Assemblyman Bill Reilich (R,C,I-Greece) has been named to the newly formed Assembly Task Force on Urban Crime by Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt (R,C-Albion).
As a member of this task force, Reilich will participate in several public forums throughout the state to help address issues of urban crime plaguing upstate cities. Testimony will be collected from law enforcement officials, district attorneys, community activists, parole and probation officers and concerned citizens.
"The information gathered from the urban crime task force will help us identify ways to stem the tide of urban crime," Reilich said. "Each community has its own unique set of circumstances and needs. By tapping the experience of the professionals and involved concerned citizens, we can identify programs and tools that each community could benefit from. We can then determine the resource requirements to help effectively fight crime."
A report by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) detailing declines in crime rates in New York indicates that the cities of Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Newburgh, Albany and Buffalo did not experience the same rate of decline in crime that New York City experienced between 1994 and 2001. The task force will probe this disparity and offer ways to successfully overcome this issue.
"It’s imperative that we learn why programs that have been successful in reducing crime in New York City haven’t been as effective upstate," Reilich explained. "By utilizing proven, effective programs and tailoring them to meet the needs of our upstate areas, we will finally be able to curb the problem of urban crime. We need to address this issue to improve the quality of life in our state."
Seven forums will be conducted statewide. The first public forum will be held Thursday, April 22, 2004 at the State Office Building in Utica. Similar forums will be held in Rochester, Binghamton, Watertown, Newburgh, Buffalo and Schenectady. Times and specific locations will be announced prior to each forum.
For more information, contact Assemblyman Bill Reilich at (585) 225-4190.