Gov. Hochul has elevated the variety of Nationwide Guard troops within the New York Metropolis Subway system, she introduced Wednesday — doubling down on a controversial deployment that she credit with serving to drive down subway crime.
“It’s clear to me, as 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,” Hochul informed reporters at a press convention on the Grand Central subway station.
Citing an anticipated uptick in vacationers visiting town for the vacations, Hochul introduced she had deployed 250 extra New York Guard members to the subway system.
“I’ll be clear — this is not in response to a specific crime, we’re not seeing a trend that’s alarming,” Hochul mentioned. “It’s about continuing a strategy that has proven its success, and expanding it to protect even more people.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a press convention alongside facet MTA Chairman Janno Lieber in Grand Central Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Every day Information)
Hochul first deployed 750 members of the New York Guard’s and 250 state and MTA law enforcement officials to the system in March, a part of a multi-pronged effort to scale back violent crime on metropolis subways.
The guard members and state troopers, some armed with military-style M4 carbines, grew to become an instantly seen presence at a number of the metropolis’s transit hubs, standing alongside NYPD officers whereas they searched straphangers’ baggage.
The guard members rapidly stowed the lengthy weapons amid issues they had been militarizing the subway system, and in current months, the troopers and airmen with the Guard have been seen all through the system, working with legislation enforcement at varied stations all through town.
The Guard deployment was the first effort of a multi-prong plan that additionally concerned psychological well being outreach, the set up of surveillance cameras in each subway automotive, and common conferences between prosecutors and transit officers in an effort to curb recidivism.
“It’s made an extaordinary difference,” Hochul mentioned Wednesday. “Subway crime is down 10% just since last March.”
“In only two years since the year 1970 have we had fewer subway crimes than we had this past year,” she added.
Signage is pictured at a press convention Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke at in Grand Central Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Every day Information)
As of Sunday, main crime was down 6% on the subway system from this time final yr, a discount pushed by a 20% lower in burglaries and a 16% drop in robberies.
However 9 individuals have been killed within the subway system thus far this yr, up 80% from the 5 who had been killed by this time final yr. 5 rapes have been reported, yet one more than this time final yr.
Felonious assaults have held comparatively regular, dropping 1.6%.
Requested Wednesday why she wasn’t deploying extra state or MTA law enforcement officials, Hochul mentioned the troops projected security.
“This is about a presence,” she continued. “But if there’s a problem, I guarantee they know how to handle it.”
