Coney Island lawmaker secures funds for ‘holistic’ approach to curb gun violence
“You cannot incarcerate your way out of this issue.”
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Anti-violence programs across Coney Island are getting $850,000 in city funding to address an uptick in gun violence in the community, starting with gaps in social services.
The funding, announced Tuesday by Councilmember Mark Treyger, will focus on holistic approaches like education and access to social workers. The goal, the lawmaker said, is to back a more proactive approach as opposed to a reactive one.
The 60th Precinct, which includes Coney Island, Brighton Beach, West Brighton Beach and Sea Gate, has seen 12 shooting incidents so far in 2019 as of Dec. 8. That number is up from just three last year, and five murders this year compared to none in 2018, according to NYPD data.