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North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

14 FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Mayor Adams Announces Multi-Agency Operation

to Address Urgent Public Safety and Quality-of-Life

Concerns along Melrose Avenue in Bronx

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY
ew York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York
City Police Department (NYPD) Com-
Nmissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and New York
City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
(DOHMH) Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle
Morse have announced a multi-agency response
aimed at addressing public safety and improving
quality of life in “The Hub,” a major commercial
center along Melrose Avenue in the South Bronx.
To maintain quality-of-life and public safety on the
corridor, the Adams administration launched the ef-
fort under its “Community Link” initiative, a collab-
orative, multi-agency response to chronic problems.
“Every day, we are working to make our city
safer and the best place to raise a family, and to-
day’s announcement will now bring our successful
‘Community Link’ model to ‘The Hub.’ Through
this multi-agency operation, we’ll work to address
substance abuse, mental health, homeless outreach, in communities across the city.” New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY),
sanitation, and other quality-of-life issues that pre- “At the Department of Health and Men- the New York City Department of Transporta-
vent this part of the South Bronx from reaching its tal Hygiene, we are committed to meeting New tion (DOT), and the New York City Department
full capacity,” said Mayor Adams. “Over the last 19 Yorkers where they are and supporting access to of Buildings (DOB), with all agencies focused on
months, ‘Community Link’ has responded to over evidence-based services,” said DOHMH Acting homeless outreach and maintaining street clean-
1,200 complaints and conducted 1,200 operations — Commissioner Dr. Morse. “I’m grateful to all of our liness. Additionally, the city works closely with
making these neighborhoods safer one action at a partners on the ground for their tireless work.” non-profit providers that have long-standing roots
time. Through these joint operations, we will contin- “We took a crucial step forward last week with in the community to deliver services and deepen
ue to improve quality of life on every block, in every the launch of our ‘Recovering Together’ initiative, community trust.
neighborhood, and in every borough across our city.” a bold and targeted effort to inform, invest in, and This announcement builds on an intensive surge
“Through our ‘Community Link’ initiative, the directly intervene in the communities hardest hit by Community Link in The Hub between October 3,
city has been guided by comprehensive, communi- by the opioid crisis,” said Bronx Borough President 2024 and November 3, 2024. During that time, DHS
ty-driven solutions to ensure that no neighborhood Vanessa L. Gibson. “Nowhere is the urgency clearer had 880 engagements and placed over 45 individuals
is overlooked or underserved,” said Chief of Staff than in the South Bronx — particularly ‘The Hub’ — in shelter. DHS outreach teams continue to canvass
and Deputy Mayor for Administration Camille Jo- where the devastating impact of this crisis has been the neighborhood every Tuesday through Thursday
seph Varlack. “We are proud to expand this program deeply felt. We stand with the residents, families, and and DHS’ non-profit provider Bronx Works oper-
to directly confront the longstanding quality-of-life businesses of this vital commercial corridor, ensur- ates in the area multiple times a day between Tues-
issues in ‘The Hub.’ For too long, the South Bronx ing they have the resources and support they need day through Saturday, ensuring there is always sus-
has had to deal with their challenges alone, but by to heal and rebuild. Through ‘Recovering Togeth- tained outreach by DHS in the neighborhood. DHS
working alongside our community partners and this er,’ in partnership with the Adams administration’s has also assigned crisis coordinators to the area to
broad coalition of agencies, I am confident that we ‘Community Link’ initiative, we are strengthening offer homeless outreach to individuals experiencing
will drive real change, and continue our work mak- our city’s commitment to public health and safety, homelessness.
ing New York the safest big city in the nation.” ensuring none of our communities are left behind. DOHMH has been working closely with com-
“When neighborhoods are plagued by quali- But this is just the beginning. The challenges we munity partners and service providers to engage
ty-of-life issues, New Yorkers simply don’t feel safe,” face are systemic, and while this announcement is a New Yorkers in the area who are struggling with
said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “This multi-agen- significant step forward, we will not stop fighting for substance use disorder by connecting them to care
cy strategy will address the problems that people are the long-term solutions our residents and families and resources to lead a healthy life. DOHMH funds
seeing every day on Melrose Avenue that contribute deserve.” four contracted syringe service programs to conduct
to this sense of disorder without unduly punishing Alongside the NYPD and DOHMH, the community engagement and daily outreach in the
people who are struggling with mental health crises. multi-agency effort also includes the New York area, and partners with local providers to promote
We know this model works and have seen the results City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the referrals to care.

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