Some Massive Apple commuters fed up with crime underground mentioned Monday they're planning to vote for Lee Zeldin for governor as a result of they’re bored with wanting over their shoulder each time they get on the subway.
“Hochul received’t clear up the subway,” Philipp Pendel, 53, informed The Submit on the 72nd Road subway station on the Higher West Facet of Manhattan.
“Me and my mother are on meals stamps, however I nonetheless received’t let her take the subway by herself,” he mentioned. “If she must go someplace, I'll journey the subway together with her, or we can pay for a cab. It’s costly paying for cabs, nevertheless it’s higher than letting her take the subway.”
Zeldin — a onetime long-shot Republican candidate who's now neck-and-neck with Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul after operating on a tough-on-crime platform — has vowed to make crime-fighting a high precedence if he’s elected.
And it’s a message that has resonated with even longtime metropolis Democrats.
“I’ve all the time been a Democrat voter, however I'm prepared to take an opportunity on Zeldin to see if he can repair the crime,” mentioned Rachael Rosado, a 43-year-old medical assistant who lives close to Harlem, to The Submit outdoors of Manhattan’s 96th Road station.
“Crime was dangerous earlier than Hochul, and it’s nonetheless dangerous. I don’t suppose Hochul prompted the crime downside, however I don’t suppose she will repair it, both,” Rosado mentioned.
Earlier Monday, Hochul dismissed crime considerations when requested about them at a marketing campaign cease and accused Zeldin of “hyperventilating” over the important thing problem.
“He has been hyperventilating, making an attempt to scare folks for months, and New Yorkers are onto it. All of the authentic media organizations have referred to as him out for what he's doing, fear-mongering,” Hochul informed reporters.
When requested in regards to the quote, Rosado mentioned actual New Yorkers know crime is a matter and accused Hochul, a local of upstate Buffalo, of being “dishonest.
“Individuals who stay in and pay taxes in New York know crime is an actual downside for us,” mentioned Rosado, who depends on the subway to get round.
“There’s no fear-mongering. It’s clear as day there's crime all over the place.”
Whereas transit crime is 4.2% decrease than it was pre-pandemic, it’s up greater than 40% this yr in comparison with 2021 — and when low ridership numbers are taken under consideration, commuters usually tend to be the sufferer of a felony crime than they have been prior to now, knowledge present.
Chris Coluzzi, 59, was planning to vote for Hochul however mentioned he’s now on the fence as a result of he’s pissed off over her incapability to take subway crime severely.
“Hochul’s not admitting now we have an actual downside. She’s cherry-picking statistics on gun violence and ignoring the true downside about crime on the subway,” Coluzzi mentioned on the 72nd Road station.
“I’ve been in New York for 23 years, and that is the primary time I’ve felt unsafe on the subway, what with all of the random punching, slashings and shovings. … It sounds loopy, however each time my spouse takes the subway, I say goodbye to her prefer it may very well be the final time.”
John, who declined to provide his final title and works for the town Environmental Safety Company, referred to as subway crime “uncontrolled.
“It’s harmful down right here. I don’t care what get together they are saying is blowing it up and making it sound worse, however I do know for a reality it’s harmful down right here,” mentioned the straphanger, who was commuting by way of the Atlantic Avenue subway station.
“Hochul isn’t doing something, so how about change and select another person? I’m voting for Lee Zeldin.”
Different commuters polled by The Submit mentioned they’re involved about crime underground however not sufficient to vote for Zeldin due to his views on abortion, LGBTQ rights and different progressive points.
“I'd vote for Zeldin, however I don’t like his views on abortion. It’s a girl’s alternative, not his,” mentioned Christina Esposito, 40, a nanny who lives in Astoria.
“But when I vote for Kathy, she actually, actually, actually gotta come by way of on subway crime… I take the subway day-after-day, and it makes me nervous,” Esposito mentioned.
“I’m a tricky cookie, however I don’t really feel protected on the subway.”
However Kathryn Schell, 37, mentioned she’s extra afraid of crossing the road with a child carriage than she is taking the subway.
“I'd by no means vote for Lee Zeldin due to his positions on abortion, bail reform and transit funding. They’re simply too right-wing,” mentioned Schell, who lives in Harlem.
“I all the time vote straight Democrat. I'd by no means vote for a Republican. I didn’t even vote for [Mayor Eric] Adams as a result of I'd take into account him a Republican.”
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