Riders seeing ‘crazy s–t’ in NYC subways as ridership — and assaults — surge

New York Post - Apr 26th, 2025

Assaults in New York City's subway system have surged this year, with felony assaults climbing 9% from last year and a notable 55% increase since 2019. Critics attribute this rise in violence to overcrowding exacerbated by the controversial $9 congestion pricing tax in Manhattan. The recent stabbing of a 38-year-old man on a downtown train has heightened fears among commuters, especially those who have switched from driving to public transportation to avoid high costs. In response, officials have increased police presence and launched initiatives like PATH to address homelessness and quality of life crimes in the subway system.

The implications of these developments are significant, as they highlight tensions around congestion pricing and its impact on public safety. Critics like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and City Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola argue that the tax forces more people into an already strained subway system, increasing interactions with individuals facing mental health challenges without adequate support. Despite city efforts to improve safety, many riders still express concerns over their security, underscoring the need for comprehensive solutions to address both congestion and crime in public transit environments.

Homelessness Nypd Public Safety Nyc Subway Congestion Pricing Subway Crime Gov. Kathy Hochul Felony Assaults

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RATING

5.8

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article addresses a timely and relevant issue of public safety in the New York City subway system, particularly in the context of congestion pricing. It effectively engages readers by presenting a narrative that combines crime statistics, personal anecdotes, and policy critiques. However, the article's accuracy is somewhat compromised by selective data presentation and a lack of comprehensive verification against broader crime trends reported by the NYPD.

While the article includes perspectives from critics of congestion pricing, it lacks balance by not incorporating viewpoints from proponents or experts who might offer alternative insights. The source quality is moderate, relying on public figures and selective data points without a diverse range of authoritative voices.

The narrative's clarity and readability are generally strong, though it could benefit from clearer distinctions between factual data and opinion. The article's engagement and controversy scores are high due to its focus on contentious and impactful issues, but it should strive for greater transparency and balance to enhance its reliability and influence. Overall, the article provides valuable insights into a critical urban issue, but it requires more rigorous data analysis and balanced reporting to fully inform its audience.

Accuracy

The article presents data on subway crime, particularly assaults, and attributes these changes to factors like congestion pricing. It states that felony assaults have increased by 9% year-to-date and are up 55% compared to 2019, while misdemeanor assaults have slightly decreased by 2% this year. However, these claims contrast with broader NYPD reports indicating a decrease in overall subway crime by 18% in the first quarter of the year. The article also claims that 30% of felony assaults were against police officers, which requires further verification as specific victim data isn't detailed in the available NYPD reports.

Moreover, the article suggests a direct link between congestion pricing and increased subway crime, citing increased ridership and overcrowding as contributing factors. However, it does not provide concrete evidence or statistical backing for this correlation. The MTA data shows ridership increases but also notes that crime rates per rider have decreased, contradicting the article's implication of a worsening safety situation due to congestion pricing.

The story accurately reports a specific incident of a fatal stabbing, which aligns with police sources, but it lacks broader context or verification from official incident reports. Overall, while the article includes factual elements, it selectively highlights data that supports its narrative, and some claims require further validation against comprehensive and up-to-date datasets.

Balance

The article predominantly focuses on the negative aspects of subway safety, emphasizing the increase in assaults and the potential dangers of congestion pricing. It quotes critics of the congestion pricing policy, such as Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and City Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola, who express concerns about safety and overcrowding. However, the article lacks perspectives from proponents of congestion pricing or experts who might offer a different view on its impact on public safety.

While the article does mention measures taken by city officials, such as increased police patrols and outreach programs, these points are somewhat overshadowed by the more sensational claims of rising crime and public fear. The inclusion of commuter opinions further skews the narrative towards a perception of growing danger without adequately balancing it with statistical evidence or expert analysis that might provide a more nuanced understanding of the situation.

Overall, the article could benefit from a more balanced representation of viewpoints, including insights from transportation experts, city planners, or public safety officials who might offer counterpoints to the criticisms presented.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, presenting its claims in a straightforward manner. It uses direct quotes and specific examples to illustrate its points, such as the fatal stabbing incident and commuters' reactions to the perceived increase in crime.

However, the narrative lacks clarity in distinguishing between factual data and opinion or speculation. The article presents crime statistics and individual opinions in a way that suggests a direct correlation without adequately explaining the underlying complexities or providing evidence to support these connections. This can lead to confusion or misinterpretation by readers who may not discern between verified facts and subjective viewpoints.

Improving clarity would involve clearly differentiating between data-driven conclusions and anecdotal evidence, as well as providing a more nuanced explanation of the issues at hand.

Source quality

The article cites NYPD data and quotes several public figures, such as Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and City Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola, providing a degree of credibility to its claims. However, the reliance on selective data points and the absence of direct quotes from NYPD officials regarding the specific assault statistics weaken the overall source quality.

While the article references police sources for the incident of the fatal stabbing, it does not provide direct access to official reports or statements from the NYPD that could substantiate the broader claims about crime trends. The lack of diverse and authoritative sources, such as criminologists or public policy experts, limits the depth of analysis and the reliability of the conclusions drawn.

The article would benefit from a more comprehensive approach to sourcing, incorporating a wider range of authoritative voices and data sources to provide a fuller picture of the issues discussed.

Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose the methodology or context behind the crime statistics it presents. While it cites NYPD data, it fails to clarify the time frame or specific sources of these statistics, leading to potential misinterpretations. Additionally, the article does not address potential conflicts of interest or biases of the quoted individuals, which could influence their perspectives on congestion pricing and public safety.

The narrative implies a direct link between congestion pricing and increased crime, but it does not transparently explain how these conclusions were reached or provide evidence to support this causation. The lack of explicit context regarding the broader crime trends and the impact of increased policing efforts further diminishes the article's transparency.

To improve transparency, the article should provide more detailed explanations of the data sources, clarify the basis for its claims, and disclose any potential biases of the individuals quoted.