In the wake of a shooting incident on a New York City subway car, Governor Kathy Hochul reaffirmed her commitment to enhancing the safety of the metro system, as reported by The New York Post. Despite the recent violence, Hochul asserted that her measures were yielding positive results.
Governor Hochul had announced the deployment of 750 state National Guard troops and 250 state troopers to bolster security at metro stops on March 6th, amid a surge in crime within the city. However, a shooting incident occurred on a subway car headed to Brooklyn just days later. Despite this setback, Hochul maintained that her strategy was effective, emphasizing the presence of National Guard personnel at key transit hubs.
Addressing concerns over armed guardsmen patrolling subway stations and conducting search checkpoints, Hochul revised the plan to include unarmed guardsmen at search points, while certain units remained armed. When questioned about the effectiveness of unarmed troops, Hochul emphasized the broader effort to improve subway safety.
In a separate statement, Mayor Eric Adams echoed Hochul’s sentiments, asserting that New York City remained “the safest city in America” despite the recent incident. Adams dismissed concerns, labeling the shooting as an “isolated incident.”
Despite the reassurances from state officials, subway crime rates have risen by 13% since 2023, mirroring the percentage increase from the previous year, according to The New York Post’s report.
