Kathy Hochul Brags About Subway Safety — After A Woman Was Burned Alive In NYC

Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) boasted on Sunday about her efforts to make New York City’s subways safer for commuters and visitors alike — and immediately took blowback as the news of two separate murders on the subway in the last 24 hours began to circulate.

Hochul posted her statement via X, saying, “In March, I took action to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day. Since deploying the @NationalGuardNY to support @NYPDnews and @MTA safety efforts and adding cameras to all subway cars, crime is going down, and ridership is going up.”

In March, I took action to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day.  

Since deploying the @NationalGuardNY to support @NYPDnews and @MTA safety efforts and adding cameras to all subway cars, crime is going down, and ridership is going up. pic.twitter.com/T7uRxx9nIO

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 22, 2024

Critics quickly pointed out that Hochul’s claims would not be well-received on the same day that a sleeping woman was burned alive — while the suspect reportedly sat and watched — and in a separate incident in Queens on Saturday, one man was stabbed in the chest and another was stabbed in the face. The man who had been stabbed in the chest was later pronounced dead.

“Two hours ago, Kathy Hochul took a victory lap for making subways ‘safer.’ She congratulates herself on the same day two subway riders were stabbed in Queens (one in the face and one in the chest) and another was barbarically burned alive. Has there ever been a more tone-deaf Governor in the history of New York?” Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) posted.

Two hours ago, Kathy Hochul took a victory lap for making subways “safer.” She congratulates herself on the same day two subway riders were stabbed in Queens (one in the face and one in the chest) and another was barbarically burned alive.

Has there ever been a more tone-deaf… pic.twitter.com/KIPujqpKa3

— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) December 22, 2024

“Today, a lady was burned alive on a subway in NYC. Thank you Kathy, you’ve done a bang up job,” country music star John Rich added.

Today, a lady was burned alive on a subway in NYC. Thank you Kathy, you've done a bang up job. https://t.co/vSbUoIeHWo

— John Rich???????? (@johnrich) December 23, 2024

“Are you kidding me??? You are really posting this after a woman was set on fire & died on a Brooklyn train this morning and two people were stabbed (one killed) on a Queens train yesterday,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) responded.

Are you kidding me??? You are really posting this after a woman was set on fire & died on a Brooklyn train this morning and two people were stabbed (one killed) on a Queens train yesterday. https://t.co/PE3udrHxPZ

— Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) December 22, 2024

New York City Council member Robert Holden added, “Unbelievable timing: just hours after a woman was senselessly burned alive, and two people were stabbed, one fatally. Kathy Hochul’s incompetence is costing lives—she needs to leave public office immediately before more New Yorkers suffer.”

Unbelievable timing: just hours after a woman was senselessly burned alive, and two people were stabbed, one fatally.

Kathy Hochul’s incompetence is costing lives—she needs to leave public office immediately before more New Yorkers suffer. https://t.co/P9LPIT9C0c

— Robert Holden (@BobHoldenNYC) December 22, 2024

Rep. Mike Lawler commented, “It’s clearly not working. You are the single most inept Governor in the country and should be ashamed at the gross incompetence of your administration’s handling of public safety in New York.”

It’s clearly not working. You are the single most inept Governor in the country and should be ashamed at the gross incompetence of your administration’s handling of public safety in New York.https://t.co/DHJG1QVipg https://t.co/u00PZbFcLS pic.twitter.com/uN1L3tsoO5

— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) December 22, 2024