New York Governor Kathy Hochul faced intense backlash for a tweet she posted celebrating subway safety improvements, just hours after a tragic incident where a sleeping straphanger was set on fire and killed aboard a Brooklyn train.
The tweet, which highlighted a decrease in subway crime and an increase in ridership since the deployment of the National Guard and the addition of cameras to subway cars, was criticized as tone-deaf by both Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Ritchie Torres called out the governor for her insensitivity, pointing out the recent stabbing incidents on the subway.
Councilman Robert Holden also condemned Hochul’s tweet, calling her out for her incompetence and the impact it has on the lives of New Yorkers. Even Republicans expressed outrage at the timing of the tweet, considering the tragic events that had occurred on the subway just hours before.
The fatal incidents on the subway system, including a stabbing on a 7 train in Queens and a woman being set on fire on an F train in Brooklyn, highlighted the ongoing safety concerns in the city’s transit system. The suspect in the fire incident was arrested, thanks to the newly installed security cameras on the subway cars.
In response to the backlash, Governor Hochul issued a statement emphasizing that any crime on the subway is unacceptable, despite the overall decrease in crime rates. She reassured the public that efforts to enhance subway safety are ongoing, with additional personnel and resources being deployed to address the issue.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the criticized tweet, but Hochul’s follow-up statements indicate a recognition of the seriousness of the situation and a commitment to improving subway safety for all riders.
