Gov. Kathy Hochul is announcing nearly $36 million in record-level funding to reduce gun violence in the state of New York.
The money is going to nearly two dozen counties outside of New York City.
The announcement comes as her office highlights a 19% decline in shootings statewide throughout August compared to this same time last year.
The funding is part of the Gun Involved Violence Elimination, or GIVE, initiative, which supports 28 police agencies, as well as sheriffs’ offices, probation departments and district attorneys’ offices.
G.I.V.E. is administered by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Executive Deputy Commissioner Joseph Popcun says it’s been operating for “about 13 years.”
“G.I.V.E. works now in 21 counties where we have most of our violent crime involving firearms,” said Popcun. “So, it’s roughly 90% of the violent crime by firearm outside of the city.”
G.I.V.E. funds personnel, overtime, equipment and technical assistance.
This is a breakdown from the governor’s office of the funding with Western New York and the Finger Lakes region seeing the highest amounts:
- Western New York: $9,014,185
- Finger Lakes: $6,579,486
- North Country: $448,027
- Central New York: $3,598,127
- Southern Tier: $1,667,774
- Mohawk Valley: $1,539,256
- Capital Region: $5,102,896
- Mid-Hudson: $5,419,607
- Long Island: $2,618,625
G.I.V.E. requires participating agencies to have a comprehensive plan supported by evidence-based strategies to reduce shootings and firearm-related crime.
“Those strategies look different for each of the communities,” said Popcun. “It’s everything from crime prevention through environmental design. So, ‘hey we need to install lighting, or we need to cut shrubberies, or we need to tackle urban blight.’ In other communities, it’s street outreach.”
Since taking office in 2021, Hochul’s administration says the G.I.V.E. initiative has contributed to a 67% decrease in shootings involving injury throughout the state.
In a statement, the governor said in part:
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority – and with record investments and strong partnership with law enforcement, we’ll keep driving down gun violence to record lows. I remain committed to working with law enforcement and all stakeholders to ensure safer streets and communities for families throughout every corner of our state.”
In addition to upstate communities, the governor’s office said gun violence is also down in New York City with a 58% decline since 2021.
Source: spectrumlocalnews.com
