Why Did Andrew Gounardes Give $50,000 To An Organization Instead of Purchasing Security Cameras for Schools in His District?
Senator Gounardes shared the above photo on Facebook and wrote that he gave $50,000 to an organization. (See here) Usually, Gounardes is very secretive and does not share how money was spent in our district.
After the shootings this past Spring, the news discussed locking the entrances doors on all NYC schools for security. Everyone must realize now that school shooters are on suicide missions, so schools should be secured. The news explained why they aren’t locked. (Story here)
We should have seen Andrew Gounardes take action for every school in his district. Investing in security cameras for the entrance doors for every school in the district should have been a priority to him.
Solar-powered Ring cameras are easy to install and they don’t need to be wired into the electrical system. For less than $300, every school could have received a camera that can be accessed from a password-protected app on a phone or computer. Some schools would need more than one camera, but they are very affordable!
While a locked school door isn’t going to stop a shooter, it may delay a shooter from entering the building and give the police time to get there.
Why does Andrew Gounardes forget he represents Brooklyn when he goes to Albany?
Giving money to NYAGV doesn’t change anything for anyone in Gounardes’ district. That group should raise their own money! They have a 212 phone number and we have never seen any of them in Brooklyn, when guns appeared in our community.
I looked up the anti-gun group NYAGV, which stands for New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. On their Facebook page, it shows they put out endorsements in the last election. (See here) I guess Gounardes wanted to buy an endorsement from the group!
There is no way that Governor Kathy Hochul would have wanted to give New Yorkers Against Gun Violence money, as they endorsed her primary challenger, Tom Suozzi. (See here)
The other gun advocacy group that used to be in our area, Moms Demand Action, was silent in our community this year when guns were found outside of high schools in our area. (See here and here)
Two years ago, neither Andrew Gounardes or Moms Demand Action said a word when 28 rounds were filed from AR-15 in Dyker Heights. The man didn’t go to jail and no one demanded action. (Info) I wrote and called Moms Demand Action several times, but never heard back.
Bay Ridge business owner, Sammy Hamden went to the news when he was shot at because not one politician spoke to him about the shooting. Gounardes’ office is just a few blocks from Hamden’s business. Sammy Hamden wanted the community to know what happened so we could be safe. (See here)
We need to do a lot better because Andrew Gounardes has underestimated safety in our community and carelessly gave $50,000 to a group, instead of taking action to secure schools.
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Hugs,
marlene
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