On January 15, 2022, Michelle Go was pushed in front of a subway car and killed in Manhattan, New York. She was about to enter the subway in Times Square when Martial Simon, a homeless man, shoved her in front of the oncoming train. Go was remembered as a travel lover, a very intelligent and smart friend by neighbors who were devastated by the accident. It was revealed that Simon was on parole for a previous sentence when he pushed Michelle Go, and was sent to a mental hospital to receive evaluation. Although the case sounds quite unusual and unbelievable, this was not the first time that an innocent person has faced such danger at the hands of others in the subway station. Data from the MTA shows that by November, 14 people were pushed into the subway in 2020 versus only seven the year before. This clear increase is not only connected to homeless individuals living in the city, but a stigma and failure to treat those with mental illness. Unfortunately, many people are not able to receive adequate care for mental health related issues, not taken as seriously as physical injury or illness. In the case of Michelle Go, Martial Simon had experience in the legal system before with a drug charge, and “…was previously found unfit to stand trial following a psychiatric evaluation in 2019” (New York Times). His case was never reexamined due to his problems, and the officials failed to take this individual off the street and treat his mental state. His sister also made a statement following his arrest, that “…he has been in and out of mental hospitals for more than 20 years, and said she once begged a hospital not to release him due to his potential for violent behavior” (New York Post).

So what can be done about these incidents and people deemed dangerous due to mental illness? Over 20 years ago, Kendra’s Law was passed to help get severely ill people off the subway after Kendra Webdale was pushed in front of a train by a man with schizophrenia. NYC mayor Eric Adams has commented on his desire to expand this law, and specifically enforce it after this chain of subway shoving incidents, which focuses on accessibility of psychiatry and medication. Adams has expressed his focus on mental health outreach, communication with police, and increasing space in psychiatric hospitals, in hope of getting more people the help they desperately need. In addition, Governor Hochul is working to send mental health experts into the city in order to help the increasing number of mentally ill and homeless individuals, a dozen teams that can work to address this issue. Let’s hope that the promises of New York’s leaders are fulfilled, and the city can be made a much safer place for transportation and mental health recovery.