Following Death of 13-year-old in Queens, Andrew Cuomo Doubles Down on 5-Point Plan to Confront Gun Violence Epidemic
“We take for granted that in a big city these things are going to happen, but we also know that there are things that we can do that can make it better. We know there are strategies that work. These are not new problems that are appearing. That's why experience is important. Learn from the past. Well, should you invest in police or should you invest in the community? You must do both.” - Andrew Cuomo
New York, NY – Andrew M. Cuomo, candidate for mayor of New York City, today doubled down on his 5-point plan to confront the surging gun violence epidemic across New York City following the tragic death of 13-year-old Sanjay Samuel, who was shot in broad daylight in front of a donut shop on Linden Boulevard in Cambria Heights, Queens. His death follows a string of other high-profile shootings in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.
“We take for granted that in a big city these things are going to happen, but we also know that there are things that we can do that can make it better,” Cuomo said. “We know there are strategies that work. These are not new problems that are appearing. That's why experience is important. Learn from the past. Well, should you invest in police or should you invest in the community? You must do both.”
The 5-Point Plan
5,000 More Police Officers & Retain Experienced Officers with Incentive Pay
Restore NYPD staffing to 1990s levels with an immediate infusion of 5,000 officers, including 1,500 dedicated to the subway system. Recruitment and retention incentives will ensure adequate coverage, stability, and experience on the force.
Workforce & Youth Employment Programs
Invest in opportunity as prevention. As Governor, Cuomo funded $16 million for workforce development in 20 gun-impacted cities and $12 million for 2,400 youth jobs in NYC, part of a $154.7 million state commitment to violence reduction. As a mayoral candidate, Cuomo has already pledged $100 million for New York City workforce development and employment training. These programs help break the cycle of violence and provide productive pathways for young people.
Violence Interrupters & Community-Based Approaches
Scale proven community-based programs like Save Our Streets (SOS) and other Cure Violence initiatives. Cuomo will add $50 million in city funds to bolster these approaches. A recent analysis found such programs reduced shootings by 14%, preventing an estimated 1,300 incidents in New York City.
Gun Buyback Programs
Expand citywide gun buybacks to get firearms out of circulation and prevent future tragedies.
Precision Policing
Focus policing and programs on the small percentage of individuals driving the majority of violent crime, and the small number of hot-spot areas where most crime takes place. Use intelligence, data, and technology to maximize impact while protecting civil rights.
Full Rush Transcript of Cuomo’s Remarks below:
Hello. Good afternoon to all of you. Thank you for being here. Today is one of those days where New Yorkers learn their patience to be patient, with the UN General Assembly in town. I would like to talk about Sanjay Samuel, who is a 13-year-old who died this morning, whose parents made the decision to pull life support. He was shot two days ago, 13 years old, walking through a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot. Someone on a scooter pulls up. We have an argument, one shot to the head, and he's dead at 13 years old. Ironically, this happens in Queens near Linden Boulevard, Cambria Heights, not far from where I grew up. Same place, same location as Kevin Lamont. 13 years old, get shot and killed. They named part of Linden Boulevard after Kevin Lamont. We take for granted that in a big city these things are going to happen, but we also know that there are things that we can do that can make it better.
We know that. We know there are strategies that work, and that's true about so many problems that we face. We have dealt with these issues for decades, and you learn, right? These are not new problems that are appearing. Learn from the past. That's why experience is important. Learn from the past. Well, should you invest in police or should you invest in the community?
No, you must do both. You must do both. Invest in police – 5,000 additional police.
Why? Because we have one of the smallest forces we have in modern political history right now. 5,000 police brings you back to full force post David Dinkins, Rudy Giuliani. Invest in police 1,500 in the subways and invest in the community. The community groups know the community. They know the gangs. They know who's fighting with who. They know where the next possible point of friction is going to be.
Work with them in partnership. It's not police versus community. It's police and the community working together. Now, do you have to get past the distrust between the two? Yes, of course you do. But that's the way we're going to make a real difference. And what I want to do is, yes, hire the 5,000 police, 1,500 police in the subways. Yes fund violence, interrupters, what they call SNUG groups. Anti-gun violence groups, and job placement. Job apprenticeships. Here's something to do. Here's a reason for optimism. Here's a reason for hope. You're on a good track. Here's something to do to stay off the corner and join again, you have to marry those two, the police and the community interest. And I would do that literally by starting with the meeting precinct by precinct, where you put the top brass of that precinct at the table.
Top community leaders at the table for that precinct and say, let's talk about it. There are issues of trust. Let's talk about it. Let's work it through, get past that. And then let's start to talk about the substance of the issue and what's going on and how can we make it better. And I would start each one of those meetings, the 77 precincts in New York City, 77 meetings, precinct by precinct. Sit down, air it out. Alright, uh, you are upset with me. You think I slighted you? Let's talk about it. Get past it. And then how do we work together to help the community and bring down the virus?
It works. It works. I worked when I was at HUD, I did this with cities all across the country. It works. It's labor intensive. It's 77 meetings. It is difficult initially. There's a lot of distrust, there's a lot of pent up resentment. But it works. And we have to do it. And we have to do it now. Public safety is job one. Why that expression? Public safety is job one. Because if you are not safe or you feel your family's not safe, nothing else matters. How much rent am I paying? It's important to me, but the safety of my daughter is more important. Safety of my family is more important to me. How's the public education system? It's important, but safety is more important to me. And we want to be able to say, you, your family, your loved ones. You are safe when you're in New York City.
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