The city of New York has yet to publicly launch a school safety hotline that was promised at the start of the academic year by the Adams administration. Despite previous statements indicating that the tip line would debut in the fall, there have been no official announcements or updates since an October City Council hearing. The New York Post tested the line and found that it was answered by police officers on the Juvenile Crime Desk, but further inquiries revealed that the city Department of Education and NYPD had not publicly posted the hotline number, which was disconnected. This delay has frustrated DOE sources who believe that numerous incidents could have been prevented if there had been a way to report safety concerns.
During a meeting in September with Mayor Adams and city Schools Chancellor David Banks, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban promised the public that they would be able to call or text a hotline in the fall to report school-related threats or safety concerns. The DOE even created a poster with instructions for people to report unsafe conditions or threats directly to the police by texting or calling a 917 phone number. The cost of manning the hotline is unknown, but critics argue that the city has a history of failing to deliver promised school safety improvements, such as a $43 million plan to install a remote door-locking system at 1,300 public schools, which is behind schedule and plagued with glitches.
Recent incidents of violence on school grounds, including stabbings and weapons seizures, have heightened concerns about student safety in New York City. In December, three students were stabbed in a week at schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn, while weapons seizures at schools increased by 7% between September and December compared to the same period in 2022. Just this week, four students were stabbed and slashed in separate fights on high school grounds in the city. Public school parents have criticized city leaders for the lack of communication about the status and launch of the promised safety tip line, insisting that it is the responsibility of leaders to follow through on their promises.
Spokespeople for the DOE and the mayor’s office have directed all questions about the tip line to the NYPD, who cited unforeseen technical issues as the reason for the delay in launching the hotline. They reassured the public that they are working to resolve these issues as soon as possible. The frustration and concern among parents, students, and community members regarding school safety in New York City remains high, especially in light of recent violent incidents on school grounds. As city officials work to address these challenges and implement promised safety measures, there is a growing urgency to prioritize the well-being and security of students in the education system.
