THE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS MEETS WITH ATF NY AND NEW YORK CITY OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS MEANS OF REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME ACROSS THE STATE

NEW YORK, NY (September 9th, 2024) - Today, members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, led by Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages (D-Elmont), met with officials from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms  as well as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program to discuss their conjoined efforts to reduce violent crime in New York City.

Officials from the New York City joined with members at the ATF NY location to learn more about the federal, state, and city partnerships and their work around the use of crime gun intelligence, streamlining ballistic data, tackling ghost guns, and machine gun convergent devices, among other topics.

From Buffalo to Brooklyn, the Caucus remains at the forefront of initiatives and campaigns to empower communities to combat violence through investment and resources that address the root causes of violent crime in the city and across the state. Whether redefining mass shootings, assigning unique tracking code to gun and ammunition dealers, or using public health dollars to curb community violence, the members are laser-focused on data driven solutions that are essential for long term public safety.

Chair Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said, “As Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, I want to sincerely thank our federal, state, and local partners for making this collaboration possible. The gun violence epidemic disproportionately affects Black, Latino, and Asian communities, and it is through strong partnerships like this that we can bring real, long-term solutions. By working together, we can implement strategies that have a positive, lasting impact on public safety and provide the necessary resources to uplift the communities most affected.”

1st Vice Chair Assemblymember Catalina Cruz said, “As 1st Vice Chair of the BPHA Caucus, as well as the Chair of the Federal-State Relations Committee for the New York State Assembly, I was thrilled to participate in today's meeting with the ATF, HITDA, and other federal, state and local agencies. While taking guns off the streets is a key public safety priority in our City, we need comprehensive services, as well as critical collaboration, with community organizations and stakeholders, as well as law enforcement agencies, for the betterment of our neighborhoods. Today's convening of these agencies with the Caucus is just a first collaborative step to not only forge policy but to ensure the voices of our communities are heard. I commend Chair Solages for cultivating this space and partnership, and I look forward to our future joint endeavors."

Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, "I am honored to participate in today’s ATF and the HIDTA briefing as it was incredibly informative; offering valuable insight into ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime in our communities. It was truly remarkable to witness different levels of government working together to ensure that our streets remain safer for everyone. Not only has our ability to gather data grown over the years, but we are also not able to disseminate across the nation in real time. I have already begun to see the effects our collaborations are having and hope to see its full impact in the future in combating gun violence.”

Assemblymember Amanda Septimo said, “The vision of a Gun Violence Strategic Partnership aims to support a collaborative strategy among city and state agencies, which is critical to keep our communities safe. We know the path to safer streets is through increased resources for our community, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' efforts will go a long way to ensure these resources get to communities that need them most, like the South Bronx."

Assemblymember Al Taylor said, “I deeply appreciate the collaboration fostered through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and the Gun Violence Strategic Partnership. These vital initiatives bring together federal, state, and local resources, enabling us to combat gun violence more effectively. As a member of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus, I am committed to advancing these efforts. Thank you to all our partners for making this important work possible and ensuring the safety of our communities.”

Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman said, “As the Co-Chair of the Anti-Gun Violence Subcommittee of the BPHA Caucus, I want to extend my gratitude to Speaker Carl Heastie and Chair Assemblymember Michaelle Solanges for leading today’s important discussion with the ATF, HITDA, and other federal, state, and local agencies. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and today’s conversation represents a critical step forward in the right direction with an interagency approach inclusive of CMS Cure Violence groups.  I also want to thank all the anti-violence groups on the ground, including the AD 58 Public Safety Task Force, for their invaluable work and commitment to our communities. Their efforts are essential to creating safer neighborhoods. As we saw today, we need ongoing, comprehensive, and transparent discussions about public safety, including implementing policies, real-time wrap-around services, safe spaces for our community members, like community centers, and the equitable distribution of resources. Gun violence is a multifaceted issue that needs a multi-layered approach.“It is not a I thing, It is a WE thng!”

Senator Gustavo Rivera said, "I was proud to join the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus for a critical meeting with ATF and HIDTA to reaffirm our shared commitment to addressing the gun violence crisis. By combining resources, data-driven strategies, collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, and the voices of our communities, we can achieve meaningful change in communities like the Bronx where gun violence is an epidemic. We must tackle the root causes of violent crime to achieve safer streets for all New Yorkers and ensure public safety for future generations."