New Yorkers are no strangers to the need for safety. In the 1970s we saw communities destroyed by crime and drugs, widespread gang violence, organized crime, and the breakdown of public services.  The response to that was mass incarceration and deeper investments of police as a means to create safety while we failed to strengthen our social safety nets. This created visible safety for many; however, it simultaneously further destroyed certain communities. Black neighborhoods, like Brownsville, make up the highest rate of gun violence in the city,  and are under-resourced. Many people in these communities have had direct interaction with law enforcement, or a loved one who has been through the carceral system.  We have made progress in reform, but more action is needed to ensure all communities are safe, not just those with more resources.

The social determinants of health such as poverty, unstable housing, lack of quality education, and healthcare are strongly correlated to higher crimes. Therefore, to truly turn the tide, we need to take a strategic and public health approach to structurally address safety in communities.

1. Urban gun violence continues to pose significant challenges within our communities. Increased investment in Cure Violence initiatives is essential to support effective prevention and intervention strategies. Credible messengers are not a replacement for police and shouldn’t be treated as such; however, they allow people closest to the problem to be part of the solution.

2. Funding for targeted workforce development like apprenticeship programs, and tech and AI workforce programs.

3. Arresting people into jail remains the de facto way for certain communities to receive some semblance of mental health care. That speaks less about the person being incarcerated and more on the government’s ability to create an ecosystem that provides care for the spectrum of needs.

4. I will advocate for State and city coordination to roadmap the mental services in the city and state, so that funding can go towards services that work and strategically fund the gaps.

5. We need to close the Medicaid reimbursement gap to address the chronic underfunding of hospitals, including for behavioral health care. Hospitals currently receive 70 cents for every dollar spent on care.

6. Pass legislation that reforms the punitive sentencing laws, and abolishes slave labor in prisons that still exists within our constitution as part of punishment for criminal activity.

7. Invest in supportive housing and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated people, so they stop the cycle of incarceration.

8. Deeper investments in victim services and anti-violence programs.

9. Eliminate the legal doctrine known as “qualified immunity” that prevents law enforcement officers from being sued for violating the civil rights of individuals.

10. Continue to push for accountability and build relationships with precinct police through joint community events and continued presence at the community precinct council meetings. We can’t legislate our way to a better culture, so we need to prioritize transparency and relationship-building.

11. Advocate for funding so that every NYCHA building has a dignified, accessible and safe community center.

12. Increase funding for local community gardens and urban farms, including space in NYCHA developments. Research shows that one in five Black households live in a food desert without access to a farmers market and fresh fruits and vegetables.