NEWS FLASH: KOLD Channel 13 Features Violence problem on the Free Crime Bus: Sun Tran
KOLD Channel 13 just confirmed what TCFC has been reporting for months, that Crime on the Free Crime Bus is out of control and no-one feels safe. The FREE Crime bus is one of many failed policies supported by Mayor Romero, Councilmembers Lane Santa Cruz, Kevin Dahl, Paul Cunningham, Steve Kozachick and Nikki Lee.
When we reported this months ago, Councilmembers and Mayor Romero mocked TCFC members, publicly, at their council-meeting and then voted to extend the free bus 6 more months. Now, finally the media is paying attention and confirms what we have been reporting. Read for yourself. Nothing has improved under this Mayor and Council, and is only getting worse as demonstrated by KOLD 13 and the bus drivers and passengers.
MAYOR ROMERO continues to say: "There is no problem. It's Ludicrous!"
CLICK HERE: KOLD 13 Safety concerns continue to plague public transit in Tucson
In 2022 Mayor and Council paid for a third-party survey and nearly 50% of riders were subsidized, WE SUPPORT THAT! BUT, the bus should not be free for all. Once again, we support subsidizing those that qualify. We do not support a free bus that is dangerous for drivers and passengers and moves crime and drugs throughout our community.
Mayor and Council are getting ready to spend our money they don't have, to support this unneeded service, permanently, in the next month or two.
Another Quote from the third-party survey:
LESSONS LEARNED "As free fares had been implemented during the time the study was
conducted, more passengers were observed using transit without a
specific trip purpose than what is typically observed when fares
are being collected. ... Survey staff felt unsafe at
times due to some of these newer riders and incidents did occur
on buses."
CLICK HERE: 2022 Sun Tran Survey
If you read the third-party survey, nine percent of riders were coming from and/or going to school (K-12 and college). I grew up on the southside of Tucson and I took two public transit buses to school starting in 5th grade. First, Old Pueblo Transit then Sun Tran. On the way home the reverse. Because of the crime which is as the result of Mayor Romero and current city council failed policies, it is not safe for students. Boys and Girls alike rode the bus to my school. As a child I never saw anything or heard of anything that even came close to what I can see any day on the bus or at bus stops. Mayor and Council failed policies are destroying our city by the hour.
There is no such thing as a FREE Bus. We are paying for it one way or another in taxes. I agree with subsidies to those that need it, but not with criminals riding the bus to wherever just to find more criminals to interact with.
During the Carter gas shortage, I was a motor officer for TPD. The city decided that our take home motorcycles, that actually enforced traffic laws going to and from, on our own time, used too much gas, so we had to leave the motorcycles at the station.
A couple of our guys decided to ride the bus from the eastside to the station on Stone Ave. They lasted about two weeks, were late to work, and disgusted by what went on on the bus. And they were in uniform!
You have to have a death wish or be a committed, double masker, vegan to ride those sewers.
Hi, my child is almost 16 and has started riding the bus with his friends to get places. The fact that it is free and easy for them to use is crucial. They are learning independence and problem solving skills navigating transfers and figuring out how to get where they want to go.
You characterization of the free crime bus is unhelpful. I don’t deny the existence of the problems you describe. My son and I experienced a bus we were riding stopped and delayed because drugs were being used in the back. Not pleasant, certainly a little unnerving. But I can not agree with your conclusion that this negates the benefits of a free bus system. I think you are fear mongering. It being free has encouraged our family to use it more, and as an alternative to driving. By the way, driving is statistically one of the most dangerous things any of us do in any given day.
If you are actually interested in solving the problems facing the Tucson community, I think you should drop the smearing of the free bus thing, and support all funding efforts for the programs that actually help people avoid the behavior you are so worried about: high quality education accessible to every child(so, good funding for teachers and schools regardless of zip code), resources for families and children, counseling, mental health services, veterans services, etc. All these types of social investments have been systematically underfunded for decades because of short term thinking and profit motive and a disdain for taxes to fund things that help other people. If you want solutions, think long term, and think about how to invest in people, and quit the fearmongering.
These buses have always been dangerous. How could anyone with any common sense make a comment like “There is no problem. It’s ludicrous.” This comment reflects a total disconnect from reality. Years ago, riding the bus was like placing your life in danger. You never knew what was going to be on the bus. And the drivers, are they, were they ever, going to argue with someone about paying for the ride. I don’t think it’s worth the driver’s life is it? Now what you have done, just like everything else government gives away, it has now become an entitlement. These druggies are going to feel they are entitled to it, and cutting it off is going to cause some initial problems.
And, lastly, nothing is free. It’s our tax money being p****d away. For the benefit of the most unproductive, parasitic group of people in our city. The Mayor and City Council are facilitating all these crimes. Wait until someone dies from touching a fentanyl laced hand rail or seat, etc. But who cares, right, just keep working and pay your taxes.
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