Hi, my name is Adriana "Bunny" Quezada.

I am an NYC native woman, born & raised in the heart of The City.

Over the course of 35 years, my experience on this system has been somewhat traumatic on different levels. This is my City's subway system- 

Of my ridership experience on the MTA subway I have witnessed girls and women being assaulted. Including myself, on three occasions.

In my presence, I have yet to watch without acting to protect our girls and women, myself. 

I am here to ask: "will you do the same"? The issues surrounding the misconduct, assault and sexual assault of our cities girls and women (including the girls and women who visit our great city as tourists and temporary residents). 

Will you join me in protecting our girls? 

Will you join me in meeting, speaking, organizing, and funding a path to resolution of the issues surrounding misconduct and sexual assault against our girls in NYC while riding the MTAs subway and bus systems?

How many of our City's girls (and girls visiting our City from all over the world)? Let's ask how many will it take before we pay closer attention to what's at the root of the problem? 

In my decades of experience, I have also encountered deep disrespect for women within the City's NYPD. 

An organization funded to meet quotas within the MTA's system, yet unable to curb this issue, which begs the question:

Why isn't there a public Town Meeting where we can break down and discuss these matters, just as the MTA has done with meetings regarding fare hikes?

Is this not a more pressing matter?

I'm open to talk about that. 

I'll begin by stating that fare hikes don't trigger me as much as the memory of an old white man with his hand on my crotch while riding the southbound 1 train at 11 years old. Yep, that's right. I said that.

MTA, your unethical subway advertising and irresponsible handling of subway misconduct and sexual assault occurrences, and misappropriated allowances for for NYPD officers to patrol our subway systems needs to be addressed. Monthly. Just as much as (if not MORE than) the regularly scheduled fare hike meetings. 

2020 has seen a rise in crime and surge of sexual assault and misconduct upon the girls and women of New York City. 

Let us not move into 2021 without tackling the roots of this very severe problem. 

I want for you to ask yourselves what happens when our girls and women are aggressively assaulted and sexually assaulted on the only form of rapid mass transit that allows for them to travel to and from their jobs, schools, medical appointments and everything in between? 

What do we tell these girls and women that need to take care of themselves? 

Ride an Uber? Ride a Citi bike? Walk the streets? Purchase a vehicle? 

All of these options still require one very particular component, SAFETY! Security! Empowerment! 

And, to be quite honest, support from you and me and the rest of the City. 

Particularly, because newsflash-

I’m one of those girls. At 11 yrs old I was sexually assaulted on the 1 train line SB to downtown Manhattan. 

Let me know now at over 35 years old- when will we actively work together to stop this? How will we stop this? 

It starts now – with more than just a conversation in a town hall meeting. We start now with a commitment!

Will you commit to this cause?

If so- I will be here at the table. 

 

Respectfully,

-Adriana "Bunny" Quezada.