DDOT busses are not running today. Bus drivers are refusing to drive until the City Council gets a dedicated security force on the busses.
While today’s action is new, this issue is not. Here’s some important background information:
For over a year and a half, DDOT busses have had no dedicated security force. The busses are pretty safe overall, but with 130,000 people riding every day, problems happen and a dedicated security force is needed to prevent and address those problems.
Detroit received a federal grant to provide security for the busses. The Detroit chief of police says they aren’t able to and aren’t interested in providing police for the busses. Her priority is neighborhood protection. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department is ready and willing to provide the security service. That would not only provide protection for the busses in the city, but also eliminate confusing over jurisdiction when DDOT busses travel through Highland Park, into Dearborn or elsewhere.
The Detroit City Council and Mayor’s office have been debating this issue for over six months. Several city council members believe that the Detroit police should provide the service, regardless of what the Chief of Police says. While providing Detroit jobs is a laudable goal, in this situation it is absurd. Other council members are concerned about liability – an important issue that must be addressed for sure. However, we’ve been waiting far too long.
TRU has urged the City Council on numerous occasions to quickly address the liability problem and get security on the busses. The DDOT drivers union has also been pushing for this for many months, without success. The union held a rally outside the City-County building two weeks ago to push for action, again without success.
While TRU is dismayed by the action of the bus drivers, leaving over 100,000 people stranded with no notice and few alternatives, we understand their reasons.
Much of the blame for today’s problem lies squarely on the shoulders of the Mayor’s office and the Detroit City Council for failing to work together to obtain a fair agreement that will provide increased security for bus drivers and riders alike.
Hopefully this will draw enough attention and ire to force the City Council and the Mayor’s office to work out these matters. A recent report is that the busses will be running tomorrow, with County Sheriffs providing security for the day. Check the Free Press online for the latest.