Gov. Cuomo Proposes Precision Policing & Neighborhood Improvement Strategies as Next Planks of His Public Safety Agenda
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, candidate for Mayor of New York City, today announced the next planks in his public safety plan emphasizing precision policing and neighborhood enhancements as part of an overall strategy to stamp out high crime hot spots and make this city safer and more livable for all New Yorkers.
“New Yorkers deserve a city where they feel safe walking down the street, commuting to work and taking their children to school,” Governor Cuomo said, “Less than 1 percent of the population is responsible for the lion’s share of criminal activity and rather than relying on broad sweeps, we will ensure the NYPD uses real-time intelligence to target the areas and the right problem offenders, while preserving and improving relations between the community and the police departments."
Precision Policing
Cuomo’s plan builds on the proven success of precision policing, a strategy that zeroes in on specific crime hotspots and the small percentage of offenders responsible for the majority of crimes. By concentrating resources in a hyper-local, data-driven way, law enforcement can deter criminal activity without over-policing entire communities. Precision policing has demonstrated its effectiveness across various cities, including Philadelphia, which has seen significant reductions in gun violence and homicides since the renewed focus on this strategy.
Under Cuomo’s plan, a Community Partnerships Bureau will coordinate efforts between the NYPD and other city agencies to address nuisance crime reduction and quality-of-life issues. Additionally, his administration will expand the Neighborhood Safety Teams and Neighborhood Coordination Officers, which have proven effective in high-crime areas.
Safer Neighborhoods Through Smarter Design
Beyond law enforcement, Cuomo’s plan will proactively prevent crime by improving the physical environment of high-crime areas through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). His administration will prioritize initiatives such as:
- Better street lighting to deter crime.
- More green spaces and restored vacant lots to improve neighborhood safety.
- Expanded security camera networks for enhanced crime prevention.
Governor Cuomo this week released the first and second planks of his public safety agenda, which included a 15 percent – or 5,000 officer -- increase in the NYPD headcount and a comprehensive E-bike safety plan.
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