Gothamist reports:
New York will declare a gun violence “state of emergency” as part of a new initiative aimed at addressing the surge in shootings that has accompanied the pandemic. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the “first-in-the-nation” executive order during a speech at John Jay College on Tuesday, laying out a new seven-point state strategy “to do with gun violence what we just did with COVID.”
The disaster declaration could free up funding and expedite programs intended to reduce shootings, including a summer youth employment program that would create up to 21,000 jobs. As part of the $138 million investment, the state will also expand a hospital-based violence interruption program and create a new state police unit to intercept guns smuggled into New York.
Read the full article.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has made an unprecedented move to help end gun violence, declaring a new state disaster emergency. @HSanchezTV has the details of his plan. https://t.co/rk2x7q0As4 #nycshootings
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) July 6, 2021
The move means New York can bolster its law enforcement presence and take a variety of steps to curb the growth this summer in gun violence. https://t.co/NVBrL8YDAb
— TheLeader (@TheNewsLeader1) July 6, 2021
Gov. Cuomo declared a gun violence state of emergency hours after Mayor de Blasio touted new crime stats showing a drop in shootings and murders last month.
Cuomo laid out a 7-point state strategy “to do with gun violence what we just did with COVID.”https://t.co/iAkPekiBgd
— Gothamist (@Gothamist) July 6, 2021