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Council Member Stevens' opening remarks on subway surfing

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104 sec

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Council Member Althea Stevens opens the hearing on combating the dangers of subway surfing, emphasizing its critical nature and the impact on the community. She highlights the need for understanding youth motivations and developing effective responses beyond mere enforcement.

Stevens stresses the importance of addressing root causes, including social media influence and lack of youth engagement.
She calls for input from various stakeholders, including youth leaders and mental health professionals.
The council member emphasizes the need for both immediate and long-term solutions to the issue.

Althea Stevens

0:13:40

Good morning and thank you all for joining us today for this critical hearing on combating the dangers of subway surfing.

0:13:47

I'm Althea Stevens, chair of children and youth services.

0:13:50

We're here because every instance of subway surfing is way too is one too many.

0:13:56

Each is a preventable risk in life of safety.

0:13:59

In recent months, this risky activity has claimed lives, injured others, and left our community grieving.

0:14:06

Subway surfing doesn't just pose a danger to the individual involved, it impacts our entire city.

0:14:13

From the transit workers who are encountered with these incidents firsthand to the family and friends and school and program of those who are put in harm's way.

0:14:22

I'm particularly focused on the understanding and motivations that lead young people to engage in this dangerous behavior and on developing effective and supportive responses.

0:14:33

This is not merely a matter of enforcement, but also education, engagement, and prevention.

0:14:41

Why are young people doing this and not attending our programs?

0:14:44

Our programs not engaging enough?

0:14:48

We have a responsibility to address the root causes and influences including social media glorification, lack of engagement and activities, or a need for more effective education on the risk of involvement.

0:15:01

Today, we will hear from several key agencies, but we also need to listen to youth leaders, educators, and mental health professionals who help us understand the broader context and ways we can support young people in making safe positive choices.

0:15:17

This hearing is an opportunity for us to both come up with immediate and long term solutions.

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Council Member Rita Joseph addresses the dangers of subway surfing and the need for education and prevention

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Council Member Stevens questions effectiveness of current subway surfing prevention strategies