In the world of gangster films, the term underworld is often used to describe a clandestine realm of organized crime — a world filled with illicit activities such as illegal gambling, smuggling, and extortion. It’s portrayed as a shadowy and dangerous realm where crime bosses, hitmen, and other nefarious characters conduct their illegal affairs. Yet, the underworld we’re about to discuss isn’t a dramatic Hollywood setting — it’s the New York City Transit system, starring MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and NYCT President Richard Davey.

Coming into the role, Davey declared safety as his top priority, aiming to restore faith in the system and attract hesitant riders back onto public transit. However, since assuming the position, crime statistics suggest that safety conditions have deteriorated. The NYPD reports a 22% increase in subway crime since the start of the year, despite the department spending over $150 million in overtime in the subway system alone.

Davey’s management skills have previously been called into question. During his tenure in Boston, he was sued for mismanagement of the transportation system, leading to increased congestion and delays. The lawsuit alleged Davey’s failure to implement efficient traffic management measures resulted in waste of taxpayer money and had detrimental effects on the economy. Many businesses and individuals reliant on the transportation network suffered due to Davey’s alleged negligence.

In 2016, Davey faced another lawsuit accusing him of retaliating against a whistleblower who reported safety violations concerning someone within Davey’s social network. Subsequently, the accused friend was allegedly rewarded with a higher paying job and fewer responsibilities.

Under Davey’s leadership, Boston’s transportation system faced a threat from the federal government to withdraw $275 million in funding unless they addressed their discrimination issues. This resulted in 750 EEO complaints and cost the city millions of dollars in fines.

Two months into the new year and there have been three murders on the trains. Richard Henderson tragically lost his life on a 3 train in Brooklyn while trying to mediate a dispute over loud music. A shooting on a 4 train at the MT. Eden station in the Bronx saw five people shot and one fatality. Another man was shot and killed on a D train at the 182-183 subway station in the Bronx just yesterday.

In September 2022, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to equip all subway cars with surveillance cameras. By December 2022, 400 out of 6,500 subway cars had been fitted with these cameras. However, despite these additional safety measures and rules requiring Train Conductors to announce police presence on trains or platforms, crime has continued to rise. Critics argue that this rule has inadvertently tipped off criminals about when it’s safe to commit crimes.

Recently, NYCT Subways Vice President Demetrius Crichlow announced a $21 million project to install new LED lighting in stations, hoping to deter crime and enhance passenger safety. However, the efficacy of this initiative remains to be seen.

Both Davey and Lieber, despite their assurances of safety, travel with armed security on the very system they claim is safe. Their actions raise questions: If the system is as safe as they claim, why don’t they rely solely on NYPD protection like the rest of New York’s residents?

The stark contrast between their spoken assurances and their actions is perceived as a profound insult to the riders and workers of the NYCT system. As the leaders of the organization, they are expected to steer the system towards safety and efficiency, but the current state of affairs paints a different picture.