Mayor Adams Announces Formation of Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to Prevent Shootings

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE TO PREVENT SHOOTINGS BEFORE THEY TAKE PLACE

Man Up! CEO and Founder A.T. Mitchell to Co-Chair Task Force

Task Force Will Ensure Coordinated, Interagency Approach to Advance Upstream Approaches That Stem Tide of Gun Violence

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the formation of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, a comprehensive multiagency, cross-program effort to address the root causes of gun violence and prevent shootings before they take place. The new task force — formalized in Executive Order 19 (EO19) — will be co-chaired by Man Up! Inc. CEO and founder A.T. Mitchell and Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. Members will include First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phillip Banks, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David Banks, Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz, and members of various city agencies.

The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force will convene leadership from several city agencies, including the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and numerous others.

Members of the task force will meet regularly to solve problems in real time and ensure that all agencies are held accountable for making and keeping New York neighborhoods safe. Its scope includes engaging with communities most impacted by violence, identifying gaps in services and programming, expanding programs with a proven record of success into underserved areas, and fostering greater interagency and government/community collaboration. The task force will also work in close partnership with the Crisis Management System (CMS), which deploys credible messengers to mediate and de-escalate disputes before they become violent. CMS providers have proven to be successful in driving down gun violence in areas where they have been deployed: Between 2010 and 2019, program areas have seen a 40 percent reduction in shootings, compared to 31 percent in other areas.

Mayor Adams also announced that each city agency shall designate an anti-gun violence liaison, delivering on a key plank of his Blueprint to End Gun Violence, unveiled earlier this year. These liaisons will serve as the key point-of-contact for the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and CMS providers and will take immediate action to resolve any gun violence challenges related to their agency.

The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force is part of a broader comprehensive approach spearheaded by Mayor Adams to tackle the crisis of gun violence, in collaboration with partners both within and outside of government. Recognizing the myriad factors that contribute to gun violence, the strategy aims to enhance several programs and initiatives across all areas of government, including housing, public health, education, youth programing, economic development, and workforce development. Over the course of the coming weeks and months, the administration will roll out new policies to build on Mayor Adams’ groundbreaking investments to promote a holistic vision of public safety.

Since taking office, Mayor Adams has taken significant steps to invest in both interventive and preventive models of public safety, including:

• Unveiling the Blueprint to End Gun Violence;

• Expanding the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to 100,000 slots;

• Expanding DOE’s “Summer Rising” program to 110,000 seats;

• Introducing “Summer Boost,” which will provide summer enrichment opportunities to 25,000 public charter school students;

• Baselining $13.5 million in Fiscal Year 2023 for Fair Futures; and

• Rolling out the NYPD’s Neighborhood Safety Teams.

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