NEW YORK (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman used a New York City subway ride Monday to criticize Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over public safety, arguing that riders feel less secure on the transit system and calling for a tougher approach to crime.
Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and former Port Authority commissioner, said concerns about crime and disorder remain a top issue for commuters across the state.
“I have not heard from one person that it’s safer on the subways and public transportation in New York,” Blakeman told reporters during the campaign event. “Everybody says they feel less safe.”
The Republican candidate said he would prioritize hiring more police officers, increasing the number of conductors on trains and expanding services for people with serious mental health issues.
“We want them to feel safe,” Blakeman said. “Clean up our subways and get help for those who are emotionally ill. Get them help that they need, not have them roam around our subways.”
Blakeman accused Hochul and Mamdani of failing to make public safety a priority and argued that improving security and cleanliness is key to encouraging more people to use public transportation.
He also criticized New York’s congestion-pricing program, describing it as an added burden on middle-class residents.
Among his proposals, Blakeman called for increased police patrols, better lighting in subway stations and more conductors on trains. He argued that the visible presence of conductors helps make riders feel safer.
“Police are very important, but I think people feel very comfortable and very safe when they see a conductor,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman also attacked several criminal justice policies supported by state Democrats, including changes to bail laws, the Raise the Age program, the HALT Act and the Clean Slate law. He argued those measures have made communities less safe, a claim frequently echoed by Republican lawmakers and law enforcement advocates.
Hochul has defended many of those policies while also promoting investments in public safety, transit security and mental health services.
The issue of crime and public safety is expected to remain a central theme in New York’s 2026 governor’s race as candidates debate how best to address concerns about safety on public transit and in communities across the state.
“People feel less safe in every community that I go to in New York State,” Blakeman said.
