Summary: New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the deployment of 1,000 National Guard soldiers and state police on subway platforms to improve the safety of the transit system. This is the response to a series of violent crimes in the New York subway, including **, robbery, and pushing people into the tracks. The governor said the law enforcement officers will work with the city police to check passengers' luggage and prevent carrying dangerous goods. She also called for more funding and resources from the federal government to address homelessness and mental health issues in the Metro.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would deploy 1,000 state police and National Guard members to the transit system after a series of violent crimes in the New York subway. She said this is to help millions of passengers in New York City feel safe and restore confidence in the subway.
Source: NYTIMESGov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday that starting this week, hundreds of National Guard soldiers and state police will patrol New York City subway platforms and check passengers' luggage. She said the law enforcement officers will work with the city police department to prevent the carrying of dangerous items such as firearms, knives and ** objects. She also said that these law enforcement officers will receive professional training to coordinate with social workers and mental health professionals to help the homeless and mentally ill.
Hochul said the system is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a state agency, and that a large-scale display of the system will help commuters and tourists feel safe. The addition of law enforcement officers will add to the already large police presence in the Metro, with Mayor Eric Adams ordering an additional 1,000 officers in February after major crimes in January surged by 45% compared to the same period last year.
* Extra-grand larceny (theft without the use of force) was the main reason for the spike in crime in January, according to the report. **Define them as serious crimes along with homicide, assault, and robbery. According to the New York Times, the Hotspot Engine program saw the total number of major crimes in the subway as of November 2021 be the lowest in 25 years, but the violent crime rate per million passengers has skyrocketed almost across the board. Of these, the felony assault rate was three times higher than in the same period in 2019, and the robbery rate more than doubled.
The safety of the New York subway has not only raised concerns among local passengers, but also caused international concern. According to a report by Sputnik, the violent crime incident in the New York subway has sparked alarm in many European countries, and some countries have strengthened security measures on public transportation systems to prevent similar attacks. For example, France has deployed more police and soldiers on the Paris Underground and train stations, Germany has installed more cameras and panic buttons on the Berlin Underground and buses, and the United Kingdom has increased patrols and checks on the London Underground and buses.
Violent crime in the New York subway has also sparked discussion about homelessness and mental health issues. There are thousands of homeless people in the New York subway, many of whom suffer from mental illness or drug addiction, or both, according to the New York subway. They are often chased or harassed, and they may also be victims or perpetrators of violent crimes. Some people are calling for more psychiatric beds and supportive housing to help these vulnerable people have a stable life.
New York Governor Hochul said she will continue to work with the federal and municipal governments to seek additional funding and resources to address homelessness and mental health in the subway. She also called on citizens and tourists not to give up using the subway because of individual incidents, but to believe that the subway is still a safe, convenient and environmentally friendly way to travel.