Why Ensuring Safety in New York Requires Acknowledging Every Crime

The crime issues in New York City are significantly influenced by repeat offenders, and this holds true both above ground and underground.

Take a look at the five most notorious offenders recently apprehended as part of NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s initiative to restore order to the subway system.

Collectively, they account for nearly 600 arrests, averaging almost 120 per individual, with over 100 of those being for serious crimes such as robbery and sexual assault.

These individuals are unequivocally problematic.

Consider Robert Davis, who has an astounding 19 felony arrests to his name.

Then there’s Jorge Molina, who boasts 60 felony offenses.

At 56, Davis is considerably older than 36-year-old Molina, but younger offenders are also emerging, such as 28-year-old Kenney Mitchell, who has 116 prior arrests.

All three had existing warrants and were consequently taken into custody.

However, their underground offenses were significantly less severe — highlighting that addressing seemingly “minor” crimes like fare evasion and smoking in subway cars can help capture serious criminals as well.

This should come as no surprise: individuals who accumulate 60 — yes, 60! — felony charges are likely to engage in minor infractions too, such as jumping turnstiles or smoking on platforms.

Thus, if we rigorously tackle recidivism, we can make substantial strides in reducing overall crime.

Nevertheless, two other individuals from the “worst five,” William Watts (114 prior arrests, including three for robbery and two for assault) and Pablo Colon (103 arrests, with 16 felony counts for burglary, robbery, assault, and grand larceny), were released after their subway arrests — a consequence of “reformers” having entirely decriminalized minor offenses, limiting prosecutors’ and judges’ flexibility to address the most severe offenders effectively.

In essence, to safeguard first-time offenders, criminal justice reform advocates have unintentionally provided cover for serious repeat offenders.

The initiative underground comes as Tisch is establishing a new division to combat quality-of-life crimes, reverting to the “broken windows” approach of the past — a clear acknowledgment that the catastrophic criminal justice reforms at both the city and state levels have fueled the current crime crisis.

Addressing quality-of-life crimes was essential in transforming New York City from a haven for criminals to a model of lawful urban living.

The left has been in an uproar ever since; the rise of Bill de Blasio and other pro-crime progressives, alongside various criminal justice reforms, has solidified their influence for over a decade, aiding criminals and undermining the law-abiding populace.

Tisch must rise above their objections and continue down this path: the very survival of her city depends on it.