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I <3 NYC, and how dedicated it is to turning itself into a dumpster fire.
Introducing a microcosmal thread on subway violence.
Stick with me.
Introducing a microcosmal thread on subway violence.
Stick with me.
Saw the news about a subway serial killer? Mentally ill homeless dude just went on an Archer-style rampage one night. https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2021/02/13/a-train-ripper-busted-in-knife-attacks-on-nyc-subway-homeless/amp/
This is coming amid the backdrop of this shitstorm:
Ridership down 70 percent with felony assaults up 25 percent. https://abc7ny.com/a-train-stabbing-arrest-highlights-growing-violence-on-nyc-subways/10341557/
Ridership down 70 percent with felony assaults up 25 percent. https://abc7ny.com/a-train-stabbing-arrest-highlights-growing-violence-on-nyc-subways/10341557/
Loads of random attacks like this: https://abc7ny.com/2-women-punched-in-more-unprovoked-nyc-subway-attacks/10345061
How could we ever have gotten here?!!!
Well, let’s recap..
Well, let’s recap..
This was during increasing scrutiny on the failure of mental health services in the city, namely a non-existent, costly mental health program spearheaded by the mayor’s wife: https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2019/02/26/with-obscure-budget-and-elusive-metrics-850m-thrivenyc-program-attempts-a-reset-873945
With demands to show that the city was doing something about its homeless/mental health issue and that programs were impacting patients, the answer (from the Mayor) was to force the NYPD to handle it inorganically.
Hear ye homeless: Get arrested or join a program.
Hear ye homeless: Get arrested or join a program.
An anonymous letter by NYPD cops pinned De Blasio’s coercive techniques for ousting homeless in the subways as criminalizing poverty: https://nypost.com/2020/01/21/de-blasios-homeless-outreach-program-criminalizes-subway-poverty-letter/amp
Protests throughout the city over the course of a few weeks, literally demanded a free subway and no police presence in the subway system AT ALL. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/friday-commute-in-nyc-could-be-disrupted-as-group-rallies-for-free-transit-accessibility/2273792
The lib leaders condemned the NYPD and supported the protests..
2020- COVID, George Floyd, BLM protests, the condemnation of policing
In NYC, police cars were torched, cops were beaten in the street and lower Manhattan was looted. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/news/2020/07/28/trashed-and-torched--inside-the-tow-pound-fixing-nypd-s-damaged-cars-during-protests
2020- COVID, George Floyd, BLM protests, the condemnation of policing
In NYC, police cars were torched, cops were beaten in the street and lower Manhattan was looted. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/news/2020/07/28/trashed-and-torched--inside-the-tow-pound-fixing-nypd-s-damaged-cars-during-protests
As part of police reform , the NYPD saw its budged slashed and a forthcoming bill making it ILLEGAL for the NYPD to have anything to do with the homeless.
NYPD disbanded its homeless outreach unit, which did a lot of work in the subway system. https://nypost.com/2020/12/17/bill-that-would-bar-nypd-from-homeless-outreach-is-insulting-shea
NYPD disbanded its homeless outreach unit, which did a lot of work in the subway system. https://nypost.com/2020/12/17/bill-that-would-bar-nypd-from-homeless-outreach-is-insulting-shea
And de blasio was suddenly cool with NYPD taking a step back, saying civilians can handle outreach. https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/public-safety/2020/07/03/nypd-getting-kicked-out-of-homeless-services
You already saw the increasing violence caused by mentally ill/homeless individuals ...
Up until very very recently, De Blasio still didn’t have much to say. https://nypost.com/2021/02/09/de-blasio-offers-non-answer-on-increased-nyc-subway-violence
Then two people were killed on the A line, and the media (well, the NYPOST at least) called it “serial killing” by the “A Train Ripper” https://nypost.com/2021/02/13/lone-stabber-may-be-responsible-for-all-4-a-train-attacks-nypd
Then look what happened...
Cuomo says to “figure it out” https://www.foxnews.com/us/nypd-police-officers-subway-patrol-violence-surge-cuomo
De Blasio suddenly confident that cops need to flood the subway system. https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-bill-de-blasio-subway-stabbings-nypd-20210216-tsk7yr33j5crng37oktwlk323i-story.html
ROLL PLEASE ... Throw more cops at the problem: https://www.amny.com/news/nypd-chief-of-transit-deploys-644-officers
The takeaways are
1. the executive leadership will do whatever he/she wants to make good press and cover their own ass.
2. This is why the NYPD will be always thrown under the bus, even for Gracie mansion decisions.
1. the executive leadership will do whatever he/she wants to make good press and cover their own ass.
2. This is why the NYPD will be always thrown under the bus, even for Gracie mansion decisions.
3. There’s no such thing as Goldilocks police presence/enforcement in NYC, at least not in 2020/21.
4. The homeless/mentally ill always come out on the bottom. They’re struggling while everyone else punts. There’s never solutions - only condemnations.
4. The homeless/mentally ill always come out on the bottom. They’re struggling while everyone else punts. There’s never solutions - only condemnations.
5. Cause and effect is a thing. Protests/laws/media/pols all have consequences. Don’t kid yourself otherwise.
And try to see the big picture.
And try to see the big picture.
