US Soldiers Patrol New York City's Subway

The millions of people who crowd into New York City’s busiest subway stations every day are encountering a sight reminiscent of a frightening, bygone era: National Guard troops with guns patrolling platforms and checking bags. 

 

After 9/11 and at moments of high alert in the years since, New York deployed soldiers in the subway to deter would-be terrorists and reassure the public that the transit system was safe from attack. The National Guard is now there for a different reason. 

 

On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul (left) sent 1,000 state police officers and National Guard troops into the city’s underground labyrinth not to scour for bombs but to combat far more ordinary crime – a recent spate of assaults, thefts, and stabbings, including against transit workers.

 

According to New York Police Department data, there's been a 13.1% increase in transit crimes as of March 03 compared to the same period last year. 

 

But critics charged that the push to “militarize” the subway system – a major show of force not seen since the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks – was heavy-handed. The city’s Public Advocate Jumaane Williams suggested the deployment amounted to “posturing to look tough on crime” instead of dealing with the root issues of crime, and NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said “our transit system is not a ‘war zone’”. 

 

However, Hochul has defended the decision as a measure to help people feel safer on the subway. To me, it is another sign that the US is falling apart.

 

Premier League title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City drew 1-1 at Anfield on Sunday. 

 

The Citizens opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before an Alexis Mac Allister penalty kick twenty-seven minutes later got Liverpool level. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It appears the title race is going to the wire as it stands – just one point now separates the top three: Arsenal (64 pts), Liverpool (64 pts) and Man City (63 pts). And ten games remain.