Rattled New Yorkers expect 'absolutely nothing' from Biden's NYC visit

Residents of New York City have felt the impact of rising crime, but expect “absolutely nothing” to come from President Biden’s Thursday meeting with the recently-elected mayor of the Big Apple.

Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland landed at New York’s JFK Airport Thursday afternoon ahead of his meeting with Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul to discuss the city’s surging gun violence crisis and assess a "comprehensive strategy to combat gun crime.” The policymakers are scheduled to meet at NYPD headquarters in Manhattan later in the afternoon.

But Biden’s trip comes at a difficult time for NYC and thousands of police officers from across the country recently traveled to Manhattan to pay their respects to fallen NYPD officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, who were shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call last month.

Just last week, 15 people were shot and 8 were killed – with gun violence up 32% in New York City, Fox News reported.

Last year, New York City saw 485 people murdered (up from 2020) and also witnessed a sharp rise in almost all categories of major crimes – including hate crimes. Additionally, subway crimes are up 65% in the first two months of 2022.

"I think it's a total waste," one woman said of the president’s visit to the city. "He's going to do absolutely nothing to help New York City."

"I cannot believe what’s happened in this city," one resident told reporters. "Crime is out of control."

"I know people who won't get on the subway," another woman said. "People rearrange their day around it…it definitely has an impact, especially for women."

One woman who owns a business in Manhattan said, "My customers, they're very afraid, after 5 o'clock, to walk in the city." 

"My mom calls me every night, she’s scared to go out," a construction worker relayed. "Unfortunately, where she lives at, crime is up in the Bronx."

"A lot of people are doing bad," the man continued. "You know, COVID – when people don't have money, crime goes up."

One woman said crime was on the rise, even before the pandemic struck.

"When they passed the bail and discovery laws, the state legislature passed them, Cuomo pushed them through, and it's changed everything," she said, referring to ousted Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

But when residents were asked if they thought the president’s visit would bring positive change, many appeared skeptical -- at best.

"Every president, they sell dreams. Let’s see what happens."