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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , December 28 , 2016

PUBLIC AGENDA

WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 28

Newburgh Town Board Special meeting , 5 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh . The sole purpose of the meeting will be to conduct interviews for the positions of Police Lieutenant and Sergeant Town of Newburgh Workshop meeting , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

HOLIDAY DEADLINES

The office of the Wallkill Valley Times will be closed on Monday , Jan . 2 , in celebration of New Year ’ s Day . Deadlines for all press releases , letters to the editor and calendar submissions for the Jan . 4 edition is Thursday , Dec . 29 at 5 p . m .. Deadline for all display and classfied adversing and public notices is Friday , Dec . 30 at noon ..

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The Mid Hudson Times , ( USPS 000-5947 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , NY 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , NY . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Mid Hudson Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY 12550

The Newburgh City Council voted to table a resolution to purchase ShotSpotter technology this month .

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Rayford said it didn ’ t matter whether the resolution to buy the system was tabled , she would not support the purchase in any case . “ I don ’ t even want to table it , my vote is no ,” she said . Yet , at council meeting a few months ago , Rayford said she was alarmed when seeing a bullet-riddled car parked on Johnston Street . “ If we want our city to run correctly , we need to take a stand ,” Rayford asserted .

CDBG funds are provided through the U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development and do not come out of city taxpayers ’ pockets . However , the ShotSpotter system would be leased and require more than $ 200,000 for software and maintenance , an expense not covered by CDBG funds . SAID WHO ?? “ We expected this funding was going to come from a federal grant ,” said Councilman Torrance Harvey , who said he needed more time to do a cost analysis . “ We want to be able to look through the numbers .”

“ The longer we put this off the worse it is for our city ,” Councilwoman Genie Abrams argued . “ This city has a lot of problems with gun violence . The sooner we get this ShotSpotter … the better .”

The ShotSpotter system would use sensors to map a three-mile coverage

COUNCILWOMAN GENIE ABRAMS

area of the city and instantly notify police of shooting activity with data , mapping , audio and precise locations of gunshots . It is the latest technology being used to address gun violence in cities such as New Haven , Conn ., Cambridge , Mass . and New York City , which began using the technology last year .

According to ShotSpotter ’ s 2015 National Gunfire Index , cities using the technology in the Northeast region in 2015 saw a 27.1 percent decline in gunfire rates .

“ This is a software that I wholeheartedly support ,” said Councilwoman Karen Mejia . “ I am comfortable with the numbers that were shared with us .”

Mejia noted the city had been trying to find funding to buy the technology for about a decade . “ By the grace of the creator , we have managed to come up with $ 352,000 ,” said Mejia . “ I understand your wanting to pause for a little bit , but I wouldn ’ t want to pause for a long time .”

The system purchase was one of several options offered to residents who demanded the council act in the face of mounting gun violence earlier this year . “ We ’ re not going to tolerate it ,” said Schnekwa McNeil , one of many residents who asked the council to make city streets safer at a council meeting in September . “ We have to do more .”

“ Although my son is lost , we may be able to save the lives of other children by getting technology that will make our streets safer ,” said Gayle ’ s mother Jennifer Bediako , who spoke in support of the ShotSpotter system at a press conference at Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney ’ s office that same month .

Repairs of city street lights and upgrades to the citywide video surveillance system were completed in the weeks that followed Gayle ’ s death . The shooting deaths of Tabitha Cruz , 20 , and 18-year-old Omani Free followed in late October .

The city council is expected to again vote on the ShotSpotter resolution when it returns to Newburgh City Hall in January .