BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Buffalo councilwoman is proposing a new plan to prevent more gun violence in the Queen City.
Buffalo Common Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart announced Monday a plan for a gun violence prevention office in Buffalo. These offices are seen all over the country already, with the White House creating the initiative in September of last year.
Everhart referenced the tragedy of 5/14 and the lack of resources available for the community. This issue is what pushed the beginning of the prevention office to be created, the Councilwoman said.
“The only people we could call were police, fire, ambulance,” Everhart said. “There was no response to the trauma.”
However, Buffalo still does not have a gun prevention office despite the amount of violence in the city. The office would be run like the one in the White House, according to Councilwoman Everhart. They are still looking for someone qualified to lead the office in Buffalo. Everhart wants someone “who understands gun violence, research, legislation, grant writing.”
The Biden-Harris Administration’s plan works to keep dangerous weapons and shooters off the streets, hold gun dealers and gun traffickers accountable, provide local law enforcement with resources to reduce gun violence, and address the root causes of gun violence in communities. The Buffalo Office of Gun Violence and Prevention will support local partners on gun violence issues, giving access to training, creating community programming on gun violence, writing grants for federal funds, and connecting people with counseling for trauma.
“This isn’t about law enforcement,” Everhart said. “This office is about making sure that if someone is shot on the street, their mother can get counseling, so she’s not stressed out and not sleeping in the middle of the night. I know what that feels like.”
Zaire Goodman, Everhart’s son, was hurt during the Tops mass shooting and has recovered. Everhart says he is ‘resilient’ and ‘doing really well.’
Councilwoman Everhart put in the initial paperwork for the office on December 31 and now is waiting for unanimous support from her colleagues to get the office up and running soon.
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