Former New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly has expressed grave concerns over the declining quality of life in New York City, attributing the downturn to a surge in crime, a lack of effective leadership, and various public safety issues.
Speaking on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats Roundtable,” Kelly spoke about issues ranging from subway crime and a visible shortage of police officers to the reckless use of scooters and challenges posed by the migrant crisis.
During the interview, Kelly shared an encounter with a London visitor who echoed his sentiments about the city’s leadership vacuum, saying, “It looks like there’s nobody in charge.”
Kelly, who is the longest-serving police commissioner in the city’s history, served under Mayors Mike Bloomberg and David Dinkins. He pointed to the sight of migrants outside the Roosevelt Hotel intake center and the prevalence of “mentally deranged” homeless individuals as key indicators of the city’s deteriorating condition.
The former commissioner also lamented the impact of widespread shoplifting, which has led to goods being locked up in stores.
Kelly expressed his concern over the state of subway safety, noting a recent murder on the D train and the overall decrease in ridership since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Given the current climate of fear surrounding subway use, he questioned the effectiveness of the newly introduced $15 congestion toll in encouraging people to use public transportation.
“The quality of life in New York has really deteriorated. Scooters are everywhere. They’re on the sidewalks. They’re going through red lights. You have to look 360 degrees before you cross the street,” Kelly remarked.
The former top cop added, “I’m pessimistic, certainly, about the short-term situation as far as New York is concerned.”
He mentioned that recruiting new police officers has become challenging due to a combination of understaffing and the negative perception of law enforcement.
Kelly criticized the current administration’s policies, including a consent decree that he feels unduly restricts police officers’ ability to manage demonstrations.
He stated, “The Police Department is way short of police officers. It’s been hemorrhaging police officers actually since the death of George Floyd.”
Kelly continued, “They can’t recruit officers. People don’t want to become a cop these days. They know the restrictions. They know that police officers have been demonized and vilified throughout the country, but certainly in New York as well. They see the assaults on police officers. There are no consequences.”
He also noted Mayor Eric Adams’ controversial decisions, such as agreeing to provide pre-paid credit cards to asylum-seekers under a no-bid contract.
Kelly called for a more sensible approach to handling the migrant crisis and criticized new state laws limiting where licensed gun holders can carry firearms, arguing that such measures only benefit criminals.
While acknowledging a decrease in murders and shootings, Kelly stressed that crime has increased in other categories, emphasizing the need for stronger leadership and a reevaluation of public safety policies.
