The surge in unprovoked assaults within New York City’s subway system has thrust public safety to the forefront of the ongoing mayoral race. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of random violence have escalated, intensifying commuter apprehension and prompting varied policy proposals from mayoral candidates.
Escalation of Subway Violence
In 2024, the New York Police Department reported 10 homicides in the subway, matching a record set in 2022 for the highest annual count since the mid-1990s. Additionally, there were 579 felony assaults, marking a significant increase in violent incidents. Notably, many of these attacks appeared random, with victims often targeted without provocation. For instance, in January 2025, a 23-year-old woman was pushed onto the tracks in Washington Heights by an individual later deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.
Public Perception and Federal Attention
Public concern mirrors these statistics. A March 2025 Emerson College poll indicated that 48% of registered city voters believe the subways have become less safe, while only 32% felt they were safer. This growing unease has attracted federal scrutiny; U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently toured a Manhattan station with Mayor Eric Adams after threatening to withhold federal funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unless a comprehensive plan to address transit crime was submitted.
Diverse Policy Proposals from Mayoral Candidates
The alarming rise in subway violence has elicited varied responses from mayoral candidates:
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Andrew Cuomo: The former governor, leading in recent polls, proposes hiring an additional 1,500 officers for the NYPD transit bureau, aiming to bolster police presence by approximately 50%. His campaign asserts that the associated costs would be offset by reductions in overtime pay.
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Zohran Mamdani: The state assemblymember and democratic socialist, currently ranking second in polls, contends that the current police presence is sufficient. He advocates for the establishment of a “Department of Community Safety,” with an annual budget of $1.1 billion, focusing on deploying mental health professionals and violence interrupter teams within the transit system.
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Eric Adams: The incumbent mayor, who recently announced his intention to run as an independent, credits his administration for a 22% reduction in major subway crimes during the first quarter of 2025. His spokesperson emphasized that this decline occurred despite challenges within the criminal justice system, notably the recurrent release of repeat offenders.
Addressing Mental Health and Homelessness
A common thread among candidates is the acknowledgment of the intertwined issues of mental health and homelessness contributing to subway crimes. The debate centers on the efficacy of increased policing versus enhanced mental health interventions. While some advocate for more law enforcement presence, others emphasize the need for comprehensive mental health services and supportive housing to address the root causes of these unprovoked attacks.
As the mayoral race progresses, the discourse on subway safety underscores the broader challenges New York City faces in balancing law enforcement with social services to ensure public safety and address systemic issues.
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