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Let me begin by expressing my deep condolences to the families of the victims of this senseless tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they try to cope with the magnitude of their loss.
In the midst of the pain and sorrow felt by the Newark community and the entire nation shocked by this horrific crime, we must renew our determination to address the scourge of violent crime with every resource we can muster. This is a problem that requires a concerted effort among community groups, state and local governments, and the federal government.
Over a year ago, Congressman Steve Rothman and I sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales urging him to assign one or more Violent Crime Impact Teams to New Jersey because of the high rate of crime in this area – a rate that is two to three times higher than the national average. We also met with Representative Frank Wolf, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over funding for the Department of Justice, along with U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, to urge that a Violent Crime Impact Team be sent to Northern New Jersey. We followed up with a meeting in Mr. Christie’s office with Mayor Cory Booker and representatives of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. To date, a Violent Crime Impact Team has not been assigned to Newark. Representative Rothman and I are intensifying our efforts and we urge city officials to work with us in conveying the urgency of the situation in light of the most recent tragedy. We cannot sit by and wait as the murder statistics continue to mount.
While we have been successful in securing millions of dollars for the federal COPS program to put more officers on the street, we need a more comprehensive approach. In addition to greater law enforcement resources, we have to intensify our efforts to reach at-risk youth. I have signed on to a number of measures in Congress to accomplish this goal. I plan to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as soon as possible to enlist her help in authorizing at-risk programs which were blocked when the Republicans controlled Congress.
As a lifelong Newark resident, I remain encouraged by the Renaissance of our city and the strength of our community as we work with more determination than ever to stop the violence and prevent future tragedies.
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