How many surges of law enforcement into the subway will satisfy the political desire of city and state leaders to address riders’ fears being fanned by those same leaders? This is the fifth or sixth in recent years, and even in response to real concerns and crimes, it remains unsustainable.
Militarizing the subway with the National Guard and suggesting a wholesale ban on individuals from accessing public transportation are dangerous misuses of resources which could be better spent addressing these issues at their root. It’s one thing to have conductors announce increased police presence on the platform. It’s another entirely to further criminalize the public on public transit while neglecting the real improvements these resources could be devoted to, like fixing the subway itself.
New Yorkers deserve to be and feel safe on our subway. So instead of posturing to look ‘tough on crime,’ stuck in the same conversations, let’s get serious about safety, and what it actually involves.