BUFFALO, N.Y. — Today, Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart was joined by community activists in Niagara Square to announce a new resolution titled B.I.S.O.N – short for Buffalo Initiative for safer, organized Neighborhoods.
“This office is gonna perform not with police officers. These are gonna be people from the community. Who know the community, who can operate in the community, who the community trusts,” said Everhart
If established the resolution wouldn't just be an initiative, it'd be local law. An office offering support for families and victims of gun violence and collaboration with local government and community groups.
The call for action comes after a string of shootings within the last 24 hours.
“This past weekend, five people were shot. The week before that, we lost a three-year-old. Two weeks before that, we lost a fourteen-year-old,” said Everhart.
Community activists say that current resources are limited and an office committed to gun violence prevention is necessary in Buffalo.
“All of us gotta come together in order for this to stop not just a few of us on the front lines, it takes everybody.” said Minister Billy Webster
A new office in the city would mean more funding. Everhart says the majority of funding would come from grants provided by the Federal Government. “This office would be funded by the federal government. There are dollars today, right now that the city can apply for,” said Everhart.
In a statement released this evening, Mayor Byron Brown responded to the announcement: “I look forward to working with Councilmember Zeneta Everhart and the Common Council on establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the City of Buffalo.
The mayor continued, "The work of my administration has contributed to a significant decrease in gun violence. Through the work of various City departments and community partnerships, shooting incidents are down 28%, shooting victims are down 32%, and shooting homicides are down 58% in 2023 versus 2022. We are committed to doing more and we are always looking for additional ways to make our City safer and improve the quality of life. We have worked tirelessly on implementing law enforcement intervention strategies, including the Micro Hot Spot Crime Reduction Strategy, the GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination) Program, hiring additional Community Police Officers, the Neighborhood Engagement Team, and investment in technology. Additionally, we have studied best practices throughout the Country leading to our community intervention strategies such as the Save Our Streets Program, Clean Sweeps, record investments in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, funding Peacemakers, funding the Police Athletic League, funding the Jordan Nwora Elite Basketball Camp and funding eight crime prevention organizations through the City’s Neil Dobbins Restorative Justice Fund among other initiatives.”