NOT LONG AFTER COVID-19 ARRIVED IN NEW YORK, THE STATE BEGAN EXPERIENCING A SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE, AND WHILE THEN-GOV.

ANDREW CUOMO LET THE PANDEMIC STATE OF EMERGENCY EXPIRE IN JUNE, NEW YORKERS HAVE SPENT THE ENTIRE SUMMER LIVING UNDER A GUN VIOLENCE DISASTER DECLARATION.

FOR ANSWERS ON HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT THE STATE CAN DO TO REVERSE THESE STARTLING TRENDS, STAY TUNED - RIGHT HERE - TO CONNECT NEW YORK.

WELCOME TO CONNECT, NEW YORK.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO, HOST OF THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, FILLING IN FOR DAVE CHANANTRY.

LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON HOW ONE SYRACUSE RESIDENT HAS RESPONDED TO GUN VIOLENCE IN HIS CITY AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE RECENT SPIKE IN VIOLENCE.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE FROM THE STATE PERSPECTIVE, AND TO DO THAT WE'RE JOINED BY STATE SEN. RACHEL MAY, A SYRACUSE-AREA DEMOCRAT.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, SENATOR.

>> THANKS, DAVE.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT NEW YORK'S RESPONSE TO GUN VIOLENCE, I THINK IMMEDIATELY BACK TO 2013, A LITTLE BEFORE YOUR TIME IN ALBANY WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE SAFE ACT.

SINCE THEN WE HAVE THE ADOPTION OF RED FLAG LAWS AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED TO ADDRESS THE SHOOTINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN NEW YORK AND TRYING TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN ACCIDENTS.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AS A LAWMAKER, DO YOU THINK WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL THE OPTIONS THAT WE AS A STATE CAN DO OR DO YOU THINK THERE ARE TOOLS IN OUR TOOL BOX THAT WE COULD TURN TO?

>> WELL, YOU DIDN'T MENTION, I THINK, THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED, WHICH WAS SENATOR MYRIE'S BILL TO HOLD GUN MANUFACTURERS AND GUN SELLERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR GUNS THAT GET OUT ILLEGALLY INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS AND ARE USED IN VIOLENT EVENTS FNLTS AND I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A STATE AND I HOPE IT BECOMES-- I KNOW THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO DONE SOMETHING PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT BY EXECUTIVE ORDER SO YOU STARTED BY SAYING THAT NEW YORK HAD EXPERIENCED A BIG SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HAS EXPERIENCED A BIG SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE AND A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A TOWN TON OF RESEARCH ABOUT THIS, BUT WE KNOW A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY MORE GUNS OUT THERE AND THEY'RE GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING ALL KINDS OF EMOTIONAL TRAUMA AND DISPLACEMENT AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE PANDEMIC SO THAT HAS BEEN A DEADLY IMIX BUT IT'S EVERYWHERE.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BILL YOU MENTIONED, THE BILL FROM SENATOR MYRIE AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAT FAHY.

IT PASSED THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW-- >> IT WAS SIGNED.

>> OKAY.

SO AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO START SEEING RAMIFICATIONS FROM THIS?

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY LAWSUITS BEING FILED AT THIS POINT AND YOU KNOW, HOW WILL WE GAUGE HOW EFFECTIVE IT POTENTIALLY IS?

>> SO I DON'T KNOW EITHER EXACTLY.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THAT WAS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF THREATS OF LAWSUITS AGAINST THAT WHOLE POLICY.

SO I THINK IT WILL TAKE SOMETIME TO SHAKE OUT BUT THE IDEA OF HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE THE PAWN SHOPS THAT ARE LETTING GUNS GO OUT THE BACK DOOR AND FIGURING OUT A LOT OF THE PROBLEM IN NEW YORK IS GUNS COMING INTO THE STATE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, COMING ACROSS THE BORDERS ILLEGALLY AND REALLY THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TOOLS WE HAVE NOW TO REALLY TRY TO STOP THAT BECAUSE OF THAT INTERSTATE TRAVEL OF GUNS, ARE WE HAM STRUNG BY WHAT OTHER STATES DO, WHAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DOES OR DOESN'T DO AS WELL?

ARE WE JUST SPINNING OUR WHEELS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE IN NEW YORK?

>> WELL, YEAH, I MEAN I THINK NEW YORK HAS DONE A LOT OF RESPONSIBLE THINGS, BUT IF GUNS CAN COME FROM OHIO OR PENNSYLVANIA OR OTHER STATES, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO CONTROL THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF GUNS USED IN GUN VIOLENCE ARE ILLEGAL IN SOME WAY OR OTHER.

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON IS ALMOST ONE OF THE CHARGES ALWAYS ONE OF THE CHARGES IN THE CASES.

>> OVER THE SUMMER SINCE EARLY JUNE, NEW YORK HAS BEEN UNDER THIS DISASTER DECLARATION TIED TO GUN VIOLENCE THAT THEN GOVERNOR CUOMO PUT IN PLACE.

THERE IS ANY CONCRETE RAMIFICATION THAT YOU THINK THIS HAS HAD IN TERMS OF COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE, SAY IN THE 53rd SENATE DISTRICT OR ELSEWHERE IN NEW YORK STATE?

>> WELL, AGAIN, SENATOR MYRIE AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOUGHT REALLY HARD TO GET MONEY INTO THE BUDGET THAT WAS SPECIFIC FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HERE IN SYRACUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FUND GROUPS LIKE SNUG AND OGs AGAINST VIOLENCE AND SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES LIKE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OR, WE HAVE A LOT OF BOXING CLINICS IN SYRACUSE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL GROUPS THAT TEACH BEATBOXING AND HAVE THE KIDS DO HOME WORK AND LEARN DISCIPLINE AT THE SAME TIME.

THEY'RE REALLY GREAT WAYS TO DIVERT SOME OF THE ENERGY INTO SOMETHING THAT IS MORE PRODUCTIVE.

>> YOU AND YOUR FELLOW SYRACUSE SENATOR JOHN MANNION ANNOUNCED $100,000 FOR GRANTS FOR THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE ARE MAXING OUT THE POTENTIAL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS OR WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS, COULD THEY HAVE A GREATER IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS MORE THAT COULD BE DONE AND GOVERNOR CUOMO APPROACHED US ABOUT WANTING TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR WORK PROGRAMS, LIKE CNY WORKS TO HELP PEOPLE GAIN THE SKILLS SO THEY CAN GET REAL WELL PAYING JOBS AND START CAREERS IN, FOR EXAMPLE, TO DO WITH THE UPCOMING I-81 PROJECT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE JOBS WILL BE GOOD UNION JOBS LOOKING FOR SKILLED PEOPLE AND IF THEY CAN GET THE SKILLS NOW, WE CAN HELP SOME OF THE POPULATION DO THAT.

THE MONEY HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS IN THREE BUCKETS AND ONE OF THEM WAS FOR WORK PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THEM WAS FOR HAS TO KIND OF AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS JUST TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE THINGS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

AND THEN THE THIRD ONE WAS FOR GROUPS LIKE SNUG.

AND THERE ARE SEVERAL GROUPS AND THEY'RE ALL DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK THERE IS PLENTY OF CAPACITY THERE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FUND THEM.

>> ONE OF YOUR MANDATES AS A STATE LAWMAKER IS TO SET THE PENALTIES FOR STATE CRIMES.

I'M CURIOUS WHETHER YOU THINK THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE WITH TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR GUN-RELATED CRIMES?

WELL, I DO KNOW THERE IS SOME OF THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GIVE AND TAKE BECAUSE THE MORE WE SAY, THE MORE WE INCARCERATE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY DRIVES CRIME RATES UP, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY GET OUT OF JAIL, PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT A CRIME THAN IF THEY DIDN'T SPEND TIME IN JAIL.

>> COULD THAT BE AN INDICTMENT OF OUR PRISON SYSTEM?

>> DEFINITELY AN INDICTMENT OF OUR PRISON SYSTEM BUT YOU ARE ALSO TAKING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY, AWAY FROM THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM, OUT OF WORK, OUT OF SCHOOL, AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, AND SO YOU COME OUT OF JAIL AND YOU HAVE A LOT MORE, MUCH BIGGER HURDLE TO JUMP TO GET BACK INTO SOME KIND OF PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

I WANT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

YES, GUN VIOLENCE SHOULD HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES AND WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT NOT JUST YOU KNOW, BLOWING THE PROBLEM UP EVEN FARTHER.

>> SOME PREPARATION FOR THE INTERVIEW I WAS GOING BACK THROUGH THE ARCHIVES, CHECKING OUT PRESS RELEASES YOU PUT OUT ON GUN VIOLENCE AND THERE IS A PACKAGE OF BILLS ADOPTED BY THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN 2015 AND THERE IS A COMMON RETRAIN THROUGHOUT THE PRESS RELEASE, THIS IS COMMON SENSE, THIS IS COMMON SENSE THIS IS THIS IS COMMON SENSE AND WHILE THERE IS AGREEMENT AYOUNG THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WHAT CONSTITUTES COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY MEASURES DO YOU FIND WHEN YOU ARE OUT AMONGST THE 53rd SENATE DISTRICT OR TALKING TO SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT THERE IS AGREEMENT ON WHAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF THE RIGHT BALANCE OF GUN CONTROL MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE ADOPTED OR IS IT THE CASE WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST TALKING AT EACH OTHER AND THAT THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ABOUT WHAT COMMON SENSE LOOKS LIKE.

>> THERE ARE BIG DIFFERENCES, DEEP DIFFERENCES.

I KNOW THAT BILL FROM SENATOR MYRIE HAD SOME OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE DEBATE OF ANY BILL THAT WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR OR SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE HONESTLY.

SO I THINK THE GUN LOBBY AND THE GUN INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN SCARING PEOPLE ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF GUNS IN OUR ON IT AND I BELIEVE AMERICA HAS A LOT MORE GUN VIOLENCE BECAUSE AMERICA HAS A LOT MORE GUNS AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO LOCAL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS BY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED AND LICENSED AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THEM BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT THE PROLIFERATION OF GUNS IN OUR SOCIETY.

>> SO DOES THAT ACTUALLY THEN OLD UP WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO IN ALBANY OR BECAUSE WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE, IS IT THE CASE WHERE EVERYONE WHO HAS POWER IS IN AGREEMENT ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK.

>> NO, WE HAVE VERY ROBUST DEBATE WITHIN THE CONFERENCE BEFORE WE BRING ANY OF THAT LEGISLATION UP FOR A VOTE SO I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT LIKE ALL SINGING THE SAME TUNE BUT THERE IS BROAD AGREEMENT AMONG DEMOCRATS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE OF A FOCUS ON KEEPING.

>> EVER SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT THE ROLE POLICE SHOULD PLAY IN OUR SOCIETY AND WITH THAT BACKDROP, I'M CURIOUS WHEN YOU SEE AS THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN OUR CITIES IN COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE I MEANS ARE THEY A NET POSITIVE IN TERMS OF COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE OR DO YOU WORRY THEY EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM TO A CERTAIN AGREE DEGREE?

>> BOTH ARE TRUE.

POLICE HAVE DONE EFFECTIVE THINGS WITH GUN BUY BACKS AND I KNOW COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE GUN VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING REPEATEDLY, WANT A POLICE PRESENCE THERE, BUT I ALSO THINK THE PUBLIC TRUST OF THE POLICE IN SOME OF THOSE SAME COMMUNITIES IS REALLY AT AN ALL TIME LOW, AND SO AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS OF THE POLICE.

WE HAVE A SITUATION IN SYRACUSE WHERE ONE POLICEMAN, BLACK ALABAMA WHO IS PROBABLY THE BEST KNOWN MEMBER OF THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND KIDS IN THE CITY REALLY LOOK UP TO HIM AND HE IS FROM THE CITY, HAS NOW HAD TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY SEE THAT, WHEN THEY SEE THE VERY CULTURE OF THE POLICE BEING SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN'T TRUST, THAT MAKES IT A LOT HARDER FOR THE POLICE THAN TO BE A POSITIVE PLU IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY NEED THE COLLABORATION OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE NOT SEEN AS TRUSTWORTHY.

>> BEFORE YOUR TIME IN ALBANY, THE BIG GUN SAFETY ISSUE THAT WAS PUSHED BY DEMOCRATS IN THE MINORITY IN THE SENATE BUT MAJORITY IN THE, HAS THE PROBLEM OF MY ROW STAMPING.

THIS IDEA OF GIVING EVERY BULLET A FINGERPRINT THAT CAN BE TRACED BACK.

ARE THERE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEHIND THE SCENES IN ALBANY AMONGST THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY OR IS MOO I CROW STAMPING ESSENTIALLY AN IDEA THAT HAS GONE THE WAY OF THE DODO?

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN PART OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT BUT I DON'T SERVE ON THE RELEVANT COMMITTEE SO IT MAY HAVE COME UP IN COMMITTEES AND I WOULDN'T HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT.

>> >> IT HASN'T GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IS CONFERENCING THAT TYPE OF IDEA?

>> NO.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE FOR GUN SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE LEGISLATURE?

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ABILITY TO BRING LAWSUITS POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE.

WE ARE LIVING UNDER THIS DISASTER DECLARATION.

IS THAT ALL THERE IS AT THIS POINT?

HAVE YOU GUYS EXHAUSTED YOUR OPTIONS COMING BACK TO THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED.

>> YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THIS AREA AND SO I'M SURE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN AND PROBABLY SOME OF YOUR SUBSEQUENT GUESTS WILL HAVE THOSE IDEAS FOR YOU BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE FACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE NRA WAS ABLE TO DO WAS TO GET THE CONGRESS TO BAN RESEARCH AT A FEDERAL LEVEL ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND THE SCOPE AND THE IMPACT AND THE CAUSES OF GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA AND WE PASSED A BILL IN THE STATE TO CREATE A STATE RESEARCH BODY THAT COULD DO THAT, BUT WE JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS A LOT BETTER AND WE DON'T RIGHT NOW, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE EMBARGO OF INFORMATION ON IT.

IF WE LOOK AT IT AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, THAT SHIFTS THE WHOLE CONVERSATION IN A LOT OF WAYS AND THEN WE START, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENTS OF IT AND THE FAMILY HEALTH COMPONENTS OF IT AND THE TRAUMA OF IT, YOU KNOW, AND BRING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND I THINK YOU CAN START TO WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THE WHOLE PROBLEM BETTER.

>> I THINK GOING HAND IN HAND WITH THAT, TOO, IS THE FACT THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

WE ARE STILL A MAJORITY WHITE COUNTRY.

AND I WONDER HOW YOU THINK THAT INFLUENCES THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT PRIMARILY WHITE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THIS, DOES IT MEAN THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE NOR INCLINED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHO CARES?

I WANT MY GUN.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE IT'S NOT IMPACTING PEOPLE THAT I KNOW AND LOVE.

>> I'M SURE THERE IS A LOT OF THAT AND I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE.

I GREW UP BELIEVING THE POLICE WERE THERE TO PROTECT ME.

IF I HAD THAN EMERGENCY, THE FIRST PLACE I WOULD TURN IS TO THE POLICE.

AND I HAVE HAD TO REALLY LEARN TO LIVE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN A COMOWBT WHERE YOU DO THOUGHT FEEL THAT WAY, WHERE YOU FEEL THE POLICE ARE MORE OF AN OCCUPYING FORCE.

WE HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BIG CULTURAL GAPS IF OUR SOCIETY AND THEY DO HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON HOW WE PASS LAWS.

>> HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THAT GAP?

IS IT GOING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, WHITE PEOPLE BEING MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE BEFORE THE WHITE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE TAKES IT MORE SERIOUSLY?

IT REMINDS ME OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

IT WASN'T A CONCERN UNTIL IT WAS WHITE PEOPLE'S KIDS OVERDOSING, WHITE PEOPLE'S PARENTS WHO WERE OVERDOSING AND THEN IN THE LEGISLATURE WE SAW YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO TOOK A WHOLE NEW APPROACH TO THE WAR ON DRUGS.

IS IT THAT RAW AND CALLUS, BUT IS THAT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE?

>> I THINK WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE IS MORE REPRESENTATION BY A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND WE ARE SEEING THAT IN NEW YORK STATE, THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE IS INCREDIBLY DIVERSE RACIALLY, ETHNICALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY, AGE WISE, KNOWLEDGE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIVERSITY AND SO I THINK WHEN HAVE YOU MORE VOICES AT THE TABLE THEN YOU MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, NEW YORK STATE AREA DEMOCRAT.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU IN PERSON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE CAPITOL AGAIN.

>> LIKEWISE.

THANKS.

>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, ITS RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH GUN VIOLENCE AND HOW ONE OG HAS RESPONDED TO THE CRISIS.

INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY INVOLVED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE, THE FEAR OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AS IT RELATES TO, DO PEOPLE WANT TO WORK, LIVE OR PLAY IN A CITY OR IN AN AREA THAT'S PLAGUED BY THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS GETTING GUNS AND DOING SHOOTINGS, THAT HAS HAS REALLY TAKEN A TOLL ON OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A HUGE SYSTEM ISSUE AND EVERY PROFESSIONAL IN SYRACUSE THAT I'VE MET IS DOING THEIR BEST AND QUITE FRANKLY STRUGGLING WITH THIS PROBLEM.

>> OUR OFFICERS HAVE KIDS, THEY HAVE FAMILIES, AND THEY HAVE HEARTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, SEEING DAY IN AND DAY OUT THE TRAUMA THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE CERTAINLY IMPACTS THE WELL-BEING OF OUR OFFICERS.

>> WE ARE ALL BEING AFFECTED BY THIS GUN VIOLENCE WE ARE FACING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> FOR EVERY PERSON YOU LOSE IN YOUR LIFE, IT'S A MAJOR TRAGEDY.

IT TAKES YOU YEARS TO RECOVER.

WHAT MUST IT BE LIKE TO KNOW FIVE OR 10 PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED AS YOUTH.

>> WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DOING THESE SHOOTINGS, STABBINGS AND THESE FIGHTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S SCRR, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE.

>> I'M A POLICE OFFICER WITH THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THIS IS A 10K BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

GUN VIOLENCE HAS BEEN THROUGH THE ROOF THE LAST YEAR OR SO, HOMICIDE RATE HAS INCREASED, SHOTS FIRED RATE HAS INCREASED.

A LOT OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO AND IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S NOW TAKEN A TOLL ON OUR YOUTH AGES 12, 13, 14, 15, SOME INFANTS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THIS GUN VIOLENCE AND IT'S GOT TO STOP.

, I WANT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER BY HAVING A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN THE WILSON PARK WHERE A LOT OF THE GUN VIOLENCE DOES TAKE PLACE.

>> A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE GET STARTED.

I SEE THAT DUDE EVERYWHERE.

1:00 IN THE MORNING, 8:00 IN THE MORNING, WHEN A HOMICIDE OR SHOOTING HAPPENS, CLIFFORD IS THERE TO CONTROL THE CROWD, BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

SOLVE PROBLEMS.

SOMEBODY THAT IS REACHABLE YOU CAN GO UP TO HIM WITH A PROBLEM AND HE WILL SOLVE IT.

>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPECTS WHAT I DO BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT I'M DOING IS BASICALLY HELPING THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THEM DOING THEIR JOB.

>> I SEE OGS AGAINST VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY CLIFFORD AND THE WORK HE DOES AS AN ASSET.

WE CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT CERTAINLY INCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY HE CALLS POLICE OUT IF HE THINKS WE ARE WRONG.

HE ALSO SUPPOSER US IF HE THINKS THAT WE ARE RIGHT AND TO ME I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ASK MUCH MORE OF SOMEONE WHO CALLS THEMSELVES A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.

>> CLIFFORD RYAN IS ONE OF THE BEST HUMAN BEINGS IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE HIM ANYMORE I WANTED TO COME OUT AND GIVE YOU ENCOURAGEMENT YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU ARE THE FUTURE, WE ARE HERE TO TO GIVE YOU THAT SUPPORT.

THEY HAVE BEEN RECEPTIVE AND EMBRACED IT AND SHOWN ME AN ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT.

IT HAS BEEN INSPIRING TO INDIVIDUALS IN THAT REGARD AND I WANT IT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT EFFECT.

I WANT IT TO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE.

WE NEED EVERYTHING WE CAN DO WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER, YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTERS COMING IN.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM BUSY AND PART OF KEEPING THEM BUSY IS HAVING DIFFERENT BASKETBALL TORN AMS, ANYTHING WE CAN DO PROGRAM WISE GETTING THEM INVOLVED IN LOCAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IF WE CAN KEEP THEM BUSY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, I THINK THE GUN VIOLENCE, THE HOMICIDE RATE WILL DECREASE DRAMATICALLY YOU CAN'T GET RID OF A PROBLEM OFTEN IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING EVERYTHING PERFECT.

IT'S MAKING THINGS BETTER AND UNTIL THESE THINGS ARE ON THERE I WAY TO BEING RESOLVED, WE ARE NOT GOING TO PROGRESS AS A CITY.

THERE IS NO SINGLE SOLUTION RESPONSE SO MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATION IS CAN JUMP ON BOARD AND GET ON BOARD WITH.

>> GET THE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED THE RESOURCES AND BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT.

WE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO PREVENT IT AS A WHOLE BUT IF YOU PUT THE RESOURCES IN THE RIGHT PLACE WE CAN PUT A DENT IN IT.

IF I GET THE PROPER RESOURCES FUNDING WISE TO BRING OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN TO HELP ME DO THIS WORK I BELIEVE IT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT >> AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO OUR CURRENT SPATE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND HOW IT CAN BE ADDRESSED, AND TO DO THAT, WE'RE JOINED BY: SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT HELEN HUDSON, CO-FOUNDER OF MOTHER AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE; AND JOE POPCUN, DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PRACTICE AT THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE, WHO ALSO SERVES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REGIONAL GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CONSORTIUM.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING ME.

JOE, I WANT TO START OUR DISCUSSION WITH SOME CONTEXT, BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS A SPIKE IN SHOOTINGS, YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HOLIST ELKALLY AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE COMPARED TO SAY 10, 20 YEARS AGO.

SO HIT US WITH SOME NUMBERS.

>> SO GUN VIOLENCE NOW IS REALLY ELEVATED TO A POINT IT FAR EXCEEDS PRE-PANDEMIC.

FROM 2019 TO 2020.

WE SAW A JUMP ROUGHLY OF DOUBLING IN NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE OF SHOOTING INCIDENTS AND FROM 2020 TO 2021 AS WE TALKED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, WE SAW THAT IT IS ACCELERATING 50% ABOVE WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

OVER THE LAST 60 DAYS WE HAVE STARTED TO SEE THAT RATE OF NEW SHOOTING INCIDENTS DECLINE AND WE ARE NOW ROUGHLY 7% I THINK IS WHAT NEW YORK CITY IS REPORTING ABOVE WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR SO WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT ANYWHERE NEAR PRE-PANDEMIC.

WE SEEM TO BE EVENING OUT WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR AND FOR HISTORICAL CONTEXT, THAT'S ROUGHLY THE NUMBER OF SHOOTING INS DID ENTS IN NEW YORK CITY SINCE 2010, ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO.

BUT NOT AS MANY AS WAS SEEN IN 1993.

WE ARE 70% BELOW THAT LEVEL.

HISTORICAL STILL NOWHERE NEAR THE LEVELS OF THE LATE 80s EARLY 90s.

BUT?

THE BIGGEST QUESTION, IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL AND DO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT NEW INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE IT?

>> HELEN, SYRACUSE AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WAS NOT SPARED FROM THE INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY, IS ELECTED BY THESE PEOPLE, WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THE EFFECT IT HAS HAD ON THE PSYCHE OF THE CITY?

>> THE EFFECT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT YOUNGER SHOOTERS FOR ONE AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND WE TALK ABOUT THEIR PSYCHE, WHEN YOU GO ON CORNERS, EVERY CORNER YOU HIT THERE IS A MEMORIAL SO YOU HAVE CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL THAT IS WALKING ON EVERY CORNER AND SEE A REST IN PEACE MEMORIAL.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OUR CHILDREN?

WE ARE SENDING INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ALREADY BECAUSE WHEN THEY WALK BY, I'M SURE THEY KNOW WHO THE PERSON WAS SO THEY'RE GOING IN THERE ALREADY WITH THIS DOWNWARD FEELING AND WE ARE TRYING TO WORK TO CHANGE HOW WE LOOK AT THAT.

AND FOR THE PARENTS AND FOR THE MOTHERS, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN DOES IT STOP?

BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF GRIEF RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LOST QUITE A FEW OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SHOOTERS, TALKING ABOUT THE ONES BEING SHOT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A YOUNG POPULATION OUR SHOOTERS ARE GETTING YOUNGER.

THE SHOOTERS ARE BETWEEN 13 AND 18.

WE HAVE 32 YOUNG PEOPLE IN HILL BROOK AND THEY'RE IN THERE FOR ROBBERY, MURDER AND ASSAULT SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT POPULATION IN OUR DETENTION CENTER ARE IN THERE FOR HARD CRIMES SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A PSYCHE THAT DOESN'T REALLY FEEL OF VALUE.

THEY DON'T FEEL OF VALUE IN THE SOCIETY AND IN THIS COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN LOCKED INTO YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WITH SENATOR MAY ABOUT HOW WHITE PEOPLE SEE THIS COMMUNITY.

HOW WE SEE IT WE HAVE BEEN LAND LOCKED.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RED LINING SO PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN POPULATIONS AND BASICALLY PUT THEM IN A SILO AND LEFT THEM TO THEIR OWN DEVICE.

WE HAVE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING SO YOU ARE LIVING IN HOUSING POISONING OUR CHILDREN.

SO WHEN YOU ARE POISONING A 4, 5 OR 6-YEAR-OLD AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND NOT SUPPOSED TO ACT OUT.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SIT DOWN AND BE GOOD STUDENTS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE LEAD, LEAD IS OUR BIGGEST ISSUE.

WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING POISONED IN THEIR BRAIN, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AGGRESSION, HAVE THEM ACTING OUT, A LOT OF THINGS ON THEIR PSYCHE THAT WE CAN'T SAY SIT THERE AND BE TIN SOLDIERS AND LEARN.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO INTERACT WITH OUR CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO INTERACT WITH OUR FAMILIES AND LET THEM KNOW THE IMPORTANCE THEY ARE TO NOT JUST THAT PART OF THE CITY BUT TO OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY BECAUSE EVERYBODY MARES EVERYBODY MATTERS.

EVERYBODY COUNTS.

I THINK IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY WE HAVEN'T FELT LIKE WE'VE COUNTED FOR A LONG TIME.

>> A LOT OF THE INSTITUTIONAL FAILINGS THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED ARE NOT NEW.

THINGS THAT GO BACK DECADES, BUT THE SPIKE IN GUN VIOLENCE IS A RELATIVELY RECENT PHENOMENON SO WOULD YOU SAY THAT ALL OF THOSE UNDER LYING CONDITIONS HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN LIT ON FIRE BY THE PANDEMIC?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED IT?

A LACK OF JOBS?

IS IT A LACK OF SCHOOL?

WHAT DO YOU THINK CONTRIBUTED TO IT.

>> A LACK OF JOBS, LACK OF EDUCATION, A LACK OF GOOD HOUSING, IT'S ALL OF THAT AND IT MAGNIFIES IT AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOCKING PEOPLE DOWN FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, THEY DID IT, MOST OF US AND THEN WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOORS AND EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO COME OUT, NOW HAVE YOU ALL THESE FOLKS THAT HAVE SET THERE AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS A MONSTER, OKAY?

>> AGREED.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT.

>> AND YOU HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT CAN CONSTANTLY SIT ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE I FOLLOW SOME OF THE BAIJS, THEY GLORIFY GUN VIOLENCE.

THEY'RE FLASHING DOLLARS.

SO I HAVE A 13-YEAR-OLD.

HE IS ON FACEBOOK.

HE SEES THIS OTHER 13, 14-YEAR-OLD SLASHING ALL-- FLASHING ALL THESE DOLLARS AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR GUNS.

I MEAN IT JUST STARTS TO GO IN THEIR PSYCHE.

THEY THINK IT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM CLOUT AND A LOT OF IT IS FOR CLOUT.

A LOT OF IT IS TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND I'M NOT PUTTING THE BLAME ON ANYBODY BUT HAVE YOU GENERATIONAL SO YOU HAVE PARENTS THAT HAVE STEPPED WAS IN THIS GAME AND THEIR KIDS ARE FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS, WE HAVE TO BREAK THE CYCLE.

WE VO TO GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S NOT CLOUT WHEN YOU ARE MURDERING ANOTHER PERSON.

THAT'S THOUGHT CLOUTS WHEN YOU ARE DOING 15 TO 25 YEARS IN JAIL.

WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HEADED TO THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR CLOUT, LOOKING FOR FAMILIES.

THE FAMILIES THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY HAD, THEY WENT TO GET IT FROM THE GANGS AND FROM THE STREETS AND THEY SHOWED THEM UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND WE HAVE TO DO BETTER I TALK ABOUT SURROGATES, AS ADULTS WE HAVE TO BE SURROGATES TO OUR CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM LOVE WE HAVE TO HUG ON THEM.

SOMETIMES I GO IN THE CORNERS AND I HUG THEM.

THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE IT BUT THEY DON'T PUSH BACK AND SOME OF THEM JUST MELT IN MY ARMS BECAUSE THEY ALL WANT TO KNOW IS THAT THE THERE IS AN ADULT OUT THERE THAT IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR THEM AND THAT'S WHAT I DO.

>> SO JOE, HELEN TALKED ABOUT THE SHOOTERS OF SOME OF THESE CRIMES BEING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER.

IS THAT THE TREND YOU ARE SEEING IN OTHER NEW YORK CITIES AND CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> IT VARIES BY MUNICIPALITY.

SYRACUSE AND HELEN AND I WERE TALKING EARLIER, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN 2018 BECAUSE WE SAW THE TREND THEN.

IT CERTAINLY HAS HAD MORE TEENAGERS AND YOUNG TEENAGERS INVOLVED IN VIOLENT CRIME.

BUT THE SAME CAN BE SAID NECESSARILY AS A UNIVERSAL TREND.

IT REALLY IS, THAT'S WHERE THE LOCAL DYNAMICS BECOME ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT, 13 YEARS OLD YOU ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE CONNECTIVITY TO SCHOOL AND EDUCATION.

18 YEARS OLD YOU ARE TRYING TO CONNECT TO SOME EDUCATION BUT MORE LIKELY EMPLOYMENT THE RESEARCH TALKS ABOUT THE INTERVENTIONS YOU NEED BUT A DIFFERENT STILL SET WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH SENATOR RACHEL MAY FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN LIVING UNDER A DISASTER DECLARATION THAT THEN GOVERNOR CUOMO DECLARED BACK IN JUNE WITH REGARDS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE RAMIFICATION OF THAT, JOE, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE POLICIES THAT HAVE DEMANDED FROM THIS LARGELY DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE JOBS?

>> I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL THE SLOWING DOWN OF THE RATE OF SHOOTING INCIDENTS IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THAT BUT I THINK REALLY THERE IS A FEW CONCRETE DETAILS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TALKED ABOUT, REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUE COMING OUT OF COVID-19, I THINK EVERYONE KNEW THAT GUN VIOLENCE WAS ON THE RISE AND IT WAS A WAKEUP CALL FOR COMMUNITIES TO MOBILIZE AND ASSEMBLE.

I KNOW THAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE LISTENING TOURS AND BRINGING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE AND DOING THE MARGINAL INVESTMENTS TO NEW COMMUNITY GROUPS, NEW VIOLENCE INTERVENTION WORKERS AND TO EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE.

I THINK IT'S JUST TOO SOON TO TELL WHETHER IT HAD A DIMINISHING EFFECT ACROSS THE BOARD.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION HELEN?

DO YOU THINK SEEING DIFFERENT IN THE STATE'S EFFORT TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE OR YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN SYRACUSE SEEMS LIKE BUSINESS AS USUAL?

>> IT'S NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.

FOR ME THE FUNDING COMING IN IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL BECAUSE THIS SUMMER AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A FEW YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND THE ONES THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED, WE ARE STARTING FROM 10 YEARS OLD BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT FINANCIAL LITERACY, LOOKING AT EDUCATION WE ARE LOOKING AT GIVING THEM SOME TYPE OF SKILLS EVEN STARTING AT AN EARLY AGE SO THROUGH THE STATE THROUGH THE ALAN FOUNDATION AND UNITED WAY, WE HAVE A GREAT COHORT OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP OFF THE STREETS.

IS IT ENOUGH?

NO.

BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THESE TYPE OF THINGS AND I THINK THE FUNDING COMING THROUGH IS CRITICAL AN THE FUNDING COMING THROUGH AS STATED, A LOT OF THE MONEY-- I WORK FOR THE UNITED WAY.

THAT'S MY REAL JOB.

>> ONE OF YOUR MANY JOBS.

>> ONE OF MY MANY JOBS AND UNITED WAY IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION JUST LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY AND RESCUE MISSION AND WHOEVER ELSE, BUT WE LOOK FOR THESE BIG ORGANIZATIONS TO KIND OF FIX THESE ISSUES.

THEY CAN FIX A LOT OF THINGS BUT THIS IS ONE ISSUE THEY CAN'T FIX SO INSTEAD OF THE STATE-- AND WE TALKED TO THE STATE ABOUT THIS A MONTH AGO.

YOU COME IN WITH THE STRICT CRITERIA AND THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE ARE THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, BUT THE CRITERIA IS SO STRICT TO GET THE FUNDING THAT IT GOES THROUGH A BIG ORGANIZATION, THEY GET THE OVERHEAD, THEY GET THE ADMIN AND THEN THE CRUMBS TRICKLE DOWN TO THE PEOPLE DOING THE ACTUAL WORK SO THEY STARTED CHANGING HOW THEY'RE OPENING UP SOME OF THE FUNDING SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GO IT IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES, WORKING WITH THE YOUTH.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SEE OUR BIGGER BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

>> THEN SPEAKING ABOUT THE SORT OF GRASSROOTS EFFORTS WE SAW DURING THAT PACKAGE, THE WORK THAT CLIFFORD RYAN IS DOING IN SYRACUSE, DOING KIND OF DIRECT VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

DO YOU THINK HE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SYRACUSE AND IF HE HAS, IS THERE A WAY TO AMPLIFY HIS EFFORTS TO FIND MORE CLIFFORD RYANS AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO SYRACUSE'S GUN VIOLENCE RESPONSE?

>> I THIS I A LOT OF THE EFFORTS SHOULD BE DUPLICATED NOT JUST ONE EFFORT BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FOLKS ON THE GROUND WE HAVE THE TRAUMA RESPONSE TEAM, WHICH DOES RESPONDING TO ANY TYPE OF HOMICIDE.

WE GO OUT ON THE GROUND TO KEEP THE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, CALM AND GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DON'T ARE PERSON IS NOW EVIDENCE SO NOW YOU CAN'T RUN AND TOUCH THEM AND YOU ARE TALKING 3:00 IN THE MORNING, 2:00 IN THE MORNING, WHATEVER TIME IT MAY BE.

AND THEN WE HAVE SNUG, WHICH IS THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE AND THEN WE HAVE OGs SO WE HAVE A LOT OF EFFORTS ON THE GROUND THAT I THINK SHOULD BE DUPLICATED BECAUSE ONE ORGANIZATION, ONE PERSON, NOT GOING TO FIX THIS LIKE YOU SAID I CO-FOUNDED MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, ONE ORGANIZATION IS NOT GOING TO FIX THIS WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A CITY OF 40, 50,000 PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TARGETING SO NO, I THINK IT SHOULD BE DUPLICATED ON ALL LEVELS AND IT SHOULD GO TO MORE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS.

>> HOW DO YOU SCALE UP SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THEY REMAIN IN TACT WITH THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO CAN HAVE A MUCH WIDER REACH?

>> I THINK TWO THINGS: ONE IS THE DISASTER FRAMING WAS GOOD BECAUSE YOU KNOW, ALL DISASTERS START LOCAL AND THEN YOU NEED STATE ASSISTANCE AND SOMETIMES FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND THEN ULTIMATELY RESULT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

SO I THINK WHAT HELEN IS TALKING ABOUT IS EXACTLY THAT.

THE LOCAL CONDITIONS, THE LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE REALLY WHAT DETERMINE THE LOCAL IMPACT AND SO TO BRING THEM TO SCALE TAKES RESOURCES BUT IT ALSO TAKES A RECOGNITION THAT FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT STREET OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THERE ARE NUANCES TO THE MODELS THAT THEY USE AND THE WAY THEY APPROACH VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION WORK.

THE SNUG MODEL FROM THE STATE HAS A METHODOLOGY ACROSS ALL 11 SITES AND THEY HAVE THE SAME HIRING STANDARDS, TRAINING STANDARDS, SAME WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT THE THEY OFFER WHICH WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER OF THE TRAUMA RESPONSE TEAM AND OGs SO IT'S A COMPLEMENT OF HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THESE MODELS AREN'T DUPLICATIVE IN BAD WAYS BUT REACH PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REACHED BY THEIR SERVICES AND ULTIMATELY PREVENT VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES.

FROM A RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE, THE HARDEST PART BECOMES THE EVALUATION OF EACH OF THEIR MODEL TO SAY YES THIS IS THE EFFECT THAT IT HAS HAD, WE CAN QUANTIFY IT AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO EXPAND ITS I AM PACK, HAVE A BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND MAYBE TAKE THIS MODEL IN SYRACUSE TO OTHER AREAS AND THAT IS THE STORY OF THE STRAIGHT OUT REACH.

HAVING THE MODEL AND EACH COMMUNITY ADAPT TO IT MEANS IT'S RESPONSIVE BUT GETS VERY HARD TO EVALUATE OVER TIME.

>> HELEN, OUR CONVERSATION HAS PRIMARILY REVOLVED ALONG THE CONDITIONS THAT LEAD A PERSON TO END UP PULLING THE TRIGGER BUT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT WHAT LEADS PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY ACCESS GUNS.

DO YOU THINK THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO LIMIT PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO GUNS?

OKAY.

LET ME TELL YOU.

WE WERE TALKING A FEW MUNTS AGO, RIGHT THE THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW CHROMO, I APPROACHED HIM AND I HAD THIS THOUGHT.

I APPROACHED HIM.

I SAID MOST OF THE GO UNITED STATES THAT KILL IN THIS CITY ARE FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND OHIO.

WE'VE TRACKED THEM WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE NOW.

HE HAS AN APP THAT CAN SHOW US EXACTLY WHERE THE GUNS COME FROM THAT ARE BEING USED IN THESE CRIMES.

SO I WENT TO THE THEN A.G. AND I SAID WELL, GOVERNOR,-- ATTORNEY GENERAL SINCE NEW YORK STATE HAS THE TOUGHEST STRICTEST GUN LAWS, WHY CAN'T WE AS A STATE SUE OHIO IF WE KNOW THAT GUN CAME FROM OHIO?

OR SUE NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT LEE DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT AND NO ONE LAS WANTED TO TOUCH IT SINCE I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT WE SHOULD USE EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN OUR TOOL BOX TO SAVE OUR CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THAT TOOL IS SOMETHING STATE LAWMAKERS DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS YEAR, JOE.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START SEEING OHIO GETTING SUED, NORTH CAROLINA OR MORE SPECIFICALLY, GUN MANUFACTURER THE BILL WAS SIGNED WHEN THE GOVERNOR DECLARED GUN VIOLENCE TO BE A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

IT IS PROBABLY AT THIS POINT A BURCH OF BUNCH OF ORGANIZATION IS PULL LITTLE TOGETHER THE BEST FACT PATTERN FOR LITIGATION AGAINST GUN MANUFACTURERS AND GUN DEALERS.

SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE INSIDE THE STATE AND OUTSIDE THE STATE TO DISRUPP THE IRON PIPELINE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHICH THE MOST RECENT FIGURES I HAD AVAILABLE WERE 75% OF THE GUNS RECOVERED IN CRIMES IN NEW YORK CAME FROM OUT OF STATE.

SO WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VAST MAJORITY, YOU KNOW, IT SHOWS IN SOME WAYS THAT THE NEW YORK GUN LAWS ARE WORKING, BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE PATCHWORK OF STATE LAWS, SO I THINK WE WILL LIKELY SEE IMMINENT LEGISLATION AND THEN IT WILL BE PLAYING OUT IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LEGISLATION ITSELF, THE NEW LAW IS CONTESTED IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT AND IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN SOON.

>> WHO DO YOU IMAGINE WOULD HAVE STANDING TO BRING A LAWSUIT UNDER THIS NEW LAW?

IS IT GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OR CAN GROUPS LIKE MOTHERS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE POTENTIALLY BRING A LAWSUIT?

>> I THINK IT'S OPEN ENDED WHO CAN BE A PETITIONER.

IT'S MORE ABOUT THE FACT PATTERN THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE OR THE NUISANCE OF THE MANUFACTURER IN COMBINATION WITH THE DEALERS LED TO THE GUNS GETTING INTO THE HANDS THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AND THE HARM THAT THEY CAUSED.

IN THE 90s A GROUP OF CITIES BROUGHT IT, LAND MARK SUIT, I BELIEVE IN 1999 AND 2000.

IT COULD SIMILARLY BE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS BUT IT ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN A VERY LONG LEGAL PROCEEDING.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SPIKE IN GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE SAW THAT ARRIVED WITH THE PANDEMIC HAS STARTED TO RECEDE A LITTLE BIT THIS SUMMER.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE MUCH LIKE THE EMPLOYMENT LEVELS SLOWLY GOING BACK TO NORMAL, THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS GOING TO GO BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TOO CRAZY?

>> MY RESEARCHER BRAIN SAYS NO BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ATTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE TO BEGIN WITH AND THERE HAS BEEN A BUNCH OF EXPLANATIONS FROM POLITICIANS BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

SO I WOULD SAY SINCE WE DON'T KNOW THAT, WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO CAUSE THE DECELEBRATION OF GUN VIOLENCE BUT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS SO IF WE ARE IN THIS NEW NORMAL FOR MUCH LONGER, THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW MANY NEW MODELS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, LOCAL LEVEL, STATE LEVEL, FEDERAL LEVEL SHOULD WE BE CONTEMPLATING BECAUSE THIS IS NO THE JUST A NEW YORK PROBLEM AND IT'S STILL SOMETHING HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO MORE AND MORE I THINK IT CALLS OUT FOR A CONCERTED EFFORT ACROSS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE ROLE OF POLICE IN COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE?

WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING THAT THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT SHOOTINGS AND IS THERE ANYTHING THEY SHOULD STOP DOING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE OF BENEFIT TOWARDS ELIMINATING GUN VIOLENCE?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT POLICE, OKAY BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT POLICE ARE A PARA MILITARY ORGANIZATION.

THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE TO BE SOCIAL WORKERS.

THAT'S NOT THE ROLE WHEN THEY TOOK ON THE JOB.

SO I THINK THAT AS A PERSON FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IN THE CITY LEVEL, WE'RE SENDING OUT SOCIAL WORKERS WHEN THEY NEED TO BE BECAUSE OUR POLICE CALLS NOW WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, IT MIGHT BE A MENTALLY ILL PERSON SO WE HAVE TO HANDLE THAT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I THINK THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY COME, THEIR REACTIONARY THEY COME AFTER THE FACT.

WE NEED MORE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BECAUSE I USED TO KNOW WHO OFFICER FRIENDLY WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I WAS 12.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW AND RIGHT NO YOU WE HAVE A POPULATION OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PERCENTAGES, I THINK THE PERCENTAGE IS SOMETHING LIKE 92 BEHRS OF THEM DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND MOST OF THEM DON'T EVEN LIVE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY SO WHEN YOU COME INTO A CITY WITH AN ALREADY PERCEIVED PERCEPTION OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE, THAT CREATES A PROBLEM I THINK THEY NEED TO LEARN THE COMMUNITY THEY'RE SERVING I THINK THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PEOPLE, TOO, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A MANDATE FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO REMOVE THAT WAIVER THAT THEY GAVE TO POLICE AND FIRE IN THE 19 SIXTH.

THAT LAND LOCKED ALL OF UPSTATE NEW YORK WHEN YOU SPREAD THAT WAIVER BECAUSE POLICE COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN MANHATTAN.

WE'RE NOT MANHATTAN.

AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SPREAD ACROSS THE BOARD LIKE IT WAS.

CAN'T GET THE STATE TO TAKE IT AWAY.

ALL WE CAN DO IS NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNIONS FOR FIVE YEARS AT A TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT TO WHERE, INTOrd TO SERVE ON OUR POLICE OR FIRE, YOU NEED TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT YOU SERVE.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU LIVE SO, YEAH.

>> YOU DESCRIBED THE POLICE AS A PARA MILITARY ORGANIZATION.

YOU KNOW, GOING WITH THAT IDEA, WHEN WE DEPLOY MILITARY AROUND TO WAR ZONES, HAVING THAT PRESENCE, THE IDEA IS THAT WILL QUELL VIOLENCE.

STICKING WITH THAT THEME THEN.

WHEN DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF HAVING MORE COPS ALONG EVERY SINGLE STREET CORNER TO ESSENTIALLY SERVE AS A DETERRENT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE?

>> I THINK IT WOULD BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE SEE COP CARS, THEY SLOW DOWN BUT IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND LET ME, FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M NOT BASHING POLICE BECAUSE WE NEED LAW AND ORDER.

MY SISTER WAS A POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE FOR 22 YEARS.

LET'S START THERE BUT I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE POLICE THAT ANTAGONIZE COMMUNITIES, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHERE THE RESPECT, YOU LOSE RESPECT.

I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY EYES, OKAY.

INSTEAD OF YOU STANDING ON THE CORNER TRYING TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND MAYBE GET A RELATIONSHIP, YOU ARE AN TAG ANTAGONIZING THESE COMMUNITIES.

YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE US AGAINST THEM BUT THAT'S HOW THEY COME INTO THE COMMUNITIES, US AGAINST THEM.

IT'S NOT.

WE ARE ALL DOING THE SAME THINGS.

I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT AND SO ARE YOU.

SO I CAN'T GO INTO A COMMUNITY BASHING PEOPLE THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO GO SERVE SO I JUST SEE THE ROLE OF A POLICE OFFICER, IF YOU LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE, YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH BIG PICTURE.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT AS LONG AS THAT IS INSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION, THERE THERE IS GOING TO BE A BASELINE AM OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE ARE GOING HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS A COUNTRY?

>> I THINK AS LONG AS WE HAVE A POLITICAL AND POLICY SYSTEM WHERE SOME PEOPLE VIEW THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO BE AN UNLIMITED UNREGULATED RIGHT, THAT THE LIKELY TO BE THE CASE; HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, THE SECOND AMENDMENT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED REASONABLE REGULATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND THAT'S THE PREDOMINANT INTERPRETATION BY THE COURTS THAT YOU CAN REGULATE AND HAVE LAWS THAT CONTROL WHO HAS ACCESS TO FIREARMS AND WHAT TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE ISSUE BECOMES WITH THIS BEING A POLITICIZED ISSUE THAT IT IS TAKING ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN AND IT NOW BECOMES AND YOU SAID YOU HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR MAY A BIT, HOW DO YOU WORK ACROSS THE AISLE BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM YEARS AND YEARS OF OPINION RESEARCH THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICA, BOTH GUN OWNERS AND NON-GUN OWNERS SUPPORT A WHOLE HOST OF, TO USE YOUR WORDS, COMMONSENSE GUN CONTROL LAWS.

>> NOT MY WORDS.

>> BUT THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE DEBATES THAT WE SEE SO WHERE IS THAT LOST IN TRANSLATION?

AND WOULD I CONTEND THAT AND I THINK A LOT OF THE POLITICAL SCIENCE LITERATURE WOULD REPORT IT IS POLITICIZING THE ISSUE, PARTISANSHIP THAT IS EXACERBATING AND AVOIDING THE ACCOMMODATION ON ANY WAY FORWARD AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SEEN THAT STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE BECOME THE KEY DRIVERS OF ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH ON THE MARGINS.

>> YOU ARE A POLITICAL FIGURE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE CAN BE CHANGE WITH REGARDS TO THE FUTURE OF GUN CONTROL IN NEW YORK AND AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH THE SECOND AMENDMENT IN TACT AS LONG AS YOU REMOVE, I GUESS THE HEAT THE POLITICALIZATION OR DOES IT NEED TO BE AMENDED TO MAKE A DENT IN GUN VIOLENCE IN THE FUTURE.

WHEN.

>> WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT, I THINK THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MUSKETS THAT YOU STUFFED IN THERE AND PULLED OUT.

WE HAVE ELEVATED AND TALKING ABOUT A.K.s AND GUNS THAT HAVE CLIPS THAT SHOOT 40 ROUNDS.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT DANIEL BOONE USED.

MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE AT LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I THINK FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES, OKAY AND FOR ME IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PARTY YOU BELONG TO, WE ARE ALL PART OF THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE ALL PART OF THIS STATE AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT AND DO IT IN AN INTENTIONAL WAY THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE BECAUSE IT CAN START IN THE INNER CITIES BUT GUESS WHAT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE SO WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, AS SOME OF THE SMALLER SUBURBS AROUND.

IT STARTS TO MOVE OUTWARD SO YOU CAN'T JUST SAY I'LL STAY IN MY CORNER BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IT'S GOING TO CATCH YOU IN YOUR LITTLE CORNER.

AND SO THESE CITIES ARE GROWING, NEW PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO THEM AND THAT PROXIMITY IS MORE LIKELY TO MAKE IT A SALIENT ISSUE TO A WIDER SWATH OF THE POPULATION.

>> AND I GUESS FINALLY, JOE, WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO TO GO, I'M CURIOUS, ARE THERE ANY METRICS THAT YOU LOOK FOR THAT CAN BE SORT OF AN INDICATOR OF THINGS HEADING THE RIGHT WAY OR WRONG WAY ON GUN VIOLENCE?

NOT NECESSARILY WAITING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS BUT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT INDICATE THINGS ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BEFORE WE SEE THE POTENTIAL DROP.

>> YEAH, I THINK STARTING TO SEE THE SLOWING OF IT IS IMPORTANT BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE A LITTLE BIT BUT THE DATA IS NOT ALWAYS AS RICH AND VIBRANT AS WE WANT IT TO BE AN OFTEN TIMES WE HAVE TO GET IT FROM THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE WORK MUCH I THINK WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS BEING LIFTED, MORE COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT OR ARE ABLE TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH MAKING CONTACT WITH THE COMPLIANCE YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING IT ON MEED SOCIAL MEDIA BUT FACE TO FACE CONVERSATIONS AND THE MODEL WORKING TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND DEESCALATE THE CONFLICTS AND THE RETALIATORY CYCLE OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

>> WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WHILE KATHY HOCHUL IS IN HER FIRST WEEK AS GOVERNOR.

DO YOU FEEL SHE IS GOING TO APPROACH THE ISSUE WITH THE SAME SINCERITY THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO DID ESPECIALLY WITH DECLARING A DISASTER GUN EMERGENCY?

>> I ABSOLUTELY DO.

I ABSOLUTELY DO.

I HAVE TALKED TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND SHE KNOWS OUR CONCERNS HERE SHE IS AN UPSTATER AND SHE KNOWS OUR CONCERNS HERE.

I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR, I WON'T SAY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-- >> WE HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT.

>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL ACTUALLY BE A WONDERFUL ALLY BECAUSE SYRACUSE IS NOT-- SHE CAME FROM BUFFALO.

THEY'RE SUFFERING THE SAME FATE.

I WOULD THINK WITH FAMILY MEMBERS STILL BEING THERE SHE MIGHT WANT TO TRY TO WORK A LITTLE MORE STRINGENT WITH US SHE HAS MENTIONED IT, I THINK BECAUSE I'VE RESEARCHED HER, THREE OUT OF THE FIRST TIMES SHE HAS APPEARED TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING STRONG GUN LAWS OF OUR STATE.

THERE IS AN INDICATOR, IT IS THAT ONE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE OPTIMISTIC AT LEAST AT THIS POINT IN THE EARLY DAYS.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT TO ARE THIS EPISODE OF CONNECT NEW YORK.

I WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE HAD SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT HELEN HUDSON AND ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE JOE POPCUN.

YOU CAN WRITE TO AT DRESS ON YOUR SCREEN AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE WCNY.ORG/CONNECT NEW YORK.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY, BEHIND THE CAMERA AND IN FRONT, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.