MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber driving the subway on March 6, 2025.
Photograph by Dean Moses
As MTA Chair and CEO, I do know that the truth of security within the transit system is not only within the stats.
New Yorkers and guests alike type opinions based mostly on lived expertise, and once they see folks breaking the foundations – whether or not it’s fare beating, open drug use, smoking, or stretching out alongside the seats – it will probably make them really feel just like the subway is a chaotic, lawless place.
That’s not acceptable to the brand new MTA. We’ve been taking a number one position in response to issues of safety far past the normal mission of a transit operator. This company has by no means labored so carefully with the NYPD, State Police, and different regulation enforcement companions.
We’re gratified that Gov. Kathy Hochul supplied funding to deploy extra officers within the system. Not solely do they battle crime, however seeing and listening to the officers on platforms and trains makes riders really feel that a lot safer.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch deserves credit score for setting the tone. She’s made it clear to her workforce that the MTA’s guidelines have to be enforced, and the outcomes converse for themselves. Two months into 2025, subway crime is down 29% in comparison with 2024 and down 45% in comparison with this time 5 years in the past, earlier than the pandemic.
Riders can really feel the distinction, and so they’re voting with their financial institution card faucets and MetroCard swipes. Mass transit ridership is up almost 10% 12 months over 12 months, and that pattern’s not going to cease. By operating good service – plenty of it – and prioritizing security, we will maintain them coming again, which is nice for the New York economic system.
However there’s at all times extra we will do. I’m significantly targeted on the difficulty of prison recidivism. We see it on a regular basis — the identical people breaking the identical guidelines and committing the identical sorts of offenses. Most of them have lengthy rap sheets with dozens of prior arrests. It’s previous time to shut the revolving door.
That’s why I’m pushing for reforms in Albany to the prison justice system, particularly Governor Hochul’s proposal to alter the onerous proof discovery guidelines that make it so tough for prosecutors to convey circumstances. We’re additionally asking the Legislature to ascertain what we’re calling an Aggravated Transportation Offense to take care of continual offenders.
We are able to’t afford to not act. The transit system is simply too essential to the Metropolis and this area to permit the notion of security, or lack of it, to chase folks away.
