Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, has announced that the group will be resuming their safety patrols on the New York subway in response to a recent brutal murder that took place in the subway system. Sliwa criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s migrant sanctuary policies, stating that the city is in a “crime crisis.” Sliwa highlighted the presence of criminals identified by ICE roaming the streets and vulnerable homeless individuals sleeping in the subways due to overflowing shelters. He believes that the brutal subway murder is a direct result of NYC remaining a sanctuary city.
The Guardian Angels, known for their distinctive red berets and jackets, were founded in 1979 and were a regular presence on the subway during times of high crime rates in New York City. Murders on the New York City subway are currently up by 60%, with eight people reported killed on subway trains. After the recent brutal killing, Sliwa announced that the group would be increasing their presence on the subway and conducting wellness checks on homeless individuals. He emphasized the need to step up efforts to ensure a visual presence similar to that of previous years.
In response to critics who questioned the effectiveness of the Guardian Angels’ patrols, a representative for Mayor Eric Adams stated that the mayor has increased police presence in the subway by surging 1,000 police officers daily and has successfully lowered overall crime rates. Despite this, Sliwa challenged Adams to join him in conducting regular patrols on the subway to witness the severity of the issues firsthand. He emphasized the importance of additional police officers in the subway to address the rising crime rates.
Sliwa expressed concern that attacks on individuals in the subway are often committed by emotionally disturbed individuals living in the subways. He criticized the city’s spending on housing migrants while neglecting the mental health care needs of its own citizens, especially those living in the subways. Sliwa emphasized the need to provide support and mental health resources to individuals in the subways and called for increased efforts to address the root causes of crime on public transportation.
The Guardian Angels founder highlighted the willingness of the group to provide patrol services on the subway where needed and emphasized the importance of community support in addressing public safety concerns. Sliwa urged city officials to welcome the assistance of organizations like the Guardian Angels, which have a long history of serving New Yorkers. He reiterated the need for proactive measures to address the crime crisis in the city and called for a collaborative approach between law enforcement and community organizations to ensure the safety of all residents.
Overall, Curtis Sliwa and the Guardian Angels are making a return to patrolling the New York subway in response to rising crime rates and concerns about public safety. Sliwa’s criticism of Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s sanctuary policies reflects a larger debate about the effectiveness of current approaches to addressing crime and homelessness in the city. By increasing their presence on the subway and conducting wellness checks on vulnerable individuals, the Guardian Angels aim to contribute to efforts to improve safety and security for all residents in New York City’s public transportation system.
