Manhattan President Seeks Subway Sex Harassment PSAs

The president of Manhattan today will release a report calling for a new public service campaign about sexual harassment and assault in the city's subways, and for greater enforcement to prevent the problems before they start.

The recommendation is based on a month-long, citywide survey that found 63% of subway riders have been sexually harassed — defined as unwelcome sexual advances or conduct — and 10% have been sexually assaulted, defined as nonconsensual sexual acts. According to the report, 70% of crimes occurred during rush hour. "There's been this credo that what happens underground, stays underground," Manhattan's president, Scott Stringer, said. "We have to make it clear to the people who do this kind of thing that if you harass somebody, or you assault somebody, you're going to end up as part of our criminal justice system."

The online survey also found that 96% of riders do not report crimes they witness. The executive director of a transportation safety group, Oraia Reid, said perpetrators continue their behavior because they are aware it will go unreported. Ms. Reid, who co-founded RightRides for Women's Safety, said a lack of available information and education about reporting the crime discourages many victims and witnesses from alerting the authorities.

"In my own experience, it's very difficult to report, ‘Hey somebody just groped me,'" Ms. Reid said. "There's very little that one can do to feel empowered about taking action for themselves."

The New York Police Department's Transit Bureau has made 119 arrests for sexual abuse and lewdness on subways so far this year, a department spokesman said. A spokesman with MTA/New York City Transit said the use of video cameras in subway cars is being explored.

Mr. Stringer will submit the report to the NYPD and MTA today.