Muni "Ambassadors" to Keep Bayview Lines Safe
Community leaders are celebrating a pilot program they hope will ease tensions on some of San Francisco's most troubled transit routes. The new program is placing 12 community ambassadors aboard Muni's T-line and 9-San Bruno routes.
Tashara Johnson says she decided to become an ambassador because she had seen enough problems on Muni. Click to Listen
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"I've seen seniors being assaulted and the younger riders taking over the area and making it hard for people to walk through or get on the bus when they need to," said Johnson. "It's just a shame."
Ambassadors are not police officers, rather they are there to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears on Muni.
Adrienne Pon with the city administrator's office says the ambassadors speak seven languages between them.
"They have no weapons, but they are armed with powerful tools: kindness, courage, and relevant information," said Pon.
San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, who represents the Bayview, which is the focus of the ambassadors program, says this will make people feel less vulnerable.
"When people look around them they will see young people, and older people, and they will see people of every ethnicity," said Maxwell. "That will make them feel safer, and make them feel less vulnerable."
The pilot program started in July and will continue through at least mid-September.
