New York leaders are facing growing demands for answers after two unrelated, unprovoked attacks on women in prominent public spaces over the past two weeks. The scrutiny is also landing on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul as she campaigns for reelection, with critics pressing officials for a clear public-safety response.
Hochul, who is being challenged by Republican Bruce Blakeman, has not publicly addressed the recent attacks.
One victim remains on life support after police said a stranger approached her during a run and stabbed her in the throat.
The NYPD told News Outlet that Katie Suarez, 28, was taken to a hospital after Friday evening’s assault on Brooklyn’s Shore Parkway Greenway. Police said she suffered “multiple stab wounds.”
Police said Katie Suarez, 28, was stabbed multiple times in the neck during an unprovoked attack while she was running along a popular Brooklyn path used by joggers and cyclists. (NYPD; Google Maps)
Suarez is a dedicated runner who has completed events organized by New York Road Runners.
“We were deeply saddened to learn about this horrific attack. Our thoughts are with her family and the entire running community,” a spokesperson for the organization said.
Suarez was not registered for this past weekend’s New York City Marathon. New York City Council Member Kayla Santosuosso represents southern Brooklyn.
In a statement to News Outlet, Santosuosso said, “I am horrified by the stabbing of Katie Suarez, and my thoughts are first and foremost with Katie and her loving family. Police Commissioner Tisch has personally assured me that the NYPD is using every available resource to identify and arrest the perpetrator. The promenade where this horrific crime occurred has been poorly lit for years, dating to well before I took office. We will work to ensure that planned renovations to the pedestrian bridge near the scene and to the promenade include adequate lighting.”
An NYPD officer walks toward the location where a woman was reportedly raped at knifepoint in Central Park. (FNTV)
Santosuosso described the recent violence targeting women as “deeply disturbing.”
“We should be able to walk and jog through our neighborhoods without fearing for our safety,” she said. “This is a serious and deeply personal issue for me, both as a woman and as a mother. I will do everything in my power to ensure southern Brooklyn remains a place where women can live without fear.”
Retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro said officials should begin with better lighting and expanded surveillance to deter further attacks.
“Lighting is important, but I would not stop there. I would also call for cameras—and very visible cameras.”
The goal, he said, is to make people feel they are being watched.
KEEP READING: Kalshi Pumps Millions Into New York Schools Amid Legal Fight
Mauro said Santosuosso’s emphasis on improved lighting “tacitly” echoes the broken-windows policing approach associated with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served from 1994 to 2001. The strategy focused on addressing minor offenses and public disorder in an effort to prevent more serious crimes.
In a separate incident, police said a 39-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in Central Park on Oct. 24, across from a stretch of multimillion-dollar apartments along Fifth Avenue.
The NYPD said a 39-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in Central Park. (Getty Images: Anadolu; FNTV)
The incident marked the fifth reported sexual assault in the park this year. No arrests have been made in either of the two recent cases.
The apparent lack of discussion about practical, street-level safety measures for New Yorkers has prompted sharp criticism. Critics have contrasted that response with the state’s forceful handling of more prominent incidents involving college students.
Last month, Hochul took the unusual step of appointing Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor in connection with an alleged gang rape at Cornell University. She also ordered State Police to assume responsibility for sexual assault complaints at the Ivy League campus.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a news conference on July 31, 2024, in the Bronx borough of New York. (Julia Nikhinson/AP Photo)
Hochul vowed publicly that the Cornell case would not be “swept under the rug.” Critics now say that same level of executive urgency has not been evident in response to attacks affecting New York City residents who use the city’s streets and parks.
James addressed the Suarez attack in a Monday post on X, writing: “This is outrageous and unacceptable. No New Yorker should have to fear such violence. I’m praying for a swift recovery for Katie, and keeping her family in my thoughts. I urge anyone with information to contact @NYPDTips.”
A spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office said, “The recent attacks on women across our city are horrific. Every New Yorker should be able to walk anywhere in our city at any time of day or night without fear of violence. The Mamdani administration is committed to ensuring that survivors are heard and supported—and that those responsible are held accountable. We will continue working with survivors, service providers and community partners to strengthen prevention, close gaps in services and confront gender-based violence.”
Neither the mayor nor City Council discussed increasing patrols, a notable omission in Mauro’s view.
“No one wants to acknowledge that effective policing keeps people safe because they need the police as an institution to attack,” he said.
With city leaders not publicly committing to additional patrols after the attacks, Mauro urged young women who live in New York or are considering moving there to understand the risks they may face.
“Young women, you need to understand what you are getting into because you are joining a city whose leadership does not prioritize your safety. They take it for granted and are willing to tolerate incidents like this in pursuit of a misguided ideological agenda that promises a socialist, egalitarian Shangri-La that will never arrive.”
News Outlet has contacted Hochul’s office for comment.
