New York Lawmakers Make Historic Investment in Public Safety Measures To Fight Gun Violence; Everytown, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action Applaud

New York State Government Will Invest More Than $300 Million in Public Safety Measures to Combat the Gun Violence Epidemic, Including Over $100 Million Will Be Allocated To Community Violence Intervention Programs

New York — Today, the New York chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statements applauding New York State Government’s adopted budget, which makes historic investments in public safety measures to combat the gun violence epidemic. Lawmakers have committed to invest historic funding in public safety measures to combat the gun violence epidemic, including over $100 million in community-focused funding. 

“We applaud our lawmakers for their collaboration and leadership to make the needed investments to protect our communities from gun violence,” said Pamela Hight’s, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action and Fellow with the Everytown Survivor Network. Pamela’s son Ya-Quin English, was shot and killed on Christmas Eve in 2013 and other son, Jermaine Hight, was stabbed and killed in June, 12 2016.“We know that combating the gun violence epidemic in our state requires a multi-faceted approach and we are grateful to see a historic amount of funding allocated to community violence intervention programs — the programs doing the everyday boots on the ground work to keep our neighborhoods safe.” 

New York’s budget will allocate the following funds for public safety: 

• $84.1 million for youth employment programs, of which $37 million is for programs in Gun Involved Violence Elimination jurisdictions  
• $70 million for communities to respond to the aftermath of gun violence, of which $50 million is for community capital needs 
• $31.4 million for alternatives to incarceration program
• $31.1 million for crime reduction, youth justice and gang prevention programs
• $25.9 million for State Police Community Stabilization Units
• $25 million for the SNUG Street Outreach program
• $16 million for Crime Analysis Centers
• $11.5 million for reentry services

While there is no one solution to end gun violence, community violence intervention programs play a key role in making cities safer. Community-led programs have been shown to reduce gun violence in some of the most heavily-impacted neighborhoods. Leaders and lawmakers must create community-driven, evidence-informed implementation plans to ensure that resources are efficiently meeting the needs of the neighborhoods they are intended to serve. 

In an average year in New York, 939 people die by guns and 1,991 people are wounded. Gun violence costs New York $11.4 billion each year, of which $301.2 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in New York is available here.