Recent violent incidents in the New York City subway have prompted officials to implement measures such as deploying National Guard soldiers and adding police officers to improve safety. Despite overall crime reduction, Mayor Adams is piloting crime-fighting tech like gun detectors and autonomous security robots, but the author suggests that platform screen doors would be a more effective safety measure to prevent incidents such as pushing and suicides on the tracks. However, the installation of such doors presents challenges including cost and feasibility, with the closest alternative being metal screens in one Manhattan station.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban announced plans to pilot new technology to detect firearms in the subway system, following a 90-day waiting period as required by law. The city will also hire more clinicians to support the expansion of the SCOUT program, aimed at helping individuals with untreated severe mental illness in the subways. The NYPD has seized a significant number of weapons in the transit system, prompting increased efforts to enhance safety, including deploying more police officers and cracking down on fare evasion. The SCOUT pilot program, launched in 2023, has already moved 90 individuals out of the subway system and into care, with plans to scale the program with a $20 million investment from the state.
Mayor Eric Adams has introduced a pilot program to deploy freestanding scanners in the NYC subway system to detect guns, using Evolv Technology's weapons detection system at the Fulton Street Subway Station. This initiative follows recent concerns about subway safety and a shooting incident. The program aims to assess the impact on commuter flow and enhance security measures in response to rising gun-related incidents in the subway system.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams grapples with the aftermath of two shocking acts of violence—a police officer's killing and a fatal subway push—highlighting the ongoing challenges in improving public safety despite his efforts to emphasize decreasing crime and increasing employment. The incidents have raised concerns about gun violence and subway safety, prompting increased police patrols and the deployment of National Guard and State Police into the transit system. Adams, a former police officer, condemned the "senseless acts of violence" and emphasized the need to confront the perpetrators for the safety of the city.
Following a recent subway shooting in Brooklyn, New Yorkers are divided on the issue of subway safety, with some expressing heightened fear and others maintaining confidence in the city's security. Despite the deployment of the National Guard and State Police to increase security, the incident has underscored the limitations of law enforcement in improving safety underground. The shooting has prompted some residents to consider leaving the city, while others believe New York remains one of the safest cities in the world. The incident has sparked a debate about the safety of the subway system, with diverging opinions among New Yorkers and a muddled picture presented by recent subway crime data.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has banned the use of long guns by National Guard troops deployed to conduct bag checks at subway stations in response to rising crime rates. The deployment of 750 troops armed with military-grade rifles had sparked controversy and criticism, with concerns about militarizing the subway system. Hochul defended the deployment as part of a larger plan to address subway safety, citing a spike in subway crimes. The move comes amid a 13% increase in subway crime for the year, and Hochul's plan includes various measures such as increased law enforcement presence, installation of CCTV cameras, and mental health outreach teams.
Governor Kathy Hochul's deployment of the National Guard and State Police in the New York City subway to address crime concerns faced immediate criticism from both the left and centrists. Critics on the left warned of criminalizing the public and labeled the response as authoritarian, while centrists expressed concerns about the militarization of the approach. Even the top brass from the New York Police Department took issue, emphasizing that the governor's plan was not a novel technique and implying that it was beside the point, as recent statistics suggested a drop in transit crime due to increased police presence.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is deploying nearly 1,000 National Guard members, state police, and MTA officers to conduct bag checks in the city's subway system in response to a recent surge in high-profile crimes. The effort aims to enhance subway safety and combat criminal activity, with Hochul also proposing legislation to empower judges to ban subway criminals from riding the rails. Despite the increase in subway crime, MTA CEO Janno Lieber emphasized that a small number of individuals are responsible for a disproportionate amount of these incidents.
New York City Transit workers disrupted morning subway service in response to an overnight slashing attack that injured a train conductor, filing safety complaints and causing severe disruptions during rush hours. The workers staged a job action at two stations and filled safety forms through their union representatives, while transit leaders criticized the move as a disguised work stoppage that did not address their concerns. The incident further highlighted long-standing complaints about the M.T.A.'s efforts to ensure worker safety.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has installed safety rails at a Washington Heights subway station as part of a new pilot program, but commuters are unimpressed, calling the bright yellow barriers "ugly" and questioning their effectiveness due to gaps and hindrance to busy straphangers. The MTA plans to test the barriers at three other stations, but some riders believe more comprehensive solutions, like those in Japan or London, are needed to address safety concerns.
New York City has introduced a 420-pound security robot, the Knightscope K5, to patrol the Times Square Subway Station as part of a two-month pilot program aimed at enhancing subway safety. The robot, equipped with cameras, will record video for emergency or crime situations and has a button to connect users to a live person for assistance. It will not record audio or use facial recognition technology. Trained officers will accompany the robot, which will operate between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. After the pilot program, the city will evaluate the robot's effectiveness and determine its future use.
In a shocking incident on the New York City subway, a 60-year-old woman was brutally attacked by an unidentified assailant who hit her 50 times with her own cane. The attack, captured on video, took place at 3am at a subway station in Harlem. The victim was repeatedly struck on her head, stomach, legs, arms, and back, with the cane eventually breaking. Despite the prolonged assault, no transit staff or police were present to intervene. The victim was eventually taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. The investigation is ongoing, and subway crime continues to be a major concern in the city.
Daniel Penny, the man who was arrested for putting a subway rider in a deadly chokehold, has been indicted by a grand jury on charges that remain sealed until his arraignment. It is believed that he faces one charge of second-degree manslaughter and another charge for criminally negligent homicide. Penny's attorneys have pledged to "aggressively defend" their client, while supporters of Jordan Neely, the victim, argue that Penny's delayed arrest is an example of a racist system. The case is exposing New York City's failure to address subway safety and mental health.
The funeral of Jordan Neely, who was choked to death on the subway earlier this month, was held in Harlem on Friday. The case has sparked protests and debate around the country about subway safety and the treatment of homeless and mentally ill people. Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy. Neely was known as a Michael Jackson impersonator and struggled with mental illness and addiction. He was on the city's "Top 50" list of homeless people in need of assistance and treatment. The man who killed him, Daniel Penny, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.
The killing of Jordan Neely on the subway has put New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a difficult position as progressive lawmakers criticize his approach to public safety. Adams has devoted major resources to countering criticism over transit crime, increasing police presence underground and removing homeless people from trains. However, the incident has led to renewed attacks on his approach to mental health and safety. The mayor's response has been criticized by a growing cadre of elected officials, who have weighed in on the issue.
