Eric Adams, the new Mayor of New York City has had a tough few weeks. The biggest issue he is dealing with? Gun Violence. The situation in New York City is out of control. And if we don’t watch, it will spill over into the suburbs though some say it already has.
Mayor Adams earlier this week issued ‘The Blueprint to End Gun Violence.’ Google it. It is a comprehensive report that everyone involved in the Criminal Justice System needs to read. Citizens of New York.The cop on the street. Those who work in our Court Systems including the Judges. Mental Health professionals. State Legislators and the Governor. Local Elected officials and Judges. Members of Congress and while we are in Washington, President Biden too.
Why? Because let’s be clear. The problem, a long time in the making is not going to be resolved unless everyone works together to resolve it. You always like to give the new guy a chance but we are at the point of break. If everyone doesn’t work together, more companies will move out of New York and it’s suburbs. More people will move out. Fewer people will visit New York and it’s suburbs out of fear. The already Covid fragile economy will plummet.
Do I like to write about guns? Probably as much as I like writing about liverwurst. But I’m tired of reading headlines like I saw in this paper last week. ‘Attempted Cop-Suicide Results in Police Shooting and Injured Officer. I’m tired of New York City Police Officers getting killed and injured in the line of duty. Officer Jason Rivera, 22 years young shot and killed while responding to a domestic incident in Harlem. A second officer, Wilbert Mora, 27 years young has died as I sit writing this column. Please keep these officers and their families in your prayers.
Some of those involved in solving this problem are bitching and moaning about the details in Mayor Adams report. It’s up to us to keep the pressure on them to put the common sense solutions Adams outlined into action. Whether it be our State Legislators who came up with this crazy bail reform everyone agrees is a disaster to to a Court System with a backlog of 4000, yes 4000 gun cases. And as the saying goes, if they can’t stand the heat get the hell out of the kitchen!
Let’s take a look at some of the common sense solutions Adams has come up with. We need to put roadblocks on every river and entrance to New York City and it’s suburbs to keep guns out. We need more police on the streets, not fewer as some were advocating several years ago. Adams proposes Neighborhood Safety Teams in the 30% of the precincts where 80% of the violence occurs. A good place to start.
Officers Uniformed and those without uniforms with body cameras so we can make sure when a crime occurs, the officers are doing their jobs. Nothing is perfect, but we have the technological tools in 2022 to be sure things are being done correctly.
The New York State Police were sent to New York City as a punishment to former Mayor Bill DeBlasio as he wouldn’t play along with Andrew Cuomo. You remember the former Governor of New York State who resigned over a litany of misdeeds too long to list. Adams proposes to expand the partnership with New York State Police who are responsible for patrolling our roads coming into the city and suburbs which is how many illegal guns arrive. State Police can do spot checks at points of entry.
So many of those roaming the streets of New York have mental health issues. Our Mental Health system in this country is broke. On a practical level you and I can understand. Due to low reimbursements from insurance companies it was practically impossible to find mental health services whether it be a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker who accepted your insurance prior to Covid. Forget it now.
Adams proposes to take the millions, probably over a billion dollars DeBlasio and his wife wasted in the ThriveNYC program to provide support for the homeless on the street. He wants to revisit laws to get people impacted with mental health illness the help they need. When Doctors and Judges recommend hospitalization for the mentally ill he wants it to happen.
Adams promises Judicial appointments to consist of individuals who vow to keep violent criminals who use guns off the streets. 16 or 17 year olds arrested on gun charges? Law enforcement would ask the individual where they got the gun. No answer? Their case goes to Criminal Court versus the current Family Court.
Can you believe if you sell 10 or more guns in a year it is a Class B Felony? Adams wants it lowered to 3 by State legislation defining the possession of 3 or more guns as evidence of gun trafficking not just merely gun possession.
The New York State Courts are a disaster where Adams wants reform. In 2019 there were 405 criminal verdicts. In the first half of 2021 a mere 18! Crazy or what. Backlog of 4000 gun cases. Incredible!
Adams wants Lawyers, Public Defenders, Legal Aid, Assistant District Attorneys back into the court rooms. The 6 foot distancing rule in the courts should be changed to 3 feet just like it is in our schools. Good enough for the kids, good enough for the grownups.
With the current bail reform legislation Judges don’t have the tools to keep the community safe. He wants judges to take dangerousness into account when detaining a defendant. We constantly read about the revolving door letting those who should be in jail out. And judges who want to keep inmates incarcerated because of the danger they pose to society without the legal tools to do so.
While Brooklyn Borough Presidents Adams started the ‘Safe Shopper’ program expanding camera technology to catch criminals. He wants to take the program city wide. Hopefully this will stop some of the shoplifting we see and hear about not only in New York City but in communities throughout Westchester. Sadly retailers say it’s part of doing business. And stores have big signs telling customers not to shop in the reusable bags they bring into stores. Why? Because people are bringing in reusable bags, putting their groceries in them and walking out without paying. In previous columns I warned you about that.
Adams proposes to increase Crime Stopper awards, the cash rewards for anonymous information leading to arrest. It works around the world. Why not New York?
I’ve only touched on a small number of the ideas in the Adams report. I highly recommend that you Google it and read it. I doubt there will be much you disagree with.
The gun violence situation in New York can turn a progressive Democrat like me into a Conservative. That will probably happen to you no matter where you fall on the political spectrum. The only way we will solve gun violence in New York whether it be in the City or throughout the State is for all those that are part of the solution to step up to the plate, acknowledge when they were wrong and collectively work together to make the city and state great again.
If you are a player and part of the solution and not willing to come to the table, the nationwide unemployment rate is low. There is a big demand for individuals with Commercial Drivers Licenses to transport goods and services. Pay is pretty good. And you really can’t destroy a city, the suburbs and a state in desperate need of help.
Again, please pray for Officers Rivera and Mora and their families. And pray for the safety of Police Officers in Yonkers, Westchester, New York City, New York State and our country!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
