By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A viral video showing a Sun Tran bus stop at 29th Street and Alvernon Way in Tucson that was packed with people has prompted concerns from residents about conditions near a Tucson Unified School District bus stop.
Read more TUSD parents share concerns as district weighs closing up to 10 schools
The video, which can be seen below, was filmed last Friday. It shows the bus stop crowded with people, with children waiting for their school bus just feet away.
Local residents said the stop is being misused by people who are using drugs in public.
Aquiles Rivera, a resident near 29th and Alvernon, said, “Having, like, little kids around an area like that is just something that’s not OK at all. I feel like the city overlooks that.”
Other local residents 13 News spoke to said drug use has been a constant issue for the area, including one resident who wished to remain anonymous.
That person told 13 News, “It’s every day. It’s all day. They sit on the side of the road. They don’t even care. They don’t hide it at all.”
At another bus stop across the street from 29th and Alvernon, Sun Tran riders said they saw illegal drug use Wednesday afternoon.
“They see y’all across the street and them people looking at, and they still haven’t moved. And they still over there flaming up, getting high,” said Sun Tran rider Darryl McDawell.
McDawell said it poses not just a safety concern but also a nuisance to those trying to use the bench to wait for the bus.
“I have to physically say, ‘Hey, you see my wife here. Hey, you see my baby. Why is you doing this right here? Move around.’ They don’t care, ‘cause the police don’t care,” McDowell said.
Read more Mayes, Petersen clash over law enforcement in first attorney general debate
Tucson Transportation and Mobility Director Sam Credio said the city is currently working on solutions.
Mayor Regina Romero authorized one-time funds for enhancements at bus stops to make environmental changes intended to deter misuse.
Credio said, “At Speedway and Alvernon at the southwest corner. We placed large rocks around the bus stop, did some cleaning up of the area, added some lighting.”
Credio said the largest change has been the Safe City Initiative and the approval of RTA Next funding, $2.15 million annually, which is going toward an ambassador program to connect people with resources.
However, Ward 2 City Councilmember Paul Cunningham said while the program is making a difference, he doesn’t know if it’s as big of an impact as expected.
“We’re meeting people where they are, we’re meeting them on the streets, but not a lot of them are going to residential treatment, and not a lot of them are engaging in outpatient treatment,” Cunningham said
Cunningham said the retention rate for treatment has been low.
He agreed with many riders’ concerns that if there isn’t strict enforcement, they won’t make a dent in solving the problem, saying “as long as we continue to give people the choice to do dope on the streets, and not say enough is enough, we’re really not gonna be able to address this crisis effectively.”
Credio said the ambassador program is still being rolled out.
Six new ambassadors are in training and are set to be deployed in October. Credio said they are focusing on hot spots identified from resident concerns and larger transit centers.
Read more Man found dead on road after reported shots fired in west Phoenix
Did you know 13 News has podcasts? Here’s the link to see the lineup.