BRONX: New York City Congressman Ritchie Torres is calling out Gov. Kathy Hochul for her “passive” and ineffective response to the entrenched open-air drug market in the South Bronx, an area plagued by unchecked crime and addiction. Torres’ criticism follows a Post exposé that highlighted the ongoing squalor in “The Hub,” a commercial zone in Melrose and Mott Haven that has devolved into a haven for drug use and lawlessness.
In a strongly worded letter to Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, Torres demanded a tougher stance on crime and addiction. He urged the state to reform New York’s lax bail laws and evidence-discovery rules, while granting the city more authority to place individuals with severe mental illness and substance abuse problems into involuntary care.
“The governor would never tolerate an open-air drug market outside her mansion,” Torres wrote. “Yet, Bronx residents are forced to witness drug addicts injecting fentanyl in front of their children in broad daylight. New Yorkers deserve the same public safety standards across the state.”
Persistent Failure to Address the Crisis
Efforts to clean up “The Hub” have repeatedly fallen short. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio allocated $8 million to combat opioid abuse in the Bronx, and Mayor Eric Adams launched a “multi-agency approach” against drug activity, including sweeps to remove syringes and distribute overdose-reversal kits. Despite these initiatives, the drug market persists.
“What the Bronx needs is not a short-term band-aid but a long-term solution,” Torres said. “We demand the permanent removal of the open-air drug market, which has become a blight on the South Bronx’s commercial core.”
Torres also pointed to surging recidivism as a major factor, blaming soft-on-crime policies for emboldening criminals. “Repeat offenders know how to exploit a broken system that prioritizes their release over accountability,” he said.
Hochul Under Fire for Weak Leadership
Governor Hochul’s administration dismissed Torres’ critique, highlighting the congressman’s past support for defunding the NYPD by $1 billion and decriminalizing public urination. A spokesman for Hochul stated, “The governor is committed to public safety, which is why she fought to change bail laws to give judges more discretion and will introduce legislation to address involuntary commitment this year.”
However, critics argue Hochul’s actions have been too little, too late. Her recent pledge to tighten involuntary commitment standards and improve Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) has been criticized for its lack of detail.
Meanwhile, Mayor Adams has proposed a five-year plan to build a new facility for mentally ill New Yorkers and called on Hochul to expand the city’s authority to address homelessness and mental illness in public spaces.
A Call for Accountability
Torres’ sharp rebuke underscores a growing frustration with the state’s inability to address public safety and quality of life issues in one of New York’s most vulnerable communities. “Bronx residents deserve leaders who will prioritize their safety and well-being over political correctness,” Torres said.
As the drug crisis deepens and crime persists, the pressure is mounting on state and city leaders to deliver real solutions — not just more empty promises.
