With a minute’s silence, Upper Manhattan residents and political leaders recalled the four victims following a series of attacks on the subway, during the past weekend.
Assemblywoman Carmen de la Rosa commented: “They have been a product of a system that does not work, that does not work for vulnerable people in our city.”
The vigil was held at the station on 207th Street, where the subway line A passes and which is the place Claudine Roberts, 44, one of the victims, was found dead.
In this regard, the councilman of Manhattan, Mark Levine, said: “It cannot be repeated and this is about joining us in mourning a call to action.”
Public officials highlighted the lack of housing and health care for people suffering from mental problems, and thus the state and the city have failed this population.
And for Congressman Adriano Espaillat: “More money should be invested in mental health, in finding decent shelter for the homeless.”
For his part, Councilor Ydanis Rodríguez expressed his opinion: “Connecting that group that has mental problems with the services they need.”
Rigoberto López, 21, was accused of killing two homeless people and wounding two other people with a knife, on line A of the subway. López is also homeless and suffers from mental problems.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is now proposing that an additional 1,000 police officers be dispatched to the 500 that had been promised to patrol train stations.
However, political leaders believe that this will not solve the problem.
“It is not going to work, because we have to attack the symptoms of a system of poverty,” emphasizes De la Rosa.
After the events of this weekend, many passengers expressed feeling insecure: “Sometimes it is scary, because when you are alone the stop is dangerous. Because there are many people, many bumps there they are taken.
Someone else added: “Where we see police, we are calmer, because we know less things are going to happen.”
Visit the NY1 News page with our special coverage on the coronavirus: Coronavirus outbreak
– .
