Everyone feels unsafe: Homeless continue to make beds on rush hour subway trains as NYPD vows to address underground issues
Straphangers say they commute in rush hour alongside sleeping homeless
Photo by Dean Moses
At her State of the NYPD address last month, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch charged that the City’s subway system is “not a homeless shelter” and pledged to clean up the trains. Yet straphangers say they are riding with many unhoused individuals suffering in plain sight, seemingly ignored by the city.
Tisch outlines plan to address quality-of-life issues
Tisch outlined on Jan. 30 a plan that would see the department address quality-of-life issues, such as those sleeping on subway benches and smoking onboard train cars, by creating a new quality-of-life division and expanding mental health training.
“We want this message to be very clear: Our officers will not simply walk by someone who is violating the law and disrupting passengers. We are going to correct the condition,” Tisch said. “Our subway trains and platforms are not homeless shelters, they are not psychiatric hospitals. And as a city, we have a moral duty to provide services to people who need them.”
New quality-of-life division yet to be deployed
While NYPD sources report that this new squad has not yet been dispatched to fully take on the subterranean standard of living, they say they are putting an emphasis on tackling these issues.
Straphangers report continued issues
A man sleeps on the subway seats.Photo by Dean Moses
Still, as snow falls over the Big Apple and temperatures plunge, commuters say many undomiciled New Yorkers continue to retreat onto subway cars to keep warm — and in doing so, have turned seats into makeshift beds.
amNewYork Metro investigated the claims in Manhattan over the course of several days and found, even during early morning rush hour, many passengers sitting across from homeless individuals stretched across seats — many dressed in rags or reeking of decay.
Subway riders speak out
Straphangers we spoke to say that something constructive needs to be done to help all those involved. While not looking to demonize or demoralize the city’s most vulnerable, subway riders hope the homeless can get the help they need, and that the city provides it quickly.
“A few weeks ago we all had to get off the 7 train because there was this woman vomiting profusely. Clearly, she was on some kind of drug and couldn’t get up,” subway rider Emma Ramos said. “It was sad, because clearly she needed help. You had two groups of riders, one who wanted to help, and the other was just screaming at her that they had places to go.”
Concerns about safety
“New York has done a disservice to the people that are dealing with mental health issues and the mental health population, and they’ve forced them to feel unsafe,“ Maine Anders said. “It creates an environment where everyone feels unsafe.” Photo by Dean Moses
With people at their lowest point suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse issues, commuters told amNewYork Metro that they worry this could lead to dangerous situations.
NYPD reports positive results
Although the NYPD quality-of-life division has yet to patrol the underground, cops say they still have been attempting to remove individuals from napping on trains, which they charge has yielded important safety results.
On Feb. 3, cops say 25-year-old Matthew Leone allegedly sexually assaulted several teenage girls in Flushing as they walked to school. The teens alerted their teacher, and special victims detectives started hunting for him. However, later that afternoon, officers said they found him lying across multiple seats at the Flushing-Main Street station on the 7 line. Police say they were only able to find him so fast thanks to addressing quality of life issues.
They also say focusing on these infractions has a big impact on the overall crime.
Conclusions and FAQs
The NYPD’s efforts to address quality-of-life issues in the subway system are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of homelessness and mental health issues. Straphangers hope that the city will provide the necessary services to help those in need, and that everyone can feel safe and secure while commuting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NYPD’s plan to address quality-of-life issues in the subway system?
The NYPD’s plan includes creating a new quality-of-life division and expanding mental health training to address issues such as homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health.
How will the NYPD address the issue of homelessness in the subway system?
The NYPD has not yet deployed a specific plan to address homelessness in the subway system, but they are working to remove individuals from napping on trains and addressing quality-of-life issues.
What is the impact of the NYPD’s quality-of-life initiatives on crime?
The NYPD reports that focusing on these infractions has led to a 41% drop in felony assaults in the Roosevelt Avenue area in Queens.
