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COMMUNITY OP-ED JULY 21, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

Keeping Our Communities Safe:

One Young Person at a Time

Shootings have declined by 24% in the first six months of 2023, and more generally, crime has fallen in five of the

seven major categories during the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2022

ERIC ADAMS

he old saying, ‘Prevention is
better than cure’ is truer than
Tever today. There are many
problems that we face now, which—if
we deal with them at the source—can
be handled effectively and with less
suffering. Gun violence among our Gun violence doesn’t take place in a vacuum. It occurs when young people lack a sense of purpose and turn to violence
young people is one of them. Our or other antisocial behavior instead (Representative/File photo)
administration’s historic $89 million
investment in New York City’s Crisis to the same period in 2022. We will their own lives around. They are young people on the right track with
Management System as well as land- continue to bring crime down and well positioned to defuse tensions summer enrichment and employ-
mark investments in our Summer keep New York the safest large city before they become dangerous, and ment programs that will keep them
Youth Employment Program and in the nation. can connect high-risk individuals challenged and engaged so that we
Summer Rising will give our young Our Crisis Management System to mental health services, job train- reduce the need for these kinds of
people a sense of purpose and keep deploys local residents, “violence ing, employment opportunities, and interventions later on. Our Summer
them engaged and safe. interrupters,” and community lead- more, giving young people a sense Rising Program serves 110,00 young
Our Crisis Management System ers to mediate disputes and connect of purpose and decreasing the risk people in grades K-8.
is based on a widely recognized pub- young people aged 16 to 24 most at of violence. Our CMS teams will Gun violence doesn’t take place
lic health approach to addressing risk of gun violence to mentorship. operate in 31 neighborhoods that in a vacuum. It occurs when young
violent conflict and aims to change Violence interrupters are often peo- account for more than two-thirds of people lack a sense of purpose and
New Yorkers’ attitudes towards us- ple with a history of violent behav- shooting incidents citywide. turn to violence or other antisocial
ing violence in tense situations. ior who have succeeded in turning We’re also getting more of our behavior instead. With the right so-
Taken together, our Crisis Man- cial-emotional skills, and with paid
agement System and the summer The program, which runs for 6 to 7 weeks starting on July 5th, and engaging internship opportuni-
programs will provide our young ties, our at risk-youth can turn their
people with the opportunities and will help students close the COVID learning gap and allow them to lives around. I should know. When
skills they need to build a better fu- enjoy a fun summer in a secure and supervised environment. It I was a young man, I got into trouble
ture and help prevent gun violence with law and now, I’m mayor of New
before it arises. allows our parents and caregivers to work without worrying about York City.
These efforts will build on our how their children will stay occupied. Our Summer Youth Employ- I want all our young people to
success in preventing crime: shoot- have the same second chance that I
ings have declined by 24% in the first ment Program will reach 100,000 youth this summer; it provides did, and for New York to remain a
six months of 2023, and more gen- paid opportunities in a variety of fields including business, tech, safe and a thriving beacon for all.
erally, crime has fallen in five of the
seven major categories during the and healthcare. Eric Adams is
first six months of the year compared the Mayor of New York City, NY

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