New York Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to keep the National Guard in the New York City subway system throughout the summer, Gothamist reported.
Hundreds of force members have been in the subway for over two months now, helping NYPD officers conduct random searches of passengers' bags before they enter trains. They are usually distributed in pairs throughout 85 stations across five boroughs.
The decision was made amid a wave of violent crimes taking place underground and is aimed at aiding an increased presence of NYPD. Despite some criticism, the governor has signaled her intention to maintain the National Guard.
"I ... know that, statistically, crimes trend upward in the summer months," Hochul told reporters. "And so it's probably not the time to say we're done." "If the presence of National Guard in addition to the NYPD makes people feel better, more likely to take the subway, have a better experience, that's good enough for me. But there will be an endgame."
The outlet indicated that subway crimes have dropped significantly over the past weeks. The governor declined to say what data she has analyzed to make the statement, mentioning a 5% drop in transit crime rates in April, according to NYPD data. She said she would provide additional statistics soon.
The tone contrasts with that of before the decision, when figures were showing 45% spike in major crimes in January compared with the same time last year. Grand larcenies—thefts without the use of force— were a main cause for this increase, according to police figures.
The deployment is part of a five-point plan by Hochul, which also aimed at paying for 0 teams of mental health workers who would help people on the subway. It also sought to introduce legislation allowing judges to ban people convicted of violent crimes from riding the subways, add cameras to train conductors' control booths and coordinate with prosecutors to track repeat offenders.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
