New York Governor Kathy Hochul told subway riders who refuse to submit to baggage checks to “go home.”
His comments came as he defended the deployment of 750 national guard members to the Big Apple’s busiest stations in a bid to quell the rampant violence rocking the network. Guard members will search passengers’ bags for weapons as they enter the system.
speaking to fox5Hochul was asked what passengers who do not want their belongings to be searched should do.
“Go home,” she replied bluntly. ‘We’re not going to register you, you can say no. But you’re not going to take the subway.
Hochul was pressed on the five-point plan she announced Wednesday aimed at addressing the rise in violent crime in the subway.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul told subway riders who refuse to submit to bag checks to “go home”
His comments came as he defended the deployment of 750 national guard members to the Big Apple’s busiest stations in a bid to crack down on violent crimes rocking the network.
Hochul was pressed on the five-point plan she announced Wednesday aimed at addressing the rise in violent crime in the subway.
Hochul has teamed up with Mayor Eric Adams, who announced he would reinstate baggage checks for subway riders on Wednesday.
He has teamed up with Mayor Eric Adams, who announced he would reinstate bag checks for subway riders on Wednesday after a 13 percent increase in crime.
Baggage checks were first introduced on the Underground after the 2005 London attacks.
The policy seems reminiscent of previous stop-and-frisk searches on New York streets, which were declared unconstitutional nearly a decade ago.
“My number one priority is the safety of all New Yorkers,” Hochul said.
“If people are anxious in any aspect of their lives, particularly the lifeblood of our region (the downstate can’t function without a healthy subway system that people trust), I have to do this for them.”
Recent criminal activity on trains making headlines includes a cellist who was hit in the head by a stranger wielding a water bottle while performing, as well as a shooting that killed one person and injured five others.
Hochul also cited a subway driver whose throat was slit as part of the “fever” sweeping the transportation system. The conductor survived thanks to the quick thinking of a doctor who was on board.
He also mentioned another MTA driver who was hit in the head with a glass bottle as further evidence of the terrible situation.
Baggage checks were first introduced on the Underground after the 2005 London attacks.
The policy seems reminiscent of previous stop-and-frisk searches on New York streets, which were declared unconstitutional nearly a decade ago.
‘There is no search and search, there is no stop and search, there is no profiling. This is all a deterrent saying: “Do you want to commit a crime? Go somewhere else, not our subway,” Hochul said.
“We are going to take strong action,” Hochul said. ‘There is no search and search, there is no stop and search, there is no profiling. All this is a deterrent saying: “Do you want to commit a crime? Go somewhere else, not to our subway.”
Hochul said the troops’ presence would further deter fare evasion.
Do you want to look the police officer or the MTA transit cop or the National Guard in the eye and still skip the fare? Go ahead,’ he added.
The governor hopes that eventually the entire network will be covered by cameras to deter crime.
“I prefer to dedicate myself to preventing crimes than having to solve them,” he said.
“And if people know that they are being watched, that there is a camera that will record if they hurt someone, attack them, pull out a weapon, have a knife, that they are going to get caught, I think that will have a powerful effect on the psychology of the criminals.’
94 bag inspection teams will be sent to 136 stations each week, although exact locations will be determined. The city is also reviewing technology to detect metal objects entering the transit system.
Screening teams will be able to search any passenger’s luggage for weapons under the long-dormant policy.
Adams says he will add more police presence at subway stations and bring back bag and backpack checks after a 13 percent increase in crime.
“We know people feel unsafe,” admitted Adams, a former traffic police officer.
The national guardsmen join the 1,000 extra police stationed at the subway next to Adams following a 45 per cent increase in serious crime in January compared to the same period last year.
The national guardsmen join the 1,000 extra police stationed at the subway next to Adams following a 45 per cent increase in serious crimes in January compared to the same period last year.
Knives, razors, clubs and guns are reportedly among the weapons being sought by the NYPD.
Crime on the subway has been on the rise lately, with 2023 seeing the highest number of assaults on the subway since 1996. There have been three homicides on the tracks to start the year, compared to none at this time last year.
The Transportation Workers Union harshly criticized their bosses at the MTA for failing to protect them.
“We stand ready to help Local 100 confront this plague of violence, and the transportation executives who are inept or indifferent to the harm inflicted on their own employees day and night,” said TWU President John Samuelsen.
‘When it comes to workplace safety, the MTA has been an abysmal failure. Assaults against public transport workers in the subway increased almost 60 percent last year.