Councilwoman Zeneta B. Everhart Issues Statement on $357M Allocation for Gun Violence Prevention Programs in State Budget

Masten District Council Woman Zeneta B. Everhart

Buffalo, N.Y. - Masten District Council Woman Zeneta B. Everhart has issued a statement in response to the $357 million approved in the recent state budget for gun violence prevention programs:

“I applaud Governor Hochul and our representatives in the New York State Legislature for continuing to fund gun violence prevention programs with an allocation of $357 million in the new state budget. These programs have helped cut shootings across the state, and homicides in the City of Buffalo, roughly in half over the last three to four years. These aren’t just numbers – these are hundreds of lives saved, hundreds of parents who are not grieving, hundreds of spouses, siblings, friends, and neighbors who are still with us.

“As someone whose family was impacted by the scourge of gun violence, I know that every life lost or altered by violent crime is one too many. That’s why I introduced legislation to establish a local gun violence prevention office, known as the Buffalo Initiative for Safer, Organized Neighborhoods, to build on our recent success and further drive down violent crime rates. With these additional state and local resources, we will continue our progress toward a society free of the scourge of gun violence.”

For media requests or information on this and all Common Council topics, please contact Buffalo Common Council Senior Legislative Assistant Tim Fenster.