Blakeman Rides NYC Subway, Criticizes Hochul on Transit Safety

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman rode the New York City subway system on Monday, sharply criticizing Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani for their handling of transit safety. Blakeman's subway tour followed the recent killing of a man on an E train, marking the seventh subway homicide this year.

Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, boarded the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station before transferring to an E train en route to the 53rd Street/7th Avenue station. It was at this Midtown station that a 26-year-old man was fatally shot on Saturday. Blakeman asserted that crime on the subway has significantly increased under Hochul's leadership and pledged to prioritize public safety if elected.

“They are not committed to public safety,” Blakeman stated, referring to Hochul and Mamdani. “I will be committed to public safety.”

He outlined several proposed measures to enhance subway security, including increasing police presence, hiring more train conductors, and improving lighting. Blakeman also pointed to the issue of individuals experiencing mental health crises on the transit system, stating they "prey on people in the subways."

Blakeman criticized the state's congestion pricing plan, suggesting that it deters riders rather than attracting them back to public transportation. The transit crime statistics show a slight increase in overall transit crimes this year compared to the same period last year, with felony assaults also rising. This trend continues despite a broader decrease in major crimes across the city. In response to ongoing concerns about subway safety, Governor Hochul deployed the National Guard and state troopers to assist in policing subway stations in 2024.

Blakeman's visit to the subway system is part of his campaign strategy to highlight public safety concerns. He engaged with commuters, with one voter, Gelena Aren’t, expressing that safety is the most critical issue in the gubernatorial race and that Blakeman could provide better protection. Blakeman also claimed to have garnered support from Democrats who are disillusioned with the current administration and the state's tax policies.

A spokesperson for Governor Hochul's re-election campaign responded to Blakeman's criticisms, highlighting the governor's investments in policing and asserting that subway crime had reached its lowest point in 16 years under her tenure. The campaign statement characterized Blakeman as "Donald Trump's puppet."