New York City’s Subway Safety Struggles: How the Legal Aid Society is Fighting Back Against False Alarms and Costly Policies
New York City mayor Eric Adams and police commissioner Edward Caban recently announced a new technology to detect weapons in the subway system. The pilot program could begin in just a few months, with the impact and use policy for electromagnetic weapons detection systems set to be published soon. However, this announcement has been met with criticism from the Legal Aid Society, which called the city’s approach to public safety misguided and costly.
The Legal Aid Society raised concerns about false alarms and the potential for panic induced by gun detection systems. Meanwhile, New York state leaders have been working to improve safety underground, with Governor Kathy Hochul deploying the National Guard and State Police for random bag checks. Commissioner Caban has also been engaging with riders to understand their concerns.
Transit crime in the city has seen a 4% increase this year compared to last year, and an 8% increase compared to 14 years ago. To address these concerns, the NYPD announced plans to assign 800 additional officers for a week-long crackdown on subway fare evaders. Additionally, the city is hiring more clinicians to provide assistance to those dealing with mental illness. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to improve safety and security in the subway system.
