Azusa officials demand Metro stop nightly ejections of homeless riders
Azuma city leaders are pressing Los Angeles Metro for answers after residents say the agency repeatedly forces homeless passengers off late-night A Line trains, leading to break-ins and public urination in the neighborhood.
Since March, Azusa resident Anthony Lujan has recorded homeless individuals being removed from the final A Line trains and entering the community, where some have been seen climbing over gates, defecating near doors, and committing petty theft. The city says this nightly dumping creates safety concerns and strains local police, while Metro maintains the practice allows crews only a short window to clean and service the trains before the morning run.
Azusa Mayor Edward Alvarez and City Manager Sergio Gonzalez have sent three letters to Metro without a satisfactory reply, urging the installation of fare gates and suggesting alternative stop points such as Glendora or San Dimas. The dispute mirrors similar complaints from Long Beach in 2022, where Metro forced roughly 39 homeless riders off trains each night. In response, one outlet says it is expanding cleaning, security, and outreach, and is exploring fare gates at the station. A meeting between city officials and Metro representatives is set for November 5 to discuss concrete actions.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights how transit policies can shift homelessness burdens onto local neighborhoods, raising safety and resource concerns.
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