NEW YORK – Officials announced National Guard support for the NYPD in transit during the busy holiday season.
“Thanks to our five-point plan to improve public safety, crime in the metro has fallen 10% since March of last year. And just two years since the year 1970, we have had less metro crime than last year,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “It’s clear to me, as I’ve heard from many people, that the presence of the National Guard has made not only a physical difference, but a psychological difference in how they think about safety.”
Hochul announced that another 250 National Guard troops will join the effort to keep the subways safe.
“I’ll be clear: this is not a response to a specific crime. We don’t see a trend that is alarming. But it is about continuing a strategy that has proven its success and expanding it to more people,” Hochul said .
In addition, Hochul announced that all subways are now equipped with new security cameras.
“That’s extraordinary,” Hochul said. “I just want everyone to know that if you are considering committing a crime on the subway, we are watching and you will be arrested.”
The announcement of extensive safety measures comes on the same day the MTA approved a financial plan that includes a fare increase that could begin in August. At the same MTA meeting where the financial plan was approved, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said subway ridership has reached its highest level since the pandemic.
