Some may say it's only $600,000. They may say it's only one neighborhood. But curbing violence begins neighborhood by neighborhood, street by street, child by child. And, it's nice to see the federal government getting involved. Let's hope it's the start of something worthwhile.

The federal government has allocated $600,000 tax dollars to analyze crime, engage residents, and help develop a comprehensive crime strategy in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. The award is part of an $11 million initiative to address "neighborhood-level crime" in 15 locations nationwide.

The goal of the program is to come up with "community-oriented strategies" to "change neighborhoods of distress into neighborhoods of opportunity." It does not include money to hire more police officers, and no other neighborhoods in New York City are included. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said today Brownsville was an "appropriate community to test this program." What do you say?

How would you spend $600,000 to combat crime where you live? What ideas do you have to engage residents in hopes of lowering crime and turning around a community? What other neighborhoods could use a grant like this?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Is this a joke or what? How did they come up with this idea let alone the amount of money involved?
Don’t they have theatre and
parties in all the boroughs. [ALL THEY HAVE ARE FREE BEES] the other suckers that pay taxes get screwed time and time again. These useless politicians starting from Albany right on down to the lowest title in politics. I don't get it but this is going overboard just to get votes. Where do you draw the line in choosing. I smell more than one rat. Isn’t this borough president the one that was taking junkets with his wife and many of all of these council members that have millions at their fingertips and spend it as they wish without caring that it does come from our taxes.

THIS TO ME IS A SLAP IN THE FACE.

BY ALL MEANS KEEP DIVIDING US=THEY CAN SMOKE DOPE=TAKE THE MORNING AFTER PILL=AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY AT ALL ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL WORK=THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK US TO VOLUNTEER OUR SERVICES=WHOA NELLIE So now who is in charge of this money and how will it be distributed in that borough.

ALL OF THESE BIRDBRAINS HAVE RUINED THIS CITY AND IF THIS DOESN'T WORK, THEN WHAT. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT IDEA TO POP UP.

I'M CURIOUS AND HAVE TO ASK=DOES BLOOMBERG GIVE THESE PILLS TO HIS DAUGHTERS.

YOU ALL STARTED THIS SO YOU MUST LIVE WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASK=HOW COME WE NEVER SEE ANY OF THESE JACKASSES LIVE AND FACE TO FACE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

I STILL BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT THERE SURE IS A SECRET SOCIETY IN THIS CITY FOR A CERTAIN FEW.

THIS WHOLE MISH MOSH OF THE WAY THIS CITY AND STATE ARE RUN IS JUST SICKENING.

I THINK THIS IS JUST ANOTHER SHOVEL JOB.

maxxiee
mp

If Commissioner Kelly knows that Brownsville is heavily ridden with crime, there are two questions. Why hasn't he already send in NYPD re-enforcements?

And how is it okay to deny other neighborhoods any help at all?

Joe
Port Richmond

Take the $600k and build a network of cameras in the most violent zones.

Have the PROPERLY monitored by a community-based non-profit that will ensure we aren't going after kids smoking pot but instead going after real criminals. The non-profit can then forward to NYPD if necessary.

Frank, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Id renovate the jails from country clubs to the cages the bad guys deserve. Then the money could be used to fix the schools for the kids.

Jimmy from the Bronx

The key to reducing crime is having police on the ground, not only to respond to crime, but to be active in the community. This means engaging the police in building trust in the community, through positive outreach, and not just arresting young members of the minority community. Community policing is not a new idea, it is a matter of utilizing the funds available. Although it has been scrutinized, the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Program brought this type of support to communities throughout the country. Many of the funding streams for these programs have dried up in the past decade due to the war on terror, but our leaders are now realizing that crime on the street is a greater day to day threat.

Ben
Rego Park

The money shouldn't be spent on overtime for police, nor focus groups to figure out the problem. We know the problem, education & jobs

QueenKitty

If you want to fight crime make every law abiding citizen a crime fighter and legalize guns.

Chris from Richmond Hill Queens.

What other neighborhoods can use a grant like this? Well no one ever mentions the gun violence that happens very often in Far Rockaway, Queens. Just two days ago someone was shooting at the police; police cars, trucks and helicopters were mobilized. It looked like a movie out here, the next day not one newspaper reported it. The grant for Brownsville is a great step forward, but how about a grant for the whole city?

Charlie. Far Rockaway.

Perhaps I am wrong, but wouldn't 600K be "money well spent" if we improved our justice system? Counseling program? Really? How about harsher punishment? I live in Brooklyn and quite few of my friends are police officers. According to them, current justice system is a joke. No one would be afraid of committing a crime if they are out on bail the next day, and this is exactly what's going on. How about we put more police on the street, more undercover operations for illegal drug and gun sales busts, a better education system, more events that involve as many people as possible in the community, better jobs? Nope, none of that, let's just give them counseling cause after a person spends years in prison they will sure be easily influenced by the counselor.... I'm sure this program will help a few, but I am also sure that most wont take it seriously.

Tatiana

I believe that by having these grants this can maybe help build the youth to push away from crime, but it all comes back to how the parents are involved. If the parents show negativity and live a life of crime themselves this impacts the children because they look up to them whether or not they are preforming good or bad behavior. The parents should be involved first and than maybe this grant can do some more good. Child and teens have minds like a sponge and absorb everything they see. Letting them have more opportunities can set the mold for them but it will take time to really sink into the minds of the youth.

Tiffany, Manhattan

Ask the people in Brownsville and ask the cops that patrol it how to change.

Yoadrian

The only way to lessen crime and get New York City to become a livable place, is to get rid of Bloomberg.

Frances
East Village

I'm glad to see money being spent to help the formerly incarcerated from returning to prison, as this will actually make communities safer. Training them for jobs and increasing their education is the answer. Right now the prison system teaches nothing to convicted felons, and when they return to their communities they cannot find any employment, have no training, and so they return to a life of crime.

Brian
Richmond Hill, NY

While this is a good thing for the area, take the funds and set up after-school programs to prevent future criminals. Why not have a temporary agency to help out getting jobs for them as well.

My other thing is how come Bedford-Stuyvesant wasn't given any funds to help out? Get the funds to that area as well. Open up some homeless shelters and Fire Departments or both Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Sandra
Mariners Harbor,S.I., NY

Put the money into fixing and improving the New York City Public School System in low income neighborhoods. The way out of poverty is through a good education.

Lisa

I think the money could be used to implement some social programs within the public housing itself.

If the concentration of these accommodations is so dense, higher standards should be encouraged & expected of the people who live there.

Maybe some group therapy & classes on good parenting!

Teach people how to be better families & neighbors!

Erin, Rego Park

$600,000 IS a lot of money to nonprofits who donate much more of their time and energy than they get paid for because they BELIEVE and have HOPE and want to HELP their communities.

Forget the researchers. Unless they're free students from CUNY.

Use the money for nonprofits to do what works best...they'll stretch that $600,000 to make it $2 million worth!!!!

Kathy