New York officials are set to begin installing cameras inside every subway car as part of the state’s latest effort to crack down on rising crime as Gov. Kathy Hochul fights a surprisingly close election battle in which she’s accused of being too soft on crime.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin installing cameras inside more than 6,500 subway cars over the coming months, working at a rate of 750 cameras per month until the entire subway car fleet is equipped, according to the governor’s office. The process is expected to be completed around late 2024.
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MOTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER IN DROWNING OF HER THREE CHILDREN AT CONEY ISLAND
“My number one priority as Governor is keeping New Yorkers safe in the streets, in their homes, in their schools, and on the subway, and we will do whatever it takes to make our subways safer for riders,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul in a statement. “Our expanded subway safety strategy of Cops, Cameras, and Care will crack down on subway crime, help those experiencing homelessness get the support they need to get out of the system, and alleviate concerns of riders to ensure New Yorkers feel safer throughout the subway system.”
Rising crime rates in New York have especially become a focal point of the midterm elections, as Republican gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin has touted himself as a tough-on-crime candidate who would repeal many of Hochul’s criminal justice policies. The issue especially hit home for the Republican after a drive-by shooting occurred just outside his home in early October.
“Whether I’m in a blue county or a red county or talking to Republicans, Democrats or independents, I hear about people who care about crime and public safety,” Zeldin said, according to Politico. “They want to take back our streets.”
Hochul has defended her legislative record, pointing to efforts to tighten state bail laws in the state and strengthen gun control laws, although the latter was partially overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this summer. The Democratic governor has knocked Zeldin for his pledges to reverse her public safety measures, accusing the candidate of not understanding “the basics of governing or democracy.”
Hochul initially announced the state would install the cameras in September after several reports of crime garnered nationwide attention, including the rape of a tourist on a subway platform last month and a mass shooting on a subway car in Brooklyn that left 10 wounded from gunshots.
New York officials will also implement other safety measures to crack down on crime, such as increasing the number of police officers on subway platforms and inside cars. The New York Police Department will partner with the MTA to fill 1,200 additional overtime officer shifts each day, according to the governor’s office.
The state government will also provide two new psychiatric centers to provide help for those experiencing mental health problems. Additionally, the New York State Office of Mental Health will expand crisis intervention training for law enforcement officials for dealing with homeless individuals seeking shelter inside subway stations.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
There have been 1,813 crimes reported on public transit in New York as of Oct. 16, according to data from the NYPD. That’s a 41.4% increase from the same time last year and a 25.5% increase from 2020.
