A city that’s chock-full of crime

To the editor:

I have been a New Yorker for 30 years, a daily subway rider for 26 years, and an attorney for 22 years. I have three young kids, and was committed to raising them in the city, its public schools and its neighborhoods. 

The rise in crime, lawlessness and subway crime has me rethinking my family’s future in the city. I am not alone. Smoking, fighting, drug injections, threats of violence and worse are a daily sight for all New Yorkers, except those lucky enough to be sequestered in the city’s most remote neighborhoods. 

I am writing to demand action on bail reform, policing levels, subway policing and the violence-prone mentally ill. 

The 2019 bail reform and the prosecution approaches of certain district attorneys are obvious failures. Criminals are bragging openly about the lack of consequences for their actions.   

The New York Police Department needed — and still needs — reform. But we need a large, well-trained and engaged police force for the city to survive. 

The mayor has beefed up policing in the subways, but much, much more is needed. 

Finally, the legislature needs to be reformed to create legal ways to rapidly separate the violence-prone, mentally ill homeless population from the rest of society.

Among the many decent, needy homeless is a small subset that is not — and may never be — fit to remain on the streets. 

My local elected officials can vouch for my commitment to neighborhood engagement and volunteering. If people like me are rethinking my commitment to New York City, then we are in deep trouble as a city.

Most scary to me is that we have yet to see the full effect of the U.S. Supreme Court’s absurd decision on guns, which is likely to result in more guns, shootings and violence. 

My sense is you have mere months to act.

Chris Rizzo