NEW YORK CITY- During a press conference on Tuesday Governor Andrew Cuomo claimed that, if needed, he would send in the National Guard to collect trash off the streets of New York City.
Following the pandemic New York City was forced to cut their sanitation budget by $25 million in July. Fox 5 reports that this funding cut equates to a 60% decrease in the Sanitation Department’s overall budget.
While operating with adequate funds trash was collected daily in the city. But now, trash bins could only be emptied a couple of times a week. The decrease in the frequency of garage collection has led to garbage piling up on the streets.
Cuomo expressed frustration at the overflow of garbage saying:
“I’m getting a lot of complaints in New York City about the cleanliness of the city, the garbage piling up.”
Shortly after, Cuomo told reporters:
“I don’t know what’s going on in New York City”
This statement by Cuomo is disappointing, yet unsurprising. You would think that the governor of a state should know what’s going on in the state’s most populated city, yet here we are.
This statement is especially concerning considering Cuomo’s botched handling of COVID-19 that led to thousands of deaths. The governor has proved time and time again that he cannot be trusted to provide safe and comfortable communities for New York residents.
As if this statement wasn’t enough, Cuomo quickly follows it with his ingenious plan for maintaining cleanliness in New York City.
With thousands of residents watching Cuomo states:
“I have offered to send in the National Guard to come help pick up the garbage. The state can bring in trucks, personnel and clean up the city – I think that would be important. This is a public health pandemic, cleanliness matters.”
NBC 4: Gov. Andrew Cuomo offers to send in National Guard to collect New York City garbage
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) September 29, 2020
Governor Cuomo is offering up National Guardsmen, a branch of our nation’s military, to clean up garbage. Now that Cuomo is getting heat for neglecting basic responsibilities that come with holding a government office, to keep constituents safe and happy, he is grasping at straws.
But, it is important to remember Cuomo’s past attitude toward the National Guard. When rioting and looting began in early June in New York City Cuomo neglected to send in the National Guard for fear of hurting Mayor Bill de Blasio’s feelings.
When de Blasio was hesitant to send in the National Guard to deal with dangerous anarchists Cuomo immediately stood down.
The governor’s argument was that he didn’t want to “displace” the mayor:
“My option is to displace the mayor of New York City and bring in the National Guard as the governor in a state of emergency, and basically take over.”
Now it seems that Cuomo has no issue going above de Blasio’s head to deploy the National Guard. The difference between June and now is that months ago lives were at risk, now is Cuomo’s reputation on the line.
Watch the full press conference below:
[embedded content]NEW YORK CITY, NY- The New York City subway board will soon vote on whether to officially ban pooping on the city’s public transportation amid continued coronavirus concerns.
MTA board to formally ban pooping in NYC subway
What? When was this ever okay? https://t.co/16uEXG6nS7
— Denise (@dhaywood99) September 23, 2020
According to reports, crews have stated that they are spending more time cleaning subway cars due to a recent “spike” in “soiled” subways. Allegedly, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said that they already have a policy that bans pooping on public transportation.
However, it refers to creating an “unsanitary condition” and not to defecation specifically. The dirty deed is already barred under current rules, which subject any ride to a $100 fine for:
“Creating a nuisance, hazard, or unsanitary condition, including but not limited to spitting or urinating.”
I should not have taken a pandemic for the #mta to ban pooping on subway trains and buses.
— Andrew Kaiko (@AndrewKaiko) September 23, 2020
The plan is to change the rule to specifically add “defecating” to the list of bodily expulsions. According to reports, complaints of “soiled” subway trains surged back in 2019. At the time, the agency insisted that the increase in reports of disgusting subway cars was the result of more vigilant rides, not worsening conditions.
However, transit workers have long complained of the overly dirty conditions on the trains. In fall 2019, Transport Workers Union Local 100 launched a “Trash Train” photo contest to highlight the filth and protest cuts to cleaning crews. MTA spokesman Tim Minton said in a recent statement:
“MTA rules are periodically tweaked to enhance clarity and that’s the case with the addition of more descriptive language.”
What does it say about our society and city when the authority has to formally codify a no 💩ing on the subway 🚇 rule? 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
“The only No. 2 allowed on the MTA is the train line.”
MTA board to officially ban pooping in subways, buses https://t.co/xkz3ZO5s8I via @nypmetro
— Michael Lambert aka That’s Mr. Boomer 2U‼️ (@Mezikenyc) September 23, 2020
He added:
“Ensuring the transportation system provides an appropriate quality of life experience for our workforce and customers is a guiding principle and a top priority.”
The poop ban is included in a host of new, “temporary” emergency rules issued back in April in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Some of the rules include requiring riders to exit subway cars at the end of the line, banning people from lingering in subway stations for more than an hour, and barring riders from bringing large shopping cars on trains.
In April 2020, a new study argued that city subways and buses were a major “disseminator” of the coronavirus in the Big Apple. The study, conducted by MIT economics professor and physician, Jeffrey Harris, points to a parallel between high ridership and the rapid, exponential surge in infection in the first two weeks of March.
NYC subway conductors report filthy and unsanitary conditions as the homeless take over during pandemic https://t.co/RjGsWgNUv5
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 26, 2020
During that time, the subways were still packed with up to 5 million riders per day as well as between turnstile entries and virus hotspots. Harris wrote:
“New York City’s multitentacled subway system was a major disseminator, if not the principal transmission vehicle of coronavirus infection during the initial takeoff of the massive pandemic.”
Of course the study cannot itself answer the question of causation, but Harris said that the conditions of a typical subway car or bus match up with the current understanding of how the virus spreads. He wrote:
“We know that close contact in subways is fully consistent with the spread of coronavirus, either by inhalable droplets or residual fomites left on railings, pivoted grab handles, and those smooth, metallic, vertical poles that everyone shares.”
Is Coronavirus In The NYC Subway? How Swabbing Doors And Trains Is Shaping The Fight Against COVID-19 https://t.co/P6xPrFxjZz pic.twitter.com/3qO65Ekzde
— Web and Marketing Bureau (@bureau_web) June 15, 2020
MTA chairman Pat Foye called the study “flawed” and noted that Governor Andrew Cuomo closed all non-essential businesses on March 20th. He said in a statement:
“Social density was a result of many factors, business, restaurants, bars, Madison Square Garden, sports arenas, concerts, and the things that make New York happen.”
NEW YORK CITY, NY – Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a stern warning toward New York City officials recently, in that policing in the city needs to be reimagined to address the spike in crime or else the governor will find someone who can address it.
Cuomo blasts NYC officials over spike in crime https://t.co/XQbQvcEaMG
— Fox5NY (@fox5ny) September 25, 2020
During a recent press conference, Governor Cuomo noted that there is also the possibility of reducing state funding to cities if they can’t get a grip on violent crime:
“If you have all these terrible budget issues, how can you ever possibly jeopardize their funding? And by the way – without state funding – New York City is bankrupt.”
The governor cited statistics that showcased a 100% increase in shooting victims, referring to said stat as being “wholly unacceptable”:
“We have a problem in New York City when it comes to crime. That is a fact.”
The harsh criticisms come nearly four months after Governor Cuomo signed an executive order requiring police reform. According to the governor, New York City has yet to get a plan in motion, which said plan has to be submitted by April 1st of 2021.
Governor Cuomo explained that it’s not so much who decides to run with creating a plan for police reform within New York City, as long as it just gets done. But he stated if the aforementioned doesn’t come to fruition, he’ll find someone suitable for the task:
“The Mayor can lead it, City Council President can lead it, Comptroller can lead it, Public Advocate can lead it. If none of them want to lead it, I will find someone to lead it.”
Apparently, many officials within the city have been relatively silent when it comes to commenting on the governor’s recent statement.
However, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams did at least note that he’s been drafting ideas, but also said that Governor Cuomo could be doing more as well:
“I think there’s some culpability in the Governor’s office as well, and so that should be put out there, but he is correct, there has been a vacuum of leadership on many issues.”
While Mayor Bill de Blasio didn’t directly comment on the matter itself, a statement coming from the mayor’s office alleged that police reform has been ongoing for years prior to Governor Cuomo’s June executive order:
“We’ve been working on fundamental police reform for years and have no intention of letting up now. It’s a failure of leadership to ignore the progress made in New York City, especially when it’s been advanced by so many advocates of color across the city.”
Former NYPD Lieutenant Darrin shared his thoughts on the debacle, somewhat mirroring the sentiments expressed by Public Advocate Williams, in that there’s shared ownership by both Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo on the state of affairs:
“We need a solution-based and plausible plan to reduce crime. It’s clear that Mayor de Blasio has fallen asleep at the switch, but at the same token, the Governor has done nothing to assist in the endeavor of reducing crime.”
Violent crime has been rife, such as a recent example that occurred on September 16th.
A brutal attack outside of a Bronx deli was recently caught on surveillance video, and police need assistance in identifying the attackers featured in the footage.
From what police have gathered so far, the attack seems random, but the footage of the event is nonetheless brutal.
Close up of Suspect 1 from Bronx attack
The victim in the case has only been identified as a 19-year-old male at this time, and suffered bruising to the body and a cut to the neck from the September 16th attack.
WANTED for an assault in front of 2325 Southern Boulevard. #Bronx @NYPD48pct on 9/16/20 @ 2:50 PM Reward up to $2500 Seen them? Know who they are?Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us!Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! pic.twitter.com/tfOb0iUZTb
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) September 18, 2020
The attack took place at approximately 3:00 p.m. just outside of the Bronx Zoo Deli on Southern Boulevard. Two suspects were seen posted outside of the establishment seemingly waiting for the victim.
One suspect appears to be a young black male while the second suspect, holding what appears to be a wooden plank used during the attack, could be a black or Hispanic male.
The first suspect, who is more clearly identifiable, also appeared to be using a bladed weapon during the attack.
Possible bladed weapon in suspect’s left hand
The victim was bombarded by both of the suspects and they were said to have made off with the victim’s cell phone and left in a blue Honda Civic. According to reports, the victim was treated at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Police are asking that anyone with information on the suspects’ whereabouts or identities to please call NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
But this isn’t the only attack the NYPD is looking to solve as of late.
The NYPD needs the public’s help identifying three teenagers that robbed and punched an elderly woman in the East Village. The woman is 74 years-old.
Security footage before 7 p.m. on September 3, 2020, shows three teenagers, all black, two males and one female, between the ages of 14-18, walking past the elderly victim on East 14th Street.
That’s when one of the members in the group snatched the woman’s purse. She turns to confront the robber, but he punched her in the face, and she fell to the ground. The kid dropped her purse, and then all three teenagers fled the scene according to Fox 5 New York.
The video is one of those that if the viewer blinks they miss the action. They only see the kids running away. To help show the actual situation we have taken screenshots to help.
Screenshot taken from Fox5 New York
The above photo shows the three teenagers walking down the street. In the left hand side there is black female wearing a white romper and her hair is in a ponytail.
To her right is a male teenager wearing white pants and a black shirt. To his right is a black male wearing red pants and a dark shirt. Behind him is the victim, in jeans, a white t-shirt, and a hat, reaching out to confront him.
She is also black.
Fox5 New York
The kid in the red pants and blue shirt has effectively punched the woman in the white t-shirt. She is in mid-fall on the littered concrete.
The kid in black with the white pants turns to see what just happened. The girl in the white romper quickens her pace and heads towards the cross walk.
To the far right we see a kid with a backpack, viewing what just occurred, and another woman, in jeans and a gray shirt bending down.
Fox5 New York
The kid in the red pants follows the woman in the white romper towards the cross walk.
The teen in white pants then turns around and looks at the woman who has fallen to the ground. She’s stunned and face down.
Fox5 New York
The woman who had been hit then sits up and the teen in white pants turns to join his friends running away.
The New York Police Department said:
“Although the victim sustained bruising and swelling to her face and cuts and scrapes to her hands, she refused medical attention.”
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), on the Crime Stoppers website at NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on via Twitter: @NYPDTips.
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