What Life Is Like in a Blue City

March 7, 2024 | Categories: Guest Contributions | Tags: |  Print This Article

What Life Is Like in a Blue City

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/nyregion/subway-national-guard-police.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20240306&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=31655120&segment_id=160022&user_id=37e12dbf03bcba359546104d0b48992b 

“National Guard and State Police Will Patrol the Subways and Check Bags

“Gov. Kathy Hochul, amid a series of violent crimes on the subway, said she would deploy 1,000 members of the State Police and National Guard to the transit system.

“Hundreds of National Guard soldiers and State Police officers will patrol the New York City subway platforms and check riders’ bags beginning this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday.

“A large show of force in the system, which is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a state agency, will help commuters and visitors feel safe, Ms. Hochul said.

“Subway safety is a constant concern in New York City, where the system’s recovery is critical to the city’s rebound from the pandemic, and public officials can be as sensitive to the perception that mass transit is dangerous as they are to an actual rise in crime. 

“The additional law enforcement officers would add to an already large police presence in the subways, where Mayor Eric Adams ordered an additional 1,000 officers in February following a 45 percent spike in major crimes in January compared with the same time last year.

“Grand larcenies — thefts without the use of force — were a main driver of the January spike in crime, according to the police. They are defined by the police as major crimes, along with homicides, assaults and robberies.

“After crime rates retreated in February, the overall rise in major crimes for the year as of March 3 was 13 percent, Police Department data shows.

“Ms. Hochul said she would deploy 1,000 members of the State Police, the National Guard and the transportation authority to “conduct bag checks in the city’s busiest stations.” The additional security personnel were expected to begin appearing in the subway system by the evening rush hour on Wednesday.

“Riders have the right to refuse to have their bag checked, Ms. Hochul said, but officers can then deny them access to the subway.”