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COMMUNITY OP-ED NOVEMBER 15, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

Riding on Top of Trains Takes Lives

Two drones conduct patrols over the trains and officers look for anyone riding on top.

If so, the field team is notified, and as the train pulls into the next station, the train is

held so the individuals can be removed

ERIC ADAMS

ast week in New York City, a
young girl died, and another
Lwas seriously injured while il-
legally riding on top of a moving sub-
way train. As New Yorkers have seen
in far too many headlines — this is
not an isolated incident. The allure of
social media fame has lured too many
young people on top of trains, and
the consequences have been deadly.
What is worse, the companies whose NYC administration, in partnership with Governor Hochul and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, launched the “Subway Surfing Kills – Ride
algorithms promote this deadly con-
tent haven’t done nearly enough to Inside, Stay Alive” campaign in September 2023 (Agency Photo)
put an end to it.
Here in New York City, we’re We need your help to make this other social media platforms to ban never do it, they know someone who
doing our part to protect young New drone program work. No matter who these dangerous videos immediately just might try. If you are a young
Yorkers from the dangers of riding you are or where you see it, if you see — and to make sure that videos that person, do not encourage others to
atop trains. In November 2023, the anyone trying to get on top of a train, promote subway surfing are removed engage in this kind of risky activity,
NYPD started a program that uses call 911 and report it. You might save before they go viral. In fact, we sued whether in-person or online. If social
real data from 911 and 311 reports a young life by making that call — a the owners of TikTok and four oth- media algorithms push this content
of people riding on top of trains. life like Zackery Nazario, whose er popular social media platforms your way, don’t like it — report it as
The police department then deploys mother, Norma, joined me in Queens to ensure they take the impact they the danger that it is. And if you are a
drones and field teams to those areas to update New Yorkers on our drone have on our young people far more teacher, talk to your students about
based on the call data, during the program. Norma described Zackery seriously than they have been. staying safe and staying alive.
busiest days and times. as an old soul — his favorite artists In addition to the increased en- I was young in New York City,
Two drones conduct patrols were Nat King Cole and Frank Sina- forcement, our administration, in and I understand the pressures and
over the trains and officers look for tra. But at just 15 years old, Zackery partnership with Governor Hochul temptations of being a teenager.
anyone riding on top. If so, the field was killed riding on top of a subway, and the Metropolitan Transit Au- But I want every young person to
team is notified, and as the train goaded there by social media. Nor- thority, launched the “Subway Surf- think about what riding on top of
pulls into the next station, the train ma carries his funeral card with her ing Kills – Ride Inside, Stay Alive” trains really means: the possibility
is held so the individuals can be re- everywhere she goes. campaign in September 2023. It fea- of death. Don’t think about the likes
moved. Since the NYPD began con- Norma said that social media tures young people talking to their and clicks; think about your family,
ducting these operations, there have has a role to play, and they’re not peers about the dangers of subway in grief, thinking about the life you
been over 1,000 drone flights that fulfilling their responsibilities. She’s surfing. never got to live.
have helped stop those riding on the right. From 2021 to 2022, there was But we also need every New Stay safe, New Yorkers. And do
top of trains. More importantly, our a 366 percent increase in people rid- Yorker to play their part in fighting not, under any circumstances, ride
officers have helped save the lives of ing outside the subway. Those who this deadly trend. If you are a parent, on top of trains.
114 individuals — ranging from nine host and financially profit from that talk to your children now about the
years old to 33 years old, with the av- content must be held responsible, dangers of riding on top of trains. Eric Adams is the Mayor of
erage age being 14 years old. and I have called on Tik Tok and Even if you think your child would New York City, NY

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