Councilmember Erik Bottcher is demanding that the city restore police staffing levels in Hell’s Kitchen and surrounding neighborhoods, warning that officer shortages are hampering public safety and weakening community ties.
In a letter sent last month to Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Bottcher outlined significant drops in police headcount across three key precincts that serve Hell’s Kitchen. The 10th Precinct, stretching from Manhattan Plaza to Hudson Yards west of 9th Avenue, experienced a 33% reduction in personnel, dropping from 142 officers in 2019 to just 95 in 2025.
Similarly, Midtown South, which covers Times Square and areas east of 9th Avenue and south of W45th Street, saw its ranks shrink by 27%, falling from 316 officers to 232. The most dramatic decrease occurred in Midtown North, where staffing levels plunged 41%, from 251 officers to 147. Midtown North covers the majority of Hell’s Kitchen north of W43rd Street and spreads across Midtown to Lexington Avenue.
“These reductions have made it more difficult for precincts to respond quickly to 911 calls, prevent burnout, and maintain neighborhood-focused policing,” Bottcher wrote. He emphasized that the community is not calling for more aggressive enforcement, but for “steady, reliable coverage that deters crime, responds quickly to calls, and builds positive relationships with residents and businesses.”…