my theory from the distance is the NY dems are discrediting & bankrupting the MTA for an eventual privatisation

Its the pure, undistilled idiocy that somehow shifting further and further to the right will make Republicans think that they are cool even though everyone knows that they'll still call Dems commies. This just isn't a thing. Most of the time when the news is sensationalizing subway crime and show pictures of people who are captured on CCTV aren't wearing masks. This is more about creating the illusion that things are "normal". In a state that has cut funding to health care over the past two decades leading to the closure of hospitals, including right in the middle of a pandemic. If the bird flu breaks out into a full blown pandemic New York is going to be so fucked.