New York City Mayor Bill de
Blasio outlined a summer safety plan during a visit to Bronx Borough
Hall Wednesday.
De Blasio believes safety needs
to be the key focus if people want the city to make comeback after the
pandemic.
Prior to the summer months, the
mayor laid out a plan and announced big investments into the safe summer program
which he says is working.
The program is designed to
clean up city streets.
Compared to last year, gun arrests increased by 43% and
shootings decreased by 36%.
The murder rate is also down
from 2020 and 2019.
De Blasio also noted that the
safe summer program plans to target Brooklyn North, a crime heavy neighborhood.
Officials say they’ve been making strides in the Brooklyn
neighborhood with their approach and hope to bring the same strategy to the
Bronx.
In the Bronx, in an effort to
combat crime, the focus will be on gang takedowns, more gun arrests, precision
policing, deepening community engagement and supporting cure violence
organizations.
NYCHA housing complexes will
also be a major focus on reducing crime.
The Crime Stoppers reward has
been raised to $3,500 with the intention of getting more people to help solve
crime cases.