Press Room

"I want to wish Commissioner Tisch luck as she assumes this new role, after years of a varied and effective career in public service. I hope that she can, as the mayor said, bring the NYPD into the next century, using technology to increase transparency and efficiency. Our city is best served when public safety is prioritized, when the NYPD is supported in playing their role in that system without being asked to take lead in areas outside their expertise. This will also help support the majority of officers who work every single day with integrity, ready to respond to all manner of 911 calls. 

"With faster access to body-worn camera footage, with detailed data on stops and other enforcement, we can decrease unnecessary police encounters while increasing trust by strengthening accountability. Advancements in technology must also be paired with scrutiny of tools that are unjust or unproven in public safety.”

"In that spirit, I ask the incoming Commissioner to examine policies of her predecessors, and to commit to not repeating some of their most harmful practices, such as the abuses of the Stop, Question & Frisk tool, which I am concerned is increasing. No commissioner should be preventing the disciplinary processes from playing out, as others have, and needed reforms should be seen as progress rather than obstacles. 

"I look forward to partnering with the incoming Commissioner to help ensure New Yorkers both are safe and feel safe."

At a City Council hearing on efforts to address the dangers of subway surfing, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams called for a multi-faceted approach to prevention, one that centers youth engagement and does not rely solely on law enforcement. Subway surfing, which can lead to injury or death, has surged in popularity among young people as a result of social media trends.

“I often ask myself, would I listen to me as a young person? I’m not sure I have the full answer to that,” noted Public Advocate Williams, reflecting on the issue. “Although I never subway surfed, I did hang on to the train on the tracks, which was dangerous enough. And that was before platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, promoting videos of subway surfing. It’s just one of the many dangerous viral challenges that are proliferated on social media.”

This year there have been six deaths as a result of subway surfing, along with 181 arrests – with a 46% spike in arrests among young people. The Public Advocate stressed that while PSAs may have limited impact, enforcement cannot be the only tool used.

“I appreciate that the NYPD has a multifaceted approach here but I am concerned about the increased arrest of young people, especially when we consider many subway surfers are young enough to be in elementary or middle school,” he argued. “We know that children don’t have the same ability as adults to fully understand potential consequences of their actions. We also know that simply arrest and punishment don’t always have the deterrent effect on  individuals, particularly other population members who see the individual get arrested, it doesn't always change their behavior, which is what we actually want… So it is clear we must try additional ways to combat subway surfing.”

Among the other potential measures the Public Advocate proposed were infrastructure changes to make it physically harder to get on top of trains and community-level youth engagement, including in schools. 

Read the Public Advocate’s full statement as delivered below.  

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS

TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES ON EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND YOUTH, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Good morning,

My name is Jumaane D. Williams and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. Thank you Chairs Joseph, Stevens, Salaam, and Brooks-Powers and the Committee members for holding this hearing.

As was mentioned, this year alone, we lost six lives to subway surfing and even more have suffered injuries. This decades-old dangerous trend has surged in popularity in part due to social media. Though the city and the state have launched multiple strategies to prevent subway surfing, this behavior persists. I often ask myself, would I listen to me as a young person? I’m not sure I have the full answer to that. Although I never subway surfed, I did hang on to the train on the tracks, which was dangerous enough. And that was before platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, promoting videos of subway surfing. It’s just one of the many dangerous viral challenges that are proliferated on social media. 

Some attorneys general and families of victims have resorted to suing social media, rightfully so, for spreading dangerous trends. The city, state, and MTA have worked with these platforms to take down videos of subway surfing and spread the city’s “Ride Inside, Stay Alive” public service announcement campaign as seen on screens and posters, and heard via announcements throughout subway stations. I am happy that we’re trying to do something. 

I do know some experts say that the impact of PSAs alone are minimal on young people, who are more susceptible to peer pressure and less able to assess risks. Young people should be directed to an alternative exciting activity in addition to warning them against subway surfing—as Kevin Dahill-Fuchel, executive director of Counseling in Schools, said to Chalkbeat, “‘Just say no’ doesn’t work so much because you’re not saying what to say ‘yes’ to.” So far there’s been 181 arrests related to subway surfing this year, with arrests for young people spiking 46 percent. Police found that 25% of those arrested were arrested more than once, indicating that arresting people is not necessarily efficient and effective as a deterrent. 

The NYPD announced that, over the past year, they’ve deployed drones to combat subway surfing. They reported that 900 drones have saved an impressive 114 lives. What we don’t know and should get more information about is exactly where and how the drones are being used and what happens after a drone spots a subway surfer. It is important to pair transparency with the increased use of surveillance technology, especially considering the NYPD’s concerning history of surveilling New Yorkers. The NYPD needs to inform this body about what happens after a subway surfer is spotted, and how many subway surfing arrests involve the use of drones. I appreciate that the NYPD has a multifaceted approach here but I am concerned about the increased arrest of young people, especially when we consider many subway surfers are young enough to be in elementary or middle school.

We know that children don’t have the same ability as adults to fully understand potential consequences of their actions. We also know that simply arrest and punishment don’t always have the deterrent effect on individuals, particularly other population members who see the individual get arrested, it doesn't always change their behavior, which is what we actually want, and that’s just for adults and so it's probably a little less when it comes to young people. So it is clear we must try additional ways to combat subway surfing. We can make infrastructure investments that will make it physically harder to get on top of trains, like the open gangway trains currently running on the C line.

We must engage people at the community level, and young people, get their feedback as well,  who know the needs of their neighborhoods best and can recommend interventions specific to their communities. I do want to say whenever we have a problem like this, and we can’t figure it out, it often unfairly goes to the NYPD. So I’m glad to see that there are many agencies here today trying to work with everyone to figure this out. Hopefully the agencies that deal directly with young people are speaking directly with young people to try to get the information.  Sometimes kids need to hear from their peers. Schools are already engaging students in peer-to-peer messaging about the dangers of subway surfing, which should be happening in every school with students old enough to ride the subway by themselves. We must continue to expand resources for youth, including mental health treatment and safe, engaging after-school programs. I want to congratulate the council for holding a hearing on this important topic today and please add my name to all the Resos, thank you.

Thank you.

"Finally, congestion pricing can go into effect. No version of the program is perfect, no version would make everyone happy, but a version of it needs to be in place. This modified program will raise less revenue and do less to reduce congestion, and the governor needs to answer for how to address those shortcomings. 

"Even at this reduced rate, congestion pricing will be an essential part of raising revenue for public transportation, reducing pollution, and easing traffic – but we knew that six months ago, before the inexplicable pause. We knew that through the decade spent advocating for and crafting the policy that I am glad will finally hit our streets soon. Moving forward, my office stands with the state in support of congestion pricing being implemented expeditiously and maintained to benefit New Yorkers, against obstacles that may arise.

"It is clear why the governor is allowing the program to move forward now, and it’s also clear that given the future we face in January, our city and state will need much stronger leadership than has been shown – on this and other issues – in order to protect the gains we have made."

As Governor Hochul announced a new congestion pricing model, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams and Transportation Workers United (TWU) Local 100 announced a settlement with the MTA in their lawsuit over cuts to some bus services in the wake of the original ‘pause’ of the congestion pricing program. 

Under the terms of the settlement, the MTA reaffirmed that the bus services in question would continue without cuts, and that they “do and will comply with Section 1204(15) of the Public Authorities Law.” The settlement also states that the MTA will not “institute a ‘substantial or general change’ in the levels of service furnished upon its omnibus line facilities without giving not less than thirty days’ written notice.” This follows the original Temporary Restraining Order which the Public Advocate and TWU were granted over the summer, restoring the bus routes in question to the original levels of service. 

The New York State Public Authorities Law requires the MTA to give 30 days notice of any non-emergency bus service reduction to the NYC Mayor and Council, and allow for a public hearing. The suit alleged that the MTA failed to provide such notice, and under the terms of the settlement, the MTA must not only adhere to that standard, but alert the Public Advocate and Council Speaker of any coming cuts.

“I’m glad to have this suit resolved in a way that ensures New Yorkers will have access to the transportation options they rely on,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams about the settlement. “With the governor reinstating a form of congestion pricing earlier today and the settlement this afternoon, we are showing the critical need to fully fund public transit services for New Yorkers in need, and for agencies to work with the communities they serve rather than imposing harmful changes. I thank the TWU and all who worked on this case to strengthen services for the city's public transit.”

The lawsuit aimed to establish relief from non-emergency, long-term reduction of bus service throughout the city. Roopdai Julie Davis, an 82-year-old resident of Kensington and daily bus rider, joined the suit as representative of the many New Yorkers who suffered as a result of the cuts to service, which began without public notice on or about Friday, July 12.

"The pause didn’t just affect the capital budget of the NYC Transit authority and the MTA," argued Arthur Schwartz,  Principal Attorney at Advocates for Justice Chartered Attorneys, who represented the Petitioners. "It affected the operating budget -- and right away, the reaction of the leadership of the MTA was to cut service. New Yorkers should understand that there is a direct correlation between the money that is going to come in from congestion pricing and the subway and bus service that people rely on."

"Unions are not just the guardians for their own work, they are in fact the guardians for the transit system as a whole," said J.P. Patafio, TA Surface Vice President for TWU Local 100. "We stepped right into action when these cuts were going forward to prevent harm to our members and the public at large. So it’s really important to understand the role of the union here—to make sure the service is kept at the right level—and if it’s not, the full force of the union will be used."

This suit was the first in a series to be filed in coordination with a coalition of transit riders, disabled commuters, and environmental advocates as part of a legal effort initiated by Comptroller Brad Lander

“We brought our lawsuits to ensure that congestion pricing would go into effect as required by law – and it couldn’t come at a more urgent time," said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. "This is a long-awaited win for hard-working bus riders who will finally see less traffic on their commutes and for subway riders who will see modern signals and more elevators." 

"The mayor’s sanctimonious claims in the wake of his preferred choice’s – Donald Trump’s – victory would be absurd if they weren’t so angering. With so many New Yorkers rightly frightened for their communities and families, he is proudly claiming ideological victory and blurring the line between morally right and politically advantageous.    

"Just as he did in 2022, the mayor is blaming progressives for not putting out the flames he fanned on issues of public safety and immigration, among others. He correctly identifies problems that are top issues for our constituents, but rather than elevate the solutions available, he joined his fellow conservatives in fearmongering and scapegoating.

"Whether in hopes of special treatment or in genuine belief of the ultra-conservative Trump talking points he parrots, this mayor seems willing to either stand alongside Trump, or to look the other way in the face of an agenda that harms the same people that the mayor claims to represent."  

"Like many New Yorkers, I’ve been reflecting since Tuesday night, and like everyone, I don’t have the answers. But I do have questions and conversations we need to honestly reckon with – now, and in the days and years to come. 

"As appalling as the messages of demagoguery, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, bigotry, hatred and a rejection of facts and science are. As much as those ideas and policies are aimed at hurting women, people of color, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, low-income communities, religious and ethnic minorities – people who have already long been hurting. It is inescapable that over 72 million Americans voted for that.

"I know that some of those millions – too many – truly believed in all of the dangerous ideals of this campaign. I also know that others ignored or excused these realities to justify their vote. As with similar moments in history, I know so many fell into the trap of otherizing – of turning blame and hate on groups they perceived as lower on the rungs of social status. The ability to say “at least I'm not them” is intoxicating, especially when the leader selling this message ties it to patriotism. Fearful of their own precarious position, some turned resentment on those with even less. We can’t ignore why people have these fears, but neither can we excuse the outcome.

"I’m sure people who supported Donald Trump have many reasons for doing so, and yet those reasons do not negate the damage of this moment and the many painful moments to come, especially for many of the most marginalized communities in our city. Downplaying this damage only allows the incoming harm to fester and grow – so at least the mayor finally saw fit to mention Kamala Harris’ name yesterday. 

"That people chose this, most with full knowledge of the implications, is something we have to reckon with as we move forward to protect those who need it most. And we can’t do so by self-righteously dismissing or ignoring millions of Americans or standing by status quo messages and messengers as we have for years. This, combined with anti-Blackness and misogyny that has always existed, plunged all of us backwards on Tuesday, including everyone who voted to align with a societal “us” at the expense of “them.”

"Finally, and not to be dismissed, nearly 70 million of us voted against Donald Trump and all he represents, and we have a mission and obligation to stand with the communities we know are most under threat. We also have a mission to show those who voted for this harm that there is another way.

"There have always been two Americas – those who use their power to pit people against one another and accumulate even more, and those who do what they can, with what power they have, to give that power to the people. As a person and as Public Advocate, I’m proud to be in that second group, and I will continue to fight for the safety and freedom of New Yorkers, the values they hold, and the change they deserve."