Rayford: “I lost family members …”
NEWBURGH – City officials hope to curb gun violence in Newburgh with the implementation of ShotSpotter technology that will pinpoint exactly where gunfire rings out within 30 seconds after the trigger is pulled.
The program has proven successful at lowering gun violence in cities across the country.
Councilwoman Hillary Rayford said gun violence has touched her family
on more than one occasion.
“I am for the ShotSpotter,” Rayford said. “I lost family members, after family members, after family members, all teenagers.”
The program will run for 18 months at a cost of $351,000 after which the city will seek additional funding to keep it going.
In other business, the council turned down a proposal to deal with the growing problem of feral cats. The vote came after over an hour of public comment concerning a council proposal to spend $2,000 to hire a company to rid a neighborhood of the cats.
After several speakers, including many from outside Newburgh, urged compassion and veterinarian Laurie Stein of Cornwall offered to trap and neuter or spay cats at no charge, the council voted down the expenditure and urged residents to join together to collaborate on a plan to compassionately deal with the cat problem in the city.
