The recent string of subway crime has affected us all and the violence simply must end. There are basic rights that New Yorkers should have in this City, and one of them is the right to safety when commuting to work, using the subway to take our children to school, and knowing we will return home unharmed.
We refuse to compromise on those rights, and I want to assure you that, in Queens, my Office will not tolerate those who choose to rob us of these freedoms. To that end, we have brought attempted murder charges against the defendant accused of shoving a straphanger onto the tracks last Friday. Prior to that, we secured an indictment of manslaughter charges for the defendant accused of punching a fellow commuter, causing him to get hit by an incoming train last Tuesday.
The public transportation system is a vital lifeline for the millions of New Yorkers who depend on it to get around our great city. The ongoing spate of violence is a threat not only to commuters, but to the city’s economic and social vitality. We have had enough and we refuse to give in to the perception of fear these situations have created.
My Office will continue to work with our leaders and law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who choose to disrupt our sense of safety anywhere in this Borough, especially inside the transit system.
