Following an unprecedented increase in crime in New York City, Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the deployment of the National Guard to patrol the city's subway system. This decision comes in response to a series of violent incidents that have raised concerns about the safety of public transportation users. The governor's plan includes not only the National Guard but also 1,000 state troopers and MTA police, totaling 750 National Guard troops. Despite the deployment aimed at enhancing safety, there has been significant public debate and discomfort regarding the presence of military personnel and their equipment in subway stations. Critics argue that the subway crime rates, including 570 assaults in 2023, do not justify such a heavy-handed response, especially considering that total transit crime is lower than in all but two of the last 25 years. Furthermore, the National Guard's involvement has extended to bag checks, with initial orders for troops to carry M4 carbines at checkpoints being rescinded by Hochul after backlash over the militarization of the subway. The decision to deploy the National Guard, alongside the ban on carrying long guns, has sparked discussions on the effectiveness and appropriateness of military involvement in civilian safety measures.
UPDATE: Gov. Hochul is facing criticism from the state's transit workers union over her deployment of the National Guard to help combat subway crime. It says the governor's plan falls short of providing a long-term solution. @naveencbs2ny reports. https://t.co/S4Hy255QBx
The National Guard soldiers Gov. Hochul deployed to NYC's subway lack arrest powers, aren’t trained in handcuffing techniques or local policing laws, and may not be able to communicate with NYPD and MTA officers in an emergency, experts said. Read more: https://t.co/J6HKtO7WrV https://t.co/sO1h8DuK9s
New York's transit workers union says Gov. Hochul's deployment of the National Guard for subway bag checks falls short of a long term solution. @LisaRoznerTV has the governor's response: https://t.co/S4Hy255QBx
.@NYCMayor has been asked many questions about national guard presence on the subway and notes their uniforms are “cool as hell” https://t.co/wwb8Guh4i1
Mayor Adams backs Governor Hochul posting the National Guard and State Police in the city subways. https://t.co/H2hQmGetB2
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul bans National Guard troops she just deployed to subway system from carrying rifles https://t.co/Rq9F5PcGQM
The National Guard troops deployed to check bags in New York’s subway stations must do so without carrying around their long guns, Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered. https://t.co/rfJJlyGUYH
.@SenRonJohnson tells @JackPosobiec: "How free are you when you can't even ride the subway safely when the New York governor has to call the National Guard to protect New York citizens running their subway." https://t.co/jBzSxWGtoW
.@SenRonJohnson tells @JackPosobiec : "How free are you when you can't even ride the subway safely when the New York governor has to call the National Guard to protect New York citizens running their subway." https://t.co/sUT6H8kvba
New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul's subway bag checks continue to make headlines as she has banned the National Guard from carrying rifles while in the subway system. https://t.co/PlldtoCCez
Have you seen National Guard officers at your subway station yet? This A.M., we heard from Richard Davis, president of the transit workers' union @TWULocal100, & @NYCLU's Donna Lieberman about Gov. Hochul's deployment of the National Guard in NYC subways. https://t.co/68P8b8jkvT
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul bans National Guard troops from carrying “long guns” at NYC subway bag checkpoints. Follow: @AFpost https://t.co/BVn6ANTcZw
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul BANS National Guard from wielding rifles at subway bag checks after complaints the city looked like a 'war zone' https://t.co/WCQRK7zpV7 https://t.co/5fw1UIbyTz
Kathy Hochul deploys nearly 1,000 National Guardsmen to patrol the NYC subway. https://t.co/ru7uIhK6dr
NY government deploys the National Guard to help protect subways https://t.co/uaxpVwgVUq
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has dispatched the National Guard to patrol the New York City subway system, where they are conducting searches of commuters’ bags. https://t.co/2B2JqmgOoE
Hochul bans ‘long guns’ for National Guard troops deployed to NYC subway checkpoints https://t.co/8F7DH2BRVJ https://t.co/xg1iPRWZ8X
National Guard won’t carry long guns during bag checks in NYC subways, Hochul says https://t.co/ts1CZ8IItd
New York will send National Guard to subways after a string of violent crimes. https://t.co/8zPFms0Nyl
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an order forbidding National Guard members from carrying long guns at bag-check stations on Wednesday, directly after her announcement that soldiers would be deployed to New York City’s subways. https://t.co/9cThQ368Vn
Former Gov. @NYGovPaterson55 - National Guard in the subways https://t.co/XkA4gSQUJ8
Yet @JumaaneWilliams @tiffany_caban @ElizabAdams @NYCProgressives @bradlander @nycDSA @errollouis are worried about the NYPD and National Guard patrolling stations, not the felons running rampant within the system… https://t.co/steZsgNpfj
Hochul pulls back big guns in her subway safety surge, ordering the National Guard not to carry military-grade assault rifles Many of the 750 troops the governor deployed to check straphangers’ backpacks carried M4 carbines https://t.co/tWBtuHJJxM
The U.S. National Guard is checking bags in the New York City subway, and New Yorkers are confused https://t.co/rCHmuuC6XS
.@GovKathyHochul announced she will deploy 1,000 state police officers and National Guard soldiers to the New York City subway system to crack down on the recent uptick in crime. | @dezward01 https://t.co/XNUPIAezl3
Hochul defends deploying National Guard in NYC subways after ‘war zone’ backlash https://t.co/CUrDmBQ9lf https://t.co/g7xZOhAoCz
There is still a lot of malinformation about subway crime. Here are the full subway crime #s for 2023. Murders are in the year the incident happened, not the year NYPD records them. Violent crime has fallen but is still way way up raw + per cap compared to pre-2020. https://t.co/BzgsMCW4Em
A billion people ride New York City subways each year. In 2023, there were 570 assaults in the system, with total transit crime lower than in all but two of the last 25 years. In response to this "crisis," the governor has dispatched the National Guard. https://t.co/j71GzVa5tv
National Guard called to protect NYC subways, bag checks reinstated https://t.co/vntpgy9pij
#FromTheSouth News Bits | United States: New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered 750 National Guard troops to the city's subway system after a series of violent incidents raised concerns about the safety of people on public transportation. https://t.co/vXzWDXVTqE
National Guard, state troopers, MTA police deployed in NYC subways per Governor Hochul's plan https://t.co/u6ZzFtixK1 https://t.co/mb61UBmzCJ
An assistant professor told @Reuters ‘most people are uncomfortable with powerful artillery, military uniforms,’ after New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the deployment of soldiers from the National Guard in the city's busiest subway stations https://t.co/DNCwzkC689 https://t.co/X7pC59p4rq
NY Gov. Hochul Sends National Guard to Patrol Subways https://t.co/zrkIacAaxw
US National Guard in the New York subway After an unprecedented increase in crime in this metropolis, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul demanded that the National Guard be stationed in the subway. https://t.co/2dIYk9pYWp
National Guard called to New York City subways https://t.co/I6xEqXx88I https://t.co/I6xEqXx88I