Internal NYPD data obtained by the Post shows serious crime spiked again last year, reaching levels not seen in nearly 20 years, and the city’s rampant misconduct is simply a “perception issue.” This refutes the repeated assertions of Mayor Eric Adams.
Overall crime has been on the rise for the second year in a row under the Adams administration, driven by a historic spike in assaults that approached 28,000 for the first time in the city’s public records, according to the police department’s regular report. That’s what it means.
The report tracks the tally of seven major felonies from the time the arrest is made until the case is transferred to the district attorney, who decides whether to upgrade, downgrade, or continue prosecution. There is. For example, a person who hits someone may initially be charged with a misdemeanor, but if the victim’s condition later worsens, prosecutors may raise the charge to a felony.
Felony counts such as murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, grand theft, and motor vehicle theft are commonly used as indicators of success each year.
Adams has touted successes in the fight against crime, citing a slight drop-off reported at the end of 2023, but ongoing reports suggest the victory lap at the beginning of the year was premature.
The number of seven major crimes in 2023 jumped to 127,111 after taking into account the 404 upgrades, marking the highest total for the second year in a row since 2006, according to police data.
Police officials said the situation could get worse. Historically, up to 800 crimes are ranked up in the rolling report each year before the final tally for that year is determined.
City Hall claims that since Adams took office, police efforts have been focused on eliminating homicides and gun violence, both of which have seen double-digit declines. ing.
The mayor has trumpeted his administration’s successes in fighting crime in recent months, declaring in his State of the City address in January that “our strategy is working.”
He touted data for the end of 2023 showing a 0.3% decline in overall major crime and double-digit declines in homicides, robberies and shootings compared to his first year in office.
However, NYPD reports from time to time paint a different picture.
A report in early March showed a decrease of 50 serious crimes in 2023 compared to 2022, when the final tally was 127,091.
In the weeks that followed, the gap began to narrow, with the number of crimes in 2023 finally exceeding the number of crimes in Mr. Adams’ first year in office by 20.
New York City Subway Crime Updates
Crime in the metro increased by nearly 20% in the first two months of 2024 compared to this time last year. New statistics released by the NYPD show that grand theft (22% increase), felonies (17% increase), and robberies (12% increase) increased significantly during this period.
There was only one murder on the subway at this time last year, but by 2024 there will be two.
Comprehensive statistics show that overall crime has increased by about 18.3%, with 317 incidents reported compared to 268 in the same period last year. However, the number of arrests also increased by 44%.
Mayor Eric Adams says the NYPD will immediately move to 12-hour patrols to curb the crime wave, which comes as the city rolls back a subway safety plan that would have increased police presence on subways in 2022. He claimed that.
Adams stressed finding “new standards for patrolling the subway system,” including reinstating increased police presence and increased bag checks.
Gov. Cathy Hochul announced Wednesday that nearly 1,000 New York National Guard, State Police and MTA troopers are being used to screen bags on subways.
In addition to increased patrols, Hochul plans to introduce a new law that would allow judges to ban people convicted of traffic violence from riding New York City’s subways and buses.
Hochul’s plans include new surveillance cameras in conductor’s offices to protect transit workers, installing surveillance cameras in every vehicle by the end of the year, and increasing the number of subway cooperative support teams across the system. This includes a $20 million cash injection.
Adams’ first year as mayor was already marred by headlines that crime was up 23% compared to the previous administration and 33% from pre-pandemic levels.
City Councilman Bob Holden (D-Queens) furiously told the Post that the “reported statistics only scratch the surface” and that the obstacles are much deeper.
“All we hear from shop owners and constituents is that they have stopped reporting crimes because of the revolving door criminal fraud system,” he said. “This is a fact that every New Yorker lives with every day.”
Driving the high overall crime rate is felony assault, with 100 more such crimes than at the end of the year, bringing the total to 27,951 as of this month. This was an increase of 6.7%, the highest since before 2000. Earliest year available.
“At least the numbers show why New York City feels like it’s the 1990s again,” a law enforcement official said of the spike in assaults.
Car thefts have also pushed up overall levels, ending at 15,806 at the end of 2023, a 15% increase since then.
After accounting for reclassifications and upgrades, the data as of April 2nd would be:
- The number of murders was 391, an increase of four from the end of the year and a decrease of 10.7% from 2022.
- The number of rapes was 1,465, an increase of 10 cases since the end of the year and a decrease of 9.8% from 2022.
- There were 16,934 robberies reported, an increase of 32 from Jan. 1 and a 2.9% decrease from 2022.
- The number of robberies was 13,803, up several dozen from the end of the year and down 12.8% from 2022.
- Grand theft cases ended at 50,761, an increase of about 200 from the end of the year and a 2% decrease from 2022.
Despite having tapped into such public discourse before condemning media coverage of crime in his first year in office, Mr. Hitzoner recently dismissed criticism of the surge in illegality as a “matter of perception.” is trying to suppress it.
In recent months, Mr. Adams has repeatedly touted the crime-fighting accomplishments of his second year in office, which he dubbed the “Year of Judge Aaron” after the Yankees star.
“I will say it over and over again until it resonates: jobs are up, crime is down, and we are moving in the right direction to serve working-class New Yorkers,” the mayor said in a Feb. 20 speech. He spoke at Many appearances celebrating progress.
It was also a key message in his optimistic State of the City address, in which he downplayed the migrant crisis and told the government he would bring the city “back from the brink.”
“New Yorkers were understandably concerned about their safety, security and their families,” he said. “Our first mission was clear: to curb crime.” added.
Representatives for the mayor argued in a statement that the city is safer now than it was when Adams took office.
“Mayor Adams has made it clear that public safety is the key to prosperity, and in just over two years in office, our administration has committed to eliminating serious crimes such as shootings, murders, robberies, and grand larceny. ,” spokeswoman Kayla Mamalek said.
“While some crimes are reclassified every year, and there is no doubt that more needs to be done to keep New Yorkers safe, our streets are safer today than they were before Mayor Adams took office.” There is no dispute that it is.”
At the time, overall crime had just surpassed 100,000 for the first time in years, and homicides had risen to 500, while police faced a record number of shootings at 1,562, according to NYPD data. Was.
Last year, mass shootings decreased by 26% compared to 2022 (1,150 vs. 1,566), but were still more than 50% higher than in 2019.
Political observers said the mayor was under pressure, sending out mixed messages about crime.
On the one hand, Mr. Adams started the year with an overt push to bring tourists and workers back to the Big Apple, declaring the city safe and business booming.
Meanwhile, in the face of a recent spate of high-profile subway crimes, Gov. Cathy Hochul, in an unusual use of force, sent in the National Guard to help with underground bag searches.
Adams has repeatedly blamed an epidemic of recidivism for fueling high-profile acts of violence, most recently the shooting of a police lieutenant. Jonathan Diller.
Ken Friedman, a Democratic political consultant, said the Adams administration needs to hone in on its mixed messaging to avoid appearing merely reactionary.
“The mayor needs a consistent crime message to New Yorkers and people outside the city,” he said. “Are our subways and roads safe or dangerous? Does violent crime occur randomly or is it on the rise? Is the threat of violent crime real or perceived? ”
The mayor is also facing a financial crisis due to the growing immigration crisis, and was forced to cancel several NYPD classes, though at least one has since resumed.
City Councilman Lincoln Ressler (D-Brooklyn) accused the NYPD of mismanagement and accused the department of focusing on the wrong issues, such as cracking down on public drinking. This was revealed by the Post last year.
“For over two years, Mayor Adams has put respectability over public safety,” he charged.
Some law enforcement officials expressed similar concerns.
“They’re more worried about grammatically incorrect social media battles than they are about effective crime fighting,” one source quipped. referring to a recent spat between a handful of New York City police officers and columnist Harry Siegel. It evolved into name-calling.
