Jan. 23, 2017 Staff Report
Residents of Queensbridge Houses gathered last week to celebrate a full year without any gun violence on the 3,142-unit complex.
On Thursday, the public housing complex– the largest in North America–celebrated the first full 365 day stretch without gun violence in over a decade.
Local leaders claim that the decrease in violence can be attributed to several programs working together. The housing complex saw an increase in security features, such as better lighting and cameras, and increased community involvement from PSA 9 and the 114th Precinct.
There was also a larger effort towards community outreach programs at Queensbridge. There were more opportunities for arts and cultural activities as well as after-school programs at the Jacob Riis Center and nearby schools to help keep children occupied and involved.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer funded the Cure Violence program at the Houses, which reaches out to those most at risk of committing violence and helps stop those tendencies. It works with violence interrupters, who are trained to diffuse violent situations and work towards mediating conflicts peacefully.
“It took concerted efforts from many people and organizations to reach this victory,” Van Bramer said. “Today’s Queensbridge is a far cry from years past, when residents complained of regular shootings and violence. I look forward to working with all of our community partners to extend the 365 days of peace for days, months, and years to come.”
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13 Comments
It’s good 2 hear that my old stomping grounds r not as violent as they once were. All the place needed was some TLC. Amen!!! Keep up the good work.
Coward
LEVEL IT ALL AND MAKE ASTORIA GREAT AGAIN !!!!!!!!
I have an emergency
find a place to move w my three girls
Please help find a apartment.
Thank you !
Try your family, that’s if you didn’t already burn those bridges…
The murders just took place somewhere else.
Anywhere else but Queensbridge. Get the point
And we are proud of this?
Sell the Queensbridge Houses to developers, use some of the proceeds to build 3 smaller developments some place else. Sounds like more then just a practical plan.
Just move them out of the way so you can’t see them? Yeah, I’m sure that will work great…
-Neighborhoodie I already don’t see them you imbecile. I’m speaking from a financial position. The development was always neglected from a lack of cash. Now that the land the development sits on is worth exponentially more than the neglected buildings in the development they should realize the gain and capitalize. Proper financial management can go along way in benefiting all rich and poor.
How come we can we tell Neighborhoodie is a transplant from a lily white suburb? You’re a naive fool. Stay here and hang near those projects for a while and that will change.
what a dickhead