New York City Mayor Eric Adams yesterday announced his “Blueprint to End Gun Violence” in New York City, which lays out numerous policy proposals to curb the scourge of gun violence plaguing New York City streets and build a safer, more just city for all New Yorkers. Elected officials and community leaders from across New York applauded the blueprint.
See below for what they are saying:
“Too many lives have been lost. Too many live in fear. We have a moral obligation to confront the gun violence epidemic, and that means working with leaders at all levels of government to keep New Yorkers safe,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “Glad to have a public safety partner in [Mayor Adams].”
“We have lost too many of our sons and daughters to the epidemic of gun violence," said U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks. "Mayor Adams' plan to combat this public health crisis is a real jolt of leadership at a critical time, and I will be a partner in this pursuit of public safety.”
“I am in full support of Mayor Adams’ ‘Blueprint to End Gun Violence,’ and I am ready to be an ally in getting it implemented,” said U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi. “Too many lives are being lost on our streets, and inaction is not an option. Mayor Adams understands the balance between intervention and prevention that is needed to save lives, and it will take all of us to make it happen.”
“We appreciate the mayor’s focus on the epidemic of violence our city faces and the need for multiple solutions, as the problem is complex and requires multifaceted approaches,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “An important way we can support the NYPD in its efforts to improve public safety is by expanding our commitment to complementary public safety work by other stakeholders in every city agency and community partner that can help prevent crime and violence — this plan starts to recognize that reality. We strongly welcome the mayor’s focus on strengthening community-based violence prevention programs, mental health care, and investments in youth employment — and we’re glad these are so central to the plan and conversation, providing a great starting point. The mayor’s advocacy for action on gun control in Washington and efforts to target gun trafficking is also critical.”
“We have lost too many loved ones to gun violence, and these incidents have traumatized families and created fear throughout the city,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “Combatting gun violence is a top priority for our office and I applaud Mayor Adams’ leadership, commitment, and focus on stopping gun violence. We will partner with him and all who will join us in the urgent tasks of getting drivers of crime off our streets, cutting off the flow of illegal guns to our city, and building up community-based supports for people who are struggling.”
“Gun violence is a public health crisis, an epidemic that we must end,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “Mayor Adams has laid out a plan to move us towards this vital goal, by stemming the flow of guns into our city, investing in the social services that are proven to prevent crime, increasing the clearance rate for gun crimes, and more. I am particularly heartened to see his commitment to expanding hospital-based violent intervention programs, and his focus on connecting those with severe mental health challenges to the services they need. I look forward to partnering with Mayor Adams to make our city safer, healthier, and fairer for all.”
“Gun violence results in devastating personal, family, and community trauma; that is why I welcome this cross-government approach to tackling gun violence,” said New York State Senator Leroy Comrie. “The key facets we must include are prevention, engagement for young people, stepped up resources for units focused on illegal guns and on gun trafficking — these elements constitute the kind of overarching approach to public safety New York City needs. I commend Mayor Adams for his comprehensive response, and I am committed to joining with my colleagues to help end the scourge of gun violence. We must ensure our shared communities secure the safety and peace of mind we all deserve.”
“I applaud Mayor Adams for this ‘Blueprint to End Gun Violence,’” said New York State Senator Diane Savino. “As he stated, we are all in this together. New York City, under his leadership, will tackle this head on, but they cannot do it alone. Albany must act, and I and many of my colleagues stand ready to work hand in hand and deliver on the changes he is calling for today.”
“Families should not have to worry that their baby is going to get hit by a stray bullet, or that their daughter will be shot while working the night shift,” said New York City Councilmember Eric Dinowitz. “The gun violence plaguing our city is causing irreparable devastation to New Yorkers, destroying families and tearing apart our communities. Mayor Adams’ ‘Blueprint to End Gun Violence’ outlines crucial steps in curing our city of this pervasive epidemic. As a teacher, I saw firsthand how important it is to invest in our school-aged youth with support systems and employment opportunities. Vital initiatives, like the Summer Youth Employment Program, keep our young people safe, and promote healthy social-emotional development that ultimately prevents senseless tragedies. I look forward to working with Mayor Adams on implementing important reforms and programs that uplift our community and our youth.”
“We’re in a public safety crisis, and our poorest, most disadvantaged New Yorkers are suffering the most,” said New York City Councilmember Oswald Feliz. “I look forward to working with Mayor Adams and Speaker Adams to resolve the issue of our time.”
“I’m pleased to read of Mayor Adams' efforts to remove illegal guns from our streets and offer more protection to the heroic men and women of the NYPD,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. “Our political leaders have our prayerful support as they work to protect the safety and dignity of every person’s life.”
“Black and Brown communities are under siege from out-of-control gun violence,” said Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, president, NAACP New York State Conference. “There are way too many illegal guns on our streets, and not enough resources to combat this public health crisis and save our at-risk youth. Mayor Adams and his administration should be commended for taking decisive action that balances public safety and justice, intervention and prevention. The NAACP New York State Conference looks forward to partnering with our mayor on this important effort.”
“On behalf of too many mothers who have lost their children to gun violence, I thank Mayor Adams for his decades-long commitment to combating this crisis, reflected in the comprehensive and thoughtful plan his administration has released,” said Devorah Halberstam, anti-violence activist. “I am ready to support our mayor in advocating for the common-sense proposals he has outlined, while continuing to work on the ground in the community to safeguard our young people.”
“Mayor Eric Adams’ plan is big, bold, comprehensive, and is going to make New York safer,” said David Greenfield, CEO, Met Council on Jewish Poverty. “As a former police officer, Mayor Adams understands what it takes to tackle gun violence and whether it’s new Neighborhood Safety Teams, putting more officers on patrol, reallocating mental health resources, or launching an unprecedented Summer Youth Employment program to give our kids a chance to succeed, this plan is going to build a stronger and more resilient New York City.”
“Domestic violence and gun violence are tragically linked far too often, as we just saw with the senseless shooting of two police officers in Harlem,” said Stephanie McGraw, founder, We All Really Matter (W.A.R.M.). “We stand with Mayor Adams as he takes on this public health crisis with his ‘Blueprint to End Gun Violence.’”
“On behalf of mothers and families across this city who have lost loved ones to senseless gun violence, I thank Mayor Adams for his bold leadership in our city’s hour of need,” said Jackie Rowe-Adams, co-founder, Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. “As our mayor says, ‘he’s not new to this, he’s true to this.’ Mayor Adams has been in our streets with us for years, shoulder-to-shoulder with activists and violence interrupters demanding an end to the violence. Now, in his first days as mayor, he is prioritizing this issue with a plan that is comprehensive and common-sense.”
