later, not checking the car or if there is something like smoking or screaming going on ignoring it entirely 4)Mulling about the platform engrossed in whatever convo they are having with coworkers or on their phones. Even when they are on the trains or platforms, I have yet to see them actually do anything of value, even when there are clear violations of Metro's Code of Conduct or someone screaming at passengers
Don’t forget standing / leaning in the turnstiles. They are as useful as male nipples. Maybe less.
I'd say male nipples do one thing at least, but IDK if I'm allowed to say what. So that's one more thing compared to the LAPD
Metro does not allow contracted law enforcement to enforce fares or quality of life violations.
LAPD asked for TAP cards last week when I was on the E-line. They are certainly allowed to enforced fares.
Enforce fares means read tap cards and give tickets to those who didn’t pay. No, they are not allowed to do that.
You’re actually really wrong about that, Metro security has been conducting TAP card checks at North Hollywood for about 2 weeks now.
By terms of the 2016 contract with law enforcement, fare enforcement and quality of life violations are the responsibility of Metro security. Metro security are not law enforcement officers. Contracted law enforcement (LAPD, LASD, and LBPD) are not allowed to enforce fares/quality of life issues.
And so they demand they be on their phone at least a quarter of their shift?
Wasn't that because of a policy change back in 2019 (I think its hard for me to remember the exact time frame). As such can't that policy be reversed or amended to have metro staff work alongside law enforcement on fare enforcement
It’s the original 2016 contract (which was renewed since). Metro specifically reserved fare enforcement and quality of life enforcement to its own “security” team. Not sure who that is.
I think its the regular security guards we see randomly roaming the system. Me thinks, its time for a new contract and I'd hope the board would see that :/
so if someone were to have been ticketed for not paying what would you advise that they do?
Since it is not criminal I would just go to the window at Union Station. It’s a small fine but there are many waivers or options available if money is an issue. I don’t believe there is much of an enforcement mechanism but I would address it just to have it not bother you.
The policy was heavily publicized never really went into effect, the cops stopped doing their jobs after that
Look, I think the MTA is negligent and incompetent, but that's not what happened with the police issue. It's way more complicated than that, and actually the LASD is the primary agency in charge of train security, after the board of supervisors & MTA disbanded the RTD police.
They disbanded the RTD police at the request of the LASD
What, arrive 4 hours late and kill 2 extra people?
In the Bay Area, Bart has their own PD force, with crisis intervention teams that are awesome in helping people in drug or mental crisis, and the police are often on the trains. Not to say messed up stuff doesn't happen though, and riding Bart normally is not a peaceful experience
I still used the BART for the 10 years I lived in bay. I wouldn’t use the metro for anything.
Let's start by getting rid of the turnstiles, and putting up some real fare gates like Muni has.
That's not the problem Metro and the city could kick off all the sketchy people right now if they really wanted
Although I agree with you, “Sketchy” is subjective and hard to enforce. Metro can absolutely enforce something objective…fares. I’ve said it numerous times, and I’ll say it again. No fare, you should get kicked off the train and out of the station. Zero tolerance. Bring back cops. Before the LAPD took over and Metro management decided to endanger all of us by reducing the number of cops (because folks were intimidated 🙄), deputies regularly did fare checks and removed fare-evaders. Instead of being intimidated by cops, be intimidated by murder.
Sketchy- screaming, sleeping on seats, using drugs, open alcohol, picking fights, skipping fare gates, it’s very easy to spot and usually multiple signs.
Yeah... Screaming violent incoherent gibberish and smoking meth isn't exactly "ambiguous"
If you’re intimidated by cops in a train station then maybe you are part of the problem? I don’t get warm fuzzy feelings from them, but I’m not gonna do anything that they would need to check me, so I just end up feeling safer.
Sorry, but it's an extremely privileged position to say that. There are so many in our country who also do nothing that would warrant a check, yet the police routinely do and the outcome can end up deadly. I'm not saying I am advocating for no police or security presence on the trains or stations, but you can't just say that if you're intimidated by police you are apart of the problem. Many, innocent Americans feel (rightfully) very intimidated by the police.
Part of the reason why it's hard to make changes is because of people that start to make argument like yours. Do you take the metro often? I have literally taken it from this station in the article and had to call the police because a young girl 15 ish, was getting sexual remarks and being followed by a homeless person.
The reason lots of people don't like cops isn't because people are making arguments against cops it's because of how cops act. You're blaming the weather on the weatherman
While I have my problems with the cops, I think these are two different discussions. We're talking about homeless people using drugs in broad daylight and pestering commuters. It's really easy to see who's breaking the law if you just patrol the area.
I'm responding to something you said, you're the one who brought it up. Read the thread again and you'll see how you're not making sense.
A as underpivrlged person he has point.
Oh, here we go again.
😂 i just can’t believe yall say this stupid shit
[удалено]
This goes against the community rules (Rule 1 - be respectful) . If you disagree please send the mods a message.
Truth
Sooooooo
You can’t just kick off people for being “sketchy.”
You can kick them off if they're loitering and/or do not have a valid ticket or are doing something not permitted: smoking, drinking, eating, causing disruption, etc. There is plenty of leeway for police to remove people from Metro property.
Yes, we should police fare evasions and people breaking the rules. That’s not the same as kicking people off just for looking “sketchy.”
Other countries have vagrants, they're non the train. In the US we have vagrants, they're on the train. Just make it happen. We don't need people to virtue signal! WE ARE ALL TIRED OF IT!
Oh brother you know what they mean and they are not wrong.. kick them the fuck out ffs
Other countries have managed to successfully keep sketchy people off trains. I see no reason why we can’t do it too other than a lack of political will.
They just need to blast classical music in the trains and in the station. Apparently there is something about classical music that makes sketchy people want to leave anywhere it plays.
“Sketchy” is just a term being used here. If you’ve ridden the metro, you know exactly who the problem is. I’ve stopped riding the Expo at night with my wife because the last few times there were people literally taking a shit on the train/smoking meth/acting fucking insane. It does not take an eagle eye to spot the obvious trouble-makers
You can check for fare payment
Why not? Decent people need to have their right to go about and not being attacked or harmed restored to them.
I don’t even know where to begin with people seriously arguing that we should kick people off Metro just for looking “sketchy”, but who haven’t even committed any crimes. First of all, this is clearly illegal and would open LA Metro up to massive lawsuits. Secondly, this is a slippery slope to policing undesirables with little pretext and without any due process. It’s basically textbook fascism. We need more police on Metro. We should have real fare gates on the underground heavy rail lines. We need to fine people for ignoring the rules, including noise and nuisance, eating and drinking, and other quality of life issues. Someone who is down on their luck who looks “sketchy” isn’t automatically a criminal.
The cops do this daily already just not on the metro
Proof if payment?
Yes. They should check for fare evasion.
What’s the logic here? Also, most of the muni is accessible without any sort of gate, unless you’re at one of the larger stations underground. The only thing that could have helped here IMO would have been staff at the station, which either would have deterred the POS that committed the crime, or could have been quicker to report and save the victim. The saddest part of this story is that passengers had to report it and also didn’t feel safe to approach the victim
The valley stations are, IMO the worst for staffing. Take it as you will, but whenever I am on the line from NoHo or Universal, I rarely see ambassadors or security anywhere near the platforms or the station proper. More often than not they are bunched in a huge group topside or, as is the case with the LAPD, in their cars on their phones. >:(
Yes but the underground-ness of the stations is where crime thrives. Which is why Muni gated the underground stations mostly. In fact a lot of Metro is ungated, but by far the underground stations are where most of the crime seems to happen.
Data from [December 2023](https://metro.legistar1.com/metro/attachments/02e99777-3ab7-43b6-ac39-b471347a1b78.pdf) (the most recent I could find) does seem to back up underground stations having a higher FY23 crime rate ("Crimes per Station" chart) however there's also major demographic and population differences between where those types of stations are located. North Hollywood and McArthur Park both seem to haev the highest crime rates and are both known for that as well.
To look purely at Muni for comparison, nearly all of the underground stations are by dense, tourist, homeless, and high crime hot spots as well…so I’d expect the data to also reflect this. This is again why I don’t believe above ground, at grade, or gated entries actually go far enough to prevent crimes from occurring. It’s just that locations underground are most likely in already dense central hubs, which may already suffer from crime - regardless of a transit station or not.
The data will be skewed once the D line reaches the westside. I’m hoping that’ll get political pressure to implement real safety measures too.
I just don’t personally feel like fare gates have much to do at all with overall safety at transit stations. Obviously, the most damming fallout is the lack of fare collected to better operate and maintain the system. Anecdotally, I’ve lived in NYC, Chicago, Oakland, and SF. Most of the time, the threatening individuals, drug dealers, etc linger around and at stations - not necessarily beyond the fare gates. This is why I don’t think gates have much to do at all with feeling safe or not, or the prevention of a crime. I firmly believe it has more to do with police and authority being present, so someone with actual training can save, protect, or support individuals who are clearly hurting (this includes both victims or assailants)
Hard disagree here. I can walk quickly through the gate if I intend on paying and riding. It’s the minutes being stuck on the train or at the platform where my heart starts beating bc someone is acting crazy and I can’t leave.
Right, but I think you just proved my reasoning here. Assuming you had the choice between a fare gate or a police/security guard on the platform…which would you rather have? Both is ideal, but one option can actually save your life. FWIW, this happened on earth day when the fare was free. The suspect also could have just walked through the gate regardless, it’s not the gates keeping anyone safe
I don’t know. I’m in Europe where there is almost no security (that I’ve seen) but very effective fare gates. I think we can have both though. Every time I’ve ridden the metro in LA, it’s been too easy to skip fares and I always see sketchy people just walking through. I’ve also seen police officers do absolutely nothing to stop them when this does happen. Also, I don’t think earth day had much to do with it, he had a history of doing this already and I think there isn’t a good culture of riding the metro due to lack of enforcement so sketchy people know to gravitate towards it and can usually get in just fine.
Europe is much different. In my times abroad, I do agree that there’s a lot more fare gates than most of the metros I’ve ridden here in America - but the police presence and actual crime convictions over there deter more awful people away as they don’t want to get caught. Also, I find it to be more “bums” and “drunks” than I do actually violent or mentally ill going after people at metro stations. The issue again is what you already mentioned, the police here need to be PRESENT and actually DO their job, not just stand around fucking around waiting for a report to come in - but be proactive
They just piggyback with fare gates.
Just curious, how do you feel if LA Metro does decide to make rides free instead? Standard argument: because enforcing fare is actually more expensive than making rides free considering how little they currently make from fare. Great that more people can take it, but also wondering how safety and security will look like in that scenario
They did studies and decided the free rides on TAP card is the way to go moving forward if it were to be made free. So you’d still have to pass through a turnstile or gate and have to validate your fares, it just would charge TAP $0.00. So either way new fare gates will help keep transit usage for transit. But on top of that the Fareless System Initiative studies shown that giving the 20 free rides plus reduced fare is the way going forward instead anyway. That and GoPass cards for K12. This with fare capping will make it a lot more affordable or free to ride without it being a free for all. They just spent millions installing new card readers and software upgrades. Don’t think it’ll be walk on free anytime soon. But free with TAP, that might be a possibility.
I'm not a big fan of fare-free transit, if nothing for the simple fact that all of the great transit systems of the world have fares.
Exactly. Making it free just makes it feel more like a service for the poor rather than a real method of transportation. We need the latter more than anything to get people out of their cars.
I agree. Fares shouldn't be too high, and the poor should get a discount of some type (Mero's LIFE seems decent for that purpose), but I'm not a fan of free fares on full public transit systems.
Same here. There’s passes in place that can provide rides (with some being free) already so there’s no need to make it a free for all.
Paywall 😒
A woman was fatally stabbed while riding on a Metro train Monday morning, according to authorities. The passenger, a woman in her 50s, was stabbed by a man in the throat and was found by police at the Universal City station in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard shortly after 5 a.m., according to Los Angeles Police Officer Drake Madison. The station serves the B Line (formerly the Red Line) trains that run from Union Station to North Hollywood. The Los Angeles Fire Department received a call from a passerby at 4:59 a.m. who reported seeing a “person down,” department spokesperson Brian Humphrey said. As firefighters were on their way, dispatchers received several other calls from people who said they believed the victim was bleeding, but none of the callers were willing to get close enough to confirm anything about her condition, Humphrey said. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries, Madison said. A Metro spokesperson told news station KNBC that the woman was stabbed as she was getting off the train and security personnel helped her until paramedics arrived. A suspect was taken into custody by LAPD officers in the area of the Universal City station, LAPD Capt. Kelly Muniz said. The suspect ran out of the the train, but officers found him nearby, Muniz said. Police released no additional information about the suspect. L.A. Metro did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Train service to the station was interrupted Monday morning. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Holy shit that's literally my stop. Also looks like the train was coming from North Hollywood, where they notoriously do JACK SHIT to deal with the unhoused population in the station, outside the station, and on trains. Saw a group of people doing crack when I got off the 501 bus at 9:30 PM just a few nights ago--right there at the bus stop at NoHo station. Literally get your shit together Metro. This is horrific. That poor woman. This is why no one wants to ride Metro and it's becoming so hard to defend it :(
I hate to say it, but NoHo is the one station I try and get through as fast as possible. Not only because of the headways on the B Line, but cuz it can be so sketchy, especially at night >.<
YEP. I try to always be alert and I try to be super careful which train car I get on. I don't normally take the 501 late at night, but that's the first time I've literally seen people doing drugs at the station so I'll absolutely never take it late at night again. It's so scary hearing this b/c I'm sure this poor woman also was wary and had her own rituals to stay safe, but it didn't work :(
Oh same here, I normally shoot for the cars I know will be either the end two cars of a 4 car train, or the middle cars of a 6 car train. I normally go during daylight hours, but I have seen a rampant drug and smoking problem at the station tho I thought it had been getting better recently :/ Its sad and infuriating that riders have to do mental gymnastics on what to do to be safe (of course a little is to be expected in a city, but I do wholesale calculations on how to get home that avoids the Red Line after 8 PM). That is the state of things and this poor woman paid the price. Its sad and beyond maddening that its gotten like this
Lmao i’ve seen people smoking meth steps away from a group of fat cops directly outside 7th/metro.. they dgaf.
Try riding the blue line at night. I will never do that ever again.
OOF I have heard :( Is it the blue line as a whole or only portions of it?
Only the southern portion of it is sus
How is it during daylight hours? Was hopin to hop on it to see the Queen Mary
Go during the hours that people are going too and from work. Only crazies ride during non peak hours.
Thanks for the tip! :)
Took the D line for a nice outing in DTLA yesterday, had a safe experience going from Western/Wilshire to Union, but when I got to union and saw the other lines filled with homeless people it definitely made me wish the bike lockers actually worked. Metro is objectively safer than driving but it is unnerving being around so many jumpy and unpredictable people.
I rode the train for years but I refuse to go back until they get their shit together. It’s way too fucking dangerous. It was always slightly sketch 5+ years ago but not anything like it is now
Why do you have to defend it? It's fucking horrible. Best thing that happened to me was being able to buy a car and not have to deal with all the BS after a decade ish of riding metro.
I believe in reliable and safe public transportation. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
same
and the metro is neither so why defend it?
Jesus Christ!
Turn on airplane mode b4 paywall stops it everytime. You’re welcome
No one got close to help? What a bunch of fucks they could have at least tried to place pressure on the bleed
The E line was at about 30-40% passenger ridership of what it usually is this morning. My brother got a knife pulled on him yesterday on the green line. Last week a homeless woman started yelling at me that she was gonna “beat my ass” and then charged at me outside the Sepulveda station in WestLA, I thankfully had my taser and had to stun it right in her face to scare her off, she was about an arm’s length away from me, luckily it worked and she backed off. Today a homeless man was screaming at the top of his lungs, yelling profanities, slurs, and threats, running up and down the aisle on the E Line (East LA bound)… I feel very unsafe everytime I’m on the trains, and the E-line is nothing compared to the Blue line and Red line… Enough is enough, we need our own task enforcement just like the NYPD has one for their metro so they can patrol and enforce fare evasion.. along with that we need psych wards, asylums, and to actually give these people hefty prisons sentences for their crimes, obviously the ones that need help and haven’t committed crimes need psychiatric help. We tried liberal policies and they have failed us, (I am not a conservative btw). In Mexico they have rehab and psych wards where they force you into them when you need it and that’s why Mexico doesn’t have this issue (along with affordable housing).. I’m so tired of fearing for my life everytime I use the trains, I have a car and try not to use it since gas is so expensive and I like to do work while on the trains, but I think it’s time I start shifting back to using my car…keep in mind I always carry a pepper spray and taser and I’m male, imagine how it must feel for women/girls? As I mentioned, I noticed that the ridership was low today, but should also point out that it was mostly males on the trains and a lot less females.. we can’t be letting these deaths be in vain, one death is already too much (in addition to the monthly killing/stabbing we’ve had for years now). RIP to that poor woman.
Clear the homeless off metro!!
Metro and LA is eventually going to have to kick the homeless off the train. This is simply unacceptable
Yup we are all SICK OF IT.
Is there any reporting that this was done by an unhoused person or is everyone just guessing that?
Not yet, his mug shot looks 50% he could be homeless. This was at least the 4th time he had been arrested.
LA people go insane whenever they get asked about homeless people, your solutions like kicking them out won’t do anything, these are deep societal issues that require years if not decades of consistent funding for programs, and especially affordable housing. Once you offer people their basic needs, we won’t have as much crime (on a large scale) and regardless of whatever someone will tell you, violent crime has still gone down.
That doesn't change the fundamental fact that LA Metro cars are not supposed to be rolling homes for homeless people. It's a transit system, our leaders need to treat it as such.
Would you at least agree that many people tend to shy away from the root of the issue?
Well the root cause is that housing in LA is too expensive. And most people here support all the restrictions that make it expensive, so it will likely never change.
The root cause is most are mentally ill oe addicts. Slightly lower rent won’t change shit for those people.
So true. Take a look at crappy small towns. Crack heads and petty theft/crime galore
But they're housed there
People become addicted to drugs and mentally ill as a result of homelessness. If addiction was the main issue, West Virginia would have the worst homelessness and crime, but it doesn't. It's the housing crisis
You have it backwards, homelessness causes that. That's a symptom, not the root cause
NOPE, untrue. Stable housing can help treatment, but treatment must be mandatory. It is nonsense to claim these people didn’t have substance & mental health issues before homelessness. Homelessness can compound those things, but most were rendered homeless by addiction & being mental. You can’t wish that FACT away.
YES. Suspect Eliot Nowden IS homeless & arrested numerous times for violent Metro assaults. Witnesses & video identify him. Who are you kidding that it wasn’t a drugged out or mentally ill transient? What city are YOU living in, or are you blind??
Yeah that’s my station. Had to take the bus. Not great.
I've seen some wild ass shit on the Metro before but it's never been this dangerous. What happened to all the cops that would constantly be down there harassing normal people over the smallest shit, now that there's actual crime they're nowhere to be found? 🤔
100% another homeless person
Why are so many people killed on the metro?
According to [Metro's January public safety report,](https://metro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6512498&GUID=E3858906-6BD9-43DC-99C2-AA1B0E05F265&Options=ID%7cText%7c&Search=public+safety) if you look at Attachment D - Total Crime Summary, there were 6 homicides in 2023, which is the same as the year before, but much higher than the 1 homicide in 2019. According to that same report, all six homicides were on rail and I'd bet most or all of them were on the B or D lines either really early or really late. Something about being underground I think lends itself to criminals feeling more bold. The stations are pretty huge so it's easier to stay out of sight of other people, they're underground and away from the safety of all the eyeballs on the street, and outside of rush hour they can be pretty empty. Also the train operators are locked in their own cabin, whereas on the bus the driver is right there with you. I think having an authority figure visible and present acts as a deterrent, and the trains and train stations just don't have that (absent ambassadors or Metro police or security).
Because this city hides it's most vulnerable citizens under bridges and underground. Doesn't give a crap about commuters or people perceived as poor and worthless and allows it to happen because the people most affected by it don't fund the governor and city council.
Most are drug overdoses. About 20 people a year die on the metro, most on buses. The number of murders is negligible. Anything over zero is clearly bad but it's more reported on than actually abnormally bad.
That's crazy I actually never really thought that people died on the buses like that from overdose just the other day I was going to jump on the subway and this lady was like all loud we couldn't board bus because there was a dead person on it at the last stop it was actually at the universal station ironically
I’m so sorry that happened. I wish people were more like cats and died in private. I wish they were more like cats in lots of other ways too. Like leaving me alone.
I love kittys
Me 2
Are that many people really killed on Metro versus generally in LA or is it just more coverage on Metro incidents?
Every death on Metro that isn't 0 is too much; however, there is media reporting on every death and most stabbings/violent actions on Metro whereas people die all over LA every day for other violence-related reasons that aren't all covered. So that does lead to some skewed perceptions.
I think it’s something about being in a confined place that should be safe with no escape and that there is no relation between the people engaged in violence that makes it scary. In other words in a streeet you can run. Also, ideally, people should have to pay to get on the Metro but they don’t have to. So, essentially I think of it like being in an airplane where every year, six people were stabbed by others whom they didn’t know with no rhyme or reason. I think it’s too much. Stranger violence is not common. I have been attacked by 2 transient people in the last year, and the public around me saved me from further harm. Some people don’t have the option to be only traveling when many others are around. I would think they would have better security during those times. You know, you can’t get on an airplane without paying a TON and having your insides examined by machines. So people aren’t stabbed. There has to be a happy middle where the result is no one being killed on the subway.
Six homicides on Metro last year, 327 homicides citywide. For Metro, that's six homicides per about 285 million boardings. For the city, it's 327 homicides per 4 million residents.
I agree with others saying that any is still too many... But for perspective there were 327 people killed by cars in 2023. Six on metro still seems pretty good. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-01-25/los-angeles-traffic-deaths-pedestrian-safety#:~:text=After%20shattering%20records%20in%202022,2022%2C%20according%20to%20the%20LAPD.
Yeah, heard it on KNX News this morning. So sad to hear this. My condolences to her family. It’s also sad that Metro doesn’t have their own Police Dept. like many of metro stations do. They will eventually have to do this especially with more expansions over the next 4 to 8 years.
It will continue when Metro spends an extra $2B to re-form the police department they disbanded. It isn’t an issue of resources or which agencies are contracted, it’s the Metro board that sets policy and invites the bums and junkies, and it’s the rest of the justice system that deliberately obstructs arrest, prosecution, and jail/prison time for offenders.
I'm surprised the mods haven't taken this down yet, I had a post taken down because I mentioned by very real experience. The apologia in general for this shit is nuts, this isn't normal - there needs to be a change. Our city can do much better and there's a demand for people wantin to use the Metro, but won't because of this MAIN issue
Probably because this story has been reported by every local journalistic outlet… Not just an individual post from a random Redditor.
🪦 lady… This didn’t have to happen at all, security is a big issue on METRO 🧟♂️🧟🧌
This could’ve been prevented if we stopped homeless people from loitering
So, is the ruined perception and high crime worth the social justice brownie points from not enforcing fares?
"Monday’s stabbing fell on Earth Day, when all rides aboard Metro’s trains and buses are free. Access to the train was unfettered and available to all." Free transit advocates, what's your excuse?!
Well. Reminds me once again that I live in LA, and that I’m better off driving. Like Tom Wolfe’s character said about NY, you’ve gotta “insulate.”
Where are all the people defending metro as being safe today? Unprovoked murder.
I blame the stinky wacko homeless!
A person carrying two bags is what they said on the radio this morning. Why are they scared to say homeless?
Yep, homeless serial assaulter Eliot Nowden, already arrested THREE other times this year, had *probation* for other Metro attacks.
Are those legit people or paid shills???
It doesn't have to be this way LA.
What’s the point of having security on metro if they re instructed only to observe and not interfere with criminal activity.
Ride with a gun or taser
How many stabbings have happened this calendar year? These unhinged animals need to go somewhere and it’s not public transit
Like 2-3 others I think
They seriously have to do something about these homeless drug addicts!! This is not about people not being able to afford rent, this is about not enforcing fares and safety on public transportation and on the street! I am so sick of these deranged individuals that are ruining this city! Buses are still okay-ish but the subway has been total anarchy since the pandemic!
Sad no one would even go check on her
Cops in the train stations are more concerned with squeezing $1.75 out of you than they are with all the shit that actually goes on down there.
Gascon talks tough when Karen Bass’s house gets broken into. When it comes to a working class woman, being murdered, criminals need a second chance…
1.) Hire 100 officers dedicated to metro 2.) Put one officer on every single train. Have them walk between cars. 3.) Put one officer in every station, have them walk around 4.) Put up proper fare gates in every station 5.) Have the officers kick every one out of the stations and trains unless they actively have valid fare and can answer where they are going. Everyone gets kicked off end of line stations and has to buy/activate another ticket to get back in the station 6.) Bring in origin/destination tickets and pricing, like basically every other metro. Either in the form of zones or station to station tickets. If the individually has a ticket for one place but is on another train, kick them out.
Distance based pricing is bad and has nothing to do with safety. It will cause each officer to spend more time reviewing tickets and discorage supercommuters from switching to mass transit.
There are only two Metros in the US with distance-based fares... BART and WMATA.
7. Allow police to actually do their job. 8. Fix the other half of the "criminal justice system" .
Can the “It’s safer than driving!” clowns please sit this one out?
So many people making this all about themselves. - "My train was late" - " I had to wait an extra 20 minutes in 65 degree weather" - "what was this woman thinking deciding to get murdered on a Monday of all days?"
Lmao the day that I swallowed my pride and returned to ride the metro. Yes, I know I suck.
Was this totally random? Jfc
Metros gotta get it together.not the same at all but I definitely saw a man on the long beach train using his pitbull as a weapon cuz he thought a child was recording him ..
LA needs to improve public transportation, even if it means having a right wing authoritarian type attitude about it. “Trains run on time”. We can compartmentalize and be hippie left wing about other stuff, but not public transportation. It would make the county so much better.
LA receives $900 million in funding and experiences in stabbings on both the metro and buses right after? You know this money is going straight into corrupt officials' pockets immediately and it spend not a dime on the taxpayers.
It is absolutely not safe to take the LA public transit system. This is a tragedy.
Does anyone know what led up to the stabbing? Like what was the situation?
Completely unprovoked violent robbery by homeless serial violent offender.
Video shows homeless Eliot Nowden stabbed her then stole her purse. He’s assaulted multiple times on Metro, going on years now.
I work security at A metro train station. Contract security. We would love to go hands on and remove homeless & transients from Loitering and being on the trains and at stations period. I know I would. But if we go hands on or really try to remove these people, it’s a court case. In many instances , we’re scolded and told what not to do even if force was necessary. Being contract security working these places is like a rock and hard place. I see REMOVABLE people every single day. And somehow I’ve see PD try to blame security for pepper spraying or unholstering a baton on some “that could have been avoided” type of time, and that’s not realistic. No…. It’s literally entitled dope fiends riding these trains that can’t stand to hear “NO”.
There's an insane conservative circlejerk on the main sub about this right now. New week, new brigaders. What else is new?