www.qns.com APRIL 22, 2022 6RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Gov. Hochul announces $16M in funding
to help organizations combat hate crimes
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Governor Kathy Hochul announced
nearly $16 million in funding to
strengthen safety and security
measures at nonprofit organizations at
risk of hate crimes or attacks during an
anti-hate crime rally held at Queens College
on Wednesday, April 13.
“New York state’s diversity is our
strength, yet too many New Yorkers
continue to live in fear and today we say
enough is enough,” Hochul said during the
event held at the Queens College Student
Union Ballroom. “Hate, racism and xenophobia
have no place in our state, and this
critical funding sends a clear message that
New York stands united against individuals
who seek to show hatred and divide us.”
Queens College President Frank Wu
thanked Hochul for her exemplary leadership
in “strongly standing against the
virus of bigotry, antisemitism and discrimination
infecting the state and nation.”
A total of 205 organizations received
327 grants, which are available through
the state’s Securing Communities Against
Hate Crimes program and administered by
the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The funding will allow synagogues,
churches, religious schools, civic organizations
and other nonprofit organizations
to secure their facilities and better protect
the individuals and families they serve.
Rossana Rosado, commissioner of the
Division of Criminal Justice Services,
said she is proud of her agency’s role in
administering the funding.
The fiscal year 2023 state budget directs
$25 million for Securing Communities
Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) grants.
Benefits will be expanded for victims
of hate crimes, who will now be able to
obtain up to $2,500 in reimbursement
— an increase of $2,000 from past years.
Also, under public safety and criminal
justice reforms passed in the budget, all
hate crimes that are not currently arresteligible
will become arrest-eligible if the
individual is 18 years or older.
Recipients of these grants have facilities
in 28 counties in every region of the state.
Organizations that had not previously
received funding or those that had not
received funding for a specific facility or
facilities were eligible to apply for this
funding.
The maximum grant was $50,000 each
for no more than three facilities, for a
maximum award of $150,000. The funding
may be used for interior or exterior security
improvements, such as alarms, panic
buttons, fences, shatter-resistant glass and
public address systems, among other items.
Funds also may be used to cover costs associated
with security training.
Additionally, approximately $83.1 million
in total funding has been awarded to
more than 600 nonprofit organizations
to support approximately 1,700 projects
since the program’s creation in 2017.
As hate crimes in the state continue to
rise, Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the
Asian American Federation (AAF), had the
privilege of meeting with the grantees of
the “Hope Against Hate Campaign” that
Hochul made possible with a $3.3 million
grant.
“We celebrated the start of the work to
build safety programs and community
education in our community,” Yoo said.
“We are grateful for this new investment
that Governor Hochul has allocated that
can be used by nonprofits, houses of worship,
civic organizations and other critical
community organizations to address the
safety needs of our treasured and vital
institutions.”
As news broke about the Brooklyn subway
shooting that occurred on April 12,
Yoo says the Asian community held their
breath praying that it wasn’t an anti-Asian
attack and noting the three Sikh men who
were recently assaulted in Queens.
“We do need some security in place and
we need to think about security cameras.
These are things that we’ve never thought
about because we’ve never gotten funding
for infrastructure,” Yoo said. “New York
City leads the country with the most
anti-Asian hate attacks, and this is not
a number we should be proud of. But by
these investments, we have the resources
to fight racism and rising violence to keep
all New Yorkers safe.”
As defined by state law, hate crimes target
individuals, groups of individuals or
property because of a perception or belief
about race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation,
religion or other characteristics.
While the total number of hate crime
incidents reported to police statewide is
a fraction of all reported crimes, these
crimes adversely affect entire communities,
not just the intended individual or
institution. New York state monitors these
incidents to identify trends and measures
that address or prevent an increase in
attacks. Preliminary statewide data for
2021 shows a significant increase in hate
crime incidents: 778 in 2021 as compared
to 497 in 2020. Jewish, Black, Asian and
LGBTQ+ individuals and institutions
were most commonly targeted and those
incidents contributed to the statewide
increase. The 778 hate crimes were the
most reported during the 10-year period
from 2012 through 2021. It was only the
second time during that time frame when
total incidents exceeded 700; there were
734 hate crimes reported in 2012.
Queens lawmakers applauded Hochul
for prioritizing the issue of hate crimes
plaguing communities across the city.
According to Congresswoman Grace
Meng, public safety must continue to be
the top priority for the city and state.
“From safety in the subway and increased
hate crimes to senseless gun
violence and the ongoing mental health
crisis, New York needs and deserves all
the resources possible to combat the rise in
crime,” Meng said. “Everybody deserves to
feel safe whether on mass transit or walking
down the street.”
State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic said
as the steady surge of hate crimes across
New York continues, there is no room for
complacency.
“This new security funding will go a
long way to keep and protect New Yorkers
safe,” said Rozic, who commended Hochul
for taking real, credible steps to prevent
and address hate crimes in New York.
“We will continue taking action until it is
incontrovertibly clear that New York will
not tolerate hate or violence.”
Read more on PoliticsNY.com.
Governor Kathy Hochul, joined by elected and community leaders, delivers
remarks Wednesday, April 13, at an anti-hate crime rally with Jewish and Asian
groups at Queens College. Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
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