NEW YORK - Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris criticized the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board’s decision to spend $250 million on new police officers amid the agency’s ongoing service crisis. 

“Subway crime is at a low point - and so is service quality. The subway system desperately needs more elevators, more reliable service, and fair fares. It does not need 500 new police officers,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “This decision reflects the MTA’s continuing misplaced priorities.” 

Senator Gianaris has fought the proposal to hire 500 additional MTA officers, co-signing a letter with U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the Governor opposing the additional officers. Most recently Senator Gianaris appeared at a rally outside MTA headquarters denouncing the planned vote.