Fighting the fight over subway crime

Crime and disorderly behavior in New York City’s subways has been of growing public concern, including for thousands of Long Islanders who rely on the system to get to work or for recreation. A number of high-profile incidents, including most recently two brutal assaults on subway conductors, have undermined the public’s feeling of safety.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s  deployment Wednesday of 750 National Guard members, as well as added state troopers and some MTA police officers, into the city’s busiest stations is an understandable, if not political, response to these concerns.

The increased law enforcement presence to conduct bag checks in key locations will add another layer of vigilance to deter misconduct, presumably lending a greater feeling of safety. Also significantly, the Hochul plan will accelerate the installation of cameras on every train and in conductor cabs. This will be an important tool in preventing crimes and prosecuting offenders, especially those who commit violent assaults.

To be sure, the New York City of 2024 is much safer than the metropolis riddled by crack and crime in the 1970s and 1980s. Yet, far too many politicians, especially Hochul’s critics in the GOP, have fanned unfounded fears about overall crime rates. In fact, New York is one of the safest cities in the nation. Unfortunately, the fearmongering has taken its toll, especially in the wake of COVID-19, with mass transit ridership still down from what it was before the epidemic. Convincing more New Yorkers to take mass transit, to avoid adding to the city’s traffic congestion as well as encouraging tourism, depends on improving the public’s sense of safety.

The recent rise in subway crime, up 13% through March 3 from the same time period last year, demanded action. The transit union claims assaults on its workers have jumped nearly 60% year over year. How long Hochul’s deployment of the National Guard and other measures last remains to be seen. But to make sure this plan is effective and not merely a headline-grabbing stunt, there must be a sustained effort to deal with the mental illness crisis underlying a substantial number of the random attacks and threatening behavior on the subway system. More money must be devoted to expanding the number of mental health response teams aiding cops.

In her plan, Hochul also proposes a new law that would allow judges to ban people convicted of assault from using the subway system, making it easier for them to be arrested if they are spotted causing trouble.

There is no denying that Hochul’s political fate in New York is tied to the issue of crime, a message that came through loud and clear in recent elections. Clearly, Hochul wants New Yorkers to know that she has heard them.