New York increases surveillance with new speed camera order

Thanks to a new law signed last month by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, two thousand speed cameras across New York City will now operate 24/7, an increase from 6 AM – 10 PM. 

Hochul says this is for residents’ safety. 

“New Yorkers deserve to feel safe on our streets all day, every day,” she tweeted Monday. “Speed cameras prevent crashes and save lives. Starting today, thanks to a new law I signed last month, they’ll operate 24/7 in New York City.” 

The unelected governor also recently signed legislation enforcing strict gun restrictions in a vengeful response to a June Supreme Court ruling deeming the state’s concealed carry laws unconstitutional and violations of the Second Amendment. 

This, too, was to keep New Yorkers safe. 

When asked for the data justifying her decision, Hochul explained she “doesn’t need” data, saying only that she has a responsibility to “protect the people.” 

“Do you have numbers to show that it’s the concealed carry permit holders that are committing crimes?” WRGB news anchor Anne McCloy asked Hochul at a press conference last month. “Because the lawful gun owner will say that you’re attacking the wrong person, it’s really people that are getting these guns illegally that are causing the violence, not the people going and getting the permit legally and that’s the basis for the whole Supreme Court argument. Do you have the numbers?” 

“I don’t need to have numbers,”Hochul replied. “I don’t need to have a data point to point to. All I know is that I have a responsibility to the people of this state to have sensible gun safety laws, and this one was not devised by the Hochul administration. It comes out of an administration from 1908. I don’t need a data point to make the case that I have a responsibility to protect the people of this state.” 

New York City residents, who now find themselves unarmed and under increased surveillance, also remain under a strict vaccine mandate which only allows employment to those injected with the COVID-19 shots, for their own safety. 

Hochul came under fire Monday after a report by Times Union revealed that Russ Maxwell, a “significant” donor to Hochul's campaign, has won a $1 billion-per-year state contract. Maxwell also hosted a fundraiser for Hochul in April.