In a speech in Harlem on Sunday, New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo pointed out that the city’s gun violence has been rising, but instead of calling for more tough-on-crime measures he pushed for closing some state prisons.
In the speech covered by the New York Daily News,Cuomo asked the audience, ”guess how much it costs per year to keep a person in a juvenile justice facility? Over $200,000 per year. $200,000! You could’ve sent that person to Harvard University and it would be cheaper.”
Cuomo went on to say the money would be better spent at the community level and on violence prevention programs.
“We’re going to take that money and provide it in community- based services so the problem doesn’t happen in the first place,” he said.
The governor also attacked the federal government for not tightening gun laws during the breakfast speech before the African American Day Parade.
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