Bayside Congressman Discusses Transit Crime With Pete Buttigieg

QUEENS – Congresswoman Grace Meng, who represents some sectors of Bayside, met with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Monday to discuss the violent crimes that take place in trains and buses across the city.

The roundtable discussion took place at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s New York City office. Federal Transit Administrator Nuria Fernandez, MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber, and Asian American advocacy organizations were also participating in the discussion.

Meng, the representative for New York's 6th congressional district, pointed to high-profile incidents against Asian Americans in the city, including Michelle Go’s death at a Brooklyn subway station earlier this year.

The advocacy groups highlighted the hate and violence that the Asian American community continues to face on public transportation.

“This violence is completely unacceptable, and it is particularly damaging in our public transit spaces,” said Meng. “Combating these crimes must continue to be a top priority at all levels of government.”

Asian American and Pacific Islander communities faced an uptick in harassment and other hate crimes after the Covid-19 virus broke out, which propagated anti-Asian rhetoric.

New York is one of the states with the largest reported incidents against Asian Americans, with 1,840 cases between March 2020 and March 2022, according to a report from the Stop AAPI Hate coalition.

Buttigieg also met with Mayor Eric Adams to discuss the city's infrastructure and upgrading mass transit.

"Looking forward to working together to improve transportation for the people of NYC," Buttigieg wrote in a tweet.