On Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $39 million plan seen as “the largest state investment in any county eligible for funding” to crack down on a dangerous wave of crime in Rochester.
The funding is split into multiple baskets including a “record level” $6 million investment into a “gun-involved violence elimination” initiative.
Big Spending
In response to a growing wave of safety concerns from Rochester residents, Hochul is investing $24 million in taxpayer dollars into strengthening police effectiveness for their law enforcement agencies.
“This year, the agencies in Monroe County asked the state for 24 million dollars to upgrade their equipment; that’s a lot of money. But we came through with every penny of that 24 million dollars to help upgrade their equipment,” said Hochul.
What Will the Money Be Spent On?
Rochester Police and other Monroe County law enforcement agencies will be gifted the funding to purchase equipment like license plate readers, mobile camera systems, body cameras, and new smart technology for enforcement vehicles.
Hochul is also directing state police to “commit up to 25 additional state police personnel ao assist the City of Rochester police department.
Other Programs
An announcement by the governor’s office details that $4.9 million will be spent on “community-based organizations that address the impact of gun violence and create opportunities for youth and families, and $4 million to fund youth employment opportunities.”
$2.6 million will also go to a street outreach program known as SNUG, raising the state’s total contribution to the program to over $20 million so far this year.
Record Level Spending
Comments by Hochul and the governor’s office emphasize that many categories of spending are “record level” in this latest plan.
“We are funding local law enforcement at a record level so that they have the latest tools and equipment to prevent crime and solve them fast when they do happen,” said Hochul.
Increased Budget
Rossana Rosado, the Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner, praised Hochul for helping expand her agency’s budget in recent years.
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, my agency’s budget has increased by $500 million in the past two years, allowing us to provide unprecedented financial support to law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations in Monroe County and others across the state,” Rosado said. “We are proud to support the dedicated professionals working every day to keep their fellow New Yorkers safe, increase opportunity for youth and families, and make their communities whole.”
Safety is a Top Priority
In a statement about the new plan, Hochul asserted that the motivation behind the actions were to provide better security to New Yorkers.
“As I have said since day one, the safety of all New Yorkers is my top priority, and that is why we are here in Rochester to ensure this community and local law enforcement have the resources they need to keep the public safe,” Governor Hochul said.
Crime Wave
Violence in the City of Rochester in recent years has concerned its residents. High-profile killings and shootings have become frequent news headlines and rates of crimes like car thefts seem more prevalent.
In the latest statement, Hochul asserts the state is making progress on fighting its crime problem. The governor’s office cites a 58% decrease in car thefts, a 38% decrease in overall crime, and a 39% decrease in shootings this year.
More to Be Done
Despite Hochul bragging about the progress that has been made in crime stats so far, she emphasized that the fight is far from over, necessitating her latest spending plan.
“While we have seen great progress in reducing crime overall in Rochester, Monroe County and across the State, there is more to be done. I have directed the State Police to offer more personnel to support the City of Rochester Police Department,” said Hochul.
Working Together
New York State Police Superintendent Steven James thanked Hochul for her continued commitment to assisting law enforcement efforts.
“Over the years, law enforcement has learned that we are most effective when we work together. Getting illegal guns off our streets and preventing the deadly crimes that accompany them remains a top priority for our agency. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of the New York State Police and our local law enforcement partners,” said James.
Reoffending Felons
Critics of Hochul and the state’s leadership blame the ease at which offenders, including convicted felons, get released back into the community to re-offend with more crimes.
“All this money and it’s so easy. If you commit a felony you go to jail and not get out that night. Throw all the money you want it it’s not going to make a difference. You have to reform Bail,” said X user Timothy Meister in response to Hochul’s announcement.
Never Fixing the Problem
Other critics of the governor feel that her policies are what have caused this problem with crime in the first place and that no amount of money is going to fix it.
Where [is she] getting this money from to keep throwing at these problems she created?” wrote one X user. “Amazing how causing the problem always leads to throwing more money at it & somehow the money (our tax $$) never seems to fix the problem,” said another user.
