Photo by Campbell Jensen on Unsplash
March 4, 2022 By Christian Murray
Armed robberies, vicious assaults and hate crimes have become all too common in New York City in recent months and the borough of Queens is no exception.
There have been brutal attacks at subway stations, shootings at NYCHA complexes, to a rash of anti-Asian hate crimes.
For the year-to-date through Feb. 27, there has been a 58 percent increase in crime across the borough, compared to the same period a year ago. There has been a big spike in both violent crimes as well as property theft, such as grand larcenies and auto theft.
There have been 11 murders in Queens this year through Feb. 27, compared to nine for the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, there were 65 rapes reported through Feb. 27 compared to 48 for the same period in 2021. Additionally, there were 460 robberies reported this year through Feb. 27 vs. 311 last year, and 683 felony assaults compared to 567 the previous year.
No area in the borough has been spared, with all 16 precincts in Queens experiencing an increase in crime. The eight precincts in Queens North were up a collective 66 percent through Feb. 27, with significant increases in the 110 precinct, which covers Corona and Elmhurst, up a whopping 133 percent, and the 109 precinct, which covers Flushing, up 89 percent.
Meanwhile the eight precincts in Queens South were collectively up 48 percent for the year through Feb. 27, with notable increases in the 107 precinct, which covers Fresh Meadows, up 105 percent, and the 106 precinct in Ozone Park up 78 percent.
There have been 14 hate crimes reported in the borough year-to-date, with six of them in the 112th precinct, which covers Forest Hills and Rego Park, and three in both the 109 and 110 precincts. The total number of hate crimes in the borough is up from 5 this time last year.
Queens North, consisting of eight precincts, is in blue, Queens South, also consisting of eight precincts, is in light blue (NYPD)
Several elected officials told the Queens Post that the spike in violence is disturbing and said that steps need to be taken to get guns off the street, bolster violence prevention programs and address hate crimes. Many said they are working with precincts to come up with solutions.
Most attributed the increase to a lack of city services to help people with mental health issues, as well as the pandemic.
“This spike clearly reflects the increased economic, mental and physical distress brought on by the pandemic,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán, who represents Astoria and East Elmhurst. “Across the city, we have seen a wide array of services struggle to provide our neighbors badly needed support due to a dramatically increased demand and reduced capacity. We have heard time and again, at hearings, public listening sessions, and elsewhere, about inadequate sanitation services, insufficient care in our city’s shelter system, and other such contributors.”
Cabán said that the city needs to scale up its “crisis management system and pilot innovative new violence prevention models.” She also said that the city needs to invest in reducing poverty and provide better housing, youth employment, high quality mental and physical health care, and other social services.
Meanwhile, Council Member Bob Holden, who represents several neighborhoods in central Queens including Middle Village, Glendale and Maspeth, said the increase can largely be attributed to anti-police rhetoric and the passage of bail reform in Albany. He also took aim at some of his fellow elected leaders arguing that they have inflamed the anti-cop sentiment.
“The stats are not surprising,” Holden said. “They are the results of reckless, anti-police policies by the state and city governments for the past several years. Albany’s bail reform turned our jails into revolving doors, where judges can’t even consider how dangerous a criminal is.”
He added that “Anti-police rhetoric has been spewed from elected officials, while our cops are demoralized, demonized and don’t even have qualified immunity anymore. It’s open season on our police and New Yorkers are getting smeared with feces, stabbed or hit on the head with a hammer on their way to work.”
Holden, whose district cuts across five police precincts, said that Mayor Eric Adams is trying to turn the tide, but Albany needs to reverse its bail elimination policy. “We also need to treat our city’s rampant mental health problem, which we can do by using tools like Kendra’s Law. If we don’t do these things, these numbers are likely to increase.”
Queens Borough President Richards said that the safety of the borough is a top priority, and he is determined to put forward concrete solutions to cut crime and address some of its root causes.
“Just this week, my office met with police precincts and community leaders to address hate crimes against Asian and Jewish New Yorkers, and we will be meeting in coming weeks with NYPD leadership to examine what must be done to keep Queens residents safe in the short-term,” Richards said.
“At the same time, we must also be laser focused on addressing the long-term root causes of crime, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic — a lack of safe, affordable housing, historic disinvestment in underserved communities, education disparities, unemployment, a dearth of mental health services, systemic racism and more. Our families deserve nothing less than such a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of our communities.”
Council Member Shekar Krishnan, whose district covers Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, shared the same views as Richards.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe,” he said. “I am disturbed by the rise in hate crimes which are impacting our Asian community specifically. That’s why we need to invest in strategies that will truly keep us safe including expanding mental health services, access to stable housing for all, and alleviating poverty with additional social services.”
Meanwhile, Julie Won, who represents the 26th Council District in western Queens, said that more needs to be done to stop guns from entering the community. “We need a comprehensive federal policy to prevent the movement of guns across state lines and prevent them from ending up in our city.”
She said that violence interrupter programs are effective in combatting crime but that the city needs to increase its investment in them. She said that in 2015, NYCHA Queensbridge Houses went a full year without a shooting, indicating that they do work.
Won said that $100 million is spent on these citywide programs, a fraction of the many billions of dollars that are allocated to the NYPD.
But she like most of the officials are calling for the city to invest in community programs.
“We need people to feel hopeful again,” Won said, whose district covers the 108 Precinct, which saw a 58 percent increase for the year through Feb. 27. “Many people who are committing these violent acts are not people who have the luxury of thinking about their own futures.”
“These violent actions are manifestations of their despair and desperation. We need to invest heavily in our under-resourced communities to counter the decades of intentional divestment and work on the ground to build the connections necessary to create hopeful communities that have the resources to take care of themselves and their neighbors.”
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60 Comments
Sunnyside/Woodside area dope dealers are selling drugs in the open with no fear from Police.
When you have criminal sympathizers such as Caban or Won, this happens. Punish criminals. End bail reform. Violent, repeat offenders should not be out on the street. They should be getting help in locked facilities away from the public. Look at the guy that smeared feces on that poor woman. Repeat offender with a deep criminal history!
progressive libs 2020: defund the police now!! or we’ll burn down the cities!!
politicians 2020: oh no, yeah we must!!! Just dont burn things up! well do whatever you say!
thugs on the street 2020-2022: ok cool, so were not going to jail, lets rob stores as a mob, beat asians, punch old people, push people in front of trains
kind of like how the world is handling putin, except for zolensky of course
Hey, troll: you do know that most big cities are run by “progressives”.
Hoping more cops are on patrol during our saint Patrick’s Day parade in Sunnyside. Praying cops dont harass the minorities and queers though. Our parade is a minority majority driven event with the LGBT community and diverse neighborhood.
March 6???
If they’re doing something which is contrary to civilized human behavior, then by all means the police should do whatever needs to be done.
Numbers aren’t always accurate. Densely populated cities naturally have crime. More people more crime. A lot of this info is here to stress you out.
I miss the dark days of nyc. It kept the rents low in Qns and the tourist out. Early 90’s was good times. Just had to keep your head down and stay away from sketchy people. Lately too many transplants, instagram models & youtubers have pushed the rents up horribly in WQns. The city moved shelters to Queens and people who can NOT afford brooklyn moved here. The people who were voted into office the last couple of years are a reflection of the changing demographic in NYC. Five more years and i can retire and move out to FL.
Never ever had a problem living in Queens. My tip to people
is to keep $10-20 in one of their pockets and give it the homeless. Chances are they will take it and thank you. Hot soup is nice to give out also.
It’s so hard to afford nyc and even my middle class friends feel stressed, anxious and have mental health issues.
Systemic racism, poverty, and a punitive (Vs rehabilitative) judicial system have led to hopelessness, mental illness, and violence. I hope that we can create a society where people can reasonably have hope.
Tourist are safer in NYC than the working class who have to walk the streets late at night to come home from work, or take the subway each day on a regular daily route. Police are around the tourists sites more so, while working class neighborhoods are left vulnerable – women and children and elderly are the most vulnerable. This is a different more barbaric kind of violence than the 70s an d80s in the sense that people are attacked with no underlying motive. It is like the dark ages in NYC these days – Be safe everyone.
ITS BAD. I’ve lived in Queens all my life even older folks told me it’s worse than before. The homeless mentally ill population are a threat to the rest of society. I used to love riding the subway and traveling around but now I limit my use of the MTA unless I’m out with my boyfriend. Also the rise of theft is insane! I work at a multinational off-price department store and it gets hit almost everyday. They wipe out our racks/shelves.. The cops dont care unless someone is severely hurt during the robbery.
Crime in NYC has been high before, but that was before social media and the 24-hr news cycle. We were far less aware of the collective number of incidents, much to our individual benefit. Things will improve, but it will take years, unfortunately. Stay safe!
As a native New Yawker of 60 years, I’m amazed how unaware people are here including some younger natives. Some people choose to be victims by not paying attention to their surroundings. Take your earbuds out and look up from your phone. A little common sense goes a long way in keeping oneself safe no matter where you are at any moment. Methods to keep myself safe is built into my DNA. Growing up in a public housing project in the South Bronx prepared me well for the streets of NYC. Stay smart and stay safe. Trust your instincts!
I see police officers in subway stations conversing between and among themselves instead of patrolling the subway cars. That’s what is needed, a moving not stationary patrol of law enforcement. Its time to enjoy the city and all that it has to offer while maintaining a sense of vigilance . We deserve better than this.
I work part time during the evening shift at a Home Depot and had a man walk right past me carrying out 2 very expensive power tool kits with the security tags still on them and he went out of the store totally unchallenged. We are told to not intervene, and this drives me crazy as I am from a different generation where this would not be put up with. Oh, by the way, we have security guards by the doors, but they are a joke. People used to be arrested for stealing a can of tuna back in my day. By the way, the Stop and Frisk policy was a good thing…to many carry weapons now and loitering is problem as it allows people to case you out.
Sometimes you have to experience something in order to believe it. I witnessed a mugging on a crowded street full of young men who just stood there and took out their phones to take pics and post it on social media like citizens apps. Prior I thought it was all being exaggerated to elect a moderate democrat mayor but its not. The poor lady just sat on the floor and when i went to go help her one young man pushed me to record her when the cops showed up. I even heard people shouting at the cops, cursing and taking pics.
It should be illegal to take photos and videos of people without their permission. we need a law in NYC to protect ourselves and to be able to sue for damages.
Thanks for the useful information SSP. The only concern I have is that it seems a lot of people normalize this kind of living. Being aware of your surroundings is good but it can make you paranoid. I definitely don’t feel safe in NYC. I used to always feel safe and I’ve been here since 2011. In December(2021)-January (2022) i saw crazy people on the subway EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!! on my way to work and back home. I eventually will have to move. It’s NOT NORMAL to be alert all the time. New Yorkers have low standards. Why do I have to change train cars if a crazy and potentially dangerous person comes in? He/she shouldn’t be here in the first place. I can stay anywhere on the platform. Why do I have to stand against the wall? i do it for my own safety because these are the times we are living in right now but IT’S NOT OK! There’re toooooo many dangerous people on the streets! I used to hear about such attacks only on the news. Now I personally know people who were assaulted. I was assaulted too btw! People were assaulted in front of me. It’s sad not much is getting done and all I hear is YOU NEED TO BE ALERT. I WANT TO LIVE AND ENJOY MY LIFE WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING ASSAULTED ON MY WAY TO WORK AND HOME!!!!!!!!!!!
conceal and carry. you have the right to defend yourself.
I don’t think you’ve got the guts to carry a weapon. Stick to calling 311.
I think it’s important to keep in mind that the pandemic has affected everything. Employment, housing, production, now inflation, etc…
Crime has gone up in major cities all around the US and around the world. It shouldn’t discourage us or others from visiting a restaurant, the theater, a museum, etc. in NYC but it’s important to use common sense and take proper precautions.
NYC is an amazing city and people should not be discouraged from living here or visiting- you would be missing out! Do not forget to support minority owned business. Thank you.
Just over the weekend on all the three trains I hopped on there was someone smoking. On my last train on the way home, the guy sat right in front of me and started rolling paper and began smoking it. I simply got up and moved to the far end of the train car. Many of these people do not care. I wonder if legalizing weed NYC is making people less aware of their surroundings and reducing anxiety when it comes to committing quality of life and higher level crimes. Queens used to be a place where families flocked to raise families and buy 1-2 family homes. Now its a crime ghetto with over priced apartments and high rises next to section 8 homes and homeless shelters. Its sad.
As a born and bred NYer my heart hurts so much for my city. I fled, I didnt want my children to grow up like this. And as an asian american woman, my heart cries for my family that lives in Sunnyside. I worry every day about my family and friends that have not left. Two of my friends have been called names and cursed at on the street and my brothers car was broken into last week. My other friend had her purse stolen from work, Praying for NY.
Police is not the answer….they are part of the problem. Jobs, affordable homes, healthcare and a real education….now that would curb the crime by about 85% overnight!!! There are too many police officers out there without real jobs to do. That’s why they spend their time hurting regular law abiding citizens…get rid of them!
tell that to your victims. we need an extra million cops on the streets to protect us from you!!!
All we heard was defund the police for the last couple years and now you’re asking what’s with all the violent crime? Even Biden now says “Fund the Police.” My how rhetoric too get people elected and stay in office in general has changed from last year. Its laughable that those who marched a year or two ago headed for the suburbs when times got tough.
What’s behind the spike in violent crime across NYC? Terrible politicians, and their terrible policies. And not opening admitting and monitoring/patrolling/etc. the neighborhoods and people who commit these crimes and acts of hate. Its now ok though to cancel Russian establishments and Russian Americans in NYC on social media because of the war but no one dares to speak of who are most criminals come from in this city.
It’s a lack of meaningful punishment. These criminals know that there’s little to no consequence for what they do so there’s nothing to even make them think twice.
A loss of having any moral compass. The entitlement mentality. The soft laws. The changing demographic. The lack of consideration & respect for others.
We will be told: So many people with so many mental problems
I will believe: Crime will fall when police are put back in power
Until then I will tell everybody: it must be something in the water……………..just to get a reaction.
Anti-Semitic crimes are also up more than 400% in NYC!!
https://www.amny.com/news/new-york-city-crime-rises-by-staggering-58-7-in-month-of-february/
The way NATO is ignoring Ukraine and the attacks from Russia is the same way some of our local officials are ignoring the spike in crimes and community outcry according to most of the statements above. Send Ukraine military forces and combat troops on the ground and let the police patrol our streets to get these criminals off the streets. Change bail reform and keep Rikers open!!! Bring back qualify of life policing like LIC done by hiring private security to patrol the neighborhood.
Forget about community programs! These criminals want money. You can not give out stimulus payments, free rent and food one year and no cash for spending as you please the next. Think about it. People got over 3000 dollars without someone telling them what to spend it on and without it effecting any federal state or city benefits. This was a first for many of our poor. Unfortunately some now feel entitled to take and do as they please after experiencing the spending spree and buying things like expensive sneakers, purses and dirt bikes.
I fear things will only get worse due to increase gas prices because of as the white house says Putin.
During the pandemic many people fled boroughs like brooklyn for cheaper rents in queens. Residents who lived in the epicenters of covid 19 like Elmhurst and Corona also scattered throughout queens due to rent decreases in other neighborhoods. Criminals were released from Rikers and more homeless shelters opened up to house them and the poor. Makes sense that crime is up.
Crime will decrease as more people get back to work in the office and covid mandates are lifted.
No surprise here. I watch the people in Ukraine on social media trying to flee the war so calmly and orderly with each other packed on the metro, streets, roads, and bordering countries and i think here we can not even walk out of homes and get to work without some type of chaos and fear of being a victim of a crime or attack.
Its always the Trump supporters that talk about Defund the Police like theyre making a point. How about our corrupt politicians spend more on social workers and city resources than supporting a facist police state? Its actually not complicated lol. If you see someone having to steal so they can provide for their families, maybe not be so quick to judge? Give what you can and ask them to tell you their story. I know it’s probably hard for you to do.
NYC has more cops and the highest policing budget in its history. What are they doing with the money and the staff? Not much.
We told you to defund the NYPD so other social services could be funded. This is the world you chose. Police can’t stop the decay, but they’ll suck up all the money.
oh well. you all voted for progressive liberals. enjoy the high crime. its only going to get worse.
when the founders of BLM were interview and asked.
” what would you say to people that say you are not really an organized movement and that there is no centralized ideology?” answered: we are all trained marxists. Thanks commies
I remember walking on 43rd ave one day and seeing some brainwashed people just standing there completely silent with signs saying abolish the police. We get the Government and society we deserve. Thanks Sunnyside liberals.
@Fox Cult enthusiast- Crime is up in Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Red states! Rural counties have higher rates in these states then cities. Did you ask the people you saw in the streets if they got their news from CNN or MSNBC or is that just your cult “control” response?
If you think pointing out the problem of crime in Black communities by white people is racist check out a group called Voices of Black Mothers United.
If you vote for these politicians who vote for relaxed bail laws, defund the police or coddling homeless criminals you deserve to live in a city terrorized by crime.
“This spike clearly reflects the increased economic, mental and physical distress brought on by the pandemic.”
No: It clearly reflects the asinine policies you pushed: Defund the police, bail reform, et al. The criminals know when they are carrying home their new 60″ 4k UHD loaf of bread that if caught they can be back at it 24 hours. This has NOTHING to do with anything other than failed policies pushed by morons. The only people stupider than these ‘legislators’ are those who voted them in. Payback is a b…, isn’t it?
As long as we have these dumb liberal politicians and the morons who vote for them. This whole city is going see more of the same with no end in sight.
Out of all the people quoted in this article, it seems like Holden is the only one living in the real world.
We need effective measures now, not next year. Too much word salad in these responses from our local electeds.
I thought JVB gave Giuliani a job reading to kids at libraries? That plus the federal investigation, he must be too busy to be mayor again.
Hey Julie:
You think that stopping guns will stop crime? Would that have stopped the women who was pushed to her death on the tracks or how about the woman in Chinatown who was knifed in her apartment or the woman beaten to death with a rock? Oh by the way all Asian women. Thanks to progressives Like you and Tiffany Caban blaming society rather than the individuals this city has become so much unsafer since liberal democrats dominated with their distorted agendas. There will be a time when New Yorkers have had enough and then another Rudy will come along.
Thanks to the Tiffany Cabans in the city we have this increase in crime. Thanks for your contribution to our city! The fault belongs to society not the individual committing the crime.
When you have someone like Frank Abrokwa arrested and released, arrested and released, over and over again despite his serious crimes, what do you expect?
He gets away with it, he keeps committing crimes. It’s not rocket science.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/adams-responds-to-release-of-alleged-subway-feces-smearer-with-open-hate-crime-case-as-outrage-mounts/3581948/
Thank you soft-on-crime, bleeding heart liberals.
Always throwing our tax money away on more programs. And defunding the NYPD is beyond stupid. Ever hear of PAL? So disappointed in Julie Won. Have our neighbors in the Woodside House’s heat and hot water been restored yet? Or was that just another Photo op? The elected actually caused all these problems with their lockdowns and deciding which jobs are essential and which weren’t. Yet THEY had a steady income courtesy of our TAXES. Am happy to have voted for Marvin Jeffcoat of Woodside. He’s got it all. A husband, father and veteran of the 82nd Airborne. Don’t hold it against him that he’s a republican.
Crime has spiked in red conservative states, counties and cities too. Who do we thank there?
The cops aren’t doing their jobs. They just stand around and refuse to help. City should fire every cop that doesn’t live in the city.