TESTIMONY
Hailey Nolasco, Director of Government Relations at the Center for Justice Innovation, on Supporting Community-Based Programs for Public Safety
6:16:28
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135 sec
Hailey Nolasco advocates for continued support and funding of community-based programs for public safety in spite of financial constraints.
- Expresses gratitude for past council support and relief at the cancellation of spending cuts, while acknowledging ongoing financial challenges.
- Emphasizes the critical role of community-based programs in enhancing public safety through initiatives like neighborhood safety, awareness of gun and domestic violence, and support for at-risk youth.
- Highlights specific projects such as RISE, Save Our Streets, school conflict mediation, and Bronx Hope, demonstrating their impact on public safety and rehabilitation.
- Urges for sustained investment in these programs, especially in anticipation of the closure of Rikers Island, to maintain and improve their efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
Hailey Nolasco
6:16:28
Hi.
6:16:28
Greetings, Chairbrand and Deputy Speak Ayala and esteemed members of the Committee of Finance.
6:16:33
My name is Haley Nolasco, Director of Government Relations at the Center for Justice innovation, and I'm honored to testify before you all today.
6:16:40
We thank the counsel for its sustained steadfast support for programs that work daily to make a positive impact in the lives of people most impacted by the criminal legal system.
6:16:49
And we are relieved to learn that this latest round of spending cuts have been canceled, but understand that there still continues to be financial constraints that will inform future decisions.
6:16:58
Having said this, we urge the council to continue to support the progress already made and the effort to make our criminal legal system more fair, humane, and effective while keeping our community safer.
6:17:09
It is important to make a conscious effort to not divest from vital services that will work to address a multitude of growing community needs as this will directly impact public safety.
6:17:19
The Centers program across the city expands entire Justice continuum, working to enhance public safety beyond enforcement by 1, increasing civic engagement in place keeping and nature developments through our neighborhood safety initiatives, 2, wanting to and bringing awareness to the intersection of gun and domestic violence through our RISE project that works within the city, the crisis management system.
6:17:40
3, by supporting at risk and systems involved youth with economically sustained lives through our crisis management system programs such as SOS Save Our Streets in both the Bronx and Brooklyn, and its wraparound services such as the anti gun violence youth employment program, school conflict mediation services, and therapeutic supports.
6:17:57
Also through our life changing prearrangement and diversion work such as Bronx Hope that causes a harm reduction model to give clients the opportunity to rehabilitate and connect to community rather than jail or options that do not really address their underlying issues.
6:18:11
And as we look forward to the closure of Ricus Island, our programs will be relied on more than ever and the efficacy of these programs are reliant on meaningful investments to do so responsibly.
6:18:20
In closing, well funded community based programming produces better outcomes for individuals as well as communities and they generate cost savings.
6:18:29
Our programs provide much needed services.
6:18:32
And in close to your reference, you will find a map of our programs across the city in addition to letters of support from the Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan NDAs with Staten Island forthcoming.
6:18:41
Thank you so much for your time.