Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to be scrambling to lock down cash for her $154 million surge of NYPD on in a single day subway trains, at the same time as the primary wave of cops hit the tunnels this week.
Solely half the money wanted for the six-month surge is lined up — and Hochul requested for the remaining $77 million within the finances plan she unveiled Tuesday.
The request nonetheless wants the approval of state lawmakers in Albany, probably leaving New York Metropolis on the hook if legislators fail to chunk.
Till the cash is lined up, the NYPD doubtless must entrance the additional time for the 300 officers who’ll in the end patrol the trains, a supply aware of the talks mentioned.
“We’re speaking choosing up the additional time prices for these people,” Hochul mentioned throughout a information convention after she unveiled her large $252 billion finances proposal.
Hochul final week lastly acknowledged an increase in violent subway crime throughout her policy-setting “State of the State” handle.
She introduced that she’d publish NYPD officers inside each in a single day subway prepare between 9 p.m. to five a.m., with the state footing the invoice. She additionally mentioned one other 750 officers might be posted on platforms and stations through the day and night time.
The governor largely saved particulars, together with price, on the surge obscure — however finally revealed the primary $77 million can be paid from the present state finances.
The lingering funding questions nonetheless didn’t cease the surge’s kickoff Monday – and Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta offered extra particulars the subsequent day on how the trouble will take form.
The surge started on the A, G, J and L traces, with two officers as deliberate occurring every prepare, Gulotta mentioned.
“It was very profitable,” he mentioned. “We had been capable of get them out onto these trains.”
The primary wave will encompass roughly 100 cops, however finally swell to 300 complete, Gulotta mentioned.
MTA conductors will announce to straphangers that cops are on the trains, he mentioned.
And the cops will step onto platforms and again into trains at every cease, the chief mentioned.
Hours earlier than the surge started, a 39-year-old man was punched and slashed within the chest in what gave the impression to be an unprovoked assault on a D prepare, police mentioned.
The assault unfolded close to the Dekalb Avenue cease round 2:45 a.m., and the sufferer was taken to a neighborhood hospital in steady situation, police mentioned.
— Extra reporting by Amanda Woods