Subway random attacks become core issue in New York City mayoral race

In 2024, the New York City subway system experienced a total of 10 reported murder cases and 579 cases of serious injuries. Surprisingly, incidents of robbery decreased to the lowest level in 8 years. This indicates that most of the violence is unwarned and not motivated by robbery. According to a March public opinion poll conducted by Emerson College, 48% of citizens believe that the subway has become less safe, while only 32% feel that it has become safer. This has made concerns about public transportation safety a key issue in the New York City mayoral election.

The data suggests that many indiscriminate attacks are related to individuals with mental illnesses, specifically a large number of homeless individuals with mental health issues who roam the subway. Mayoral candidates have varying opinions on how to handle this crisis. Some advocate for a significant increase in police presence in the subway system, while others promise to deploy the largest team of mental health professionals in history.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who announced his candidacy last month, is leading in all mayoral election polls. He has proposed to add 1,500 new police officers to the NYPD Transit Bureau, which would increase manpower by 50%. His campaign team stated that this measure would help achieve budget balance by reducing overtime costs for subway patrols.

State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, recently ranked second in the mayoral election polls, following closely behind Cuomo. He believes that there are already sufficient police forces in the subway and suggests addressing transportation system crimes and homeless issues through alternative methods. He proposes establishing a new city-level agency called the “Department of Community Safety,” which would be responsible for deploying more mental health outreach workers and violence intervention teams in the subway system.

Incumbent Mayor Adams, who is running for reelection as an independent candidate in the November general election, stated that major subway crime incidents decreased by 22% in the first three months of 2025. Despite numerous issues within the current criminal justice system leading to repeat offenders being caught and released, his government has achieved such results thanks to the policies implemented during his tenure.

Several mayoral candidates, including Cuomo, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and State Senator Zellnor Myrie, support expanding measures to forcibly hospitalize homeless individuals with mental illnesses found in the subway.