When riders on the Metro A Line reach the end of the route at around 1 a.m., anyone still on the train is forced to deboard into downtown Long Beach on 11th Avenue and Pine Street, whether that is their destination or not.
Residents expressed concern that the Metro’s policy of dumping passengers in downtown Long Beach could be contributing to the city’s growing homeless population, which saw a 62% rise since 2020, according to the City’s annual homelessness count.
Of the over 3,200 people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, 1,200 were also in need of mental health services. 45% of the people experiencing homelessness in 2022 said that they did not become homeless in Long Beach, according to Paul Duncan, Homeless Services bureau manager.
Gina Osborn, chief safety officer for the Metro explained that the offboarding protocol is the same for each city containing an end-of-the-line station, including Los Angeles and Santa Monica. After passengers exit the A Line, the train must go to the yard where it’s cleaned for at least three hours to prepare for the next day.
Business owners from downtown Long Beach said that they’ve witnessed the area become more dangerous for residents in recent years, citing a long list of open drug use, public indecency, break-ins and vandalisms that have occurred in the past two weeks.
Orso Modica, who has owned Modica’s Deli in downtown Long Beach for 27 years, recalled multiple incidents of naked homeless residents harassing customers, staff and herself. Modica’s was broken into on Sept. 23, where suspects removed the cash register and made off with bottles of beer and wine.
“For the first time last week, I considered selling my business,” Modica said. “I can’t leave my restaurant without an escort to my car.”
Sixth district resident Senay Kenfe said that his mother has had to call the Long Beach Police Department five times because of homeless residents climbing her fence or getting into her garage.
“The police leave the trains after 7 p.m., so after 7 p.m. it’s up to you to provide your own safety,” Kenfe said. “My mother has been attacked walking her dog, my grandmother has been attacked walking to CVS … I don’t think it’s fair that just because we live along Long Beach Boulevard that’s something we have to engage in.”
Councilmember Al Austin added a friendly amendment to the item requesting that the City conduct surveys to find out “what type of people” are riding the A Line past midnight. He also urged the council to look into getting someone from the City on the Metro board in order for Long Beach to “have a seat at the table” on Metro issues.
Councilmember Cindy Allen said that her office conducted a week-long survey on the A Line when the area still fell under her district. The study found that of the almost 100 people exiting the train, 63 of them were experiencing homelessness.
Most of the people leaving the train ended up getting on a bus for Los Angeles, she said. Allen said that the data “did not point to Metro being the problem” and questioned the need for a formal letter.
Other members of the council suggested substituting the letter with a feasibility study into placing quality-of-life officers at the platform and requesting that Metro place officers on the A Line throughout the day to increase safety. Councilmember Mary Zendejas said that since her office has been in “ongoing discussions” with the Metro, she didn’t see a need for a letter.
Councilmember Suzie Price, who authored the item, replied saying, “‘the whole point was to start a formal conversation with Metro … for us to be on record with Metro.”
“When we have an opportunity to try and mitigate something that can potentially be causing our increase [in homelessness], we’re not taking it head on and forcefully,” Price said. “The city of Long Beach should not be taking on a bigger portion than the regional share of a regional crisis and we are doing that right now.”
Los Angeles County saw a 4.1% increase in homelessness from 2020 to 2022.
The request to Metro to evaluate their practices was passed by council 7-0.
The downtown station is at 1st and Pine, not 11th Avenue,.