It’s a lose-lose for Large Apple commuters.
A prime labor boss slammed the Manhattan congestion toll on drivers set to begin Sunday, saying the subways are too harmful to present commuters another choice.
“To place congestion pricing in now’s atrocious, disgusting — an actual slap within the face,” Phil Valenti, head of the 1,600 member Transport Employees Union Native 106, informed The Submit Thursday. “The subway system is unsafe proper now. Give me a break.
“New Yorkers have been compelled right into a horrible and unfair place,” mentioned Valenti, whose union represents bus and subway supervisors. “You’ll be able to pay $9 to enter the congestion pricing zone or take the subway, the place violent crime is hovering. No less than some drivers shall be afraid to take the subway, undermining the complete function of congestion pricing. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and Gov. Kathy Hochul are in charge for this absolute mess.”
The Large Apple subway system has been wracked by 5 straight days of violence amid a spike in transit crime — regardless of the NYPD, Nationwide Guard and even the crime-crusading Guardian Angels on patrol, The Submit reported earlier Thursday.
The horrifying Dec. 22 torching loss of life of a New Jersey straphanger on a Brooklyn F prepare was solely the start of the newest underground crime spree, which has seen 5 individuals stabbed or slashed and a 45-year-old straphanger thrown beneath a Manhattan subway prepare since Sunday.
Valenti rattled off NYPD stats, exhibiting that the ten subway murders in 2024 was double 2023’s totals. It was additionally a 233% improve from the pre-COVID interval 5 years in the past and the very best in a era.
There have been 573 felony assaults final yr by Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 – a 51% improve from 5 years in the past.
The MTA loses $700 million a yr from subway and bus fare cheaters, which needs to be extra of a precedence that soaking drivers with one other toll, he mentioned.
“With Governor Hochul’s insurance policies of New York State being a wide-open sanctuary state, we now have the mentality unwell from everywhere in the world, who’re homeless, strolling our streets, taking our subways and killing individuals randomly,” Valenti mentioned.
“Riders and staff will not be secure.”
The MTA defended subway security.
“The NYPD has reported the hooked up full-year crime numbers for 2024, reflecting severe crime down 5.4% for the complete yr and down 12.6% over 2019, prepandemic,” MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan mentioned. “The numbers communicate for themselves.”
MTA Chief Safety Officer Michael Kemper mentioned in a press release to The Submit, “1000’s of NYPD Transit officers are working each hour of the day and night time to make the subway secure, and the report displays they’re making an influence.
“I do know firsthand that to recommend in any other case disrespects the dedication to transit staff and riders, and actual outcomes delivered by these officers.”
Hochul’s workplace mentioned the governor is specializing in affordability and subway crime.
“Governor Hochul minimize the congestion pricing toll by 40%, squashed a possible 25% surge price, and is preventing each single day to make the subways safer for commuters and transit staff,” a Hochul spokesman mentioned.
“The Governor deployed a further 1,250 uniformed legislation enforcement personnel to assist NYPD’s efforts to guard subway passengers, and she or he’ll proceed working to struggle crime and enhance public security.”
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