NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Several dozen transit workers marched to Governor Kathy Hochul's midtown office Friday afternoon, denouncing the escalating assaults targeting them and their colleagues in the subway system.
Many are skeptical of Hochul's new subway safety plan.
With a tally of at least eight MTA workers brutalized on the job this year, conductor Ciara Bromfield pointed out, "After somebody got their neck cut somebody got hit in the face with a bottle."
Transit workers demanded improved safety measures against subway criminals. Evangeline Byars said, "We have 450 stations there should be officers at all 450 terminals they can do so."
Their demands included deploying MTA police alongside the NYPD and National Guard.
Governor Hochul announced additional security measures including more random bag screenings aimed at protecting both workers and riders.
Hochul proposed legislative action to ban individuals convicted of transit assaults. The NYPD found 38 individuals were responsible for over 1,100 such attacks last year.
Transit Chief Michael Kemper called on state lawmakers to strengthen bail laws, demanding accountability for criminals targeting New Yorkers, "Where are the voices screaming accountability on the people committing crimes on New Yorkers?"
The governor admitted they got some of the legislation wrong, "It never should have gone as far as it did. We're trying to pull it back and support our police to do their jobs, but also protect people's civil liberties."
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