MTA Approves Controversial Hiring Of 500 New Cops

NEW YORK CITY — The MTA approved hiring 500 new transit cops Wednesday after months of protests from opponents who say the move criminalizes poverty and targets commuters of color.

The MTA board voted to approve its $17 billion budget for 2020 and with it a $249 million, four-year expenditure to increase the MTA police force of 783 officers by more than 60 percent.

Supporters — MTA chief and CEO Pat Foye and Gov. Andrew Cuomo among them — argue the increased police force will prevent an uptick in fare evasion, assaults against transit workers and other crimes.

"We don’t shy away from the hard choices in tackling our challenges," Foye said. "The budget approved today by the MTA Board advances our commitment to deliver for New Yorkers.”

MTA officials argue new officers will protect New Yorkers from what NYPD data show is a 167 percent increase in subway harassment, a 50 percent increase in subway hate crimes, a 11.5 percent increase in subway robbery, and the Transit Worker Union's reported 39 percent increase in assaults against MTA staff.

But transit advocates and several elected officials argue the money would have been better spent on improving MTA service and a self-professed "dire" financial situation by redirecting cash toward infrastructure.

Critics fear the new cops will target commuters of color and point to video of violent arrests of teens, an accused fare evader and churros vendors as evidence.

Among those critics is congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, sent Gov. Cuomo a letter Tuesday pleading with him to nix plans for the 500 new cops.

"Punishing the poor does not create a safer environment," wrote Ocasio-Cortez. "Instead it threatens the very foundation of our community."

The transit advocacy group Riders Alliance also came out against the hiring of 500 new cops, telling Gov. Cuomo it only increased the pressure on him to improve New Yorkers' commutes.

"Governor Cuomo saddled the MTA with a new police force it can't afford and doesn't need," said communications director Danny Pearlstein.

"He made that decision in the face of all the evidence, arguments, and diverse voices in opposition... Now he must deliver more and better transit service."