Kathy Hochul claims to have made subways safer after woman is killed in fire attack

In New York, hours after a tragic incident involving a sleeping woman who was set on fire in a subway train, Governor Kathy Hochul posted a tweet celebrating subway safety improvements. This incident occurred early Sunday morning on December 22, 2024, as the woman was waiting for the train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. A Guatemalan migrant allegedly approached her and ignited her clothing, leading to her death at the scene. Despite the recent violence, Hochul's tweet highlighted the deployment of the National Guard to support police efforts and the installation of cameras in subway cars. She claimed these measures had contributed to a decline in overall crime and an increase in ridership in the subway system. However, the timing of her post, just hours after the horrific event, prompted an immediate backlash from a wide range of political figures across the spectrum. Opponents criticized her for being tone-deaf, with some lawmakers calling for her resignation over what they described as irresponsible communication. They referenced the growing rate of violent incidents in the subway system, including a double stabbing on the 7 train in Queens that also occurred that morning, leading to discussions on the adequacy of the measures currently in place to ensure rider safety. Hochul's office later issued a clarification emphasizing that, while crime statistics may show improvement, any crime is still one too many. The governor’s initial tweet celebrated actions taken months prior to bolster the security of public transport, while failing to mention the subway fire incident. It attracted intense scrutiny, with some critics questioning her leadership and response to ongoing safety issues in the transit system that has seen rising homicides in 2024 compared to prior years. In a press conference, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch detailed the circumstances of the burning incident, further highlighting the urgency of improving subway safety measures to prevent future occurrences.