Congressional lawmakers want answers about why subway security cameras failed during the Brooklyn mass shooting spree that injured 29 people.
Reps. Ritchie Torres (DN.Y.) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair of the Homeland Security committee, organized a bipartisan letter to Metropolitan Transportation Authority chair Janno Lieber asking the agency has done with the $50 million in federal security money over the past two years alone.
“We urge you to be more transparent regarding how your agency uses Congressional funding to secure the subway system and its riders,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers pressed for details about why the cameras in the 36th Street Station where suspect Frank James allegedly carried out the mass shooting were not working correctly.
Many of the estimated 10,000 security cameras are either not functioning or are not properly connected to video feeds that go to the NYPD for investigating crimes like the Sunset Park shootings.
“How much funding has been allocated to the MTA’s camera system, including maintenance, installation, and updating of the cameras?” the lawmakers asked.
Rep. Yvette Clarke (DN.Y.) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) also signed the letter, along with Rep. Garbarino (RN.Y.) and several other members of Congress.
The letter is also demanded to know whether and how often the camera system is audited either by the MTA or outside parties.
“The subway system is the lifeblood of New York City,” the letter reads. “Although the suspect responsible for this attack has been arrested, it is imperative that we have systems in place to keep riders safe and ensure attacks like this never happen again.”
The transit system has boasted that it has installed cameras in all 472 stations in the sprawling systembut many of them are not located on platforms.
The MTA has said that even though it owns and operates the cameras, the NYPD’s job is to maintain the video feeds.
Lieber blamed spotty internet service for the camera’s failure to capture images of James, who opened fire inside a subway car and then escaped leaving a bloody trail behind.
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James was arrested a day later and is now being held on a string of charges.