By: Ilana Siyance
Far Left Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán was criticized by a victim of subway violence for her response or lack thereof.
As reported by the NY Post, on Monday the attorney and politician known for her stance to ‘defund the police’, had tweeted that “Subway violence is a one-in-a-million event”. “As a believer in a violence-free NYC, I still think that’s one too many, but let’s not let fear-mongering politicians and corporate media outlets scare us into thinking we have a dangerous, scary public transit system,” Cabán tweeted Monday morning, posting a graph showing subway crimes statics. The comment was made in response to a graphic and violent video circulating which shows a mother-of-five viciously assaulted on the subway in Cuban’s own district of Queens. Cuban, a 35-year-old Democrat has served in the New York city council since the 2021 election. She represents the 22nd District, which includes northern Astoria in Queens, as well as parts of East Elmhurst, and Woodside in Queens, and Rikers Island which is part of the Bronx.
In response to Cuban’s tweet, attempting to downplay the incident, straphanger Elizabeth Gomes, 33, blasted Cabán, saying she must be in her own world. Gomes, who lives in Far Rockaway and works as a JFK airport security guard, was on her way to work on Sept. 20, when she was chased through the subway station by a crazed man who attacked her, threw her to the ground, and punched, kicked and pummeled her. She says she is still suffering from throbbing headaches more than a week after the attack, and may lose the sight in her right eye, as a result of the assault.
Gomes told the Post that she felt Cuban’s comments were out of touch. “The subway system is dangerous and for her to post something like that — it seems to me that she doesn’t ride the subway or have anyone to ride it. She doesn’t really understand what it is,” Gomes told The Post. “It’s just getting worse and worse.” “People are afraid,” she added. “People are getting robbed. People are getting shot. People are getting molested.” Gomes also noted that defunding the police is not a viable option. “We need protection. That’s what we’re looking for,” Gomes said. “That’s what the people are looking for.”
The NYPD had tweeted on Sept 24 confirming the incident and announcing the arrest. On the same day as the attack, police arrested ex-con Waheed Foster, charging him for the felony assault. Foster,41, had been convicted in 1995 for beating and killing his own grandmother. He had spent time in jail, but had other violent criminal history, including stabbing his sister and attacking three workers at the Creedmore Psychiatric Center, where he was a patient. He was currently on parole until November 2024. His criminal history and arrest were widely publicized last week, but Cuban had made no comments regarding the arrest.
Gomes wasn’t the only one to call out Cuban for her response. Councilman Joe Borelli, a Staten Island Republican, also slammed Cuban for her lax reaction. “I suppose it’s easier to deny that there is a problem, despite the fact we can all see it, then for my colleague to admit that it will only be through strong policing that we make the system better,” said Borelli. Scores of Twitter users also commented. “Sis. Have you BEEN On a train since 2020??? Cause. … I have and it’s very different than it was. So stop,” one user wrote. NYPD data shows felony assaults on the subway were up 19 percent for the year through August, compared to 2021.
