In a stunning display of political tone-deafness, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing intense criticism for boasting about improved subway safety mere hours after a woman was horrifically set on fire and burned to death on a Brooklyn train. The ill-timed remarks have ignited a firestorm of backlash, casting doubts on Hochul’s leadership as she prepares for a re-election campaign where crime rates are expected to be a dominant issue.
Governor’s Claim Collides with Tragic Reality
In an X post on Sunday, Hochul proudly declared that subway crime has decreased since she took the dramatic step of deploying the National Guard to help address the crisis. “Since deploying the [National Guard] to support [NYPD] and [MTA] safety efforts and adding cameras to all subway cars, crime is going down, and ridership is going up,” the governor wrote. The post followed a press conference last week where Hochul touted a 42% drop in subway crime since January 2021.
However, the celebratory tone struck a jarring contrast with the grim reality that had unfolded just hours earlier. At around 7:30 AM on Sunday, a man allegedly set a homeless woman on fire on an F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. Surveillance footage showed the assailant throwing a lighter on the woman, who became engulfed in flames within seconds. Shockingly, the suspect reportedly sat on a bench and watched the victim burn to death before casually fanning the flames.
Swift Arrest Amid Mounting Questions
The NYPD moved quickly to apprehend the suspect, aided by body camera footage from responding officers and tips from three high-school-age witnesses who recognized the man. Police sources identified the person of interest as 33-year-old Sebastin Zapeta, a Guatemalan national who first entered the U.S. in 2018. A disturbing video circulating on social media appeared to show Zapeta on a train, saying in Spanish: “I drink my beer and live what I am – as long as I don’t bother anyone, I don’t bother anyone. Why do fucking people have problems with me?”
While the arrest provided some measure of resolution, it did little to assuage the mounting questions about subway safety and the effectiveness of recent initiatives. The fatal burning was not even the only subway murder on Sunday; hours earlier, one man was stabbed to death and another seriously injured on a 7 train in Queens. As of November, there had been nine reported homicides on the subway in 2024, nearly double the five recorded over the same period in 2023.
Political Firestorm Ignites
The timing of Hochul’s triumphant post drew swift and fierce condemnation. Melissa DeRosa, who served under former governor Andrew Cuomo, pointedly noted that “2 people were murdered in the subway today” and blasted Hochul as “a tourist who can’t even bother to read a newspaper while she’s in town.” Social media users flooded the governor’s post with clips of Sunday’s horrific killing, accusing her of being out of touch with the harrowing reality on the ground.
The backlash comes at a precarious time for Hochul as she gears up for a re-election bid in a political landscape where crime is poised to be a defining issue. With New York City Mayor Eric Adams also facing federal bribery charges, the governor’s ability to tackle subway safety and restore public confidence will likely be a central theme of the campaign. Sunday’s tragic events and Hochul’s ill-considered victory lap have only heightened the stakes and the scrutiny she will face.
“The governor of the state of NY is a tourist who can’t even bother to read a newspaper while she’s in town.”
– Melissa DeRosa, former aide to Andrew Cuomo
A Reckoning on Subway Safety
The fatal subway attacks have reignited the heated debate over public safety in New York City’s transit system. In May, a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who had been threatening passengers. The polarizing case exposed deep fault lines in public opinion on how to address the complex issues of mental illness, homelessness, and disorder in the subways.
Now, with two more senseless killings in a single day, the pressure is mounting for Hochul and other leaders to deliver tangible results and restore a sense of security for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on the subways. The governor’s decision to deploy the National Guard and install cameras in every car was billed as a decisive step, but Sunday’s tragedies have raised doubts about the effectiveness of those measures.
- Confronting a Multi-Faceted Crisis: Tackling subway safety will require a comprehensive approach that addresses the intersecting issues of crime, mental health, homelessness, and social services.
- Rebuilding Public Trust: Hochul and other leaders must work to restore confidence in the subway system and demonstrate that they are in touch with the daily realities faced by riders.
- Balancing Intervention and Compassion: Policymakers face the challenge of ensuring public safety while also treating society’s most vulnerable members with dignity and care.
As the fallout from Sunday’s tragic attacks continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Governor Hochul’s tone-deaf victory lap has struck a discordant note at a time when New Yorkers are seeking reassurance, empathy, and effective action from their leaders. The path forward on subway safety remains uncertain, but it is a challenge that will define the governor’s tenure and the well-being of the city she serves.
