S3 Ep 3: Scarlett De Leon - Care-Based Safety on Transit in Los Angeles

ACT-LA is an advocacy organization that strives to create equitable transit systems and neighborhoods in Los Angeles. In recent years, ACT-LA has campaigned on securing safety alternatives to armed policing on LA Metro’s buses and trains, and helped to win an unarmed transit ambassador program that launched in October 2022. 

In this episode, I interview Scarlett De Leon, Campaigns Director at ACT-LA, to discuss her organization’s vision for creating community safety on transit. In 2021, the group released its “Metro as a Sanctuary” report that audited Metro’s policing contracts, and analyzed the racially disproportionate impact of over-policing in the system. ACT-LA’s report and subsequent pop-up activations demonstrated what care-based safety solutions that forefront rider dignity could look like. 

“Some population segments might feel more comfortable with armed security, but at the same time, they are causing actual harm to our Black riders, Latino riders, and other segments of our community. When we look at safety for our station, we want to make sure that everyone feels safe.” - Scarlett De Leon

For more on ACT-LA, click here. 

For more on TransitCenter, click here. 

Hosted by Kapish Singla

Edited by Ali Lemer and Kapish Singla

Produced by TransitCenter

Music: “Comma” - Blue Dot Sessions

Disclaimer: Political views raised by guests on the podcast do not reflect the views of TransitCenter.