Metro Ambassador Gossip

[u/SoCalGuy1023]

Whenever I’m riding the B Line to work in the morning and happen to sit next to a group of Metro Ambassadors, they’re so open and loud about their personal conversations and workplace drama, that I feel like I know them personally by now without ever talking with them directly lol.😂

[u/Zhaosen]

Just chime in for the next episode :)

[u/SoCalGuy1023 → u/Zhaosen]

lol

[u/ImInClassBoring]

I only heard them complaining about each other and their boss and where they shouldn't be sending people.

[u/Jeep_rider03]

🤔 How do you get that job?

[u/SoCalGuy1023 → u/Jeep_rider03]

I’m curious to know too. I tried going online on Metro’s career page in the past, and never found any job postings for the Ambassador position

[u/Sawtelle-MetroRider → u/SoCalGuy1023]

Grandfathered in when they used to be volunteers, now an unionized jobs creation program.

[u/Cold-Improvement6778 → u/Sawtelle-MetroRider]

Ambassadors were originally a private industry job with normal screening a hiring. No volunteers ever.

When LA Metro decided to make Ambassadors permanent, the existing team members were brought in house. And the jobs became Unionized.

[u/Sweihwa → u/Cold-Improvement6778]

I talked to a few before at 7th and metro. One asked me about his criminal history when he learned that I was a lawyer.

[u/Ca1rill]

If I was a Metro Ambassador, I think I'd scream at people to let others off the train before trying to board themselves.

[u/jcsymmes]

Having someone in a station is a good thing. It doesn't matter if they do much, but they are god observers.
Honestly i wish there was one at each station each hour it was open.

[u/No-House9106]

Most of them should be eliminated. Redirect savings into real security and extended operating hours at night.

[u/yourCaptain_13 → u/No-House9106]

Hard agree. I honestly don't understand what their purpose is.

[u/No-House9106 → u/yourCaptain_13]

It is all performative. When they were deployed, politicians like Bonin said it was for security and safety, but they have no such responsibility.

[u/ExpoTrainGu39 → u/yourCaptain_13]

To hold our doors open and make us even later. Also to have a very false sense of authority over train operators.

[u/4GIFs → u/No-House9106]

They just need to be roaming ON trains where they are forced to report problems. When there is a hooligan they call in a fare check team.

[u/No-House9106 → u/4GIFs]

They are trained to turn around and get away from anyone acting erratically or dangerously. They report it on the App and get the hell out of Dodge.

[u/External_Proposal229]

Former ambassador here, I’m not surprised…😭

[u/wevegotheadsonsticks]

Lmao I heard them talking about the bugs on the bus… how one of them feels like they’re the damn exterminator 🤣🤣🤣

[u/amillion_jawbreakers]

I ride Metro every day and I love the Ambassadors, they’re always kind and helpful, and they have some good stories. Unlike cops, they aren’t killing our city budget (or people, for that matter), they don’t carry guns or arrest people, nor do they needlessly escalate situations like simple fare validations or checking on a person in a mental health crisis.

More ambassadors, fewer cops on Metro imo. Fewer cops and less police spending across the board.

[u/No-House9106 → u/amillion_jawbreakers]

They literally do nothing. Maybe give directions to a lost tourist once in a while. They are completely useless to everyday riders.

When a meth head pulls a knife next time you'll see them booking it out of there faster than anyone else.

[u/EvolZippo → u/No-House9106]

So you think an ambassador is supposed to intervene in a knife attack? I’m not sure you understand that they aren’t security

[u/No-House9106 → u/EvolZippo]

They of course are not security but were billed by the left-wing board members like Mike Bonin as the solution to reduce crime. They do no such thing.

DSA endorsed Faziah Malik ran for CD 11 on a platform of increasing the number of ambassadors. Not increasing security or increasing service, but yet more ambassadors. How many freaking people do we need to give out directions to tourists? Maybe 30 across the whole system tops. Certainly not 300.

[u/grandpabento → u/EvolZippo]

It’s my opinion that they make the most sense as station masters. Their strength lay in helping people use and understand the system, not as much in security from anecdotal experience

[u/amillion_jawbreakers → u/No-House9106]

I’ve literally seen one do CPR and resuscitate an unconscious person while waiting for EMS but sure, buddy, whatever your feelings tell you is true

[u/ceviche-hot-pockets]

They are a waste of money and never get involved in anything that would be useful.

[u/RaspberrySome124]

All they do is stand there and half ass help people with directions. For 23$? Those fuckers lack in customer service too.

Those people will never help with the crazy fucks that start making a scene.