New York City officials cautiously optimistic after subway crime drops 13 percent during recent 28-day stretch

NEW YORK — For some, it is a startling revelation. Despite the fixed incidence of horrific incidents happening within the subways, crime within the underground has truly began to lower.

It’s too early to inform if it is a blip on the crime radar display screen or a particular pattern, however after Gov. Kathy Hochul dismissed million {dollars} during the governor’s race to spice up metro copsundercover crime fell for a 28-day interval that ended Sunday.

As CBS2’s Marcia Kramer reported Monday, Mayor Eric Adams and MTA officials are quietly excited.

“Right now, we’re on the right train. We’re going in the right direction. We’re going south on crime,” Adams stated.

It’s exhausting to know if “going south on crime” means town is lastly turning the nook to make subways safer, however there seems to be gentle on the finish of the tunnel.

Transit crime fell 13.1 percent during these 28 days — 185 crimes this 12 months in comparison with 213 in 2021, when town was nonetheless within the throes of the pandemic and ridership was decrease.

“Major crimes are down. This is a significant reversal of what had been a trend in the other direction and I just want to admit, while it’s too early to celebrate, this is significant progress,” stated MTA chairman Janno Lieber.

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The cause neither Adams nor Lieber was making an finish zone bounce is as a result of metro crime is up 33.5 percent year-to-date — 2,096 crimes this 12 months in comparison with 1,570 in 2021. It’s additionally a 28.8 percent enhance. for 2 years, though it’s 6.2 percent lower than 5 years in the past.

“Blue growth in our subway system is working,” Adams stated.

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The mayor was referring to the truth that within the warmth of a gubernatorial race the place Republican Lee Zeldin hammered him on subway crime, Gov. Hochul opened the state’s pocketbook to pay extra cops, together with 1,200 extra shifts a day and 10,000 jobs additional per day. hour.

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But the unanswered query is how lengthy the state, which is going through fiscal issues, will proceed to pay the invoice. State officials didn’t reply to questions from CBS2 about how a lot is being spent and the way lengthy the rise will final.

Riders would certainly wish to know. They stated the next when requested in the event that they really feel secure underground.

“If I travel during the day, yes, but not at night,” stated one.

“Yeah, I feel safe on the subway. Maybe it’s because I’m a tall guy,” stated one other.

“I don’t feel safe at all,” stated one other.

“Not too sure. Someone was doing drugs on the train the other day. One person behaved very inappropriately in front of the kids,” one added.

The mayor hinted that he has extra initiatives on the best way, together with assigning new cops to graduate from the Police Academy to bolster the transit patrol power.

A spokesman for the municipality declined to offer additional particulars.