NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The MTA and NYPD are at odds over how much of a problem crime actually is in the city’s subway system, and the debate got a bit sharper on Wednesday.
NYPD Transit Chief Kathleen O’Reilly was direct with MTA leadership during a meeting Wednesday, telling transit officials to stop fearmongering.
“It’s a disservice to New Yorkers to advance a narrative that crime is soaring in the subways when it’s simply not the case,” O’Reilly said.
Her statistics show crime is down 53% in the system, year-to-date.
MTA Chairman Pat Foye agrees that crime is down, but he says customers are still fearful.
“The subways are safe, the buses are safe to ride and all of us here do, and our families,” he said. “We need to be able to convince people that the system is safe – which it is – and they will be free from harassment.”
NYC Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg says it’s “unfair” to say the agency is “fearmongering” and cited a recent survey which showed 87% of riders are concerned about crime.
“We can't just pretend that people don't feel this way. They do, and not every single feeling that happens in the subway, or thing that happens in the subway is reflected in these index crimes,” Feinberg said.
The MTA insist crimes-per-rider have gone up since ridership dropped off during the coronavirus pandemic.
To make riders feel safer, the MTA wants the NYPD to send more officers. However, the NYPD feels there are enough patrolmen underground and wants the MTA to install more surveillance cameras.
Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Listen live to WCBS 880 Newsradio.