Page 20 - The Indian EYE 022423

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 20

COMMUNITY OP-ED

Keeping New York The Safest

Large City in America

My goal in tackling crime is to be proactive—to take guns and dangerous individuals off our streets,
as well as offer alternative solutions like jobs, education, and violence prevention programs to

neighborhoods that are most affected by gun violence

ERIC ADAMS
A
year into my administration,
New York City remains the
safest large city in America.
We are following through on a 360-de-
gree approach to fighting crime that
includes both strategies for investing
in our communities and excellent po-
licing.
Thanks to two years of tireless
efforts and coordination between the
NYPD Gun Violence Suppression
Unit and the Violent Criminal En-
terprise Bureau, on February 14th,
we announced an 85-count indict-
ment that charges 23 gang members
in Queens with conspiracy to commit
murder, attempted murder, reckless
endangerment, and gun possession.
Eight of the men had fired a weapon
previously. All of them had no re-
gard for others’ lives or safety.
The indictment covers eighteen
acts of gun-related violence that Creating a safe city requires excellent policing as well as a system of support that provides hope, opportunity,
took place in and around the Asto- and meets our most vulnerable New Yorkers’ needs
ria Houses and the Woodside Hous-
es. The gang members fired their District Attorney, Melinda Katz, for Shootings are down, murders are childcare, affordable housing, and
weapons in broad daylight next to also playing a crucial role in bringing down, and major crimes were down parks. Addressing these basic neces-
an ice-cream truck, in a courtyard about the charges. last quarter for the first time in six sities goes a long way toward solving
and at a playground. Children were quarters. We have the highest mur- the root causes of crime and suffer-
present and on one occasion, an in- My goal in tackling crime is to der clearance rate since 1998, and ing. A recent study shows that New
nocent bystander was injured. The the third highest clearance rate in 32 York City spends more on this kind of
senseless violence was the result of be proactive—to take guns and years. So far this year, shootings are care relative to criminalization than
feuds on social media and threaten- dangerous individuals off our down 20.9%, and between January 1, any nearly every other major city in
ing rap videos—but the online activ- 2023, and February 12, 2023, we’ve the nation.
ity spilled over into real life with real streets, as well as offer alter- seized nearly 900 firearms. Creating a safe city requires ex-
consequences. I have said this before: native solutions like jobs, edu- This is no coincidence. These cellent policing as well as a system of
gangs plus guns equals graves. No numbers are the result of a strategic, support that provides hope, opportu-
one should have to fear for their life cation, and violence prevention data-driven enforcement plan, and nity, and meets our most vulnerable
as they go about their daily life. No programs to neighborhoods the NYPD has also utilized existing New Yorkers’ needs. Our administra-
one should have to fear for the safety resources to increase patrols in key tion is taking all the steps necessary
of their children while they are play- that are most affected by gun neighborhoods throughout the five to tackle comprehensively tackle
ing in a playground or courtyard or violence. This is intervention, boroughs and strengthened detection crime and create an even safer New
buying ice-cream. efforts. By the time guns get into the York for everyone.
Along with the NYPD’s units and prevention. wrong hands, we are too late, so we
and Commissioner Sewell, we are are also investing in systems of com- Eric Adams is the Mayor of
New York City, NY
grateful to the office of the Queen’s And our efforts are bearing fruit. munity care like mental health care,

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