A recent surge in violent incidents has raised serious concerns about public safety in New York City. The tragic murder of Officer Jonathan Diller during a routine traffic stop and the death of a commuter who was pushed in front of a subway train by a stranger have further fueled the belief that the city is descending into a state of decline and dysfunction. These distressing events, coupled with a daily stream of robberies, assaults, and shoplifting incidents, indicate that the erosion of public safety has reached a critical stage, with criminals seemingly unafraid of the consequences.
Attempts to downplay the situation with cherry-picked statistics should be disregarded, as they fail to address the prevailing sentiment among New Yorkers that nobody and no place is safe anymore. A recent survey conducted by the Citizens Budget Commission, covering various demographics and neighborhoods, revealed that the majority of residents perceive the city as more dangerous than it was six years ago. This alarming consensus should have prompted an urgent response from City Hall and Albany, but instead, the findings were met with indifference, exacerbating the sense of despair among the populace.
The current state of affairs can be attributed to flawed policies that defy common sense. Some prosecutors, instead of collaborating with the police to ensure public safety, prioritize pursuing cases against former President Donald Trump. Others impose increasingly restrictive measures on the dedicated men and women of the NYPD, perpetuating a narrative that vilifies law enforcement while sympathizing with criminals. The lack of accountability within the political class, shielded by influential donors and radical activists, undermines the principles of true democracy.
The recent incidents involving Officer Diller’s alleged shooter, Guy Rivera, and the subway assailant, Carlton McPherson, highlight the consequences of lenient policies. Rivera, a career criminal, had a history of multiple prison stints, while McPherson had been arrested just months before the subway incident but was released without bail. These individuals, armed and dangerous, were allowed to roam freely, resulting in the tragic loss of Officer Diller’s life and the endangerment of innocent commuters.
Mayor Adams, while acknowledging the issues of recidivism and mental illness, has yet to take decisive action to address these problems. His rhetoric often falls short of meaningful and coordinated efforts, leaving him more of a talker than a doer. Furthermore, his invitation to illegal border crossers to come to New York has strained the city’s resources and overwhelmed certain neighborhoods. Despite the financial strain, Adams refuses to demand that President Biden close the border, instead implementing a debit card program that provides financial assistance to migrant families.
In an attempt to improve transit safety, both Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul have deployed additional law enforcement personnel to the subway system. However, skepticism arises as to whether these measures are primarily aimed at protecting the controversial congestion pricing plan rather than genuinely ensuring public safety. The opposition to the tax is growing, and lawsuits against it are mounting. If the subways remain unsafe, the plan to incentivize mass transit through taxation will be rendered ineffective, resulting in fewer people entering Manhattan and a loss of revenue for the subway system.
It is worth noting that the MTA’s desperate need for the congestion pricing fee stems from the substantial losses incurred due to fare evasion, amounting to up to $750 million annually. Rather than penalizing fare cheats through heavy fines and strict enforcement, officials have turned a blind eye for far too long, resorting to temporary sweeps of law enforcement to coerce fare payment. This approach unfairly burdens law-abiding citizens while failing to hold the guilty parties accountable.
