Dozens of readers writing to the New York Post said a small group of repeat offenders is responsible for thousands of crimes in the city’s subway system and blamed state bail policies and local political leaders for leaving New Yorkers unprotected.
In letters published Sept. 11, 2025, contributors cited a claim that 63 repeat offenders had been connected to more than 5,000 subway-related incidents and urged authorities to take tougher measures to keep them off the streets. Several writers said the pattern of repeated arrests and quick releases stemmed from changes to pretrial and bail procedures and called for either incarceration or mental-health treatment for persistent offenders.
The letters included personal appeals and sharp criticism of elected officials. Saul J. Mishaan of Brooklyn described the situation as “almost unbelievable” and attributed the problem to what he called “no-bail” policies he linked to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Michael J. Greaney of Massapequa urged liberal politicians who backed the bail reforms to ride the subways without protection. Larry Hootnick of Watermill said the laws that allow repeat offenders to be released are “not only insane but dangerous.”
Several contributors connected the transit safety concerns to the ongoing mayoral contest. Some letters warned against supporting Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of wanting to defund police and of offering vague or contradictory policy answers. Others suggested that Andrew Cuomo, despite political baggage, would be a pragmatic alternative, while one writer said Curtis Sliwa would face resistant governance if elected.
Writers also raised practical questions about other proposals. Joe Zeloof of Hamilton, New Jersey, questioned how proposed government-run grocery stores and a $30 minimum wage could be protected from shoplifting, and whether such plans were financially sustainable.
The letters articulated a mix of fear and frustration: demands for tougher enforcement, skepticism about reform-minded prosecutors and judges, and calls for voters to change leadership. Some writers urged that repeat offenders be incarcerated or receive mental-health treatment rather than be released repeatedly; others warned of a breakdown in public order if officials did not respond.
The correspondence reflected the intensity of public debate over public safety and criminal-justice policy in New York City, a recurring theme in local politics. The Post’s letters page and commentary pages have recently amplified reader concerns about transit crime and candidate positions, and columnists have weighed in on the mayoral field.
The New York Post said letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy and style and invited readers to submit their views. The opinions expressed in the letters are those of the writers and were presented to illustrate the range of public reactions to the issues raised, including claims about repeat offenders and criticism of local and state policies.