New York City is facing a growing concern over crime in its subway system, with rising calls for accountability from state lawmakers. Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, recently expressed alarm on "Fox & Friends," stating that subway crime has reached unprecedented levels. He highlighted the arrest of a suspect in a subway stabbing who had a staggering 87 prior arrests, raising questions about safety for commuters.
At a press conference, New York State Republicans demanded the ousting of the city’s transit chief, criticizing poor subway service despite significant funding from Governor Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing initiative. They are also pushing for an audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) due to concerns over management and efficiency.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited New Jersey to address a massive sinkhole affecting I-80 and took the opportunity to criticize Hochul for her handling of subway crime. He emphasized the need for a safer transit system to encourage more people to use public transportation. Duffy’s remarks included a stark description of the current state of the subway, calling it a "s—hole" and urging for immediate changes.
State Senator Steve Chan announced a new bill aimed at adding two representatives to the MTA board, one from the NYPD transit police and another from the transit police union. Chan, a retired NYPD sergeant, condemned a series of violent incidents, including a recent case where a passenger was set on fire in Coney Island. He expressed concerns about the perception of safety in the subway, stating that even solo passengers used to feel safe at night, which is no longer the case.
Republican lawmakers are also frustrated with the MTA’s management and its perceived failure to provide adequate service despite a hefty budget of nearly $20 billion. They argue that taxpayers are not getting their money’s worth and that the agency needs to improve accountability and efficiency.
In response, the MTA defended its performance, noting that crime on the subway has decreased by 24% since last year and that the Long Island Rail Road is achieving record on-time performance. MTA officials dismissed the lawmakers’ criticisms as unfounded, pointing to improvements made under their leadership.
As the debate over subway safety and management continues, the pressure is mounting on city and state officials to address the concerns of New Yorkers who rely on public transit. The situation remains fluid, with potential repercussions for the leadership of the MTA and the strategies employed to ensure commuter safety.