NYPD Expands 'Every Block Counts' Program to Improve NYC Neighborhoods

Expanding the 'Every Block Counts' Initiative

• 🎯 The NYPD is expanding its 'Every Block Counts' program to enhance quality of life and reduce crime in New York City neighborhoods.
• 🔍 This initiative involves stepped-up police patrols and directly addresses quality of life complaints identified through crime data and site inspections.

Addressing Quality of Life Issues

• 💡 The program targets issues such as broken lights, disarrayed crosswalks, graffiti, and abandoned vehicles.
• 🤝 A key component is the appointment of a Block CEO, a community volunteer who acts as a liaison with city agencies to implement improvements.

Successes and Future Plans

• 📈 Launched last fall as a pilot in the Bronx and Brooklyn, the program has shown significant results, with a 22% drop in major crime and a 33% decrease in shootings in pilot locations.
• 🏘️ The initiative is now expanding to 15 blocks across all five boroughs, including Inwood, Manhattan.
• 🤝 The city is also developing plans to address issues like mental health illness and homelessness by offering services and building trust, to prevent problems from shifting to neighboring areas.

Community Impact

• 🚫 Enforcement actions include shutting down illegal operations, such as an open-air illegal cannabis shop on Sherman Avenue.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Residents welcome these efforts, expressing a desire for safer and more pleasant community environments, especially for children.