Q&A
Council Member Hanks inquires about subway surfing deterrence campaigns and budget implications
2:17:50
·
178 sec
Council Member Kamillah Hanks asks about campaigns used to deter subway surfing, specifically inquiring about the use of "scared straight" tactics and potential budget implications. Mark Rampersant from NYC Public Schools responds, explaining their current approach and reasons for not using the "scared straight" model.
- Current campaigns focus on using peer voices and testimonies from former subway surfers rather than "scared straight" tactics
- NYC Public Schools is considering additional funding needs but hasn't yet determined the exact amount
- The discussion touches on the effectiveness and potential negative impacts of different deterrence strategies
Kamillah Hanks
2:17:50
Thank you, chairs.
2:17:51
I just wanted to, thank you for having this important, hearing.
2:17:56
I also wanted to say hello to my dear friend, chief Galata.
2:18:00
We're sad to see you go, but I'm glad to see you're here in this capacity.
2:18:04
My question revolves around more about the, the campaigns that we're using to deter this type of activity.
2:18:15
Are we using more, when I was I'm dating myself, but, you know, in the eighties it was, you know, scared straight.
2:18:24
And, the implications of what that reality is, photographs, pictures, testimonies, that are also used to help deter this kind of behavior.
2:18:37
But I also wanna know, is there a budget implication that you would be looking to ask the city council for to address this issue whether it be in your respective agencies or, collectively?
Mark Rampersant
2:18:53
So so far, there hasn't been a scared straight approach to this.
2:18:57
Right?
2:18:57
We what we tried to use are the collective voices of their peers to help sort of deter.
2:19:05
I am I don't wanna date myself either.
2:19:07
I mean, I'm pretty young guy.
2:19:09
The scared straight the scared straight model is a model that had some some positives as well, negatives for young people, and some of the some of the, thought around utilizing those measures to reach young people, can be, you know, long term damaging in in the thoughts.
2:19:27
You heard you heard your
Kamillah Hanks
2:19:30
That's that's how we were raised.
Mark Rampersant
2:19:31
Yeah.
2:19:32
Well, you know, we were built a little different.
2:19:35
Yeah.
2:19:36
Kevin said no.
2:19:38
Your your your friend, who you continue to shout out here, the chief.
2:19:42
Right?
2:19:43
I'm just trying to figure out why the rest of us not getting that kind of love, but let's move forward.
Kamillah Hanks
2:19:47
Staten Island.
Mark Rampersant
2:19:48
I I get it.
2:19:48
I made the connection.
Kamillah Hanks
2:19:49
Staten Island.
Mark Rampersant
2:19:50
I made the connection, and that's why we were intentional about shouting out Staten Island in our testimony.
2:19:57
The scared straight model has not been, sought out, by New York City public schools, at least in the campaigns that we've done thus far.
2:20:06
We thought the voice of their collective peers would be helpful enough to try to deter, as well the voice of former, subway surfers who have been a part of and who have lost friends, to this.
2:20:19
We thought that that would be a a more, friendly approach to addressing a very serious issue as it relates to to the funding, that is needed to do this.
2:20:31
I mean, we are in the process of figuring out what what the leverage is going forward.
2:20:36
We definitely wanna double down and and get more granular in in the approach of, so we will definitely get back to, council with,
Jessica Hernandez
2:20:46
Thank you, and thank you, chairs.
