New York Cuts Almost 500 Open School Crossing Guard Jobs

The NYPD eliminated almost 500 open school crossing guard positions, a move that could have a negative impact on child safety on the city’s already dangerous streets, writes Gersh Kuntzman in Streetsblog NYC. 

“As Streetsblog reported in an award-winning investigation last year, on school days, there are 57 percent more crashes and 25 percent more injuries per mile on streets near schools than on the city’s other streets,” Kuntzman writes. “Drivers killed at least 24 children heading to or from school between 2012 and 2022.” 

Meanwhile, “The overall number of crossing guards already is down from more than 3,000 in fiscal year 2019 and even if the remaining 117 vacancies are filled, there will still be more than 700 fewer crossing guards.” 

Kuntzman points out that the danger extends to the crossing guard job itself, which pays little more than minimum wage. “Interviews with current and former guards painted a picture of grueling, dangerous work. The guards, mostly women of color, said they have been spit on, cursed at and threatened by drivers. Nearly all said they have been almost hit by drivers. Leaders of the union that represent the guards estimated that ten of them have been injured by drivers since 2014. At least two city crossing guards have been killed on the job by drivers.”