Crime Underground, Raids on MTA Funds and Overnight Service

Crime underground is first and foremost on riders’ minds. The horrific stabbings over the weekend were the culmination of months of attacks that are putting us all on edge. We support the call for more police, for people to be able to call 311 from the system, more cameras underground, harsher penalties for crimes against transit workers, and the concurrent need for more mental health services and housing. For riders to come back to transit, they must feel and be safe. We need to hear from the Transit Police on a regular basis about crime and their tactics: police should be deployed based on data and need. That’s just one critical thing that’s been lost in the year without Committee meetings. It’s time to bring them back, along with same day testimony.