New York City labor leaders are “exactly right” to ask Mayor Bill de Blasio for more NYPD cops in the subways, transit officials said Monday.
MTA Chairman Pat Foye and Interim Transit President Sarah Feinberg said Hizzoner should heed the call from 13 of the city’s most prominent union officials for an increased police presence to protect and reassure workers who rely on the system so the Big Apple can get back on its feet.
“I think they’re exactly right,” Feinberg told NY1. “These are union leaders who not only represent millions of New Yorkers. They’re millions of workers who are using the system now or who want to use the system in the coming weeks and months.”
“We are in complete lockstep with the unions who have sent the letter to the mayor,” Foye told 1010 WINS.
“It doesn’t … have to be a 10-year commitment, but New York City and the region is at a pivotal point where we’re going to be bringing back and we have to attract office workers,” he said.
“Making sure that they are safe from crime and harassment is a significant part of that, as well as protecting our employees.”
Police officers on patrol around Times Square subway station. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)While subway crime rates dropped in March, they remain far higher than where they stood pre-pandemic.
MTA leaders have asked for months for more cops to protect riders. They point to customer survey responses that show crime and harassment are a deterrent for many “lapsed” riders who stopped riding because of COVID-19.
“I really think as I look at this system, the next three to six months are critical, you know, bringing the city back in the next three to six months is critical,” Feinberg said during an appearance on Fox 5 New York.
“We need some additional police presence to make sure that people feel comfortable coming back. It’s not long-term, it doesn’t have to be permanent.”
The call from labor leaders representing many essential workers — including grocery, municipal and transit workers — also earned the approval of the city’s business community.
“The city’s business community and major employers agree with the TWU and other labor organizations that the mayor should increase police presence and mental health outreach in the transit system,” Partnership for New York City’s Kathryn Wylde said in a statement.
The MTA is asking for more transit cops. (Corey Sipkin/AFP via Getty Images)“Harassment and intimidation on transit and in major transit hubs is a regular complaint of employees and has discouraged a return to the workplace. Increasing the sense of personal safety on transit is essential to the city’s recovery.”
The mayor has batted away the push for more cops on the transit system, which he claimed was “discouraging” people from returning to the subways and buses.
