To the editor: I have lived in the Los Angeles area since 2007 and have been an advocate for public transportation. However, over the past five years, I have seen degradation throughout the system, as reported in your recent articles on Metro security.
Yes, we have to ensure the safety of our bus drivers and other staff. But we also face a problem caused by our nation's inability to address poverty. As more and more people become homeless, drug addicted, scared and broken, violence grows.
We can't make life perfectly safe, but we can do a lot for those who are likely to resort to violence: better schools and universal healthcare come to mind.
We must become a nation dedicated to the abolition of poverty. We have the money for it; I'm not sure we still have the will for it.
Congratulations to our public transportation system and those who make it work, and congratulations to those who point us in the right direction to mitigate the deadly influence of poverty.
Tom Eggebeen, Pasadena
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To the editor: In your article about Metro's safety crisis declaration, I saw no mention of efforts to increase safety for the traveling public.
They are putting bus drivers behind protective tempered glass barriers. Brilliant! Now, put an armed officer on every bus and every subway car. Until then, I'll consider every Metro ride a game of Russian roulette.
I have lost confidence in Metro leadership.
Scott Herbertson, Burbank
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To the editor: Hours before Mirna Soza was murdered while exiting a train at the Universal City Metro station, I was traveling on the same subway line.
When I left in Universal City, there were two police officers walking outside near the staircase. I thanked them for keeping us safe.
In retrospect, they should have been inside the station and not outside.
Perhaps the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will prompt Metro and the city to take action; the almighty dollar has a way of doing it.
For now, it is necessary to have police officers inside the trains.
Patricia Tyson, Glendale
