Tuesday, May 24, 2003

DISTRICT ATTORNEY RICHARD A. BROWN ASKS CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES FOR SUPPORT TO HELP RESTORE BUDGET CUTS TO HIS OFFICE

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today addressed the City Council’s Committees on Finance and Public Safety at City Hall and asked for their support to help restore budget cuts to his office.

The District Attorney, noting that Queens County led the City in crime reduction in 2004 with a 7.8 percent decrease, testified that since 2001 his office budget has been slashed by nearly 20 percent, a loss of close to $6.0 million.

District Attorney Brown said, “My message to you is that it is time not simply to stop the cuts –- it is time to restore the monies that have been taken from us. The budget reductions that we have suffered have pushed us to the point where our ability to maintain the gains of the last decade is in jeopardy. We cannot lose more staff and carry out the vital functions that keep our counties safe.”

The District Attorney said the reality of the budget situation is that both the City and State’s fiscal outlook has improved and revenue has begun to increase.

District Attorney Brown said, “We need baselined restoration of the cuts that we have suffered. In addition, we would want you to work with us to find vehicles to support new initiatives.

The District Attorney said he wants to set up an Identity Theft and Financial Crimes Unit, an initiative to attack financial exploitation of the elderly and expansion of an ongoing youth violence intervention and prevention efforts.

District Attorney Brown said, “The bottom line is that we need you –- more than ever before –- to provide us with the resources necessary to allow us to continue to reduce the level of violence within this city and improve the quality of the lives of our residents.”