'Not safe for women: 'Real Housewives' star Leah McSweeney reveals why she wants to move out of NYC on 'Fox & Friends'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Leah McSweeney, a fashion designer and former reality television star, spoke to host Ainsley Earhardt about why she wants to move out of New York City on the Wednesday, April 3, episode of 'Fox & Friends'.
According to the former star of Bravo's 'Real Housewives of New York', it is the growing crime rates in New York City that led her to decide that the place, where she hoped to stay forever, was no longer safe to live in, Fox News reported.
Leah McSweeney shares safety concerns about living in NYC
"This breaks my heart because New York City is the best city in the world. But it is not safe right now, and it is especially not safe for women," she told Earhardt.
McSweeney recalled an incident her daughter and her friends faced, where they were approached by a stranger on the subway who threatened to kill them.
"A man came in and sat across from them and said, 'Shut the blank up, or I'm going to kill you and turn you into a pile of meat on the floor,'" said McSweeney, before adding, "She was scared to tell me because she knows I'm going to be nervous… she doesn't want to make me nervous, but she was scared."
She also spoke of spotting a man "smoking crack for breakfast" in broad daylight at Times Square earlier in the week in a clip posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Leah McSweeney accuses politicians of false claims about safety
Leah McSweeney felt that the city's politicians were to blame for the situation, as they continue to falsely assert that the Big Apple is "safer than ever."
Data from the NYPD shows that while the crime rate has been declining since the pandemic, some offenses such as homicides, robberies, and felony assaults have been up by 21%, 26%, and 35%, respectively, since the end of 2023. The thefts of motor vehicles in the city have nearly tripled, the outlet reported.
"The worst thing is we're being gaslit by the politicians who tell us that it's actually safer than ever, and it's not. I'm sorry, there's no way. I'm out there. I'm on the train. I'm walking around. It's not safe," stated McSweeney.
She has plans to relocate to Miami, and her daughter is browsing colleges in Florida.
"I never thought I would say that. I was like, ‘No, New York 'til I die,’ but I am just sick of the quality of life here. I'm hoping that things turn around, because like I said, this is the best city in the world, but the people who are in charge do not care. Mayor Adams is at Zero Bond, he's at Casa Cipriani. Help us," she added.
