New York Morning Roundup: Transit Outreach to Homeless People, School Weapon Seizures and a Stroller Fight on MTA Buses

New York began Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, with a mix of stories touching transit, schools, policing and national politics. Here is a look at the main items making news in the city.

Police officers and outreach workers have started a ramped-up effort to move homeless people out of the transit system and into congregate shelters. The approach has drawn mixed feelings from riders. A Queens commuter told The New York Times: "Ultimately, you want a clean, safe riding experience, but you don’t want it at the expense of kicking these people, who are real people, to the curb."

In schools, the NYPD said weapon confiscations in New York City buildings have risen 80% compared with levels from before the pandemic.

On the bus network, a group of mothers is asking New York City Transit to end the requirement that parents fold up strollers on MTA buses. They argue that the rule is a hassle and can be unsafe, since a parent may be trying to keep a baby or toddler from falling while the vehicle is moving.

Another report shed light on a lesser-known side of city policing. The NYPD contracts out off-duty officers to guard private businesses, and the practice has climbed to its highest level in more than a decade.

Beyond the city, former President Donald Trump drew attention on Tuesday for his comments about Russia and Ukraine. Referring to Vladimir Putin's declaration that a large section of Ukraine is independent, Trump said: "How smart is that?" He described Putin as "savvy" and suggested the United States should make a similar move in order to invade Mexico.

Rapper Cardi B also weighed in on the crisis in her own way. She said she is aligned with neither Putin nor NATO, and instead stands with "the citizens," who she indicated do not need this mess.

Elsewhere, a detailed personal essay describes what it is like to work as a content moderator for PornHub's tube sites. Those sites let users post their own videos, which contributors often come to regret and want removed. And in dining news, some expensive restaurants are now encouraging adult customers to draw on paper tablecloths with crayons.