Lars Larson: Day of reckoning for transit violence

By Lars Larson
NW and national radio host,

The Northwest Nonsense

Consider the facts of life for transit systems in Portland (and Seattle).

Number one, transit is hazardous to your health, from the drug contaminated air to the assaults on passengers, you’re putting yourself in a dangerous place.

Number two, transit systems absolutely depend on cash from Washington D.C. for their very existence.

So, when you hear about the random and horrific stabbing murder of Iryna Zarutska almost 3-thousand miles away, don’t imagine it WON’T change things here.

American Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent the warning this week…the failure of Charlotte to protect passengers means he plans to cut off federal funding.

 “I guarantee that if I find what I think I’m going to find, they are not going to have your federal tax dollars going to their public (transit) . Zero. None. Nada.”

Secretary Duffy calls violence on public transit an “epidemic.”

Portland and Seattle want billions from the government to pay for ridiculous choo choos like Max and Link light rail that never live up to passenger traffic promises.

That includes the almost unbelievable billion dollars a mile for an interstate bridge light rail.

Now, we have a President who’s sick and tired to liberal tolerance for the criminal class and that federal money spigot just got turned off tight because of the feckless city management of transit.

That’s the Rose City Rap.  Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of Honestly provocative talk.  I’m Lars Larson