As New York Democrats push people to use the subway with policies like congestion fees, safety concerns remain following a string of recent violent incidents in the city’s transit system. The new congestion fee, which has been branded as a “driving tax” on the middle class and businesses, aims to reduce exhaust fumes and raise funds for the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The fee costs $9 to enter busy parts of Manhattan or travel south of Central Park.
However, critics argue that the policy is misguided given the ongoing issues with safety in the subway system. The MTA has reported a 5.4% decrease in overall crime, but felony assaults increased by 1.4% in 2024, and subway homicides doubled to 10 last year.
Recent incidents include a murder on a train, where a woman was set on fire, and multiple stabbings, including one on Christmas Eve. Authorities have responded to these incidents by sending in additional police officers and the National Guard.
Scott LoBaido, a Staten Island artist and frequent critic of New York’s Democratic leaders, has been protesting the congestion fee and expressing concerns about the safety of the subway system. “It’s insane,” he said. “You listen to somebody like Gov. Hochul, who says the subways are safe. The guy who runs the MTA says it’s all in our heads.”
Janno Lieber, the MTA chairman, has acknowledged that the idea of crime has gotten in people’s heads, but maintains that the system is safe, citing a 12.5% decrease in crime since 2019. However, some argue that high-profile incidents have made the system feel less safe, leading to growing concerns about the long-term effects of the congestion fee.
