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Governor Hochul announces $16 million in funding to help local
organizations combat hate crimes during visit to Queens College
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 22-28, 2022
17
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
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 arrest-eligible will become arresteligible
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.”
As the Jewish community observes
Passover on April 15, which tells the story
of the escape from slavery, Senator Toby
Ann Stavisky said they’re reminded that the
struggle is not over.
“The community faces hate on a regular
basis. The Asian American community also
continues to fight racism, bigotry and injustice.
People do not realize that unemployment
is rampant, people face housing and
food insecurity and the highest poverty rate
is in the Asian American community. This
budget is our response to hate,” Stavisky
said.
Read more on QNS.com.
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by email
at cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4526.
Governor Kathy Hochul was joined by elected and community leaders 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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