Sarno threatens to end free buses after Union Station incident

SPRINGFIELD — In the wake of an incident involving dozens of youth at gathered Union Station and resulting in the arrests of eight teens, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno announced a crackdown on young people using the location as a “meet up.” Seeing fare-free buses as part of the problem, he also announced he would seek to eliminate them in the city. However, elected officials have pushed back on that plan.

Metro Unit Commander Lt. Brian Elliott said that between 50 and 70 young people were gathered at Union Station on June 1, with some participating in violent interactions. He said that in the 48 hours prior to the press conference, police made eight arrests at Union Station. Elliott also said that one officer sustained a broken finger and the other broke their wrist while arresting the youth.

“This isn’t us against the kids,” said Elliott. “I was born and raised here, raised my sons here. This has nothing to do with us against them, police against juveniles.” He said, “This is behavior, antisocial behavior. You look at the news, any nightly news, and you see this across the country. There’s curfews in Washington, D.C. There’s curfews at the beach in New Jersey. Something happened at the beach in Rhode Island, New Hampshire over Memorial Day weekend. Springfield’s no different. We’re seeing it across the country, but I’m here to tell you it’s over here at Union Station.”

Addressing the incident, Sarno said, “Last night, it turned my stomach. It was disgusting. The disrespect that some of our young people continue to show our public safety officials. Somebody could have been really hurt. God forbid somebody could have been killed, and we’re not going to tolerate it,” Sarno said. “That young lady who had to be subdued, and was fighting and was combative. I’ll never forget those words she said. ‘If I had a gun, I’d shoot every one of you cops.’ That can’t be tolerated.” The mayor declared, “So, I don’t care if we have to make 15, 18, 20 arrests today. We’re going to do it.” He added, “And to the parents, we’re asking you to send an alarm to know where the hell your kids are. And we’re going to be looking for parental escorts.”

Sarno said fare free buses are a contributing issue. “I’m going to ask as they done in Boston and I’m going to ask, I believe in New Bedford they’ve done it, too. This free bus has got to go,” he said. “You want to do special vouchers, and this and that. You know what? Fine. Because they get on, they come down here, they hang out, they want to fight, they want to be disrespectful, they cause havoc. Our travelers don’t need to see that.”

Sarno continued, “And to the parents and the kids saying, “You’re being too heavy-handed, Sarno. I’m just as compassionate as the next person. We have a lot of positive youth activities you can do. If I can help you, I’ll help you. But we could be saving your kids’ life. So, just remember that.”

Sarno’s plan to eliminate fare free buses hit opposition on June 3, as state Rep. Bud Williams and At Large City Councilor Justin Hurst released a joint statement. “The residents of Springfield and beyond must understand that Fare Free Transit is funded by the state and is already codified into law by our state delegation. This means that in spite of Mayor Sarno’s desire to eliminate it, he has no jurisdiction to do so,” the statement read.

While the two officials felt that public safety “must remain a priority,” they stated that eliminating free public transportation would punish others in the community.

“It would punish the senior citizen who relies on public transportation to get to doctor’s appointments, pick up prescriptions and maintain their independence,” they wrote. “It would punish the hardworking parent who depends on the bus to get their child to daycare before heading to work. It would punish the student who relies on public transportation to get to school, extracurricular activities, and opportunities that help shape their future. And it would punish countless working families who depend on these services every day to get to their jobs so they can provide for their loved ones.”

The statement continued, “Instead of simply locking our young people up, we should be building relationships with them, mentoring them, investing in opportunities for them and creating pathways to success. When young people feel connected to their community, they are far more likely to become part of the solution. We must resist the temptation to take the easy way out as transportation is not a luxury — but a necessity.”

City Councilor At Large Jose Delgado also said he was opposed to eliminating free bus service in a statement released on June 4, and highlighted the importance of accessible transportation.

“Mobility drives opportunity. Access to transportation is something Springfield residents rely on to get to jobs, school, medical appointments, childcare and the broader regional economy,” he said.

Delgado also noted the current economic climate and how free bus service can help alleviate economic strain on familes.

“Families are already struggling with the rising cost of housing, groceries, and everyday expenses, eliminating free bus service would place an additional burden on those who can least afford it. We should focus on targeted solutions, not broad punishments,” Delgado said.

Delgado added that he was looking forward to bringing city leadership. public safety officials, community organizations and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority together to discuss improving safety at Union Station while protecting transportation access.

In a June 4 statement, City Council President Tracye Whitfield called Sarno’s comments an “impulsive reaction to a complex issue.” She also encouraged cooperation in finding a solution.

“The goal should be to address problematic behavior without punishing the overwhelming majority of riders who use the system responsibly. Let’s work together to find thoughtful, effective solutions that improve safety and accountability while maintaining access to a service that so many people depend on every day,” she wrote.

In a letter to PVTA Administrator Sandra Sheehan on June 4, Sarno appeared to walk back his comments about removing the fare-free program.

“I want to be clear, I fully support a structured ridership program, including fare-free busing so that individuals of all ages including seniors, working adults, students, mothers with young children, etc., can take advantage of this resource and service and get to their medical appointments, jobs and classes,” he wrote.

He said there needs to be a structured system in place to present disturbances such as the one on June 1 and to identify bad actors. Sarno formally requested the structured system in his letter through the city’s weighted vote on the PVTA Advisory Board.

“If we can hold them accountable for their actions and remove them from the situation, I am confident that we can provide a very beneficial service to the vast majority of our riders, including seniors, working adults and good young students, so that they can safely go about their day,” he said.

Sarno suggested using a voucher system for fare-free rides.

“This can be a fare-free voucher system where a Fare Engagement Representative is tasked and trained in youth engagement, de-escalation, and customer service assistance to help enhance boarding and transit while also eliminating or reducing rider altercations both on and off the bus,” he wrote.

Sarno concluded his letter by thanking the PVTA for the work it does and said he was looking forward to working with them to address the safety concerns in Union Station.

This article has been updated to include comments from City Council President Tracye Whitfield and portions of a letter from May Domenic Sarno to the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority.