Youth Development and Employment Programs, Like the One Being Funded in Mayor Adams’ Announcement, Are Proven to Reduce Violence and Make Communities Safer
The New York chapter of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroot networks, released the following statement applauding New York City Mayor Eric Adams for announcing that the city will invest $236 million in funding to create 100,000 jobs as a part of the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Last month, Mayor Adams also released a blueprint to end gun violence in New York City, which highlighted a slew of community-based violence intervention programs. Mayor Adams was recently announced as one of ten new co-chairs of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a coalition of mayors advocating for life-saving gun safety reforms from local programs to state and federal legislation.
“Proactive, community-based solutions to gun violence are an essential part of fighting gun violence in New York City, and we are grateful to Mayor Adams for recognizing that and taking action,” said Sophia Lombardo, a volunteer with the Students Demand Action in New York City. “Employment programs provide much-needed economic opportunities to young New Yorkers throughout the city while acting as an effective violence interrupter in the most deeply impacted communities.”
In 2021, Everytown for Gun Safety published a fact sheet on the importance of funding summer youth employment programs. Summer youth employment programs in cities such as Boston, New York City, and Chicago have demonstrated that they not only boost employment, but also have longer-term impacts on crime. A study of New York City’s program cited in the fact sheet showed it reduces participants’ probability of incarceration by 10 percent (54 percent for those aged 19+), and reduces mortality by 20 percent at least four years post-program completion.
In an average year in New York State, 870 people die by guns, and 2,607 people are wounded. Gun violence costs New York State $5.9 billion each year, of which $321.0 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in New York is available here.