Eric Adams, a brand-new New York City mayor, says there is an unfair perception of fear about subway crime. This comes just one day after another random killing on New York’s “safe” subway system.
Simon Martial, a mentally ill homeless ex-con, was arrested Saturday in connection to the murder of Michelle Go (40-year-old consultant), whom he shoved in front of a subway train.
Martial shouted, “Yeah because I’m God,” at reporters as he was being taken away by police. “Yes, I did. I’m God, I can do it.”
Martial surrendered to police after a subway ride, just minutes before the murder.
Keechant Sewell, the new NYPD Commissioner, stated that the incident was unprovoked. The victim did not seem to have had any interaction with the subject.
Sewell stated earlier this month that safety in the subway system is a top priority of the NYPD. This was part of her announcement about a “comprehensive, new approach” to subway crime prevention. It would “be centered on having more officers on trains cars.”
She stated that officers would talk with riders and listen to them as NYPD officers don’t just respond to crimes in the city, but also prevent and deter them.
Subway crime, as well as other serious crimes, has been increasing in New York City over the past two years.
Adams said that New Yorkers were safe using the subway system.
“I believe it’s around 1.7 percent of all crimes committed in New York City via the subway system. For a moment, think about this. We must remove fear from our perception.
Michelle Go was not driven to her death by a “perception”, Mr. Mayor.
Simon Martial (allegedly) did it.
I had small hopes for New York City’s new mayor, even if it was only because he campaigned to get tough on crime.
“The leading Democrat is Eric Adams in that party’s complicated primary race.” Adams seems to be trouncing a field full of De Blasio wannabes.
Adams hasn’t been in office for three weeks. But his attitude shows that he may disappoint on the issue where he had promised to make real changes from the De Blasio era.
He can talk about “perceptions” all day, but the numbers speak for them.
Although violent crime has declined slightly from 2020, it is still higher overall during the second term of former Mayor Bill De Blasio. This reversed the long-term decline that began under Rudy Giuliani in the mid-’90s.
Although it is possible that I am reading too much into a one-weekend statement from a new mayor, Adams has serious trouble.
Alvin Bragg, the newly elected Manhattan District Attorney, distributed a memo on January 3 that outlined a series of drastic changes to his office’s approach towards law enforcement. He was removing the “enforcement” aspect of law enforcement for many offenses such as fare evasion and trespass, traffic violations, resisting arrest, prostitution, and others. These offenses (along with others) will not be prosecuted in Manhattan, except for a few exceptions. Diversion into programs will be used to deal with many other misdemeanors. Completion of these programs will result in non-prosecution.
According to the memo, “More serious offenses” will continue, such as burglary and robbery.
In other words, Sewell may put as many cops on the streets and subways as she likes, but that won’t make any difference if the DA doesn’t prosecute.
New Yorkers have much to be afraid of. Even worse than the criminals in the streets are the criminal-enablers New Yorkers elected to office.
NYC is going to make it more difficult and better.
