During the recent Los Angeles City Council meeting on December 13, 2024, a poignant plea for increased safety measures at local schools took center stage. Student Nikolai Robin from Moultrie Middle School shared a personal story highlighting the urgent need for more crossing guards in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

Robin recounted a harrowing incident from his fifth-grade year when a friend was injured by a vehicle at a busy intersection lacking a full-time crossing guard. "His foot got run over by a driver who didn't see it," Robin explained, emphasizing the chaos that can ensue when children are left unprotected during school hours. This incident galvanized Robin and his community to advocate for the presence of crossing guards, aiming to ensure the safety of students navigating busy streets.

The call for action resonated with council members, who acknowledged the importance of safeguarding children as they travel to and from school. The discussion around allocating funds for additional crossing guards is expected to continue, with hopes that the city will prioritize student safety in its budget considerations.

As the meeting concluded, the significance of Robin's testimony underscored a critical issue facing many neighborhoods: the need for enhanced safety measures to protect vulnerable young pedestrians. The council's response to this plea could shape future policies aimed at improving safety in school zones across Los Angeles.