Subway Riders Slam MTA CEO For Dismissing Crime Fears As ‘In Their Heads’

Janno Lieber, CEO of New York’s MTA, is facing backlash after dismissing subway riders’ fears of violent crime during a Bloomberg interview Monday. Lieber claimed that concerns about safety on the subway are “in people’s heads,” despite a 65% increase in felony assaults on mass transit since 2019.

Lieber’s comments come in the wake of several high-profile subway crimes, including the burning death of Debrina Kawam, pushed under a train by an attacker. These incidents have heightened public fears, especially as more commuters rely on the subway due to the city’s congestion tax.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who deployed National Guard troops in March 2024, also faces criticism. Her reassurances about subway safety were quickly overshadowed by Kawam’s murder, which occurred hours after her post celebrating the deployment.

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa called Lieber’s remarks “gaslighting” and announced expanded patrols to address the rising violence. “The need is here now once again,” Sliwa said, referencing the group’s original efforts during New York’s crime wave in the late 1970s.

Many subway riders remain skeptical of official reassurances. One commuter stated, “How can they say this is all in our heads when people are dying on the subway every week?”

As public outrage grows, New York officials face mounting pressure to take stronger measures against rising subway violence.