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 statement applauding the New York legislature for approving a new state budget, including more than $200 million in funding for gun violence prevention programming. This action comes after both chambers adopted and built upon Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive budget plan as part of their proposals in March.
“In order to prevent gun violence, we need meaningful investments in proactive, life-saving strategies proven to fight this crisis at its source,” said Sandra Rougier, a volunteer with the New York chapter of Moms Demand Action. “This substantial level of funding will enable New York to take transformative steps toward ensuring the safety of all New Yorkers. We thank Governor Hochul, Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie and the legislature for their work on this budget and for once again reaffirming their commitment to end gun violence.”
“Mount Vernon communities struggle every day with the specter of gun violence, and are always in need of valuable preventative resources,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. “The budget approved by the legislature will ensure that cities like my own will not only be given access to the tools and funding to combat this crisis, but also make that support sustainable and impactful. I’m grateful to the legislature and Governor Hochul for their continued commitment to public safety.”
The final approved budget includes the following funding:
- $20.1 million in increased funding to SNUG, to expand hospital-based and street outreach programs to touch all corners of the state. It will facilitate the piloting of several new initiatives which provide wrap-around services for youth, including job-readiness and work-placement training.
- $1.5 million in addition funding for gun violence prevention, street outreach, and SNUG expansion to grantees approved by the Senate and director of budget.
- $20 million in new funding to support the people and places that have been most impacted by the spike in gun violence. This will allow the deployment of innovative community empowerment and crime-reduction programming that will facilitate the repairing and rebuilding of communities impacted by gun-related crime.
- $7.3 million in new funding for community safety and restorative justice. The funds will go to support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, gun violence prevention, legal services, alternatives to incarceration, community supervision and re-entry initiatives, gang and crime reduction strategies managed by local governments and/or community-based not-for-profits service providers.
- $18.1 million in funding to Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative which supports local law enforcement efforts to stop the gun violence in New York. This investment will enable the launch of several new initiatives which will support law enforcement’s ability to clear non-fatal shooting cases, engage in youth-centered community programming, and reduce recidivism for individuals under community supervision.
- $50 million in funding for a grant program to meet the needs of communities most impacted by gun violence by supporting capital investments related to innovative crime-reduction strategies.
- $15 million in funding to increase the state’s gun violence intelligence resources by staffing the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC) with a team of analysts necessary to track and investigate crime guns across the state.
- $500,000 to support the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, under the Department of Health. Data collected on gun violence will be used by the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to track emerging gun violence hotspots and deploy resources to those areas that need it most.
- $31 million in Aid to Localities for services related to state and local crime reduction, youth justice and gang prevention programs, including but not limited to street outreach, crime analysis, research, and shooting/violence reduction programs. $2.5 million will be carved out specifically for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
- $35 million to support the creation of a 988 crisis hotline, to support safe mental health crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
- $25 million in Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) funding, a competitive grant program that provides up to $50,000 in funding to boost safety and security at New York’s nonpublic schools, community centers, and daycare facilities at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission.
In an average year in New York, 870 people die by guns and an additional 2,607 people are wounded. Gun violence costs New York $5.9 billion each year, of which $321 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in New York is available here.
