Hochul Deploys National Guard, State Police To Do Mandatory Bag Checks In NYC Subway

In response to rising transit crime in New York City, Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the deployment of 750 National Guard members, along with state and MTA police officers, to conduct mandatory bag checks at busy subway stations. This initiative aims to reassure commuters following a series of violent incidents in the transit system. Passengers will need to consent to bag checks to gain station entry, with refusal resulting in denied access. The operation, involving National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield, is part of a broader safety plan which includes a proposal for a bill allowing three-year public transit bans for individuals convicted of assaulting passengers. The plan also involves increased surveillance, with the MTA installing additional cameras throughout the subway. Despite Hochul’s reassurance that the bag checks are distinct from the NYPD’s controversial stop-and-frisk policy, critics argue that such measures could exacerbate perceptions of crime and unfairly target marginalized communities. Advocates urge investment in social services to address root causes of violence, while the expansion of SCOUT teams, combining mental health experts and police officers, aims to support individuals with severe mental health issues in public spaces.

Source: NPR’s The Gothamist