MANHATTAN: The return of the Guardian Angels to New York City’s subways is a glaring indictment of progressive leadership’s failure to ensure public safety. Curtis Sliwa, founder of the volunteer force, announced their renewed patrols after a four-year hiatus, citing skyrocketing subway crime and the horrific arson murder of a homeless woman on Dec. 22.
Sliwa aims to rebuild the Angels to their 1970s strength, noting he’s “never seen” subway crime “this bad.” The grim reality underscores his point: Just a day later, a man’s throat was slashed during a dispute on a C-train platform.
Mayor Adams dismissed the Angels’ efforts as a “meaningless stunt.” But with the subway system in chaos, every visible source of order is critical. New Yorkers fear for their safety, with incidents of stabbings, robberies, and even murders becoming routine.
Recent weeks paint a bleak picture: Christmas Eve saw multiple stabbings, including a maniac lighting a woman on fire on the F train. Days earlier, a random passenger was stabbed on the Q train. Subway murders are up a staggering 60% this year, even with ridership still below pre-pandemic levels.
Governor Hochul’s National Guard deployment has done little to address the problem. Instead of tackling real issues, she’s fixated on a disastrous $75 billion climate agenda. Her refusal to remove Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg—a champion of soft-on-crime policies—ensures repeat offenders roam free, endangering commuters daily.
Adams’ additional police presence in subways is undermined by a justice system that prioritizes criminals over victims. Judges and prosecutors perpetuate the cycle, while the Biden administration’s open-border policies have flooded New York with 58,000 criminal migrants, adding to the chaos.
The Guardian Angels, with their signature red berets, may not be a cure-all, but they’re a needed response to the void left by failed leadership. New Yorkers deserve more than empty promises and progressive posturing. Until the city’s leaders prioritize public safety, the subway will remain a battleground.
