Hochul defends deploying National Guard in NYC subways after ‘war zone’ backlash
NY Post
Gov. Kathy Hochul offered a full-throated defense Friday of her controversial decision to deploy hundreds of National Guardsmen in New York City subway stations — arguing they will act as a crime deterrent and calm commuters’ “anxiety.”
The Democrat was responding to a furious backlash from lawmakers and law enforcement — including NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, who fumed that the city’s transit system was not a “war zone” — as she justified sending in 750 heavily armed National Guard troops to help with bag checks.
“My No. 1 priority as the governor of the state of New York is to keep people safe,” Hochul hit back in an interview with PIX11 “Morning News.”
“When you have that high level of anxiety, now you’re dealing with the psychological toll that deters people from wanting to go on the subway,” she said.
The governor said she respects what Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD are doing to combat transit crime — but she argued that a recent spate of high-profile violent attacks targeting MTA conductors and riders has made straphangers nervous and kept them from the subways.
“New Yorkers are worried right now,” she said.
