NYC mayor, reacting to subway crime, suggests not wearing headphones
Mayor Eric Adams says subway arrests have increased
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York City Mayor Eric Adams suggested Friday that subway riders not wear headphones or focus on their phones during rides due to crime.
In a wide-ranging interview with FOX 5's "Good Day New York," the Democratic leader opened with crime, saying that there had been a 47% increase in subway arrests.
Adams said the city's government is working to ensure that residents feel safe in the Big Apple.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I rode the subway yesterday, and it's the same thing. I haven't put my AirPods in for over a year because I feel like I need to be very much aware," said anchor Bianca Peters. "That's a quality-of-life issue."
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People wait to board a subway train on Oct. 9, 2022, in New York City. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
"Well first, I think that you were right about, you know, not having your iPods in – not focusing on the phone," Adams replied. "And I say yes to that. I do the same, and we put out a video and information telling people about being aware of what's around them and what's taking place. I encourage New Yorkers to do that."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}According to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, millions of New Yorkers ride the subway and Staten Island Railway each day.
Eric Adams, mayor of New York, is shown at a New York State Financial Control Board meeting in New York on Sept. 6, 2022. (Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The total estimated ridership on Thursday was counted at 3,815,617 people.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}While murders and shooting incidents were down for the month of September, overall index crime and major felony crimes in the city have increased.
People ride in a subway car on July 15, 2022, in New York City. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
In January, Adams said he felt unsafe riding the subway.
On Friday, he said the common denominator in incidents is the mental health crisis on the streets.
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"It's the combination of ensuring that we deal with the actual violence, but also people must feel safe in the city of New York," Adams said.