Governor Cuomo announces creation of 4,000 youth jobs in NYC to combat violence

Clem Onojeghuo / Unsplash

Against the recent great wave of violence in NYC, Governor Andrew Cuomo reiterated this Wednesday that he will immediately take command to stop the violence in a "structural way," naming the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, as one of its main "partners" in this crusade. In addition, it announced the development of 4,000 employments for young people in violent regions.

The Governor and the mayoral candidate met with members of the clergy and community-based violence-disrupting organizations at Lenox Road Baptist Church in East Brooklyn to discuss how to set up retaining walls against the powder and blood baths that continue to increase throughout the city.

One of the state's most significant measures for reducing gun violence, according to Cuomo, is reaching out to at-risk children "before they enter the pipeline of the system."

“Once that first arrest, that first record happens, then you are the slippery slope,” he added.

Cuomo claims that community groups are aware of who is getting into trouble and can “stop the cycle before it starts.”

To do so, these community organizations will require tools and resources to carry out their duties.

Cuomo stated, "I believe the product of today is that we save young lives."

“Eric Adams and I will work very well together,” Cuomo remarked, adding that they share the same progressive Democratic political ideology.

Curtis Sliwa, a Republican mayoral candidate, held his own press conference on gun violence on Wednesday afternoon.

He chastised Cuomo and Adams for neglecting to recognize law enforcement or include officers in their strategy to reduce gun violence, which was revealed on Wednesday.

Sliwa said he would have hired more police officers with the money Cuomo is earmarking for the employment program and termed the press conference a PR event to repackage programs that failed in the 1990s and push Adams as the anointed mayor, despite the fact that he has yet to win the general election.

Cuomo's multi-pronged effort to address a surge in gun crime across the state, particularly in New York City, includes the summer employment project.

The governor stated that the job effort will focus on high-crime areas in New York City, where the bulk of shootings have occurred. Cuomo stated that the state will work with community groups to reach out to at-risk youth in certain areas.

According to the governor, the project is divided into three sections. The first section focuses on career options for 15- to 24-year-olds, including temporary summer jobs and full-time permanent positions with training in a variety of disciplines. The second component is community-based services resources, and the third component is assistance for violence interrupters and outreach initiatives.

Cuomo's plan is a "compliment" to President Joe Biden's federal anti-gun violence measures, according to Adams. Last Monday, the mayoral candidate met with Vice President Joe Biden to discuss gun violence.

According to the NYPD, there have been at least 811 gunshot occurrences in New York City this year, with at least 945 casualties, compared to 650 shootings with 796 victims at the same time last year.

The number of suspects and victims under the age of 18 is also up this year compared to 2020, according to a police spokeswoman.

79 gunshot victims were under the age of 18 as of July 11, compared to 50 in the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, according to NYPD data, at least 43 shooting suspects were under the age of 18, up from 28 in the same period the previous year.

Last week, Cuomo labeled the state's gun violence a tragedy, while Sen. Chuck Schumer remarked on Sunday that gun violence was on the rise in New York and across the country.

The Justice Department announced plans to send a task team to New York City in late June to assist address the increase in shootings.

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