Hundreds of needles, attacks and suicides: the New York subway now scares passengers

According to the head of the New York City Transportation System, the metropolitan subway has become a dangerous and unpleasant place because of the "mental health crisis" of the townspeople. There are hundreds of needles lying in the subway, there are many unprovoked attacks on passengers, and the number of suicides has increased. Her letter calling for the mayor for help was quoted by the publication New York Post.

In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio requesting additional police forces to be sent to the subway, City Transportation Superintendent Sarah Feinberg reported “hundreds of needles” on platforms and rails, as well as an increase in attacks involving mentally unstable individuals, numerous suicides and suicide attempts.

“In the last month alone, we have experienced several violent attacks, including one murder, involving people with mental disorders,” Feinberg wrote.

“At stations in Upper Manhattan and Lower East Side, hundreds of needles regularly lie on the platform and on the tracks. And just last week, rush hour morning trains were delayed for some time while the police were negotiating with a man on the roadway who refused to leave the track, ”the official said.

“As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the homelessness and mental health crisis in our city ... Unfortunately, in recent weeks, these problems have greatly affected the transport system,” she said.

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Employees of the city's transportation system confirmed Feinberg's words.

“They hang out on benches and inject late at night before going to bed or in the morning. Then we have to clean up after them, ”said a Delancey Essex worker on the Lower East Side.

“Sometimes I find needles on the platforms, usually at the far ends, because it gives them some semblance of privacy. I saw them on the benches a couple of times. But usually they follow the rules of decency, so to speak, and throw needles on the rails, where at least the children cannot pick them up, ”he added.

An employee at the 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue subway station said syringes are more common on the overpass than on the platform.

18-year-old subway passenger Sidney Margolis from the Lower East Side said she now sees more drug users on the subway than when she was a high school student.

“When I get on the train early in the morning, sometimes I see a group of people at the far end of the platform, and they really throw needles onto the track,” the girl confirmed.

“At first I felt uncomfortable, but I got used to it - just as I used to see more homeless people in general,” concluded Margolis.

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MTA spokesman Ken Lovett said that “the city must do more to reach those with mental health problems and addictions. "

“It is unfair to our employees and our clients when these problems ruin their workplace or upset them on the way to work,” he said.

The mayor's office said it was considering Feinberg's letter.