Gov Hochul, Mayor Adams announce new effort to combat crime on city's subways

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have announced a new effort to combat crime on the city’s subways.

The effort is to curb not only violence but other crimes on the city’s subway system which include increased police patrols, cameras, and mental health help for those in need.

The announcement was made in a press conference on Saturday following series of disturbing attacks in the city’s system, including the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy on an A train in Queens earlier this month and the death of a man pushed in front of another Queens train during a dispute on Monday.

Hochul and Adams confirmed that the primary responsibility of the police with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be patrolling subway stations adjacent and linked to the four major commuter rail hubs. These rail hubs include Penn Station and Grand Central Station in Manhattan, Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn and Sutphin-Archer Station in Queens.

They said this allows for increased patrols at additional subway stations.

Governor Hochul also said that funds will be provided by the state for additional police overtime pay.

The NYPD plans to increase the police presence in the subway system by adding 1,200 overtime shifts per day, or about 10,000 overtime hours daily.

The officials said that will allow police officers to patrol platforms in at least 300 stations during peak hours and transit officers to ride hundreds of additional trains per day, also during peak hours.