Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - In light of the violence over Fourth of July Weekend in Buffalo, lawmakers are looking for solutions to further deter violence to break out among the city's youth during events like a street takeover.
While the violence was not as prevalent along Chippewa, Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski admits he always has his phone on and is a bit on guard, knowing days like the Fourth of July can encourage some bad behavior on Chippewa.
"Chippewa is an entertainment district, and we need to get hip to it being in a city, and it should be activated and in use for patrons to enjoy nightlife and enjoy our city and our Downtown Buffalo safely. And I don't believe with a combination of individuals that are under 21 and patrons and partygoers that are of legal age mix well, because it leads into this chaotic mess," said Nowakowski in an interview with WBEN.
When considering a potential ban of anyone in the Chippewa District under the age of 21, Nowakowski says a majority of the businesses, other than just one, is in support of it.
"I have more people living downtown, I have a Theatre District that's right around the block. They want it activated, they want restaurants to be successful when it's really hard for restaurants to make a profit," he noted. "I'm out there at 2 a.m. myself, and I see an influx of people who just are not patronizing Chippewa Street, other than getting rowdy, closing down the street, walking in the middle of it, partying in their cars, antagonizing patrons, and not overall producing a positive impact to nightlife on Chippewa."
When it pertains to the violence that took place over the weekend in the Delavan Grider community, Nowakowski is all too familiar with how a street takeover can be debilitating for a neighborhood.
"A few years ago it actually happened and occurred in my district, it completely capsized the street," Nowakowski said. "An individual actually went into cardiac arrest, and because of the density of children, youth, and young people, we couldn't even get emergency services down there to perform CPR. It was a tragic situation, and that's where this really is a danger. And when you have things now on social media that can go viral overnight that says, 'Come to this place,' kids of all ages have access to social media, if it's a couple blocks from their house, without the proper protocol and measures, it could really lead to violence."
During a gaggle with the local media on Tuesday, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan was asked about the idea of enforcing a curfew at the conclusion of some particular evenings or events in the city. He says it's a matter he will plan conversations with some other mayors in cities like Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
Nowakowski feels curfews are a complex matter, questioning how a city can enforce it with real efficiency.
"There's going to be individuals that think it's over policing, or did one incident of one weekend instigate that everyone should have a curfew that's definitive," Nowakowski said. "I think he is looking to Rochester and what they're doing, but I'm open to whatever the mayor is exploring. And especially the police commissioner, who has that intel of information, can look at a heated map of what instances are happening, where, and why. Maybe there should be a reach for that ask, but we do need a lot more evidence to show where that would be appropriate."
Going forward, Nowakowski feels the city needs to focus on monitoring information and calls it's getting, and watching over social media closely in order to respond appropriately by assigning any needed resources.
"I think where I get frustrated is we look for answers, but if you look at the information, somebody that was either 13 and then up to a 51-year-old were hurt, and the police commissioner said there was oftentimes a majority of young people. We need to be able to embrace our young people, know where they're at, and provide them a safe place so it's not so easy to look at social media and then gravitate towards things that could ultimately put them in danger," Nowakowski said.
Masten District Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart shares a very similar sentiment with Nowakowski, feeling it's paramount to finding positive pathways for kids, especially during the summer months and events like the Fourth of July.
"I've said this a million times, it's not the gun violence, it's the issues that come before the gun violence," said Everhart in an interview with WBEN. "Just like we talk about the kids fighting in schools, it's not the fight in the school, it's what happened at home before the kid got to school. So if we're going to talk about gun violence, we need to talk about what resources are out there in the community for the kids. What's out there? There is nothing.
"There are no roller rinks in their neighborhoods. We have a couple of community centers, but they're overtaxed. In the Masten District, specifically, we have the Delavan Grider Community Center, we have the Resource Council [of Western New York]. Those two businesses, organizations, whatever you want to call them, they're running nonstop all day, every day. But yet, we still have empty school buildings with nothing happening in them. So that is the problem."
While Everhart understands the focus is primarily on gun violence with incidents such as the violence over Fourth of July Weekend, she strongly feels if adults in the community are not dealing with the resources that are absent in neighborhoods, more gun violence will likely continue.
"Where are the adults? Why aren't we sitting at tables? Why aren't we opening up more buildings? Why aren't we putting more money into programming, into neighborhoods, into communities? That is the solution," Everhart pleaded. "I truly am tired of hearing about the gun violence. I want to know what the adults in the City of Buffalo are going to do to provide spaces for these young people to do things in.
"No one's thinking creatively. No one's saying, 'OK, I have a school building. Let's open it up until 11 p.m. and give the kids something to do.' No one's saying, 'I have a business where they can throw a little party so they can hang out with their friends.' Where are those conversations?"
That's why Everhart is hosting an emergency Strategy Session on Wednesday, in partnership with Intersect Buffalo and the City of Buffalo Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Her goal is to identify new programs and approaches to address the root causes of violence, particularly those related to at-risk teenagers and young adults.
The session will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, located at 701 East Delavan Avenue.
"We have to be creative and we have to try to do that. We're not doing that as a city right now, and it's disheartening. These babies are calling out, that party was not about that party. That party was showing us what we're not doing as adults," Everhart said.
"I can't do this by myself. I am one Council member in this city. This is not just my problem, but it looks like I'm the only one that actually cares. Because this isn't about more police, this isn't about more rules and regulations for kids. This is about root causes. What are the root causes of crime? All you got to do is open up your phone and Google it. You'll figure that out. If you fix those issues, you'll fix the crime in the City of Buffalo."
When it comes to the question of curfews being a solution for the city during events like the Fourth of July, Everhart feels there are much better alternatives.
"I get it, yes, it was out of control. Do we need to think about a curfew? Maybe, but before we get to a curfew, can we maybe put some money into programming? Can we maybe open up some spaces for some young people? Can we maybe be creative about our ideas? Can we try something different for once? I mean, for once, can we just try something different, and actually sit down at a table and listen to the kids?" Everhart questioned. "Has the mayor or the police commissioner sat at a table with these young people? I have. They're hurting, they're bored. We have to sit there and listen to them, and try to do some of the things that they're asking us to do."
Everhart is encouraging not just the mayor and other officials to take a seat at the table during Wednesday's session, but other parents, guardians and community leaders that want to find impactful solutions in their neighborhoods to avoid such violence from breaking out again.
"I met with yesterday the police commissioner [Erika Shields], our two deputy police commissioners, the Deputy Mayor [Eugenio] Russi. I met with all of them yesterday, and we had a conversation about exactly that. This is a meeting for all of us. We all have to be at the table," Everhart said. "After that meeting, I came back over to City Hall and I had a meeting with the Mayor, and I told him the exact same thing. We all have to sit at a table and make sure that we're having the same conversation."
