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AMERICANNewsline

16 AUGUST 16, 2024

Mayor Adams Announces Community Improvement

Coalition for Public Safety and to Enhance Quality

of Life on 14th Street in Manhattan

Coalition Includes NYPD, Homeless Services, Health, Sanitation, and Local Partners

to Create a Cleaner, Safer, and More Vibrant Neighborhood

OUR BUREAU

NEW YORK, NY
ew York City Mayor Eric Adams was
joined on Thursday by New York City Po-
Nlice Department (NYPD) Commissioner
Edward A. Caban, New York City Department of
Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch,
New York City Department of Homeless Services
(DHS) Administrator Joslyn Carter, and New York
City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene
(DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan to
announce a targeted multi-agency enforcement
strategy on 14th Street between 1st Avenue and
Avenue A in Lower Manhattan to protect public
safety and improve quality of life. Part of the Ad-
ams administration’s “Community Link” initiative,
the “14th Street Community Improvement Coali-
tion” is a result of an ongoing partnership between
the Adams administration and community partners
to address recent deterioration in the neighbor- and the ‘14th Street Community Improvement and I know how critical it will be to maintain this
hood, and is anchored by a $1 million investment Coalition’ precisely addresses these concerns — so that folks can continue to feel safe.”
for a new Mobile Command Center to be placed on enhancing quality of life and making the East Vil- The community is served by the 9th and 13th
14th Street, secured as part of the fiscally-responsi- lage safer,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administra- Police Precincts, where officers have worked dili-
ble $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted tion does not and will not tolerate an atmosphere gently and collaboratively to reduce crime and ad-
Budget passed in June. where anything goes. That’s why our multi-agency dress community concerns. Overall major crime in
The multi-agency coalition will work to ad- approach, working in partnership with local elect- the 9th Precinct has decreased 29.1 percent year
dress a range of public safety issues, including ille- ed officials and community members, will keep our to date, from 1,058 reported crimes in 2023 to 750
gal vending, retail theft, substance use, the mental streets safe and our businesses thriving, and we are reported this year. Overall major crime in the 13th
health crisis, beautification, cumbersome scaffold- already seeing an impact — with crime dropping Precinct has decreased 6.8 percent year to date,
ing that drives quality-of-life issues, unlicensed can- in both the 9th and 13th Police Precincts this year. from 1,016 reported crimes in 2023 to 947 this year.
nabis shops, and more. Over the past several weeks, Additionally, our efforts are being anchored by a $1 While the community has seen these substantial
multi-agency teams have been deployed on walk- million investment in a new NYPD Mobile Com- drops in crime, recent incidents have still caused
throughs to observe issues in real time and speak mand Center, which will maintain a visible pres- community concern.
with local community members and businesses ence and allow our law enforcement to be mobile The 14th Street Community Improvement
on the ground. They have also identified specific to meet the communities’ needs. I thank Coun- Coalition will also feature a $1 million investment
individuals in the area who may need connections cilmember Powers and Councilmember Rivera for for a state-of-the-art Mobile Command Center,
to services, such as housing or medical care, and their partnership on this important initiative.” secured in the FY25 Adopted Budget. The vehi-
make referrals to the appropriate city agency or “For years, I have called for solutions to ad- cle will initially be stationed in the vicinity of 14th
service provider. Additionally, to facilitate direct dress the persistent problems on 14th Street,” said Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A and the
lines of communication between the community New York City Councilmember Keith Powers. “I NYPD will maintain the flexibility to relocate the
and police, the 9th and 13th Police Precincts have live across the street in Stuyvesant Town and I walk unit as circumstances dictate. The Mobile Com-
established a WhatsApp chat with business owners this block every day. The ‘14th Street Commu- mand Center will be staffed by NYPD uniformed
on the East 14th Street corridor to identify and ad- nity Improvement Coalition’ is the type of effort officers and will serve as a central hub for law en-
dress issues in real time and offer a unique channel we need to maintain the progress made over the forcement operations in the area. It will have the
to respond to community concerns. course of the last month in cleaning up our neigh- capacity to facilitate communication and coordi-
“When we came into office, we had a clear borhood. I am grateful to Mayor Adams and his nation among officers — ensuring efficient and
mission: protect public safety, rebuild our econo- team for recognizing the need for these resources effective responses to all manner of quality-of-life
my, and make our city more affordable and livable, and allocating them appropriately. My neighbors conditions, incidents of crime, and major events.

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