Funding Care-Based Safety on Transit
Background
Metro has a ballooned multi-year policing contract with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), and Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) at more than $786 million dollars. Policing transit riders has not resulted in increased safety on the system and instead caused a disproportionate number of citations and arrests of Black riders. Despite making up 18% of transit riders, Black riders have been issued 50% of citations and arrests by Metro’s contracted sheriffs and police officers.
We deserve a public transit system where ALL riders feel safe. @metrolosangeles: put an end to the bloated, ineffective policing contract that targets and criminalizes Black riders and invest in non-policing community safety alternatives. #PeoplesTransit. pic.twitter.com/6lWfiqGIPm
— Advancement Project California (@AP_California) December 2, 2021
Our Vision
Our report Metro as a Sanctuary: Reimagining Safety on Public Transit—with recommendations for wayfinding transit ambassadors, outreach for unhoused riders, and other new programs like elevator attendants—puts forth a vision towards care-based safety strategies on transit instead of the status quo of the current ineffective police-first approach.
Our transit system can and should be a sanctuary that connects Angelenos to opportunity and services and provides a welcoming public environment that attracts riders to the system.
Resources and Updates
Metro as a Sanctuary: Reimagining Safety on Public Transit, is ACT-LA’s latest report on why Metro’s law enforcement contract needs to sunset and how Metro can improve all Angelenos’ lives and livelihoods through transit. One-page flyer version. (March 2021)
- ACT-LA Letter to LA Metro Opposing an In-House Police Department – June 2022
- ACT-LA Letter to LA Metro Regarding Concern about Sheriff Retaliatory Actions – September 21, 2022
- ACT-LA Letter to LA Metro Opposing Racially Harmful Intelligence Gathering – April 2022
- ACT-LA Statement on Safety on LA Metro – March 2022
- ACT-LA Support Letter – Metro Community Safety Motion – June 2020
Riders Alliance‘s report A Riders Plan for Public Safety – June 2022
Common Justice‘s report Solutions to Violence – September 2021