NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that 24/7 subway service will return in New York City on May 17 but, he also expressed concerns about subway safety during his announcement.
When announcing that around-the-clock subway service – which was halted last spring amid the pandemic – would resume, the governor noted that he understands that people do not feel safe in the city’s underground.
Speaking from a customer’s perspective, Cuomo said many would not be likely to let their children ride the subways currently.
“’Tell your child to ride the subway, ride the subway. It's safe.’ Yeah, I'm not telling my child to ride the subway because I'm afraid for my child,” Cuomo said.
Over the last few months, New Yorkers have expressed concerns about a rise in crime in the city’s underground and the MTA has agreed. Officials have even requested that more police officers be sent in to patrol the system.
Despite the fear, however, the NYPD has insisted that crime on subways is down, and NYPD Transit Chief Kathleen O’Reilly recently accused MTA leadership of “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.
On Tuesday, MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye spoke with WCBS 880’s Steve Scott, saying that while he understands the subways are safe, customers do not feel that way.
“The latest survey – which came out a couple of weeks ago – was a survey of tens of thousands of subway and bus customers. Seventy-five percent of them said that they were concerned about crime and harassment on the subways. The subways are clearly safer than they were 10, 15, 20 years ago. But as we are appealing to millions of customers to return to transit and return to New York City, we've got to do a better job,” Foye said.
He notes that MTA employees are still witnessing assaults, threats, harassment and even spitting while underground, and the NYPD needs to step in to help put an end to it.
“There are categories of crime that are down. But, our employees report that over the last six months, 1,000 employees have been assaulted, attacked, threatened or spat upon. That situation is unacceptable for both our customers and our employees,” Foye said.
The MTA chairman is once again, calling for the city to act and send more resources towards the subway system.
“What we're asking from the city, and we've been consistent on this, is additional police officers and additional mental health resources,” Foye said. “Harassment doesn't show up in the NYPD data. But, harassment is real and there are a relatively small number of emotionally disturbed people on the streets and in the subways. And the city's got to apply additional mental health resources to get those people the resources and the help they deserve and need.”
Foye tells WCBS 880 that he wants customers to feel safe and notes that he rides the subways every single day. He notes that while some might not allow their children to ride the subways, Foye’s own daughters are regularly utilizing mass transportation.
“I ride the Long Island Rail Road and the subways. My daughters and wife ride the subway and the Long Island Rail Road,” Foye said.
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