New York City Councilman Robert Holden (D), who is backing Republican Curtis Sliwa for mayor, accused city officials of manipulating crime statistics to make conditions look better than they are. In a Friday interview on Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show, Holden said he believes the city is “playing with the numbers” and reclassifying crimes to downplay the surge in violence and disorder since the pandemic.
Holden’s remarks came after Kilmeade pressed him about the contradiction between official reports claiming crime is down and the reality residents face daily. Holden emphasized that New Yorkers see through the statistics: “We see what’s going on, and we see that we need to make a change.” He added that despite city leaders’ assurances, quality of life has sharply declined in recent years.
The councilman pointed out that crime data appeared to shift suddenly at the end of last year. He said numbers that had been consistently high for seven to eight years were abruptly revised, fueling his suspicion that the city is reclassifying incidents to make trends appear more favorable. This echoes concerns in other major cities, including Washington, D.C., where lawsuits have been filed demanding access to accurate crime records.
Holden, a Democrat representing Queens, has long criticized progressive policies that he says have worsened public safety. By endorsing Sliwa, he broke ranks with his party, arguing that New York needs a leader in the mold of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who aggressively tackled crime during the 1990s. Holden praised Giuliani as “the greatest mayor of the city of New York” and suggested Sliwa’s approach would bring similar results.
Skepticism over official crime reporting has grown as residents across the five boroughs continue to report increased theft, drug activity, and random violence on the streets and subways. Despite city leaders’ claims of progress, surveys show that public confidence in safety remains low. Holden’s comments highlight a growing divide between the lived experiences of New Yorkers and the statistics touted by city hall.
