Schumer Announces Over $175,000 Coming To The City Of Buffalo For Crime Prevention And Policing Initiatives

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that $175,000 has been awarded to the City of Buffalo in Erie County to prevent violent crime and reduce drug trafficking through community policing initiatives. The funds are being awarded through the U.S. Department of Justices (DOJ) Weed and Seed Program.

"This is great news for the city of Buffalo, said Schumer. These funds are going toward a program that works to shut down criminals and reduce drug activity. Implementing community policing programs is not just a short term responseit provides long term solutions by focusing on prevention and community partnerships.

The City of Buffalo will use federal dollars to focus law enforcement efforts on reducing violent crime and drug dealing. Community policing goals will enhance police visibility and police presence in order to reduce qualityoflife crimes. Prevention, intervention and treatment goals include a comprehensive approach for educational and skill enhancement, Healthy Life Choice/Character Development training, and substance abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment within the community. Neighborhood restoration goals will further restore the neighborhood through increased home maintenance, housing rehabilitation, and home ownership. The Lower East Side Weed and Seed site received Official Recognition in June 2006. Weed and Seed street boundaries include Jefferson Street to the west, William Street and Bailey Avenue to the east and Sycamore Street to the north.

The Weed and Seed program works to prevent, reduce and control violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in specifically targeted highcrime areas across the country. Its name comes from a twopart approach to these areas. One involves law enforcement agencies and prosecutors getting together to "weed out" individuals who participate in violent crime or drug abuse in an attempt to keep them out of the targeted area. The second part, "seeding," includes bringing social services to the area in order to push for prevention, intervention and treatment, as well as neighborhood restoration. Since 1994, the Department of Justice has allocated at least $9 million annually nationwide for Weed and Seed related task forces administered through the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other DOJ agencies.