New York City Mayor Eric Adams was joined by U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday, Feb. 3, to announce a series of new initiatives and a major commitment of federal resources dedicated to tackling the gun violence crisis plaguing New York City and other communities across the country. During the meeting, Biden committed that the federal government would focus law enforcement resources on cutting off gun trafficking and the “Iron Pipeline,” while scaling up innovative models pioneered in New York City to get guns off the street to stop violent crime.

 

The president’s visit comes just days after police announced they were searching for a gunman following the daylight shooting of a man in Norwood, in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts located at 47 East Gun Hill Road and Dekalb Avenue, at 2:47 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, and the separate shooting of a man on the 4th floor of a building at 3211 Parkside Place in Norwood on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 3.31 p.m.

 

Northwest Bronx communities were still reeling from the recent shooting of a one-year-old baby girl in the face in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx on Wednesday Jan. 19, while the infant was sitting in a car with her mother, as well as news on Jan. 26 from Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark that a 23-year-old Bronx man, a student at a Tennessee university, had been charged the same day with gun trafficking across state lines, among other serious charges.

 

“I came to the president with a bold agenda, and together we are delivering the safety New Yorkers and Americans need and deserve,” said Adams in the context of the meeting with Biden. “It’s true in New York, and it’s true across the country: There is no prosperity without public safety. We must and we will break the iron pipeline, get guns off the street, and lift our communities up. Thanks to President Biden, the cavalry has arrived, and we will tackle the gun violence epidemic head on to build a safer, stronger city.”

 

The meeting with the president comes just a few short weeks after the mayor released his own blue print to end gun violence in New York City which, as reported, has received the support of many elected officials and members of the business community. However, the mayor’s strategy also has its critics.

Meanwhile, Biden said of Thursday’s meeting, “Mayor Adams, you say that gun violence is a sea fed by many rivers. Well, I put forward a plan to dam up some of those streams. You can count on me to be a partner in that effort.” He added, “Mayor Adams, you and I agree: The answer is not to abandon our streets — that’s not the answer. The answer is to come together, police and communities, building trust and making us all safer.”

 

Among the measures discussed to curb gun violence, the president highlighted the importance of more funding for mental health support so that police would not, for example, be required to talk down people with mental health problems in risky situations, post-incarceration support for people in terms of jobs and housing, restricting access to certain assault weapons which, the president said, should not affect people’s second amendment rights, passing universal background checks, curbing gun trafficking, and imposing federal charges, in addition to state and local charges, for those who would commit crimes using ghost guns (guns assembled at home after sourcing the parts individually). The NY Daily News later published an op-ed on Thursday, written by the president on the topic of gun violence.

 

For her part, New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell later said of the meeting that in addition to visiting NYPD headquarters, and pledging support to the men and women of law enforcement, the president committed to substantive action. “From creating a gun trafficking strike force here in New York City, to launching a National Ghost Gun Enforcement Initiative, to cracking down on the ‘Iron Pipeline,’ these efforts are essential to our intelligence-driven approach to eradicating gun violence on New York City streets, she said. “There is a need for all of us — law enforcement, elected officials, community leaders, clergy, and the public — to join together to rebalance justice with fairness. The time for action is now to ensure a safe city for our children, neighbors, and brave police officers.”

 

Join me as I participate in a Gun Violence Strategies Partnership meeting. https://t.co/MotZYkAkIo

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 3, 2022

 

In the context of the president’s visit, the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a set of new actions to stem the flow of firearms which they said are used to commit violence. They said the actions will also support local law enforcement partners’ efforts to combat gun violence. DOJ will:

• Direct U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide to increase resources dedicated to local violent crime strategies. President Biden highlighted New York City’s Gun Violence Strategic Partnership, which he visited with Mayor Adams today, as a model of the strategies DOJ will help expand nationwide;

• Crack down on the “Iron Pipeline” — the illegal flow of guns sold in the south, transported up the East Coast, and found at crime scenes in New York City and elsewhere — and other firearms trafficking by adding personnel and other resources to multi-jurisdictional task forces targeting interstate firearms trafficking;

 

 

• Launch a National Ghost Gun Enforcement Initiative to train prosecutors and disseminate investigation and prosecution tools to help bring cases against those who use ghost guns to commit crimes; and

• Pursue unlawful gun sellers that put firearms in the wrong hands by taking steps such as prioritizing federal prosecutions of those who criminally sell or transfer firearms used in violent crimes, including unlicensed dealers who sell guns to criminals without the required background checks.

 

Also in the context of his visit to New York City, Biden also highlighted New York City as a national model for tackling gun violence and called on Congress to approve an additional $500 million nationwide in resources for community intervention, government partnerships, and assistance to local law enforcement.

 

https://t.co/Y7BjVG6xPZ

— Norwood News (@NorwoodNews) February 3, 2022

 

On Thursday, former teacher, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester, released the following statement on the need to end gun violence through holistic solutions that put people first. “Gun violence is an epidemic of catastrophic proportions that is taking our loved ones, our youth, and our neighbors too soon, and we must address it through meaningful and holistic solutions that put the needs of our people first,” said Bowman.

 

“Just last week, our community grieved the loss of a 16-year-old boy who passed away after being shot multiple times and it is impossible to understand why more hasn’t been done to prevent these tragedies. This latest instance took a young life too soon, but we have members of our community, of all ages, who work to keep us healthy, keep us safe, help to put food on our tables, educate our youth, run our public transit systems, and so much more — who could find themselves impacted by this crisis. The reality is that gun violence can affect any one of us; it does not only affect one type of person or one type of community. This is a public health crisis and should be treated as such.”

 

The congressman continued, “In order to prevent gun violence, we must address its root causes: poverty, housing and food insecurity, income inequality, under-resourced public services, under-funded schools and early childhood education programs, and a feeling of despair and hopelessness that too often leads people to pick up a gun that was too easy to access.”

 

He added, “To actually end this crisis, we need to put forward holistic and meaningful solutions that aren’t just a band-aid on an open wound. We need to think strategically and creatively to put forward new and bold community based initiatives that will keep our people safe because too many lives have already been lost. Anything else falls short of what it will take to actually end the gun violence epidemic once and for all.”

“This is an epidemic. The President came in to listen to law enforcement, to listen to the leadership of New York City, and I think he was very open to our proposals.”@RepEspaillat joins @DeanObeidallah and details today's meeting with @POTUS on crime and policing.

LISTEN: pic.twitter.com/emfmoqVjzD

— SiriusXM Progress (@SXMProgress) February 4, 2022

 

Bowman concluded, “On top of localized and coordinated centers to disperse resources and holistically address gun violence in our communities, I ask President Biden, Mayor Adams, and all of my colleagues to join me in urging Republicans in the U.S. Senate to join their Democratic colleagues who are ready to pass H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 — two bills that would make firearms harder to get by instituting new background check requirements to address the dangers and prevalence of ghost guns and gun trafficking.”

 

Meanwhile, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams held a separate panel discussion with experts and stakeholders to discuss the impact of NYC’s gun violence and identify public health alternatives to criminalization under the theme of Black History and Public Health and as February kicks off Black History Month. This discussion can be watched  here.

 

Local congressman for Norwood, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), shared his thoughts on the president’s visit with SiriusXM Progress later on Thursday, saying, in part, “This [gun violence] is an epidemic. The president came in to listen to law enforcement, to listen to the leadership of New York City, and I think he was very open to our proposals.”

 

Following a recent assessment by Bronx Assemblyman Jeremy Dinowitz (A.D. 81) of the most likely upcoming redistricting changes to the Bronx’s congressional districts, which Dinowitz shared with constituents on Feb. 2, Espaillat may not longer be the congressional representative for Norwood in 2023, and the neighborhood may instead fall under the remit of Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15). An extract of the assemblyman’s analysis, is included below.

 

 

As reported, chair of the criminal justice committee, Council Member Carlina Rivera, who represents parts of Lower Manhattan had tweeted on Wednesday that she had written a letter to the president, inviting him to take a tour of Rikers Island during his visit to New York on Thursday.

 

The president’s visit did not, finally, take in the tour, as confirmed by the White House, but the request highlights the increased focus on the jail, which has come in for criticism, particularly in recent months, over concerns for both workers and the incarcerated.

During a budget forum hosted by various Bronx senators on Thursday, Feb. 3, at least two residents, one from Throggs Neck, called for the passage of both the Fair & Timely Parole bill at State level, to help advance the cause of long-term rehabilitated incarcerated persons, many of whom are elderly. They said doing so would help reduce the $522 million needed to keep people incarcerated.

 

Reflecting on his visit to New York City, the president later tweeted, “Today, I traveled to New York City to meet with leaders and discuss how we can work together to reduce gun crime and make our communities safer. Every day in this country, 316 people are shot and 106 are killed. Enough — the scourge of gun violence has to end.”