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Q&A
Addressing subway safety concerns and shifting crime patterns
1:28:30
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Council Member Restler discusses recent data on subway crime patterns and asks how the MTA is adapting its approach to ensure rider safety. President Crichlow explains the MTA's strategies for addressing these concerns.
- Restler cites a Vital City report showing a reduction in robberies but an increase in assaults
- He notes that 20% higher rates of crime occur overnight compared to daytime hours
- Crichlow highlights collaboration with Chief Galata to address crime hotspots and timing
- Increased police presence on overnight trains is mentioned as a key strategy
- Employee feedback on visible police presence is noted as positive
Lincoln Restler
1:28:30
%.
1:28:30
We have an opportunity to rethink our streetscape in this moment before we give it up to other uses with the benefits of congestion pricing around us.
1:28:38
So it would be very helpful, I think, for us to be immediately developing those plans if they're not already in place.
1:28:43
I know that the other side of this building is a mess.
1:28:45
But I was very moved.
1:28:47
I was very impressed by the Vital City report that came out recently about subway safety.
1:28:53
And I thought in particular the data that we've seen a major reduction in robberies, but an increase in assaults, and that we're seeing a shifting pattern in the type of crime that exists in the subway informs that we need new approaches to actually keep riders safe.
1:29:09
And so we had a great walk through with leadership from the MTA, I should note, Katerina from your government affairs team has been excellent.
1:29:16
So I really want to thank her and you for her dedication to working with our office.
1:29:21
But we just did a walk through at Clark Street and High Street, are two stations where we've had ongoing safety issues during my three years in the city council.
1:29:28
How are the shifting patterns of when crime is happening and the types of crime that's happening in the subways?
1:29:34
How is that shifting your approach to ensuring that we're keeping riders safe?
1:29:38
And just to note, the other piece that I thought was notable 20% higher, I believe, rates of crime happening overnight than happening during daytime hours.
1:29:47
So we know there are certain times of day, there are certain types of crime that we're seeing.
1:29:51
You obviously can't have a police officer on every subway even though, I guess, the governor's trying.
1:29:56
That's not gonna work in a sustainable way.
1:29:59
What can we do to better instill safety confidence in the safety of riders in our system?
Demetrius Crichlow
1:30:04
So so I will say that chief Galata has been an amazing partner on this.
1:30:11
He is is without question concerned about trying to change not just what is actually happening in the numbers, but also the perception of the subway system being a place where it's it's ridden with crime.
1:30:24
So first thing is really looking at the data and seeing where the crimes mentioned.
1:30:28
You mentioned yourself the the issues happening on the overnight.
1:30:31
So Galata has been committed and literally as as recent as last week, we talked about their their program of staffing with cops on every train on the overnight period where the largest number of crimes are happening.
1:30:46
It's really targeting the areas and the locations where those crimes happen.
1:30:51
So I think that's really the trend that they've been looking at.
1:30:54
Our our employees have been saying that they are seeing the cops out there on overnight which has been extremely strengthening for them because they they don't need they're in the same situation as customers.
1:31:08
They don't want to be assaulted.
1:31:10
We want the support of the police and getting feedback from our employees that they are seeing cops is like huge for us.
Lincoln Restler
1:31:16
Yeah.