BP MARKOWITZ STATEMENT ON VIOLENT CRIMES, EFFORTS TO COMBAT VIOLENCE IN BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOODS

“At a time when Brooklyn is being lauded as one of the greatest places to live, work, play and visit in the world, not all Brooklynites are sharing in our borough’s incredible growth and progress. We’ve seen too many incidents in Brooklyn, including senseless youth and gun violence and a resurgence in gang activity that is endangering not only our young people, but their communities. It is unacceptable that, despite an overall decline in crime rates, some of our neighborhoods are still falling prey to these despicable acts of violence. My office has been developing a long-term community-based initiative that addresses these critical issues and provides a support network for residents in our most vulnerable neighborhoods. Meanwhile, in response to Friday’s fatal shooting near P.S. 298 in Brownsville that left a mother dead and two others wounded, including an 11-year-old girl, I am convening a meeting of community leaders and elected officials at Borough Hall to discuss immediate actions we can take to stem the tide of violence in Brownsville and beyond. Brooklynites—particularly our younger residents—shouldn’t have to live in fear in their own neighborhoods, and it’s up to all of us to find solutions to make Brooklyn safer for everyone.”