Memphis Bus Riders Union (MBRU) members and other MATA riders are seeing some practical improvements at MATA’s Hudson Transit Center, but there are still concerns about excessive force from private security companies.
When MBRU met with MATA board members for a tour of the terminal, riders had a laundry list of ideas for the 20 year old transit hub. MATA has since installed a charging station for electronic devices, ADA compliant soap and paper towel dispensers, and a large full system map.
We still have a long way to go, but these new features are already in heavy use.
Meanwhile, rider complaints against the newly contracted security company Ambassador Worldwide Protection Agency are on the rise. A few weeks ago, a woman transferring between buses with her 11yr old and 3yr old children was sprayed with mace by one of the guards, after a verbal argument over jaywalking. The rider’s children were exposed to the mace. Several witnesses say the children appeared to be in a great deal of pain. MBRU members have continued to observe a pattern of bad judgment and reckless use of force by the security guards. Last week a guard was attempting to remove a rider from the terminal for selling soap. According to witnesses the rider threw his bag at her and ran off the property. The guard drew her gun and chased the man 6 blocks, leaving her post, and eventually macing the man after he had already been apprehended. The guard has since been fired, but Ambassador remains.
MBRU organizers believe incidents like this will continue unless there are real measures in place that improve the quality of security services and create accountability to the public. Evaluative data and reporting on any use of force by private security, more security cameras, and sensitivity training for guards is needed, and the MATA Board will be addressing these needs through policy at an upcoming meeting. Oversight of these reports is needed to observe patterns of violence, and compare them with customer complaints against guards.
As Shelia Williams stated in an interview with Fox13 “We want security to protect and serve the riders… that are commuting back and forth and not come at us like we are some criminals. Let’s build the trust factor and start on a new path,”
For more information, or to give your input on improvements to the Hudson Transit Center, join us at one of our monthly meetings, held on the second Saturday of each month, 12pm to 2pm, at the Memphis Center for Independent Living (1633 Madison Ave).
To contact MBRU, call or text 901-205-9737 or email MemphisBRU@gmail.com.
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