The city of Paterson is experiencing a decline in violent crime. There were 27 homicides and 101 shootings in 2022, which is about a 10% decline from 2020, when the city saw what the mayor called an “epidemic” of gun violence. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh says there are two main reasons for the drop: police taking more than 200 guns off the streets and a partnership with community anti-violence groups. But some members of the community don’t believe the decline in shootings and homicides tells the whole story. Community activist Corey Teague believes a number of incidents may not be included in the city’s count because the crimes are committed by police themselves.
“If there’s a mass shooting in a suburban town all these counselors, all these providers and effort is place to heal that community. What’s been done here. We have victims right here behind me from the first and fourth ward there wasn’t a slew of mental health advocates that went to support them. We had young people that were shot 14-years old in the fifth ward, so where was that support that’s needed in the communities like this,” said Liza Chowdhury, project director for Paterson Healing Collective.
Community advocates are calling for more transparency and investing in neighborhoods to really tackle crimes.
