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Mount Vernon approves MOU to join Westchester STRIVE domestic violence initiative
Summary
The Board of Estimate and Contract approved a memorandum of understanding to join Westchester County and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services STRIVE initiative, which will add staff and services to the city's response to domestic violence.
The Board of Estimate and Contract on May 20 approved a memorandum of understanding to partner with Westchester County under the STRIVE initiative of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, a plan the city said will add personnel and counseling to local domestic-violence response.
Mayor Patterson Howard said the initiative will provide several staff who "will be able to provide counseling and partnership with an agency" and that the city will have a staff member in the police department dedicated to data analysis and serving people with orders of protection. "The city of Mount Vernon has the highest rate of domestic violence in the county, and I believe we had over 603 incidents last year," the mayor said.
The mayor described the program as providing additional support through the wellness division and improving delivery of temporary orders of protection and restraining orders. The board took a roll-call vote after discussion; the minutes record Comptroller Morton, Council President Brown and Mayor Patterson Howard each voting "Aye." The MOU was presented by the Office of the Mayor as an item under the Department of Public Safety.
The board did not list specific start dates or provide a public budget line in the meeting discussion; the mayor and staff said the partnership would place staff in the police department and the wellness division but did not specify the funding sources or the number of positions to be created. No formal amendment or additional funding vote was recorded during the item.
