The King County Council gathered on Monday to discuss an issue that has shaken the community—bus safety. Chair Claudia Balducci opened the meeting with a heavy heart, referencing the tragic death of bus driver Shawn Yim. Yim lost his life last month at the hands of a passenger, a devastating event that has left the community grieving and demanding change.
Balducci emphasized that while this tragedy brought them together, the focus must now shift to taking action. She stressed that safety has to be the top priority moving forward, and the council is committed to making sure that happens.
During the meeting, a speaker pointed out that the council serves as the Metro transit system’s board of directors, overseeing decisions, including how money is spent. They noted that the budget recently allowed for a significant increase in the number of contracted security officers—growing from 70 officers in 2022 to 160 by 2025. But for many who spoke, this isn’t enough.
One transit operator, with over 20 years of experience, delivered a heartfelt plea during the public comment session. They asked the council to act immediately, not months or years down the line. “We need safety over service before another life is lost,” the operator urged.
The concerns aren’t limited to bus drivers. An Alaska Airlines flight attendant also stepped up to share worries about safety on Metro buses, noting that many airline employees use public transit regularly. “We protect our pilots and guests; we need to protect the people working on Metro too,” she said, drawing a powerful comparison to security measures in the airline industry.
The meeting also included input from officers of ATU Local 587, a union representing transit workers. Greg Woodfill, the union’s president, highlighted that this is a public safety crisis, not just a transit issue. He and others described the daily challenges faced by drivers—homelessness, mental health issues, drug use, and criminal behavior. Drivers, they said, often don’t have the resources or support to handle these problems.
Woodfill painted a grim picture of what drivers endure: being slapped, punched, pepper-sprayed, and even exposed to drugs like fentanyl while on the job. Some drivers have called for physical barriers to separate them from passengers as a protective measure.
There were also discussions about creating a task force to tackle these safety concerns. A zero-tolerance policy was proposed, as drivers shared frustrations about individuals who cause harm often facing no consequences and being allowed back on the buses soon after incidents.
In response, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn introduced legislation to establish a Regional Transit Safety Taskforce. This group would focus on addressing safety concerns across the transit system. Representatives from the King County Sheriff’s Office, Sound Transit, Metro, and other local agencies joined the meeting to lend their insights.
Balducci closed the discussion with a promise: the council will hold regular meetings to track progress and ensure they’re doing everything possible to prevent tragedies like Shawn Yim’s death from happening again. She made it clear that accountability will be a key part of their efforts moving forward.
