Crypto News: Transit systems face funding threats over crime

The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding from New York City over what it perceives as rampant crime on the city's transit system. A letter sent Tuesday by US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy gives the Metropolitan Transportation Authority a March 31 deadline for outlining its plan for reducing crime and fare evasion on the city's subway. The MTA, which is anticipating $14 billion in federal money for its upcoming multi-year capital plan, says crime has declined 40% compared to 2020 and fare evasion has also improved.

But it's not just New York; Duffy has threatened to pull transit funding from several other major cities, including Chicago and Washington, DC, citing rider safety. Read more from Sri Taylor today on CityLab: Trump Administration Threatens MTA Funding Over NYC Subway Crime

— Linda Poon

More on CityLab

New York Subway Ditches MetroCard After 32 Years for Tap-And-Go
The transit agency estimates that ending MetroCard sales will save at least $20 million annually in production and distribution costs.

Can Progressive Planners Appeal to Conservative Principles?
Trump's approach to policies like NYC's congestion pricing isn't just irrational and wasteful — it defies the tenets of conservatism. But there are ways to reframe the issues.

How Istanbul's Mayor Emerged as Erdogan's Top Rival
Ekrem Imamoglu was detained by Turkish authorities, the same week Imamoglu was set to be named the presidential candidate of the main opposition party.

What we're reading

The subtext of a Trump official's letter to the MTA (New York Times)
Trump, Republicans make DC ground zero in their war on cities (Streetsblog)
The little-known 'Supreme Court justices' who decide your electricity rates (Climate Connections)
Three mayors walk into a public radio station, again (NPR/1A)
How one city cut its poverty rate by more than a third (Governing)