Jerrold Nadler, lawmaker from New York and key player on the House transportation committee, entered into a heated discussion with Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, at a public inquest on Wednesday. The topic at the crux of their disagreement happened to be subway safety statistics, a subject causing a great deal of contention between the two officials.
Tensions escalated rapidly as Nadler questioned Duffy’s integrity, suggesting a penchant for fabrication around such critical facts. ‘Why persist in spreading falsehoods pertaining to New York City, Secretary Duffy?’ Nadler queried, before asserting his stance boldly, ‘You’ve made a habit of deceit, hence my accusation at this juncture.’
An important sticking point centered around the unavoidable daily expenses incurred by those transiting into Manhattan, a unique condition not applicable to residents in other cities. ‘It is mandatory to shell out a $9 fee day after day to gain entry into Manhattan. We don’t observe this phenomenon taking place elsewhere. Yet the precedent for toll programs and the associated costs exist on highways all across the country,’ Duffy retorted.
Nadler pushed back, questioning the impact on those with limited means and the social implications tied to access to city resources. ‘What interventions are being made for those who lack the funds to bear these costs? It is my belief that every citizen should have unimpeded access to the city. Further, if your policy is intended to funnel people into the subway system, it is incumbent on the administration to guarantee the system’s safety,’ he argued.
Duffy, refusing to yield, maintained his stance on subway safety, countering Nadler’s statements with quoted statistics. ‘The numbers convey a clear message of safety. I provided you with the hard stats,’ he responded. Nadler challenged these figures, reflecting a diametrically opposite interpretation of the data.
Presenting evidence to the contrary, Nadler highlighted the decrease in serious transit crimes including assaults, a number he claims has seen a 3 percent reduction since last year and an 8 percent drop since 2019. Duffy had the opportunity to respond but was cutoff by an impromptu poll posed by Nadler. ‘Surely you can confirm these numbers? It’s a simple affirmation or denial,’ Nadler interrupted.
To the latter’s dismay, Duffy was quick to deny the veracity of the provided statistics. He pointed to a startling 60 percent surge in assaults within the M.T.A. system since 2019, contradicting Nadler’s assertions of a decrease.
The conversation became even more heated after this exchange as Nadler accused Duffy of turning a blind eye and portraying a skewed public image based on false narratives. Having leveled this accusation, Nadler asked Duffy why he was opting to deny the rise in subway-related crime.
In his retort, Duffy questioned Nadler’s reasoning for perpetuating rumors about subways, ranging from narratives of people being set aflame to innocent bystanders being thrust onto the tracks. His counter brought the argument full circle, implying that it was Nadler who should be more proactive in promoting safety within the subway systems.
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