Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that New York City experienced a “perfect storm” of multiple crisis.

He said not only was the pandemic a major hardship for the city to deal with, but that it also allowed for an uptick in gun violence.

The mayor says the courts need to fully reopen as quickly as possible to help combat crime. According to the mayor, only 50% of firearms charges have gotten to the point of criminal indictments. The mayor says he sent a letter to the Chief Judge and five district attorneys, urging cooperation to get indictments.

To help combat and curb gun violence, the mayor says Nostrand Playground in Flatbush will be getting a new recreation center. The new center will include a pool, track, kitchen for cooking lessons and workforce development programming are all part of the plan. Resources taken from the NYPD budget will be used for the center and invested in the youth.

As dangerously hot temperatures continue across the city, Mayor de Blasio is urging New Yorkers to take it seriously. He says to look out for neighbors, especially the elderly. A total of eight more pools will open this Saturday and 200 cooling centers will open today and Tuesday with social distancing guidelines.