Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $6 million, two-year investment in community-led public safety initiatives in the Bronx, aiming to strengthen programs that reduce violence and support at-risk residents. The funding is split evenly between two initiatives in neighborhoods experiencing persistently high crime rates and deep-rooted inequities.
The Bronx District Attorney’s Office will receive $3 million to expand Bronx Restore, a program targeting teens and young adults in the South Bronx who are at the highest risk of engaging in serious crime. The initiative focuses on reconnecting participants with positive influences, promoting educational attainment, and providing pathways to economic opportunity. Bronx Restore complements services offered through the Bronx Community Justice Center, helping prevent justice system involvement while fostering safer communities.
“Governor Hochul, on behalf of everyone here in the Bronx, thank you. Thank you for investing in our borough, in our youth,” District Attorney Darcel Clark emphasized. “Seventeen percent of the city’s total population resides in the Bronx, yet our County accounts for 35 percent of the city’s murders, and 37 percent of its shooting victims. This $3 million funding will be used to engage teens and young adults who are at high risk of engaging in violence.”
The remaining $3 million will support the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership, led by Councilmember Pierina Sanchez and local officials. The initiative addresses the root causes of gun violence through youth engagement, education, employment support, and mental health services. Sanchez explained, “This $3 million investment is proof of what’s possible when we come together to address the root causes of violence with care, collaboration, and courage.”
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will administer the funding and provide guidance, drawing from lessons learned through Project RISE, which supports youth and families in ten communities statewide. The announcement complements other violence prevention programs, including the SNUG Street Outreach program at Bronx Jacobi Hospital and New York City’s Crisis Management System.
State and local officials welcomed the funding as a step toward safer neighborhoods. State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda highlighted that the investment aims to achieve “lower violence rates, stronger neighborhood trust, and lasting systemic change.” Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson added that the investment represents “continued investment in prevention, support, and opportunity in our borough.”
The $6 million initiative reflects Hochul’s broader strategy of promoting evidence-based, community-centered approaches to public safety while addressing the underlying causes of crime and inequity across New York State.
