Bronx, NY– February 26, 2025 – Last night, Council Member Pierina Sanchez, alongside local elected officials and community advocates from Good Shepherd Services, Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco), and the Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative (JARC), hosted the inaugural convening of the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership (WBCSP) at Morris Heights Health Center. This convening marks the official launch of the partnership.
On December 12, 2024, elected officials sent a joint letter urging the Mayor and Governor for support in tackling rising rates of violence to help the residents of the West Bronx feel safe. The letter emphasized that, despite citywide improvements in public safety, the West Bronx has trended in the opposite direction. This stark contrast is particularly evident when comparing rates of gun violence. While the city has seen improvements in shooting victims and incidents, several precincts in the Bronx have been reeling, with both shooting victims and incidents on the rise.
The partnership will draw upon existing efforts and resources, as well as proven interventions and techniques that address not only the present raging symptoms of violence, but importantly, its root causes.
“As our city faces attacks from Washington, the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership is bringing together leaders from every level of government, alongside community leaders and institutions—from our schools to health organizations and service providers—to build lasting community safety,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “Violence in NYC is deeply uneven, with just 4% of the city’s 120,000 blocks accounting for nearly all shootings, according to an analysis by the Gothamist. This stark reality disproportionately affects historically disinvested neighborhoods like the West Bronx, where systemic disinvestment has fueled cycles of instability,” she continued. “This partnership is about addressing not just violence as it occurs, but also the root causes of violence— lack of opportunity, and disconnection—by ensuring our communities receive the resources we deserve. We will focus on key investments in youth programs, mental health services, and economic development to drive real change. I am proud to stand with our community to fight for concrete, community-driven solutions during these uncertain times and beyond.”
“The goal of the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership resonates deeply with WHEDco’s mission to empower communities and create lasting change,” said Davon Russell, President of WHEDco. “By focusing on community-informed solutions, we believe it will improve both safety and long-term outcomes for the families we serve, with the support and investment of all levels of government. The partnership will enhance our support of Bronx residents, ensuring they receive the resources they deserve and need.”
“Good Shepherd Services is pleased to be a part of the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership, which will allow residents and other community stakeholders of the West Bronx an opportunity to collectively identify the capital and programmatic investments needed to address all aspects of community safety to ensure children and families can thrive in the Bronx,” said Annie Minguez, Vice President of Government and Community Relations, Good Shepherd Services.
The WBCSP is led by local elected officials who represent the West Bronx in the U.S. House of Representatives, the New York State Legislature, the New York City Council and community stakeholders whose goal is to combine efforts and advocate for resources that tackle violence and achieve community safety in the West Bronx.
This is the first of multiple convenings to gather community input from multiple stakeholders, including community boards, precinct councils, elected officials, and community organizations to discuss how to jointly advocate for the West Bronx community in the city and state ahead of the Fiscal Year 2026 budgets and beyond.
“The launch of the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership is a critical step toward addressing the urgent safety concerns facing our communities. I want to thank Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Good Shepherd Services, Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation, the Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative, and the Morris Heights Health Center for their leadership in convening this initiative. While our city has seen improvements in public safety, the West Bronx has not experienced the same progress. The rising rates of violence, particularly gun violence, cannot be ignored. This partnership is a key part of our effort to not only respond to the symptoms of violence but to address its root causes and ensure that every resident feels safe in their community,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.
“The West Bronx Community Safety Partnership is a great idea, I commend Councilmember Sanchez for her leadership by conceptualizing, advocating and acting on behalf of the West Bronx community. This partnership looks to connect community organizations, constituents, and elected officials in order to amplify resources, ending an era of working in silos, and disinvestment. As I have been advocating since I took office, we need to work on addressing the root causes of crime in order to achieve public safety. I’m ready to partner with all stakeholders to reduce violence and make the Bronx safer and more resourceful for Bronxites,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.
“Violence is not born in a vacuum—it is the bitter fruit of neglect, poverty, and disinvestment. The West Bronx Community Safety Partnership stands as a resolute commitment to break this cycle, not with hollow words, but with action. By prioritizing youth programs, mental health support, and economic opportunities, we are building the foundation for a safer, stronger West Bronx. We refuse to accept a reality where our neighborhoods suffer while others thrive,” said State Senator Robert Jackson. “This partnership is about confronting the deep roots of violence with the same urgency as its symptoms, ensuring that safety is not a privilege, but a right for every resident. I am proud to stand with our community in demanding real, community-driven solutions that bring lasting change—because justice is not justice if it does not reach the Bronx.”
“As a proud partner of Councilmember Sanchez’s newly created West Bronx Community Safety Partnership, I’m looking forward to working together with this dynamic group of local stakeholders who share the same goal — to curtail the violence that has plagued our communities for far too long. From elected officials, to law enforcement, and grassroots organizations, we will collectively address violence in our communities by driving more investments towards successful programs such as Cure The Violence while creating new, innovative initiatives that will ultimately bring real safety to our neighbors,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.
“Our goals extend beyond statistics; it is about protecting our children, supporting our families, and fixing our community. By August of last year, there had been a total of 212 shootings near and around my district within the South Bronx, a significant increase from the previous year , each one a heartbreak, a family forever changed. This crisis predominantly affecting our Black and Latino communities, leaving our children vulnerable in what should be their sanctuaries. As we build the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership, we nurture a foundation for future generations to thrive without fear while investing in the safety of our community,” said State Senator Luis Sepúlveda.
“I am proud to be part of an initiative that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities. In recent months, we have tragically lost several community members to gun violence, underscoring the urgent need for action. Significant steps have already been taken, including the installation of borough-wide cameras and mobile command vehicles funded by Borough President Vanessa Gibson. The launch of the West Bronx Community Safety Partnership marks another crucial step forward in our commitment to public safety. I am honored to support this initiative and deeply appreciate Council Member Pierina Sanchez for her leadership in this critical effort,” said Assemblymember Landon Dais, Assembly District 77.
“We’ve seen firsthand the challenges our community endures—from gaps in addiction services to the pervasive impact of gun violence. This partnership marks a long-awaited, essential step toward fostering a safer, healthier West Bronx. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Councilmember Sanchez for bringing us all together. Through our shared commitment, we will drive meaningful, lasting change for our residents,” said Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia.
“Building a safer community requires all of us—elected officials, organizations, and residents—working together with a shared commitment to lasting change.” Council Member Althea Stevens emphasizes, “The West Bronx Community Safety Partnership is a powerful example of how local government and community organizations can come together to address violence at its roots and advocate for the investments our neighborhoods deserve. No matter where we serve or who we represent, our collective actions will create a safer, stronger community for all.”
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