A Too Common Threat

A quick introduction to the deterioration of our once great cities.

The Precarious, Terrifying Hours After a Woman Was Shoved Into a Train

Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy has been partially paralyzed and is in critical condition…Her story embodies New York’s post-pandemic fears and challenges.

For days after Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy was shoved against a speeding subway train on her way to work, she lay in intensive care at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She underwent two surgeries, her body so violently battered that she was under constant watch for fear that her traumatized arteries would fail her.

On Thursday, Ms. Ozsoy remained partially paralyzed, but was gathering strength, testing her remaining mobility and cognizant of everything that had happened to her since early Sunday morning when a man thrust her head into the train as it pulled out of the Lexington Avenue/63rd Street station…

My wife and I returned from an Alaskan cruise on Sunday the 21st. Reading this article Sunday morning brought back one of the more unsettling events on an otherwise spectacular 10th anniversary vacation.

We flew up to Seattle the day before the cruise to play tourist for a day. Also we quite frankly don’t trust the airlines these days to get somewhere on time, and we didn’t want to miss our ship. After checking into our Airbnb in a beautiful area of the city, I suggested (tells you how smart I am) we take the subway to go shopping and dinner. After walking a half mile, we got the tickets fairly easily and boarded our train car. That’s when things got dicey.

A homeless male approached my wife, got within inches of her body, and aggressively demanded, “Got money!” I’ve never had something like this occur in my life, but I immediately got into a crouch position. If he did anything more than speak, I would take him down. Fortunately, after she said, “No,” the man walked off. He then accosted every other person on the train with the same request, “Got money!” and was declined every time. After making no salary for the day, he forced his way through four other riders to the exit, started slamming the door and screaming.

As the train stopped, I told my wife, “Hold it! I want to know where this dude is going.” He got out and entered the car right behind us. We got out, exited the subway station, and never rode it again (Uber liked us that day).

Back to the initial confrontation, the second thing on my mind was, “S*&^, I may become the next Daniel Penny” (Full disclosure, I’ve donated to Mr. Penny’s legal defense fund). Fortunately that nightmare did not occur. But it could have.

For my entire life, I’ve not lived in areas were taking public transportation is a practical requirement, such as New York City or Boston. While driving to work has its own challenges (reckless drivers, accidents, etc.) at least you don’t have to deal with physical threats while you’re in motion (as opposed to when stopped at a stop sign, etc.). But there are millions who deal with this threat every day. And if they take action to defend themselves (or others, see Mr. Penny above), they are the ones at risk of criminal or civil sanction. What is wrong with this picture?

Our major cities have deteriorated in the last few years. Policing has become more restrained due to being targeted by overzealous and politically motivated prosecutors. With little or no fear of being held accountable for their illegal actions, criminals have become more aggressive. Multiple stores in San Francisco, formerly one of the greatest cities in our country, are leaving because law breakers are stealing them openly with no fear of punishment. Criminals are openly jumping subway turnstiles in New York in a manner not seen since the disasters of the 1970s.

What is the result? People are voting with their feet. Businesses are leaving downtowns in multiple major cities, as they embrace remote and hybrid work. Remote employees don’t have to deal with criminals or the mentally ill while trying to make a living. And seeing politicians like Alvin Bragg try to prosecute a former president and instructing his office to not prosecute criminals as opposed to enforcing the law, former major city residents are getting out fast.

Back to my wife and I two weeks ago. Again, I didn’t need to take an action, but I was ready. However, what happens the next time a Jordon Neely assaults another senior citizen? If the police will take no action and the prosecutors will not send a case to trial, the only course left is by the people themselve. Handle the person (see Mr. Penny) or leave the cities until all you have left are the criminals, the mentally ill, people too poor to leave and the ultra-rich who can afford private security (e.g., Michael Bloomberg). You can’t support a city, or a society, like that.

Michael A. Thiac is a retired Army intelligence officer, with over 23 years experience, including serving in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. He is also a retired police patrol sergeant, with over 22 years’ service, and over ten year’s experience in field training of newly assigned officers. He has been published at The American Thinker, PoliceOne.com, and on his personal blog, A Cop’s Watch.

Opinions expressed are his alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of current or former employers.

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