UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) -- Upper West Siders gave the mayor an earful Monday night about an increase in violent crime.
From shootings to stabbings and random attacks, residents are demanding safer streets. Mayor Eric Adams himself called the incidents “traumatizing.”
Stuffed into a small basement under the holiday lights, residents told the mayor about dark times in their neighborhood—no longer a safe space.
“This has been spiraling down,” said Lauren Schultz. “I’ve just had enough.”
An onslaught of crime this year has quite literally left Schultz, a doctor, rushing home and running scared.
“I start running not because someone’s chasing me, but because I’m scared of my neighborhood,” she said.
At a town hall on public safety, Schultz sat at a table of concerned mothers, some of whom said their children have been victims of attacks by emotionally disturbed individuals—and one woman spoke about how she was sucker-punched in the park.
“What we’re seeing is a failure in policy providing help for mental health, drugs, and people decarcerated from prison,” said Maria Danzilo, a longtime resident.
Seven categories of felony crimes have spiked in the 20th Precinct this year. Notably, the number of shooting victims has surged—up 250% from last year.
“I looked at the numbers: upticks in shootings, random violence, public displays—it has to be traumatizing,” Adams admitted.
Most recently, a mentally ill man randomly stabbed a tourist, and a workplace grudge exploded into gunfire on busy Columbus Avenue, days after a double shooting on Halloween.
“The cops are taking it seriously and analyzing to make sure they’re deploying properly,” said NYPD Assistant Chief Ruel Stephenson. “We have to make you feel safer.”
Adams praised the NYPD but blamed state lawmakers and judges for treating criminals with kid gloves. Noting 500 people have been arrested 7,800 times in the city.
“We made a mockery of our system,” the mayor said. “These criminals are laughing at us. Everyone must do their job.”
Residents also complained about the influx of homeless shelters near schools and playgrounds. The mayor and social services officials promised to revisit how these decisions are being made.
