CSSS: Campaign for Safer Subway Stations
Crimefighting Group Forms Due To Sexual Assault Of Asian-American Women
CSSS official press release

April 24, 2001

In the heart of Chinatown in lower Manhattan, on January 29, 2001 shortly after midnight, an Asian American woman was raped, beaten and robbed at the Canal Street Station of the #6/N/R trains. In order to transfer from the number 6 train platform to the N/R train platform, the victim had to walk through a long, deserted and isolated passageway, where she was assaulted.

In light of this recent crime, as well as the long history of sexual assaults of women at subway stations, a new community crime-fighting group has recently formed: the Campaign for Safer Subway Stations (CSSS).

Margarita Alcantara-Tan, Co-coordinator of CSSS, stated the group's mission was: "to develop public awareness popularizing preventative measures against crimes in the subway, to urge the New York City Government, MTA and NYPD Transit Bureau to make the Canal Street Subway Stations safer, and to pursue justice in the prosecution of sexual and violent predators in public places, especially the New York City subway system."

The victim of the January 29 sexual assault is a student at New York University. As a result, faculty, staff and students are mobilizing to bring about community awareness, and to target New York City officials, the MTA and the NYPD Transit Bureau to take more responsibility in securing the subway system. According to Ermena Vinluan, a member of FilCRA (Filipino Civil Rights Advocates) who is also a Co-coordinator of Campaign for Safer Subway Stations: "Our goals will be accomplished because our coalition has rallied not only the NYU community, but activists from various Asian, Filipino, feminist, and rape advocacy groups. These organizations are listed below.

Rocky Chin, a long time attorney with the NYC Human Rights Commission, spokesperson for the GRAND Coalition, and currently a City Council candidate, advised CSSS on the current struggle of the Chinatown community with the MTA regarding the Grand Street subway station, which will be using the Canal Street station as an alternative station while the Manhattan Bridge is repaired: "The MTA must be held accountable. Better Service and Passenger Safety must be made priorities in all our communities - including Chinatown & the Lower East Side!"

Ms. Vinluan had recent conversations with the office of Chief Michael Ansbro of the NYPD Transit Bureau where she learned of a survey that identified at least 11 subway stations that are security risks to commuters. "When I asked the NYPD for a list of these 11 subway stations they seemed to give me the runaround and no straight answer. But many New Yorkers already know of dangerous subway passageways in their very own neighborhoods or workplaces. These passageways should be secured with a combination of several of the following: closed circuit television monitors, warning signs, increased policing and/or closing off dangerous passageways during off-peak hours."

CSSS urges the public to write letters of concern or make phone calls to:

Hon. C. Virginia Fields
Manhattan Boro President
1 Centre Street
19th Floor-South
New York, NY 10007
phone (212) 669-8300, fax (212) 669-3380

Hon. Kathryn E. Freed
City Council, District One
51 Chambers Street
Suite 429
New York, NY 10007
phone (212) 788-7722, fax (212) 788-7727
email: freed@council.nyc.ny.us

Mr. Lawrence G. Reuter
President
MTA New York City Transit
370 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
phone (718) 330-4321, fax (718) 596-2146

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