Amid an increase in violent crime on the Metro Red Line over the past several years, ABC7's Marc Brown took a ride on the subway train to see conditions are like these days. MORE: abc7.com/metro...
That "Chief Safety Officer" is full of it, he did a good job contrasting her words with reality. I'm eating my hat if she's regularly on there with her family.
Good on Marc Brown for doing some real reporting. I ride subways and buses pretty much exclusively when I travel to Europe, and it's perfectly normal. The worst thing you have to worry about is pickpockets, and that's really only in the high tourist season. Normal people ride them - kids, adults, old folks. They enforce fares and write tickets with hefty fines for gate-jumpers. Meanwhile here in LA, we've spent billions on subway lines and can't even ride them because of the bums and meth heads.
Capitalists in America think you can throw money at things and solve a problem without addressing cultural issues. To the American capitalist money solves everything. To the American capitalist cultural issues don't exist.
I ride subways and buses pretty much exclusively when I travel to Europe and Asia. All give me pleasant experiences. I travel very often, including third-world countries. Nowhere else is even close to what people in LA are facing. I recently went to NYC and Chicago and tried their subways and buses too. All I have to say is even they are much better than LA. California is a joke now.
It’s a real tragedy what has happened in L.A. Way back in the late 70’s on my first visit, there wasn’t any subway of course but we were able to drive downtown, park the car and walk around without any incident and no homeless on the streets. Downtown had already gone down with the big stores having closed by then but we didn’t feel unsafe at all.
Public safety is not just the job of the police. Yes, more police can help but a lot of those people were going through mental health issues that are not the job of the police to fix.
@@TheRandCrews Yeah but the problem is that mental health counselors and social workers never see increases (whether in personnel or salary) but police always see increases. We should have both. The police do way too much.
@@vandreadparty A police presence tends to fix mental health issues. Crazy or not, they recognize authority. Most people do. That's why some people don't want law enforcement in their neighborhood. Truth is, they are needed to keep everyone safe. The media tends to downplay their jobs but they along with EMS are the only ones accountable for the publics safety. Politicians and the media need to take it more seriously. But the media loves "If it bleeds, it leads." So legislation needs to be passed to demonetize violence or make it more costly for "artists" to put violence in front of the general public. Instead of the government paying reparations. Have these billion dollar companies pay for it by using a part of their budget to pay citizens who claim they were exposed to violent content. Example: Have a claim button on RU-vid videos that show violence even if it's fake violence. Viewers can claim money for being exposed to it if the choose. This comes out of the production budget. If the production is non violent content, then nothing is paid to the viewer.
I was recently harassed and threatened by a group of young people on the red line…no security in sight. I had wait for the next stop to exit, anything could have in the interim. There were police on that platform but NOT on the train. I’ll never ride it again. Thanks for reporting Marc!
I just rode the train for jury duty and I haven’t ridden the train since 2010 and man it was scary. I also saw police downstairs but people were smoking in the doors of the train and they just stood there
It is possible to walk between cars on the Red Line. I've seen the crazy people on it do it, although you're not supposed to as you are outside for small space between cars. The main problem is Metro does not kick the homeless off when the line reaches either North Hollywood or Downtown. They keep riding it back and forth. Isn't the train supposed to be used for public transportation and not a rolling homeless shelter? There should be at least two Metro police always stationed inside each station. One near the entrance and one on the platform. If there are transients hanging around inside, they should immediately be removed. Again, train stations are not homeless shelters.
I know the train cars are suppose to be replaced. Maybe they'll replace them with trains where you can walk from one car to another. It would also simplify having officers ride and walk all the cars instead of being stuck in one car until the next stop.
2:53 - what a liar looks like when theyre lying, shes even shaking her head no the whole time her mouths saying yes, voice cracking to force the bs out...whats that forked tongue thing ppl used to talk about?
Agree! A liars voice breaks and shrills as an autonomic response when the brain gets confused and crossed between what it knows as fact (the unsafe conditions) and forcing out a lie (allowing her family to ride). Good job Marc. You forced her hand and exposed the inherent problem within the organization; no accountability based on perpetual lies and political verbage.
CA is drowning in expensive bureaucracy and bureaucrats (like her) cuz they simply are unwilling to put these social misfits away. Course the numbers of such are overwhelming.
Marc, thank you for doing this reporting. I hope it catches other's attention that can make policy changes towards safety on the red line. It really is that bad. Note - I take the new K-line a lot now near Inglewood. It is very nice! A lot of police security and metro personnel at the gates to make sure people pay to get on the train. I feel much safer on this new K-Line. This should be done at the stops on the red line.
@@Joseph-ke3xcI think it's likely that metro is waiting for their new trains to be delivered on the B line to roll out this policy there so they will have something to protect!
Miss the time when it was actually clean when no one knew LA had subways. I was sometimes the only passenger or one of 3-4. This was about '92 or '93 when there was only the Red Line with about 6 stops or so.
I stopped riding after a rider got stabbed a few years ago on the orange line. I felt safer on the New York City subway than I do on the Los Angeles subway.
Mr Brown went incognito and not in his work clothes, suit and tie lol.When i use to ride the l.a. metro, I didn't like riding the Blue line it was sketchy, it's unfortunate to see the problem has migrated to Red Line.
The problem's pretty much everywhere now, whether it's the Blue Line or the Red Line. Just yesterday as I was coming out of "Ratchet Ass Norwalk" (as I call the city), I smelled a blunt being lit up on the Green Line because some Bebe's kids were smoking weed like it was all gravy. Had to switch cars at Harbor Fwy because I was not in the mood for all that madness and ignorance
@@markwred That 5% the other way will catch up sooner or later. Once you take public transit in places like China, Japan, Singapore it's hard to deal with the BS that is LA public transit or frankly anything in America. It's third world compared to others.
Hope more reporters do the same. It would be interesting to see their reactions. Also, may I suggest taking the train during the morning rush - 7am. You really see some interesting characters during the rush.
Thanks for doing that Mr Brown. We dont complaint about Metro being unsafe for no reason. It is unsafe, it is way too uncomfortable due to drug addicts and people with mental health problems. That woman metro rep is full of it, she would be putting her family in danger if shed take them to the Metro Blue and Red lines probably in the worst condition. Possible solution you re under influence you loose your privilige to ride you violent, same thing. Metro needs its own police. Riding and at stations.
that what civilians are for why waste tax dollars on something that's your responsibility to protect yourself most people are lazy at protecting themselves they think having other people do it is easier.
@@ThroughMyEyes2020 The metro security head said previously adding more LAPD or officers from other places wont change anything because their bosses arent in metro and not accountable. All the new officers clearly just hang out in pairs on the stations doing nothing but watch YT and talk to their partners. All while getting paid 5x what the ambassadors do.
Excellent piece reporting on this issue of homeless drug addicts infringing on public transportation, people need to see this as a big problem for Los Angeles.
When I was on the red line today, a woman vaped tobacco in the car as two pudgy 'ambassadors' stood nearby and played on their phones. On the way back, cigarette smoke so thick I had to change cars at the next stop.
Metro used to have a bus in Van Nuys (the 237) that went to a subway sandwich on Highland and Santa Monica but now it just goes to the subway station in North Hollywood
@Alex G Metro used to give people the option to either take the bus or the subway to get to their destination outside of whatever unfortunate place they live in rather than being forced to take the redline
I lived right off the red line and would take it multiple times a day, I moved out of Los Angeles but I always felt safe. They need to change it back to the red line though.
I've been to many other countries... like Singapore, etc. They have the safest, cleanest railway system I've ever seen. No homeless, no trash, security people and camera everywhere. You can ride till very late at night and you still feel safe. I've been to Greenline station a few times and I stopped by the Harbor exit, that was one of the scariest times when I was approached by group of men just waiting by the gate asking "something".. I quickly walked away. I would never bring kids or my family to LA public transit ever, I don't want them to feel scared or harm.
The big difference is that most countries (especially Asian) have transit officers at every station and for that matter well lit stations. Here in the U.S. we put little money into public infrastructure so our stations are old looking, poor lighting and no transit authority to be found.
Rode the Red/Purple line last night from 7th to Union. A man was yelling at himself and spitting on the floor, seats and windows every 10 seconds. Earlier on another train in the exposition line a man was smoking a marijuana joint out in the open. Plenty of law enforcement seen during the day but at night nowhere to be found.
@@FlixCreEightR doubt it just more people who ride the red line are likely to call and report crimes,.. I seen someone bash out windows and open the emergency doors ,. Then threatened the driver with large rocks when he went to close the doors,. Then he started bashing the rocks on his window,… from watts all the way to Long Beach 5th street station,. And nobody called the police,..
From what I witnessed, the Blue and Red/Purple Lines are neck and neck with the Expo and Green Lines not too far behind (with somebody getting unalived at Crenshaw Station recently)
@@hoodmistressreloaded i mean I guess I have encountered problems on all the trains even the gold line,. In the nicer parts,. The 60 bus was always a moving show at all hours,. Of the day-night 😅 Still safer than the freeway,. If you do the math 🧮 🤔🫠
I took a ride on the metro Today but what i noticed was a very unusual high number of law enforcement sheriff's department and police i counted 20 officer's at north hollywood and 2 blocks of patrol units lapd at 7th also the trains that ran today happened to be cleaner than normal,i knew something was up then i seen this and realized it must be politics makeing it seem safer than it is because the news presence seems fishy..
I agree. It's common to see groups of cops hanging around chatting with each other on the upper levels- But today I saw a group of them down on the lowest level at one station and a group of LA COUNTY SHERIFFS (whoo, remember them?) at another. Sadly, no enforcement in the train cars. On one, a woman vaped tobacco as two pudgy 'ambassadors' stood nearby and played on their phones. On another, cigarette smoke so thick I had to change cars at the next stop.
Violent crime can still be down. Idk cause I haven't seen the statistics. The news ONLY reports the crimes so it can give the illusion that there is a lot of crime. I would say look at the statistics, not the news if you want to know whether it is going down or not.
Crime was much worse in the 70s and 80s. Violent crime has been going down for decades but it went up somewhat in the last couple of years. Covid affect added to it
@@mrxman581 reread what you just wrote. Smh thats the dumbest most arrested development comment on youtube. Use your common sense. Why would they cry out for more police if crime was so low!? Why are stores closing and ppl leaving? Seriously you cant be this gullible. 🤷🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ c'mon man the news is a non stop feed of criminal activity. So lemme ask u this ppl in the 70s and 80s was stealing catalytic converters and doing internet fraud and scams and home invasions!? 🤔 the only thing might be comparable is drug crimes. Crime is not down and this is coming from a former gang member and street dude in the 80s/90s bro im personally hyper aware! FOH! u are exactly the type they make news for. Don't let them disrespect your brain!
I ride subways all over Europe and it is nothing like this. Here it's a dangerous cesspit. And the Metro fought and fought Alex Villanueva over safety issues.
They should have security right at the turnstiles making sure people are paying and keeping homeless and sketchy people from entering. I haven't taken the red line in almost 2 years and this is why. I haven't seen anything sketchy on the green line, the expo line, and especially the K line and the gold line. The red and blue lines are the main problems right now.
Worked in downtown for several years and rode the goldline and redline. The condition the city is in now I will probably not work in downtown again. I would never let me daughter or wife take the metro. Metrolink is ok but never the metro. Nope
When I took the red line today, a woman vaped tobacco as two pudgy 'ambassadors' stood nearby and played on their phones. On the way back, cigarette smoke so thick I had to change cars at the next stop.
Everytime I’m in LA, I ride all the light rails, buses, and everything in between. I never feared for my life but do something about the cleanliness of the trains! Please! Half eaten food, drug paraphernalia, literal spit on the floor etc.
Way to get it Marc Brown. I personally don't ride the redline for these exact reason. I would rather spend my lifesavings taking a taxi or an uber than to take the subway. It's unfortunately that a large portion of the community rely of this system to get them to and from work. Safety should be #1.
I watch this from Florida cause my sons live in CA ( N Hollywood and Burbank) The lack of prosecution for crime and enabling public nuisances is maddening.
Two weeks ago, rode Metro from Long Beach to DTLA at 10pm: Two thugs with knifes tugged into their pants belt got on and check for potential targets while their accomplices driving a getaway car next to the metro train. They got off after two stop, only to reboard a couple of stops later and continue looking for people to rob. And got off again when they found no easy targets. When we finally got off at DTLA, we saw 6 LAPD officers standing around in a group on the station platform chatting with each other. Please tell me what is wrong with this picture.
This experience confirms what the metro security head said previously adding more LAPD or officers from other places wont change anything because their bosses arent in metro and not accountable. All the new officers clearly just hang out in pairs at the platforms doing nothing but watch YT and talk to their partners.
for some reason, Metro decided allowing drug addicts and mentally unstable people to ride ... AND also expect anyone who has a car or other option to get around to "Go Metro". Hard pass until Metro decides to get serious about rider safety.
I have been riding the metro over a year and have never seen a police officer on a train. The Metro chief is definitely lying, police are almost never on the train. I have noticed a slight decrease of homelessness but overall quality is about the same. If we are paying hundreds of million of dollars on police and paying them overtime, they definitely should be riding the train for safety!
This experience confirms what the metro security head said previously adding more LAPD or officers from other places wont change anything because their bosses arent in metro and not accountable. All the new officers clearly just hang out in pairs on the stations doing nothing but watch YT and talk to their partners. All while getting paid 5x or more what the ambassadors get paid and if anyone in metro complains they just tell them to "kick rocks" because they know there is nothing Metro can do and inevitably the complaints of "simple minded citizens" will just lead to them being back with a contract extension after an incident happens which they never were going to prevent anyways but "simple minded citizens" think just any cops will solve this issue.
Thank you so much for doing this. I doubt that woman would allow her children to travel alone on the Metro. I haven't taken the Blue Line since they first started it. But definitely would not even take a blue or red to downtown and back nowadays. So many stories about people feeling threatened, and even at the stops waiting for the metro to come. Especially women that are alone. I would never allow my daughter to take the metro alone. I can only imagine what tourist unknowingly go through.
That lady has no idea of riding the metro. I would never let my family ride the metro. I ride the metro everyday. There’s no security or police officers riding the metro. You need to take the metro for more than one day to feel the severity of the problem.
From an outsider's perspective; You don't need more police or more guns present. What you do need is for that Metro personel to actually have walkie talkies and ways to quickly and effectively communicate. And perhaps also some actual training on how to handle various situations. Especially if the situation is handled well, it's an incredibly effective bang for your buck image campaign. They wouldn't get that deal anywhere else. Currently they just hired some temps to be on the ride and be much like regular passengers. Only Metro is paying for them and it's all done under their brand. All so the office can say they're doing something. And hopefully spend the least possible amount. While I can see what the short term vision there was, for the long term this is just horribad management. The problem will increase. The company behind it will look like a joke. And eventually it will both cost more to solve the problem and be in need of a big and costly campaign to change the public image.
This experience confirms what the metro security head said previously adding more LAPD or officers from other places wont change anything because their bosses arent in metro and not accountable. All the new officers clearly just hang out in pairs on the stations doing nothing but watch YT and talk to their partners. They do need better communication but they also need some actual guards but that are actually accountable to metro not to other people. The current ones can do absolutely nothing and tell metro to "kick rocks" if they have an issue.
I like how he asked those 2 what they think would have helped the situation, probably trying to guide them to saying more police. Correct answer is more available mental health help and more accessible social programs.
Great job Marc. I was on that line back in March and the amount of homeless and drug use on that line is ridiculous even down to homeless camps on the platforms. I seen more of a police and private detail presence on the blue/green lines more than anywhere else
I'm not from LA but when he mentioned not being able to move between train cars, only get off at a stop (and potentially wait ~20 min for the next train?) I shouted at the screen WELL THERE"S YOUR PROBLEM!
rode the red line for two years straight, the smell alone is something that sticks with you for years. It’s an experience for sure as you travel with grandmothers, toddlers, businessmen and women in suits, nurses and doctors,,,, oh yeah and tweaked out homeless folk, drug users, severely mentally or physically unwell folk, that line is no joke
Thats BS. There are no police in the trains by their choice. Tthe metro security head said previously adding more LAPD or officers from other places wont change anything because their bosses arent in metro and not accountable. All the new officers clearly just hang out in pairs on the stations doing nothing but watch YT and talk to their partners. All while getting paid 5x or more what the ambassadors get paid and if anyone in metro complains they just tell them to "kick rocks" because they know there is nothing Metro can do and inevitably the complaints of "simple minded citizens" will just lead to them being back with a contract extension after an incident happens which they never were going to prevent anyways but "simple minded citizens" think just any cops will solve this issue.
I have a question for anyone in the comments section who has ridden the red line in Los Angeles. It was mentioned in the story that you cannot move back and forth between different cars on the train, I saw doors at the end of the train car in the video, do they keep those doors locked?
That would require a massive force of TSA-style goons. I'm a frumpy middle aged woman who lives in downtown. I don't want my bags searched. It would be much cheaper and easier simply to kick out those who loiter/smoke/use drugs/urinate, etc in the subway. In 2011, I overheard an LA County Sheriff tell a tourist couple that the subway was about to launch its network of face recognition cameras that tracked how long everyone stayed on the platform. If anyone lingered, the Sheriffs would receive an alert to remove that person.
its not enough to mind your own business nowadays. You could be talking with someone and another person might take it the wrong way. Your presence enough could be annoying or threatening to them and now you are the problem to them. I wouldn't take my family on the train but i would go with a friend who has my back like i have his. good reporting and good material. Hopefully a solution can be reached
Nice reporting Mark 👏 But that metro representative is flat out lying. What you saw was tame compared to what happens, especially at night. I ignore the weird behavior. but as a female, no, I do not feel safe on the metro.
Umm.. So I did not know about this and took the Redline subway. Holyyyy shitttt. Why are the cars blocked LOL. You're literally stuck until the next stop which feels like forever when there are 3 homeless, 3 druggies and 3 crazies on the ride.
Marc Brown’s report carries even more weight today! …A 45 year old man was stabbed at the North Hollywood Redline on Lankershim/Chandler Ave. He was simply walking up the stairs when a man in all black came and stabbed him in the ribs. Violence is really uncalled for nowadays, no warning at all. Be safe out there.
"Would you take your family on the train?" "I would" she says. You know she doesn't but is just saying she would if pushed hard enough. We are surrounded by liars and crooks!
respect to Marc Brown for actually giving a real report. I think this is a very honest and authentic experience (unfortunately). It could be better, and it could be worse. It SHOULD be better...