BUF Organizations in Support of the Office for the Prevention of Gun Violence

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – Many community anti-violence organizations in Buffalo, which work together to provide services to families affected by gun violence and to prevent and educate youth, stood alongside Buffalo City Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart on Monday to show their support for her plan to create a citywide office for gun violence prevention.

In the past few weeks in the City of Buffalo, Councilwoman Everhart notes that there has been at least one serious gun violence incident, which is why she believes it is crucial, now more than ever, for the city government to formally work with community organizations to provide adequate services to victims’ families and target appropriate funding to support families and organizations for optimal effectiveness in combating the gun violence epidemic.

“Gun violence is not always a criminal justice issue. We can’t just blame it on law enforcement, we have to make it a social issue, because it is a social issue,” Everhart said Monday.

“This office will not operate with police officers, but with people from the community, who know the community, who can operate in the community, who the community trusts. You need those intermediaries, just like the Peacemakers operate in our community, they are the intermediary between the police and the residents. That is exactly how this office will operate.”

Pastor James Giles, leader of the Buffalo Peacemakers, notes that there are not enough resources for the work the Peacemakers do on a regular basis, which is why he supports an office like this.

“Organizations don’t have the resources to deal with some of the issues that arise when loved ones lose their lives. We need a dedicated office for that, so we strongly support having that office located here in the city of Buffalo,” said Pastor Giles.

“Somebody needs to look at the incredible number of problems that have been created, because it’s not just a loss that they’re suffering, but how do they deal with it afterwards. Who’s going to provide the funeral? How are they going to get the money? Most of our young people who are getting shot don’t have insurance, none of them. We need to have an office dedicated to solving this problem.”

“When we talk about gun violence at the Buffalo Center for Health Equity, we put it in the context of a public health crisis. That’s really important because it takes away from thinking of this issue as just a criminal justice issue. It’s a public health issue because it costs about 50,000 lives every year, people die because of gun violence,” added Pastor George Nichols, CEO of the Buffalo Center for Health Equity.

Nichols also notes that the presence of firearms exacerbates domestic violence and suicides.

Pastor Giles says violence cannot be eradicated by law, but Murray Holman of the Stop the Violence Coalition stresses that the government must take a proactive approach to tackling the serious problem of children’s easy access to illegal guns.

“Right now, the summer youth program just started with the help of the Buffalo City Council. So we’re in a new phase of trying to educate our youth not to pick up guns. I need more organizations to support me and be more out there talking to youth, talking to families and holding parents accountable for letting their kids carry guns,” Hollman said. “Guns are crossing state lines and affecting our community. We need to be tougher on gun laws.”

Everhart, whose son was shot and injured in the racially motivated mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue on May 14, 2022, notes that this office will act as a resource for organizations by having designated staff at Buffalo City Hall not only tasked with finding the right organizations for victims and their families, but also having them target state and federal grants to make appropriate resources available to community organizations.

“We need more offices like this across the country. There are offices like this across the country because of May 14. We don’t have one, which is ridiculous,” Everhart said. “This office is not about law enforcement, this office is about making sure that if someone gets shot in the street, their mother has counseling so she’s not stressed out and sleeping in the middle of the night. I know what that feels like. That’s what this office is for.”

In a statement, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said:

“I look forward to working with Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart and the City Council to establish a Gun Violence Prevention Office in the City of Buffalo. My administration’s work has contributed to a significant decrease in gun violence. Through the work of various city departments and community partnerships, shooting incidents have decreased by 28%, shooting victims have decreased by 32%, and shooting homicides have decreased by 58% in 2023 compared to 2022.

“We are committed to doing more and are always looking for new ways to make our city safer and improve the quality of life. We have worked tirelessly to implement law enforcement intervention strategies including the Micro Hot Spot Crime Reduction Strategy, the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program, hiring additional community police officers, the Neighborhood Engagement Team and investing in technology.

“In addition, we studied best practices from across the country that led to our community outreach strategies such as the Save Our Streets program, Clean Sweeps, record investments in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, funding for Peacemakers, funding for the Police Athletic League, funding for the Jordan Nwora Elite Basketball Camp, and funding for eight crime prevention organizations through the City’s Neil Dobbins Restorative Justice Fund, among other initiatives.”

City Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart will need approval from the Buffalo City Council before she can establish the office.