STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York City’s groundbreaking initiative, the ‘Every Block Counts’ program, is making notable progress in enhancing safety and livability within five targeted streets in Staten Island, according to remarks by Mayor Eric Adams.
This program aims to tackle quality-of-life issues in neighborhoods historically plagued by high crime rates, and the initial results are encouraging.
Law enforcement officials report that the pilot areas within Staten Island’s 120th Precinct have experienced a 16% reduction in crime compared to the same timeframe last year.
Deputy Inspector Eric J. Waldhelm, commander of the 120th Precinct, indicated that these results stem from intensive support provided to Bowen and Broad streets, Broadway, and two blocks on Park Hill Avenue.
Since the program’s launch in April, the mayor’s office has recorded 156 complaints, with 106 of those successfully resolved.
The resolution of these complaints includes essential community improvements, such as repairing potholes, removing graffiti, and maintaining fire hydrants.
The initiative operates under a two-phase strategy designed for both immediate and long-term stability within the community.
Phase one focuses on addressing urgent quality-of-life concerns, such as fixing streetlights and cleaning up litter to create a more pleasant immediate environment.
Phase two aims to build on these initial improvements by facilitating direct connections for residents to vital city services and employment opportunities.
This comprehensive approach seeks to disrupt cycles of violence and foster sustainable safety and livability by empowering the community itself.
At the heart of the ‘Every Block Counts’ program is an engaging community component led by volunteer “block CEOs” — residents who serve as community enrichment officers.
These volunteers act as vital liaisons between their neighbors and city officials, working to communicate ongoing community concerns while keeping residents informed about progress.
In collaboration with the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau, this model promotes a cooperative problem-solving process tailored to the unique needs of each targeted block.
Additionally, ‘Every Block Counts’ represents an extensive, multi-agency collaboration involving various city departments rather than being limited to NYPD initiatives.
This comprehensive Municipal collaboration comprises contributions from many city departments, such as the Fire Department, which manages fire safety, and the Department of Transportation, responsible for fixing streetlights and ensuring safe crosswalks.
The Department of Sanitation plays a crucial role as well, focusing on graffiti removal and the enhancement of public receptacles.
Other participating departments include Housing Preservation and Development, Health and Mental Hygiene, Youth and Community Development, and the New York City Housing Authority, emphasizing a unified governmental stance on public safety.
City officials are optimistic about the program, regarding it as a viable model for addressing issues of equity and crime prevention in communities facing challenges.
Mayor Adams and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon have praised the initiative as a successful, data-driven approach for reducing crime rates in vulnerable neighborhoods.
McMahon highlighted that the program effectively disrupts cycles of violence by delivering necessary city services and job opportunities directly to the residents who need them most.
Adams reinforced the mission to ensure that every New Yorker has access to clean, safe, and well-lit neighborhoods.
The early accomplishments witnessed on Staten Island are being put forward as a potential blueprint for equitable investments and proactive strategies against crime throughout New York City.
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