In an ongoing effort to curb violence and improve living conditions for New York City residents, Mayor Eric Adams alongside Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker announced the "Every Block Counts" program, an initiative targeting historically crime-ridden blocks for a comprehensive uplift, detailed in a report by the Office of the Mayor of New York City. Launched in October, the program selects blocks with significant histories of violence, specifically shootings, and major crimes, and implements multi-agency support to ameliorate conditions, boosting safety, cleanliness, and overall quality of life for its residents.
Data-centric in its approach, "Every Block Counts" involves the collaboration of various city agencies including NYPD and FDNY among others, committing resources and services tailored to the specific needs of each block; the initiative has focused on blocks within precincts sporting highest violent crime figures, notably the 46th in the Bronx and the 73rd in Brooklyn, where efforts have already yielded a marked decrease in shootings and major crimes, mayoral reports show no shootings or related incidents on selected blocks in these precincts since the start of the program, compared to reported incidents during the same period in 2023. Residents play a crucial role in this collaborative approach posing as "Block CEOs," liaisons between the community and city officials, tasked with the responsibility of reporting progress and relaying continual community feedback.
As part of the multi-faceted strategy, the program aims for lasting impact through the resolution of quality-of-life issues, the administration has tackled up to 111 out of 146 items brought forth by residents, addressing everything from damaged street signs and graffiti removal to the repaving of sidewalks. New York City's strategy towards public safety extends beyond this novel program with other initiatives such as "Community Link" and the Gun Violence Strategies Partnership both prioritizing rapid responses to complex community complaints and augmenting law enforcement collaboration to track and prosecute severe gun offenders, inextricably integrating the city's efforts toward a more profound, sustainable change.
Reinforcing the city's commitment to safety and renewed quality of life, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson praised the pilot for its focused attention on historically challenged communities, affirming that "This initiative is focused on those neighborhoods most in need, providing targeted support to foster safer, healthier, and more resilient environments," as she conveyed gratitude to the administration's leadership in her statement to the Office of the Mayor of New York City. And while the initiative garners support, some officials recognize that there is still progress to be made, New York City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez noted the profound disparities in violence across the city, commending the multi-agency strategy but also underscoring an urgency for further collaboration for the communities in dire need. Through these multifaceted, data-oriented tactics and community partnership, New York City endeavors to redefine its narrative one block at a time, striving to transform into not only the Greatest City but also the Safest City in the World, expressed New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar.
