KLEIN ANNOUNCES $600,000 IN FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE SUV PROGRAM TO TARGET GUN VIOLENCE

Bronx, NY — State Senator Jeff Klein (D- Bronx/Westchester) announced $600,000 in funding for Stand Up to Violence (SUV), an innovative program that uses a community approach to combat gun violence, on Tuesday during National Night Out.  

Senator Klein, joined by Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda (D-Bronx), Councilwoman Annabel Palma (D-Bronx), 43^rd Precinct Captain Fausto Pichardo, the 43^rd Precinct Community Council, and SUV, who spoke out against gun violence and the importance of the work of the SUV program, which operates in the 43rd precinct.

“I am proud to have allocated over $1.5 million over the past few years to Stand Up to Violence. This cutting-edge program fights to keep our streets safe for children and families and preserve the quality-of-life that our neighbors have come to expect. SUV carries out a very important mission each and every day to help eliminate gang activity that tears apart young lives and results in senseless gun violence, ” said Senator Klein.

SUV is a unique violence prevention program that deploys ‘violence interrupters’ to mediate conflict in the community and helps high-risk individuals in targeted, high-crime areas in The Bronx, specifically the 43^rd, 47^th, and 49^th precincts.  The program has been operating in the 43^rd Precinct since November 2015, and there has already been a 50 percent reduction in gun violence.  Violence interrupters mediated over 42 conflicts in the precinct.

“I applaud Senator Klein’s efforts on SUV’s behalf. This funding will go a long way in fighting the cycle of violence that keeps some of our neighborhoods from becoming safer environments for its residents and their children,” said Assemblyman Sepulveda.

“As a result of the 43^rd precinct’s consistent dedication to serving our community, Stand Up to Violence has become an essential partner in addressing Bronx crime. With Senator Klein’s allocation of $600,000 in Senate funding, SUV will continue to play a significant role in sparking awareness, and confronting the violence that has plagued our streets for far too long,”  Councilwoman Palma.

“Ever since the program has been introduced, gun violence has tremendously decreased.  Before SUV, I went to vigils almost every week.  This is a great opportunity to create jobs for our young men and women in the program,” said Aurora Carrion, President of the 43^rd Precinct Community Council.

“Stand Up to Violence has been a welcomed addition in helping further the reduction of gun violence in our targeted area in the confines of the 43rd precinct by 50 percent since our inception, one year ago. This is most significantly due to the great efforts of our SUV team of outreach workers who, because of the transformation in their lives, are making a difference in the lives of other high risk individuals. We look forward to our continued effort in the reduction of gun violence in and around the vicinity. We’re thankful to Senator Jeff Klein who continues to champion the effort in bringing peace, and safety to the streets in our community,” said Pastor Jay Gooding, Stand Up to Violence Director of Community Outreach.

For more information on SUV, please call (718) 822-2049.