NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — While most crime in New York City has gone down, hate crimes have climbed 50% in 2021 and Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to put more resources into combating the uptick.
"No New Yorker should have fear going to their homes, going to their works, going to their places of worship or just taking the subway or going out to dinner," she told reporters on Wednesday.
During a morning press conference, the governor announced the state will be giving $25 million to 362 non-profits across the state in order to help them combat hate crimes in their own communities. The figure is in addition to the $40 million that has already been allocated.
Hochul noted that the money can be used for a number of community improvements in order to deter crime.
"Something as simple as security cameras and lighting as the days start getting shorter and [people] have to go to services or classes in the dark or early in the morning," the governor said.
Hochul said the money was available to spend before she took office and took a dig at former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for not acting sooner.
"The dysfunction of the last few months before I inherited this position is staggering," she said.
Hochul also said the state is working on new ways for victims to come forward to report their incidents, as she said many people choose not to in many instances.
"There is a sense of shame and embarrassment to people don't want to come forward and tell what happened to them," she said.
The state is in the process of creating an online reporting tool that should launch soon.
