Despite having a former NYPD officer as Mayor and seeing our NYPD budget double, crime has risen across the city including heinous crimes like the immolation of Ms. Debrina Kawam on the subway. We cannot incarcerate our way to safety. The US has the highest incarceration rate in the developed world even outmatching China despite the latter having triple the US population. Moreover, in New York City alone, it cost $556,539 per year to incarcerate each individual, a figure that quadrupled in just one decade. Bearing in mind that the NYPD budget is on top of that of the Department of Corrections, which is on top of the Court System, we spend more between arrest, arraignment and incarceration than any other city in the nation. But are we safer?

When Tiffany lived on 136^th street, she had a gang of 10 to 40 young people mostly selling drugs at her doorstep 24/7. That number could easily swell during the warmer weather months. Some of them appeared to be as young as 12 years old. This problem takes root in kids years before pre-adolescence. Prevention must begin early and it must entail a variety of government agencies, community and even faith-based institutions. Continuing business as usual would be a dereliction of duty. Assumptions and anecdotes will not resolve this crisis either. Most criminal activity by children between ages 7 and 17 takes place between 3 and 4 pm. After school programs can be price-prohibitive for a good number of families. 

Tiffany filmed this video at 5:37 AM, September 23, 2023 at Riverbank State Park before registering her child for classes that the park offers. Riverbank is a great park with wonderful, dedicated staff. The vast array of affordable cultural and athletic courses attracts families from across Manhattan with some even commuting from beyond the City. But parents should not have to camp out the night before to secure slots for their children. NYC Parks are even more limited with NO public pools uptown. Tiffany also previously served as the Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee of the League of Women Voters. As your City Council Member, she will perform a comprehensive study that entails collaboration with community members, formerly incarcerated individuals the DOC, NYPD, and DYCD among others to find a more ethical, effective and sustainable system to keep us safe. Tiffany wants to increase programs that especially focus on providing skill-building and eventually internships, which offer either school credit or a modest stipend for students.