Mayor Bill de Blasio and police officials on Wednesday detailed a number of stepped-up security measures for next Monday’s J’ouvert festival, an annual procession that takes place in the early morning leading up to the West Indian Day parade. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report.

It’s a rolling street party that begins before dawn and continues through the morning the day of the West Indian Day Parade. But violence has threatened the J’ouvert festival’s very existence, particularly after the shooting death last year of Carey Gabay, a Cuomo administration staff member.

"We’re taking extraordinary measures," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

On Wednesday, city officials said the expected 250,000 participants Monday morning will see the most extensive security ever, with the NYPD doubling the number of uniformed officers and putting 200 light towers in and around the route. That’s on top of added security cameras and new gunshot-detecting technology in the area.

"We are not going to let a few bad apples destroy something that’s so important to hundreds of thousands of good New Yorkers," de Blasio said. "We’re going to make sure that J’ouvert and the parade are safer than ever."

The city has also issued J’overt organizers a formal parade permit for the first time, and clergy working with the NYPD are checking in on parolees and known gang members.

"Before the event, they’ll be receiving visits. And if there are active warrants, etc., parole violations, we’ll be seeking to enforce those," said Police Commissioner William Bratton.

The mayor and police officials stressed the increased security was discussed in close consultation with the community, a planning process they said has been going on for several months, and included members of Carey Gabay’s family, some of whom were on hand for Wednesday’s news conference.

"My brother loved J’ouvert. Though it’s J’ouvert, ultimately, that took my brother’s life, he loved the event," said Aaron McNaughton, Gabay's brother. "Because to him, he looked about what the essence of J’ouvert is, which is jubilation, celebration. It’s not violence."

Meanwhile, two pedestrian islands installed last December along Eastern Parkway have been torn out because city officials realized they'd pose an obstacle to floats on the main parade route.

"That could create safety issues for the people around. So they’re being taken out for the parade," de Blasio said. "We have to figure out a long-term solution. We don’t have that yet, but we will get to a long-term solution.”