WEBVTT 1 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:25.239 KFI. It's later with Mo Kelly. We're live everywhere on 2 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.960 the iHeartRadio app. We have a huge show for you tonight. 3 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:32.119 So much going on. You've probably heard by now, the 4 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:37.280 pending charges and the impending announcement of those charges regarding 5 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:40.759 New York City Mayor Eric Adams. When we have more 6 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:43.560 information about that, obviously we will forward it to you. 7 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:46.679 I'm eagerly interested to see what has been uncovered and 8 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:49.479 what they will eventually charge him with. I find it 9 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:53.200 very curious, you know, the Biden DOJ in the weeks 10 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:56.799 before a major election, a presidential election, are going to 11 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:03.759 charge Democratic Bob an Indez says, hello, just seems like 12 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:06.840 it's weird. It's just strange timing. Why would the Biden 13 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:10.000 DOJ do that. Anyhow, we'll talk about that later if 14 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.280 we get more information or worse tomorrow. 15 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:14.519 It's also wellness Wednesday. 16 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.439 Claudine Cooper will join us with her thoughts about whether 17 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:22.879 couples who work out together stay together. And you might 18 00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:25.879 have seen the video by now. It came down a 19 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.120 little late yesterday. We didn't have time to talk about it. 20 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:32.519 But Tom and Lee's wife, Britney Furlan, well, she rescued 21 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.159 her dog from a coyote attack. There was video of that, 22 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:38.079 and you know, I have a lot to say about 23 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:42.840 these gosh darn coyotes everywhere between them and bees. 24 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:46.239 Kill them all, kill them all, kill them dead. We 25 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:49.000 got the viral load with Tiffany Hobbs tonight. She'd joined 26 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:49.640 us in the studio. 27 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:54.599 And you know you've taken method acting way too far 28 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:58.560 when you're playing a crackhead and you actually go to 29 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:04.079 a cracked in and experiment with crack I have a 30 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:09.159 completely different view of halle Berry now. That is to tease, 31 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.039 and we'll tell you about it before the show is over, 32 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:15.599 but of course I have to start with this. In 33 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:18.439 the next segment, we'll be joined by Blake Trolley, kfi's 34 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:21.520 own Blake Trolley, and he'll give us his information the 35 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.479 late us on that metro bus hijacking, and then Michael 36 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:27.520 Monks will join us at the bottom of the hour 37 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:30.400 and tell us what he gleaned and what he heard 38 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:33.800 and what he learned at the press conference earlier today 39 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:37.479 where you had a supervisor Han and also Mayor Bass 40 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:40.439 speaking and others. We can find out if we can 41 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:42.919 get some sense out of all this nonsense which has 42 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:46.319 been happening on Metro. And I want to be clear, 43 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:50.400 I have long said that Metro needs to have its 44 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:54.120 own police force. But I would never try to tell 45 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:58.599 you that that is the solution, that if you were 46 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.319 to just put an officer on every bus and every 47 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:05.879 train in every platform, these problems would disappear. No, no, no, no, 48 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:07.639 I would never say that, but I would think that's 49 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:12.520 the best solution which is available to us, which would 50 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:16.039 give us the best chance of protecting people. And here's 51 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:21.400 the uncomfortable truth about crime in our city or around 52 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:24.960 the country. We live in a free society, which is 53 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:30.560 an understood social contract. It's a contract that you, with 54 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:34.039 that freedom, are going to use it responsibly, that you 55 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.680 are not going to engage in crime. The understanding is 56 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.639 that you and fifty of your friends are not going 57 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.400 to ride up on your bikes and then try to 58 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:47.159 ransack a seven to eleven because you know that if 59 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:50.479 the fifty of you run into that store that there 60 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:54.759 probably won't be anyone to stop you. It's a social contract, 61 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:59.639 it's an understanding, it's an implicit agreement that this thin 62 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:05.360 v near of civility and lawful behavior can easily be 63 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:08.960 torn away if enough people decide to not abide by 64 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:13.520 that contract. Now, statistically, we can make the argument, and 65 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:17.720 I've said overall violent crime is down, but I also 66 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.839 said that if you look between the numbers and you 67 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:24.639 use the eyeball test, the type of crime has changed. 68 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:28.759 We can say that, hey, bus hijackings were not a 69 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:33.399 thing two or three years ago. We can say that 70 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:36.560 the type of crime of smashing grabs that we've seen 71 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:42.040 was not a thing two or three years ago. Statistically, 72 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:44.439 how that plays out, I don't know, but I think 73 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:48.680 all of us can acknowledge that this what we're experiencing 74 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:50.560 is something different. 75 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:53.959 I don't know what the catalyst is. I don't presume 76 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:55.319 to have all the answers. 77 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:59.639 I just know that, regardless of the numbers, the number 78 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:04.439 of people who no longer or who are no longer 79 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:10.000 abiding by the social contract of lawful behavior has increased. 80 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:13.839 And maybe they're not doing that type of crime that 81 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.519 they used to do. They're doing this type of crime. 82 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:20.199 And maybe this type of crime is not happening as 83 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:23.120 often as that type of crime, going back to the numbers, 84 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:28.839 but this type of crime is markedly different, and that's 85 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:31.120 what we're going to be talking about when we talk 86 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.759 to Blake Trolley about this metro hijacking. 87 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:35.120 And there's one other thing. 88 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:39.920 Remember how I would talk about how safety personal safety 89 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.800 begins with personal decisions. I say that I don't go 90 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:46.879 to gas stations at night, I do not go to 91 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.079 ATMs at night. I feel that I am putting myself 92 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:54.600 in danger or making myself more susceptible to becoming a victim. 93 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:58.079 But when I think about this metrobus hijacking, what we're 94 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.480 getting ready to get into. If you're riding the bus 95 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:05.600 at twelve thirty five am in the morning, there's a likelihood, 96 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:08.199 a likelihood that you're not doing so by choice. Maybe 97 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:11.399 you're working a late shift. Maybe you don't have a car, 98 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:13.519 maybe you don't have the money for an uber, maybe 99 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:15.759 you don't have any other type of transportation. 100 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.439 There is a likelihood, a good. 101 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:21.319 Chance, that you are on that bus because that's your 102 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:24.879 only form of transportation. And being on that bus at 103 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:28.439 twelve forty five am on a Wednesday morning, through no 104 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:33.000 fault of your own, put you in greater danger, made 105 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:37.560 you more susceptible to becoming a victim of violence. Given 106 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:41.600 what we are experiencing here in Southern California, Visa VI, 107 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.680 the La Metro. 108 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:45.920 So I don't have any jokes tonight. I don't have 109 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:46.879 anything witty to say. 110 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.720 I don't have any jokes about Keanu Reeves and speed. 111 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.720 I'm not trying to make any comparisons. I just know 112 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:56.199 that we're at a point where enough of the talk, 113 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:59.279 enough about being outraised or or being surprised at oh 114 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:02.079 my gosh, can't continue in our city. This can't continue 115 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.079 on our metro. We need to just go ahead and 116 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:05.839 solve the problem, or make sure that we're doing everything 117 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:07.920 that we can with the tools which are available to 118 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:11.199 us to address the problem. Because other than that, I 119 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.000 don't feel like hearing it. It's Later with mo Kelly. 120 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:15.800 Blake Trolley joins us. 121 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:16.160 Next. 122 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:20.240 You're listening to Later with mo Kelly on demand from 123 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:21.879 KFI AM six forty. 124 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.040 It's Later with mo Kelly and now Blake Trolley as 125 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:28.000 we're both live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. By now, 126 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:30.319 you should know that one person was fatally shot when 127 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:34.160 a metro bus was hijacked with passengers on board and 128 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:37.879 then pursued by police from South LA to Downtown LA 129 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:42.279 early this morning, and Blake trolly, you have been all 130 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:43.079 over this story. 131 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:44.519 First, let me say good evening. 132 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:48.160 But do we know anymore now about what happened and 133 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:49.079 why it happened. 134 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:51.480 Well, one of the things that we're learning is exactly 135 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:53.720 how police were actually alerted to this. In just the 136 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:56.439 last few minutes, mo I was reached out to by 137 00:07:56.519 --> 00:08:00.439 the union that represents bus drivers saying that this driver 138 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:05.120 actually activated his emergency alarm system and that is what 139 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.879 alerted this large law enforcement presence that chased this bus. 140 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:13.120 Video and images have been posted of this bush. When 141 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:18.040 this activation was set off, the bus actually the screen, 142 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.120 the screen that you know sits above the windshield if 143 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:24.560 you will, of a bus was flashing nine one one 144 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:27.079 or call nine one one, please call police, you know, 145 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:31.120 alerting that there was an emergency. So we now know, 146 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:33.399 you know a little bit more on how police were 147 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:35.799 actually alerted to this bus. But we're trying to figure 148 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:39.759 out is exactly how this situation escalated. What we do 149 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.639 know is that down in South La on Figaro, a 150 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:45.240 guy did get on a bus. He was armed with 151 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.879 a gun. We're told that he would not let the 152 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.960 driver leave and that he had the driver continue driving 153 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.360 from South La at one point he was down by 154 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.000 the one oh five all the way back to downtown. 155 00:08:56.360 --> 00:09:00.320 What's unclear is where on this journey did this guy 156 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:03.600 fire and kill one of the passengers that was on 157 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.639 this bus. Keep in mind that part of the timeline 158 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.360 that we're trying to figure out is did this shooting 159 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:13.919 happen and then the bus was hijacked? Did the shooting 160 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.600 happen as the bus was hijacked? And one of the 161 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:19.120 key details that may give us some hints as to 162 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:21.919 what happened here is that we're told there were several 163 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:25.960 people actually on the bus, and LAPD had confirmed with 164 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:28.120 us this morning that as the bus was heading through 165 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:31.879 South La, several people were actually seen getting off the bus. 166 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:34.679 And keep in mind this pursuit, it pushes from South 167 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:38.559 LA back to about skid Row, of all places, and 168 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:42.279 that's where spike strips are finally effective on this bus. 169 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:45.360 LAPD Deputy Chief Graham told us SWAT teams they were 170 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:47.240 ready to go. They knew that this could end up 171 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.879 being a very serious situation. 172 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:52.919 They had made the determination to go in release the 173 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.440 pressure on the bus, allow the doors to open, make 174 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:57.919 entry to the bus, and do what they call a 175 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:00.480 dynamic entry, which is you know, everybody all in it 176 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:03.559 once instead of parceling it all out because of there 177 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.840 was a man with a gun there and potential access 178 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:08.440 to other victims, so that was a rescue operation. 179 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.559 So they deployed on the bus. 180 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:14.440 They used distraction techniques, made their way onto the bus. 181 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:18.879 My understanding is that the suspect immediately surrendered as soon 182 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:21.399 as SWAT assets entered the bus, so there was no altercation. 183 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.919 When he says those distraction techniques, we were told by 184 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:27.440 some reporters that were on seeing that that was flashbangs 185 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.519 and the light that were used to distract that hijacker 186 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:34.480 and take him into custody. There was one other person 187 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:37.320 on board that those SWAP members were able to save. 188 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:40.440 That person was actually hiding in the back of the bus. 189 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:44.200 Do we know going back to the panic button which 190 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:47.000 displays called nine one one on the bus, Marque, is 191 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:47.759 that new? 192 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:49.919 I've never heard about that before. 193 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.320 Yeah, I haven't heard this using keep in mind, this 194 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.960 is not the first time that we've heard of a 195 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:57.000 bus being hijacked in LA This year alone. There was 196 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.960 the hijacking in downtown LA where the bus had craft 197 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:02.679 into the RITZ. I do not remember hearing any similar 198 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:06.840 reports at that time, and I had responded to that story. 199 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:10.159 I know that bus safety this is something that Metro 200 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:13.200 has been focusing on mo. If you'll remember back in 201 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:16.679 the spring, Metro had actually ordered new barriers to be 202 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:19.279 put around these bus operators. This was because of a 203 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:23.000 concerting rise and assaults on operators. I was told that 204 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:27.519 this bus actually had one of those new barriers, and 205 00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:30.039 to my knowledge, these are bulletproof barriers. So I'm really 206 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:32.960 trying to figure out the dynamics at play that had 207 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:35.600 a guy with a gun ordering a driver to drive 208 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:40.600 despite that driver being behind a barrier. Metro did release 209 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:45.159 in Metro's latest crime stat release, they did show an 210 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.600 uptick in operator assaults from May to July. 211 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.960 July is the latest. 212 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:53.080 Numbers that we have. There were eleven operator assaults in 213 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:56.679 May twenty three in July, and in this same report 214 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.759 they said that some of these tactics that people are 215 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:04.879 using to assault these operators are punching, slapping, spitting, brandishing 216 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:09.200 a gun and using objects. So you know, this attack 217 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:12.960 on operators is obviously something that Metro is grappling with 218 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:16.240 as they see these rising numbers. The chair of Metro 219 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:19.240 janisn She put out a statement say we need to 220 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:22.320 prevent find solutions to prevent similar attacks, and she seems 221 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.519 to be now taking aim at ways the system can 222 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:28.799 prevent people from bringing weapons onto the system. 223 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:30.840 Blake, I don't expect you to know the answers to 224 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:33.200 these questions, but I feel I need to ask them 225 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:36.320 for the benefit of our audience. You said that one 226 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:40.440 person obviously was shot and killed. Unfortunately one person was 227 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.480 able to hide. Do we know how many people were 228 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:47.159 on the bus at any given time during this hijacking? 229 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:51.200 Passengers wise, No, and that's something I'm trying to figure out. 230 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:53.320 We know was more than just those people. There were 231 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:56.320 four people in total involved by the time that SWAT 232 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:59.480 officers had made it on. There was the alleged hijacker, 233 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:02.480 there was the driver, there was the person who was 234 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:04.200 shot and killed, and there was the person that was 235 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.159 hiding on the bus. 236 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.120 So the latest official number we have is four. 237 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:12.080 But as we heard from officials this morning on the ground, 238 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:15.480 was that there were other passengers in the beginning of this, 239 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:19.879 especially as police initially began to respond to this, that 240 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:22.759 we're seen getting off the bus, and when you think 241 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:24.960 about the way that this chase started. We're trying to 242 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.120 get a timeline of when these people hopped off the bus. 243 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:30.159 It could have very well been this kind of buffer 244 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:33.519 moment where police were trying to communicate with the hijacker 245 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:36.879 using PA systems, and at one point the bus just 246 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.919 kind of slowly takes off and that's where we see 247 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:44.200 this slow pursuit. Video of this pursuit was posted online. 248 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:47.080 Street People of LA's got a great clip. You see 249 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:50.679 this bus just kind of slow rolling from South LA 250 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:55.120 into downtown and a just parade of police cars just 251 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:57.000 kind of slowly following behind. 252 00:13:57.320 --> 00:14:00.200 You make mention of the previous bus hijacking, And I 253 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:04.600 know that you may not have specifically interviewed metro bus operators, 254 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:07.559 but I wonder if there will be a willingness for 255 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:11.159 metro bus operators to speak out going forward and give 256 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.960 their thoughts about safety or lack thereof while operating these buses. 257 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:18.960 Because to your point, the assaults have increased by Metro's 258 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.919 own internal data, I would have to assume that they 259 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.200 are more concerned than ever before about their own safety. 260 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:28.320 Have you had any discussions with metro bus operators up 261 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.320 until this point. 262 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.759 Yeah, so I spoke with the union about this, And 263 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.519 keep in mind that when that original hijacking came out 264 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:38.399 in the spring, the union had put out a statement 265 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:41.759 essentially calling on Metro for more action. The statement that 266 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:43.720 I got from the union today, and a lot of 267 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.080 what they had told me, was that this really reiterates 268 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.559 the need for some of the action that they've called 269 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:54.000 on Metro to take. I didn't see any specific new 270 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:57.080 demands in with the union, at least at my first 271 00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:58.960 glance at this email, But here we go. I'm going 272 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.840 to go through it right now again. This same email 273 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:05.519 is where we find out that the driver used that 274 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:08.240 emergency system. We did not know that as of this 275 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:12.000 earlier this morning through police. It says this grave incident 276 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:15.320 emphasizes the continuing safety concerns that our members have raised 277 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.840 and that we your General Committee, have vehemently expressed to 278 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:21.600 Metro management. The protection of our members remains the very 279 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:24.080 top priority of your union and this regard. We have 280 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.080 been the thriving force in Metro's decision to install protective 281 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:30.759 driver barriers aboard the buses. It should be noted that 282 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:33.840 Metro promised us they would complete installation of bears by 283 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.600 the end of the year. In addition, we recently strongly 284 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.840 supported a Metro board motion to entirely revamp Metro's police 285 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:45.559 protection to better safeguard our members. This process has begun, 286 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.399 so again, when you look at this statement, it doesn't 287 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:51.000 call in any new action. What I'm going to be 288 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:54.360 curious to CIMO is, Okay, we've kind of heard this 289 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:57.600 initial statement from the union. Are the drivers going to 290 00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:01.000 reach around their union and maybe hold one of their 291 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:03.639 own events where they'll speak to the media and try 292 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:06.159 to get some of this out as we hear not 293 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:08.360 only about this report, not only about the last II jacking, 294 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:10.559 but then you know the numbers that we provided there 295 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.639 through that Metro report. 296 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.360 Thank you Blake for staying up on this story. It's 297 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:16.759 later with Mo Kelly Cafi AM six forty. We're live 298 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.600 everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. But we're not done with 299 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:22.080 this story. On the other side, I'll be joined by 300 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:25.039 Michael Monks, who is at the Karen Bass presser earlier 301 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:28.039 today on this incident, and Michael Monks will give us 302 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:31.679 his assessment of what information was divulged and whether we 303 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.360 have a clear sense of whether Metro knows how to 304 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.840 handle this going forward. 305 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:41.039 You're listening to later with Moe Kelly on demand from 306 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:43.080 KFI AM six forty. 307 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:46.320 And joining us right now from the iHeartRadio Studios downtown 308 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.559 Los Angeles is none other than kfi's own Michael Monks. 309 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:53.639 And you've been very busy following this Metro generally and 310 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:56.200 specifically the press conference earlier today. 311 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:58.919 Who was in attendance and who do we get to 312 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.799 hear from? Today? 313 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.600 We got to hear from all the heavy hitters related 314 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:05.519 to city and county governance and the governance of Metro. 315 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:08.759 We had La Mayor Bass, we had County Supervisor Janis Hahn, 316 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.279 who was the chair of the Metro board. We had 317 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:15.039 an assistant police chief, and we also had the CEO 318 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:19.720 of Metro, Stephanie Wiggins. So we expected a pretty significant 319 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:26.000 statement or announcement about what transpired, the tragedy and crime 320 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:29.000 that occurred this morning. Didn't really get the sense that 321 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.920 that's what happened. Though. 322 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:32.400 You didn't get the sense that that's what happened. 323 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:35.279 They didn't give a strong enough statement, or they didn't 324 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:37.640 give a statement that addressed the heart of the issues. 325 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:39.720 It really wasn't much. 326 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:43.119 New that was said. And you know, you and I 327 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.799 have talked about this. You've talked about it a lot 328 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:46.640 on your show, We've talked about it throughout the programming 329 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:49.440 in the news on KFI. That I mean, there have 330 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:53.400 been tragedies and there have been other crimes associated with 331 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:58.200 drivers and writers on this metro system, and there's been 332 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:01.599 a so called surge and law ence presence across the system. 333 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:04.480 And when you have something like this happen, it does 334 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:08.359 make folks question whether any of this has worked, whether 335 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:12.079 any of it was worth it, And so to expect 336 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:16.720 a stronger statement from these local leaders who govern this 337 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:22.279 transit system probably was appropriate, but again it was mostly 338 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:25.920 a rehash of the efforts that are ongoing, and even 339 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:30.680 bold enough to recite statistics that had already been reported 340 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:34.680 about indications that their surge is in fact working. 341 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:39.640 I have a question, and this is somewhat philosophical, somewhat rhetorical, 342 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:42.880 but hear me out. If they have a stronger statement, 343 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:46.519 who is the intended audience? Who are they asking for 344 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:49.079 help from? Who are they mad at as far as 345 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:51.680 not getting things done? If you have the mayor, you 346 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:54.880 have the CEO of Metro, you have the chair of 347 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:57.559 the Metro board, and they're saying and I would say, 348 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.240 in so many words paraphrase, we need to do more. 349 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:03.240 This is unacceptable. We can't have this happen on public transit. 350 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:06.960 And we all agree, But who are they telling that too? 351 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:10.839 Because they are the leaders who are responsible, in charge 352 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:13.640 and empowered to do something. 353 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:16.640 I asked that very question I got called on in 354 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:20.000 the presser this afternoon at Union Station, even when as 355 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:22.279 far as what you just did, identifying them by their 356 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:24.519 titles and the role that they play in the governance 357 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.440 of Metro, and noting the fact that there is a 358 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:32.519 Metro board meeting tomorrow, and I asked, what will you 359 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:36.559 do tomorrow that's not currently on the agenda related to 360 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:41.400 the incident today and in an attempt to further prevent 361 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:46.319 similar incidents from occurring, And none of the elected officials 362 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:50.000 or the CEO of Metro took the question. Instead, they 363 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:54.200 brought up one of the security officials with Metro, who's 364 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:57.160 a good guy, always willing to talk and explain their 365 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:00.519 strategies and their results, and was a focus of my 366 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:03.400 interview last week about the statistics related to the surge, 367 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:06.000 but that ended up just being a recitation of the 368 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:09.519 statistics related to the surge, highlighting that there have been successes, 369 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:12.279 and there have been based on the data, but one 370 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:16.200 key point of that data MO is that the attack, 371 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:19.640 the number of attacks against bus operators has actually gone 372 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:22.960 up since that surge started. This surge where they're supposed 373 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:26.240 to be more law enforcement people present, more security officials present, 374 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:30.519 more ambassadors present, more bus drivers have been victims of 375 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:33.880 crimes while working than they were before that started. 376 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:36.440 Let me go back to the actual hijacking that took 377 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:40.680 place early this morning. We know that the bus in 378 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:44.920 question had the new protection, the bulletproof divider, which is 379 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:48.960 supposed to separate the bus driver from any would be assailant. 380 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:52.079 Do we know whether the bus driver was trying to 381 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:59.319 protect passengers by a going along with the hijackers demands 382 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.880 to keep the bus going forward. 383 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.599 Some of those questions were shouted out. 384 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:05.599 We did not get a lot of specific details about 385 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:08.640 what transpired on that bus from the time that this 386 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:12.799 alleged hijacker got aboard in South LA and even during 387 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:15.359 the hour long slow speed chase that led to the 388 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:18.839 Arts District here in downtown LA. The police are holding 389 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:21.519 that still close to the vest. They did identify the 390 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:24.839 suspect as Lamont Campbell, a fifty one year old guy 391 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:28.279 from here in LA But beyond that, nothing about why 392 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:34.000 he did it, nothing about what might have precipitated the 393 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.400 actual shooting that took place. We don't want to lose 394 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:38.680 sight of the fact that this was another deadly tragedy 395 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:41.599 that took place on metro passenger shot and killed. We 396 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:44.279 don't know the circumstances of that. What we know about 397 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:46.640 that barrier, and I heard Blake talk about this too, 398 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.279 is that these are supposed to be in all the 399 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:50.319 buses by the end of the year. And today at 400 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:54.559 the press conference, the local officials noted that that barrier 401 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:58.960