NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $37 million investment into stopping gun violence Wednesday that will focus on offering hundreds of "green" jobs.
De Blasio said 1,500 jobs will be created in Brownsville, South Jamaica, East and Central Harlem and across parts of the Bronx like Mott Haven as part of the plan.
The initiative will connect those at risk of involvement in gun violence with green jobs, in partnership with Brooklyn-based tech startup BlocPower.
The program will pinpoint communities experiencing large numbers of shootings, according to city officials.
The first hiring wave will include over 200 city residents, where they'll be part of various trainings before getting placed onto a job site.
Trainings include OSHA training, business communication, technical skills, conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques and access to trauma-based counseling.
According to officials, those placed into employment opportunities will be on a "pathway" to permanent jobs that pay no less than $20 an hour.
City officials said the program is their latest response to a rise in gun violence. Another program, "Safe Summer NYC," also attempted to promote positive alternatives to picking up a gun.
"A recovery for all of us does not exist unless each and every New Yorker feels safe," said de Blasio. "By providing training and employment opportunities to those at risk of gun violence, we can stop violence before it happens and invest in safer communities."
