TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
RE: Request to Dismiss Metro Train Fare Evasion Charge (Notice To Appear MTA Nontraffic SD348900 dated 10/15/05 19:00PM citing officer L.M. Anderson)
DATE: October 17, 2005 modified November 9, 2005
Dear Sir/Madame:
I am writing to request you to dismiss or drop the Metro Train fare evasion ticket/charge against me. I am a victim of theft and racial discriminations. I remained homeless as a result. I have not received any government cash assistance for four years due to bureaucracy. I am writing to request you to dismiss the Fare Evasion court case against myself without prejudice. I got this ticket from a visiting trip to the Long Beach water front. I have been writing a report on the status of homeless/poor assistance as well as on world tourist attractions. As I walked up the train platform, I saw two police officers/sheriffs standing at the ticket machine. I was going to use a bus token to buy a ticket, but, they asked me to go the the other machine at the other end of the platform. I forgot to buy the ticket. When the lady ticket inspector arrived at the next stop, I showed her my bus token (that was issued for me to go to the Public Social Services Department) and informed her that I ask for free rides, but sheriff officer Anderson escorted me to his police car parked on the road and issued me the ticket.
I had to use the unintended bus token to buy a ticket to get on the next train to the Union Rescue Mission shelter. Fortunately, I only missed dinner but not the sleep time. Immediately before I got on the metro train, I got return free rides on the buses to California State University in Long Beach to have a look at the university campus.
I further request that you allow free rides for those homeless/poor people who can not afford the metro train fare. This will help them appreciate and learn about the city environment, advertise tourist attractions, act as volunteer tourist guides, and look for jobs. Furthermore, I would ask you to help persuade airlines, long distance buses and ships to sell last minute seats and spaces on a standby discount basis. Why waste such valuable resources? Cultural and entertainment institutions should give fee waivers to the homeless/poor people, because they have time but no job and money. It is their opportunity to learn. I further request that the fine for fare evasion be reduced from the posted $150 to the fare price of $1.25 to be just to ordinary people and especially the elders and juveniles who are vulnerable. Disproportionate punishment is againt the principles of justice. I'd like to emphasize the following reasons for my request:
(1) I was fired from my job at Autodesk Inc. on August 15, 2000 because of racial, national and educational discriminations. I suffered from a number of thefts and in the recent theft on August 15, 2005, I lost most of my intellectual and material properties. I am a victim thereof. I finally obtained Food Stamps in August of 2005, but, have not obtained any cash assistance from the government. I have been doing volunteer work to report the status of homelessness and make recommendations for improvement (see my website). I have also been doing volunteer research on ecosystems and world common cultural heritages.
(2) I have asked for free rides on city buses for more than a month in Los Angles. I have always got a ride sooner or later at each bus stop. I have also asked for free car rides from the ordinary drivers, and have sometimes got it. It is fair and just for the metro trains to permit free rides so as not to waste available seats and space on the trains. This would also ease security concerns of the ordinary people because the homeless/poor people would be occupied with positive learning.
(3) Our brothers and sisters built the trains, roads, buildings, and harbors. When they worked, they were paid in order to continue to work. Once the project is finished, they became jobless and homeless before long. They should be allowed free rides if there is available space so that they can go to places to learn about things, talk to people and find new work.
(4) If the homeless/poor people get free rides as well as free admissions at the tourist attractions such as museums and parks, they will gain a lot of knowledge and wisdom to contribute to the society. They will also help advertise the tourist attractions and be volunteer tourist guides to further international friendship.
(5)If you help the homeless/poor, they will help others. It will be good for all of us.
I further request that the fine for fare evasion be reduced from the posted $150 to the fare price of $1.25 to be just to ordinary people and especially elders and juveniles who are vulnerable. Disproportionate punishment is injustice. If any one has a doubt, try to plug a 110 Volt electronic device to a 220 Volt outlet. It would burn immediately. Try also walk on a pavement road without trees or on the street below sky scrapers where there are three suns shining, one direct,another reflected from the pavement, and another from a building wall. You would feel hot immediately. The third example is the fine for lost books in the public libraries. it is usually the price of the book.
I started early in the morning at 6:00 from the Emmanual Baptist Mission at 530 East 5th Street, downtown, to arrive at the Long Beach court house at 11:20 on 11/8/2005. It took me five hours to go to long beach court to schedule a hearing date and time. But, the ticket was not in the computer system yet after 24 days. A hearing was not scheduled. This is definitely governmental injustice.
I trust that you will give my request due consideration. Yours sincerely,
XiaoPing Yi (PhD from Canada, Licentiate from Sweden, BSc from China, Eng., EIT, Programmer/Analyst, Author, Scientist, Musician) Emails: Yi_XiaoPing@yahoo.com, Yi_XiaoPing@hotmail.com Temp Mailing address: 506 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Website: www.YiXiaoPing.com
Ref. www.lasuperiorcourt.org, call for ticket status at 213 742 8809. court ph. 562 570 6822.
Foot notes: I mailed this letter of request as well as a copy of the ticket to Long Beach Court, 415 Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. on October 26, 2005.
The ticket MTA SD 348900 was neither found on the website www.lasuperiorcourt.org nor on the telephone system 213 742 8809. I went to Long Beach Court on December 12 to find out what happened. The clerk did not find the ticket on the court computer but booked a court date anyways, see Court appointment date February 8, 2006. The fine would otherwise be $114. This shows how corrupt the local officials are.
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