More National Guard coming to help with NYC subway security as cameras are now in every car
NEW YORK -- Officials on Wednesday announced more National Guard support for the NYPD in the transit system during the busy holiday season.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said 250 more troops will join the effort to help keep the subways safe.
Her public safety initiative will bring the total number of National Guard members to 1,000. She says it's not in response to any specific threat or recent incidents.
"It's about continuing a strategy that has proven its success and expanding it to include more people," Hochul said.
With nearly 8 million visitors coming to the city this holiday season, Hochul says the effort is a deterrent to crime and ultimately keeping riders safe.
"I've heard from many people that the presence of the National Guard has made not just a physical difference, but a psychological difference in how they feel about safety," she said.
Subway crime down, ridership up, officials say
The New York City subway system is busier than ever these days, with more than 4 million riders taking the train just last Thursday alone. Officials say it marked the highest number of riders on the subway since March 11, 2020, right before the pandemic.
Hochul says crime is down on the subway by 10% since March, when 750 National Guard members were deployed following a series of subway crimes.
"Thanks to our five-point plan to improve public safety, subway crime is down 10% just since last March. And only two years since the year 1970 have we had fewer subway crimes than we had last year," Hochul said.
In addition, Hochul announced all subway cars are now equipped with new security cameras, which transit police say has helped them solve crimes.
"That's extraordinary," Hochul said. "I just want everybody to know, if you're thinking about committing a crime on the subway, we're watching, and you will be caught."
"If you take a look at where we're at, it's a 6 percent reduction, that's an average of six crimes per day," said MTA Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta.
"We are hand in glove with the NYPD, MTA PD and state police and National Guard," said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber.
The announcement of expanded security measures came on the same day the MTA approved a financial plan that includes a fare hike that could begin in August. During the same MTA meeting where the financial plan was approved, Lieber said subway ridership has reached its highest level since the pandemic.
Now officials say the increased public safety effort will also include expanding mental health outreach. The MTA is looking to continue their Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT) program, which they say has helped get those who need mental health treatment into the care they need.
Critics say NYC needs more mental health help
The Riders Alliance says riders who do want more police presence want improved safety on the platforms and trains, not at the turnstiles where the guards are currently posted.
Critics say the move fails to address the root cause of public safety concerns, which they say is the lack of resources and treatment for those with severe mental illness.
"If you were to multiply that police force by 10, you're not going to stop crimes from happening until you change the conditions that lead to crime," said civil rights and criminal defense attorney Mayo Barlett.
"Especially Black and Brown New Yorkers get stopped a lot more than white New Yorkers, and we see a whole lot more ticketing for fare evasion ... None of that increases people's feeling of safety on subway," said Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy and partnerships for the Vera Institute of Justice.
Rahman said the money should go to mental health crisis experts.
The governor said a robust program is underway, but is limited due to state laws that need to be changed.
