Mayor Adams releases new plan to end gun violence

Mayor Eric Adams announces a new plan to end the rising gun violence crisis in New York City. The Blueprint to End Gun Violence plan was released earlier this week after two police officers were fatally shot in Harlem while replying to domestic violence call. 

The mayor’s approach to ending gun violence includes putting more officers on patrol, launching the Neighborhood Safety Teams, formerly known as the Anti-Crime unit, and using new technology to identify suspects with guns. In addition, Adams plans to assign anti-gun violence coordinators to every city agency. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, gun violence across the city continues to rise. The homicide rate in New York City surged to nearly 500 per year in 2020 and 2021 compared to 319 in 2019. The number of shooting incidents has also increased by almost 40% in the past two years, NYPD data suggests. 

“Gun violence is a public health crisis that continues to threaten every corner of our city,” said Mayor Adams in the statement released with the plan.

As a former NYPD captain, Adams puts a great emphasis on improving public safety. However, his plans to revamp the Anti-Crime unit with police officers dressed as civilians faced resistance from other government officials and NYC residents. 

The Anti-Crime Unit was involved in a third of fatal police shootings and has been long criticized by civilians. Mayor Adams promised to provide Public Safety units with additional training, supervision, and monitoring to avoid “the challenges of the past.”

“We pray for all the victims of violence and their families who are suffering, but we are going to do more than pray — we’re going to turn our pain into purpose. Public safety is my administration’s highest priority, which is why we will remove guns from our streets, protect our communities, and create a safe, prosperous and just city for all New Yorkers,” Mayor Adams said in the press release. 

Resources:
“Mayor Adams Releases Blueprint to End Gun Violence in New York City,” (New York City, 2022)

“The Blueprint to End Gun Violence,” (New York City, 2022)

“New York City Mayor Adams unveils plan to end gun violence,” by Barbara Goldberg and Julia Harte (Reuters, 2022)

“NYC Gun Violence: Retired Detective & John Jay Professor Weighs In On Mayor Adams’ ‘Blueprint’,” by Aundrea Cline-Thomas (CBS Local New York, 2022)

“Adams Unveils Ambitious Plan to Confront Rising Gun Violence,” by Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Ashley Southall (The New York Times, 2022)

“Police Department City of New York CompStat,” (NYPD, 2022)

“Eric Adams Wants To Bring Back The NYPD’s Most Controversial Unit,” by George Joseph And Gabriel Sandoval (Gothamist, 2021)

“Plainclothes NYPD Cops Are Involved In A Staggering Number Of Killings,” by George Joseph, Liam Quigley (The Intercept_, 2018)