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NYC Crime Officially Down, But Fears Are High Following Several High-Profile Subway Incidents
Recently,several violent crimes in New York City have captured headlines — even as police data shows a 2.9% overall decrease in crime across the city in 2024, and a 5.4% decline in subway-related crimes compared to 2023.
The disturbing headlines include incidents such as a woman being set on fire in an NYC subway, two stabbings by a man with a history of mental illness and 87 prior arrests, a man pushing someone onto the subway tracks in front of an oncoming train, a fatal altercation following a subway theft, and other alarming acts of violence.
How NYC Leaders Are Responding to Attacks
In response to the attacks, NYC mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch acknowledged the severity of the incidents but emphasized that subway crime has decreased in the city. Despite these statistics, many New Yorkers remain fearful of using the subway.
“Perception always overrides reality,” Adams stated. “The average New Yorker would believe they’re living in a city that is out of control. That is not the reality.”
MTA CEO Janno Lieber echoed similar sentiments, stating, , “Some of these…terrible attacks have gotten in people’s heads and made the whole system feel unsafe.” However, he highlighted that overall statistics are encouraging,12.5% decrease in transit crime from 2024 to 2019.
The positive attitudes of NYC leaders appear to be aimed at preventing public panic, particularly as the MTA rolls out its new congestion pricing program, which is expected to drive more commuters towards the subways. The congestion pricing will charge drivers $9 to access areas south of 60th Street during peak hours. As the global leader in urban automobile traffic congestion, NYC aims to use congestion pricing to reduce traffic volume while generating revenue for MTA infrastructure projects (suffice it say, New Yorkers are skeptical).
Efforts to Keep NYC Subways Safe
Critics of Lieber acknowledge the overall decrease in subway crime but argue that violent crimes have not seen the same decline. . Subway murders reached a 25-year high in 2024 and felony assaults reported by the transit bureau rose slightly to 579 compared to2023. In early December, the high profile murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in broad daylight further highlighted concerns
While Tisch insists that the crime situation is better than it appears , she has pledged to deploy more than 200 NYPD officers to subway platforms and trains.
“I want to be very clear, the subways will always be a bellwether for the perception of public safety in New York City,” she said.” Declining crime numbers are significant, but we still must do more, because people don’t feel safe in our subways.”
Sadly , subway crime is not a new issue.
In March 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed hundreds of National Guard members to assist with subway security. In response to the recent incidents, she is advocating for a law that will make it easier to involuntarily commit people suffering from mental illness. Additionally, she has implemented d security cameras in every subway car.
For subway commuters, staying safe requires constant awareness. Avoid looking at your phone (easier said than done, we know), pay attention to your surroundings, and observe the people around. If you notice anything suspicious, immediately report it to a security authority.
Safe travels to all.