It seems there was quite a triumph overnight.
Governor Kathy Hochul took center stage on Wednesday, showcasing new crime statistics that suggested an increase in NYPD officers on the trains significantly enhanced subway safety, marking a historic improvement.
The exuberant Governor expressed her intention to continue this increased nightly presence, doubling the patrols that started in January.
“Initially, this was meant to be a temporary measure, but after I heard from New Yorkers who felt safer thanks to the police presence, I’ve decided to keep it going for a few more months,” she shared during an event highlighting a notable drop in traffic crimes.
Yet, there seemed to be a lack of clarity regarding the specifics of this extension—exactly how many officers would be assigned and for what duration were among the unanswered questions.
When pressed for further details, a spokesperson for the governor’s office offered little more than vague reassurances. “The ongoing presence of expanded police in the subway system will adapt based on crime data and trends,” stated the spokesperson.
Requests for comments from NYPD officials went unanswered.
Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, also provided no definitive information.
The announcement of Hochul’s initial surge in January caught many within the NYPD off guard. However, with collaboration from city officials and state funding, the initiative was set in motion.
Ultimately, the cost of the plan was disclosed as $154 million, split between the city and state.
Hochul had to find $77 million from state resources to make this possible, and lawmakers in Albany eventually approved it in the New York budget.
Hochul indicated that some of the funding for this extension is already earmarked, at least partly, for that $77 million.
She confessed back in July that the funds weren’t completely allocated yet, leaving uncertainty about how much cash remains for officer deployment.
Despite the somewhat chaotic rollout, it appears the surge has contributed to a decrease in subway crime.
The governor and MTA head Janoliver celebrated the achievement with NYPD statistics revealing that July and August have become the safest months in the transit system’s history.
Felony assaults, as per transit crime reports, dropped by 21% this year.
Further data indicates that major crimes in the transportation network have decreased by nearly 16% when compared to the figures from 2019.
“I’m not just saying this lightly; I want to be standing here next summer, celebrating another record-setting year,” Hochul commented.
