New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her plan to install two security cameras per subway car to improve transit safety by 2025 on September 20.
“It’s been proven time and time again that cameras in the transit system help fight crime throughout the whole city, not just on the subway,” New York City Transit President Richard Davey said. “Expanding the camera network will serve to deter those who are intent on committing a crime from entering the transit system.”
Just last week, a woman was beaten by a homeless parolee in an unprovoked attack in a subway station in Queens. The victim, Elizabeth Gomes, suffered grave injuries and may lose sight in her right eye.
“Really want this guy to go away for a long time,” Gomes said. “Every day I wake up at the same time as this attack happened, in fear.”
The attack was caught on camera.
Two weeks ago, a woman was sitting on a bench when she was robbed and attacked at Brooklyn subway station.
The attack was caught on camera.
On July 15, a man accidentally bumped into someone inside the 74th Street/Roosevelt Avenue subway station. The man quickly became aggressive and repeatedly punched the victim in the face, according to police.
The attack was caught on camera.
Criminals will attack, with or without security cameras— this is a fact, as seen from three, of the many, recent horrific subway attacks.
“I don’t think Hochul’s investment in cameras will increase train safety. Most criminals won’t be deterred from just cameras,” said Umair Sheikh, 19, of Brooklyn, whose main transportation method is public transit. “There’s many cases of criminals being caught on camera and never being identified. They know that they probably won’t be caught so they’ll continue harassing people on the subway.”
The $5.5 million plan was financially supported through grant money from the federal government and the MTA’s Subway Action Plan.
Here’s the catch: the security camera is not connected to a central server, meaning that it cannot be monitored 24/7.
“Crime in transit was 8.6% lower this year than it was in 2019,” NYPD Chief of Department Ken Corey said. “A difference of 339 crimes.”
Contrary to that unfounded statistic, crime in NYC public transit was up nearly 57% in July, compared to one year ago, according to New York Police Department data.
“I have felt unsafe sometimes. While nothing very serious has happened to me, I’ve seen people get harassed on the subway,” Sheikh said. “Recently, I witnessed a homeless man urinate on the train next to an elderly woman which was very disturbing and until the state invests in more NYPD officers in trains, incidents like these will continue to occur.”
The majority of public transit crimes have been caught on camera. Will Hochul’s plan be a bust and burn the middle class? Only time will tell.
