New York State pledges an additional $1 million to combat gun violence in Erie and Niagara counties after a deadly Fourth of July weekend
BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State will provide an additional $1 million for gun violence prevention and enforcement efforts in Erie and Niagara counties following a spike in shootings over the Fourth of July weekend in Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
The funding will supplement nearly $13.8 million already allocated to the region through three state programs: the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, the SNUG Street Outreach program, and Project RISE, which provide youth development services, mentoring, mental health services and job training to young people.
The announcement comes after two people were killed in separate shootings in Niagara Falls on July 4. 11 people were injured in six different shootings in Buffalo on the same night.
“Following an uptick in firearm tragedies in Buffalo and Niagara Falls this summer, I am doubling down on these efforts by surging public safety resources to strengthen partnerships that stop violence at its root, and support community-based prevention programs and anti-gun violence strategies,” Governor Hochul said in the announcement
Of the new funding, $500,000 will support GIVE operations, with $350,000 going to Erie County and Buffalo and $150,000 to Niagara County and Niagara Falls.
Another $200,000 will be divided among Project RISE partner organizations in Buffalo, including the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, Open Buffalo, and the Foundry.
“This additional funding will strengthen the pertneship between state and local agencies, support proven violence prevention efforts, and give our police department and community partners more resources to help keep our neighborhoods safe,” Buffalo mayor Sean Ryan said in the announcement.
$200,000 has been also allocated to expand SNUG Street outreach and hospital response programs at ECMC in Buffalo and Community Mission of Niagara Frontier in Niagara Falls. Both organizations received $100,000. SNUG uses a public health approach focused on violence interruption and outreach, while Project RISE provides services aimed at reducing youth involvement in the justice system.
“This crucial funding will be used to provide community programming for our young people that is safe, engaging, and relevant. While many are focused on the negativity and what our young people are doing wrong, Governor Hochul is standing with me in making sure that we are addressing the root causes of their behavior,” Masten District Common Councilmember Zeneta Everhart said. “The East Side of Buffalo has continuously been counted out and overlooked, but no more.”
The remaining $100,000 will go to Buffalo’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention to coordinate local prevention efforts.
“As I said in the aftermath of the tragic deaths of two youths over the July 4th holiday weekend in Niagara Falls, we need to improve the social safety network and build family supports so that people understand that the use of a firearm is never a solution,” Niagara Falls mayor Robert Restaino said.
The enacted fiscal year 2027 budget maintains funding for GIVE, SNUG and RISE, while also including resources to address emerging threats such as 3D-printed firearms and illegally modified weapons.