New York Governor Kathy Hochul came under fire on Sunday after boasting about her efforts to make the New York City subway system safer, just hours after a horrifying incident in which a woman was set on fire and burned to death aboard a train in Brooklyn.
The tragic crime occurred on an F train at the Stillwell Avenue station around 7:30 a.m., according to the NYPD, and has left many questioning the governor’s response to ongoing safety concerns in the subway system.
Hochul’s controversial statement came in an X (formerly Twitter) post later that day, where she highlighted measures her administration has taken to reduce subway crime. “In March, I took action to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day,” Hochul wrote.
She credited the deployment of 750 National Guard members, added last week for holiday crime prevention, and the installation of cameras in subway cars for a reported drop in crime and rise in ridership.
The timing of her statement, however, sparked outrage, as it was posted roughly eight hours after the subway tragedy had been widely reported.
The horrific incident involved 33-year-old Sebastin Zapeta, a migrant from Guatemala, who allegedly set a woman on fire and watched her burn to death. Details about Zapeta’s entry into the U.S. remain unclear, but sources indicated he arrived approximately a year ago.
Social media users were quick to call out Hochul’s insensitivity. Some responded to her post with graphic footage of the crime, while others highlighted its poor timing.
A community note was briefly attached to the post, referencing the subway killing. Among the critics was Melissa DeRosa, a former secretary to ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, who blasted Hochul for being disconnected from the issues on the ground. “Two people were murdered in the subway today,” DeRosa tweeted. “The governor of the state of NY is a tourist who can’t even bother to read a newspaper while she’s in town.”
The advocacy group AntiSemitism also weighed in, suggesting that Hochul “need[s] a new social media team” for allowing such an ill-timed post. Lori Mills, vice chair of the Ventura County Republican Party, directly addressed the governor, saying, “You must have missed today’s news.”
The subway system, a lifeline for millions of New Yorkers, has been at the center of ongoing safety debates. Hochul’s claims of improved conditions have been met with skepticism, as incidents of violence continue to grab headlines.
Critics argue that her reliance on National Guard deployments and technological solutions does little to address the root causes of crime.
This latest tragedy further intensifies scrutiny on Hochul’s leadership and priorities as the city struggles to balance public safety with maintaining its essential transit system.
Her remarks, seen by many as out of touch, have only added to the frustration of New Yorkers demanding meaningful change.
