This week on “In Focus SoCal,” we’re exploring a few different topics that are front and center for many Californians, starting with the surge in serious crimes and violent attacks at LA Metro stations and on the region’s buses and trains since the start of this year.
The number of total crimes within the Metro system surged more than 65% in the first three months of 2024, according to data from Metro System Security and law enforcement. The crimes range from trespassing, narcotics and larceny to aggravated assault, rape and homicide.
Mayor Karen Bass, Metro officials and local leaders have promised a series of changes in response to public outcry and safety concerns. They include increasing the number of law enforcement officials on buses and trains, and improving cell service along Metro systems. Spectrum News reporter Anna Albaryan profiled everyday riders about their recent experiences on public transportation.
"In Focus" host Tanya McRae spoke with Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins about the a new three-point plan to help keep riders across the system safe.
“First, we’re increasing the number of uniformed personnel on our system," said Wiggins. "We want a more visible presence we know from our riders that, that helps people feel safe. Second, we’re actually working on ensuring that people who are on Metro are there for transit purpose and no other purpose. So we’ve been working on how do we improve fair compliance and reduce trespassers on our system? And then third, we know that as a society, we’re all dealing with the challenges of the opioid epidemic, untreated mental illness and homelessness. And so working with our county and regional partners to help Metro address those issues on our system is also part of our three-point strategy of helping keep riders safe.”
McRae recently traveled to Sacramento, where she sat down with state Sen. Anna Caballero, who represents California’s 14th Senate District. The discussion included her work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, legislation to assist undocumented agricultural workers and a program the senator oversees that is inspiring young people to go into public service. She also explained the critical need to save hospitals in rural areas.
“I was made aware of the urgency of helping hospitals after the pandemic," said Caballero. "Many of them stopped providing non-essential services so that they could handle the rush of people that were very, very ill. And that cost them a lot in revenue, and many of them were pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. And so, working in partnership with a group of senators, we created a fund. It was a Distressed Hospital Loan Fund to provide low interest loans to hospitals that were on the verge of bankruptcy. What I learned is we absolutely can’t afford to close hospitals. When that resource is gone, you end up losing the doctors that were serving the community, the nurses, all the technicians leave. They go somewhere else to find work. And once that starts happening, it’s very difficult to get medical services locally.”
We’re also addressing the summertime challenges parents deal with as they look for safe places to send their kids. The benefits of day camp are many fold. Kids play sports, learn new skills, and make new friends. But all of this comes at a cost that could equal 1000s of dollars.
Spectrum News' Tara Lynn Wagner visited a program run by the city of LA, where parents can pay as little as $25 a week to enroll their child at more than 100 locations.
Watch “In Focus SoCal” every Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. And tell us what’s happening in your community at InFocusSoCal@charter.com.