New York State Dedicates More Than $23 Million to Stopping Gun Violence
New York's first woman Governor, Kathy Hochul, announced on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, that the state is dedicating $23.7 million to fighting gun violence. The money will provide job training, community activities, and intervention staffing to help curb gun violence. The funds will be used in areas plagued with high incidents of gun violence, like Buffalo. Gov. Hochul said,
Gun violence is a horror no one should have to live through, and yet too many New Yorkers do. It is time we put an end to this epidemic. We have to give young people hope and let them know their lives have meaning, which starts with creating jobs as well as more access to career training, working closely together with community organizations, and boosting gun violence intervention programs.
New York to Provide $16 Million for Workforce Development
The top 20 cities in New York impacted by gun violence will receive a share of $16 million, which will provide workforce training and job placement programs through workforce development organizations. These programs will help youth get the training, certifications and job placement to help encourage them to focus on employment. Hopefully, at-risk young people, ages 18 to 24, will be able to secure permanent jobs. Many community leaders I've talked to about gun violence say that young people need opportunities to make good money in order to keep them off the streets.
In addition to helping New York youth find gainful employment, the funds will also help to sponsor community activities. Grants totaling $5.7 million will be dedicated to sports, arts, skill development and other programs in areas with high incidents of gun violence,
These afterschool and weekend programs will provide young people with safe and enriching activities in their community Programs were recommended by county and legislative leaders in each community.
Finally, $2 million will help provide 39 more anti-violence outreach activist jobs and programs,
This funding will allow successful community-based gun intervention programs to increase their staff of credible messengers, who engage and mentor at-risk youth, host community events, work to steer young people away from gun violence, and respond to shootings to prevent retaliatory violence.