GUN VIOLENCE has progressively become one of the nation’s most crucial public health crises. In Buffalo, the moderate response to gun violence and mass shootings has deepened disparities on the East side and continues to tear families and communities apart. The root issues of gun crimes include severe underdevelopment of inner-city communities, concentrated low wages and poverty, limited education access, gentrification, and poor health among other factors. Local organizations and grassroots movements have been dedicated to targeting these systemic influences, but there is still much work to be done to witness noticeable change and preservation of life.
What amplifies gun violence?
Redlining was designed as a way to systemize the valuation of neighborhoods and residential areas in Buffalo using race, place, economics, and culture to drive desirability. The cost of redlining left little to no resources and investment in Buffalo’s East side and pushed the majority of Black residents into segregated communities, for example.
Poverty is one of the greatest threats to Buffalo prosperity. In fact in 2021, 27.6% of Buffalo’s population lives below the federal poverty level. The median household income in the city is $42,186, whereas the median income for all of the US is nearly $65,000. The cost of rent is not helping the population either. Over half of residents cannot afford their monthly rent, and a quarter spend over 50% of their income on housing costs. Understanding how economical factors are severely limiting to the Buffalo population and can potentially lead individuals accessing resources by illegal means is one component to the gun violence issue.
The state of Buffalo’s infrastructure is less than impressive. Around 64% of the housing stock in the city were built before the 1940’s, leading most homes to have issues with rotting exteriors, insufficient insulation, and lead contamination. Sidewalks and roadways are neglectfully maintained, which is a barrier for walking and transportation in the city. Residencies located in proximity to the Kensington Expressway and streets like Genesee and Sycamore are frequently exposed to harmful pollutants and vehicle exhausts from heavy traffic as well.
Low education can also be a predictor of gun violence. Schools in Buffalo have historically underperformed in quality compared to the rest of New York State. A review of state public schools found Buffalo to have an average school ranking of 4/10. A little over 29% of Buffalonians hold college-level degrees, which is lower than the state average. Another growing issue in the city is that over 30% of Black residents have some college but don’t end up completing a degree.
References:
The Harder We Run (2021) https://www.investigativepost.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/TaylorHL-The-Harder-We-Run.pdf
New York State of Health (2022) https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/sites/default/files/Ichor%20Strategies%20-%20Pain%20Point%20Analysis%20-%20Buffalo.pdf
WGRZ Buffalo (2019) https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/buffalo-housing-stock-the-oldest-in-the-country/71-5c470297-533f-4180-ab84-f7980c2bfa90
Public School Review (2023) https://www.publicschoolreview.com/new-york/buffalo
TownCharts (2022) https://www.towncharts.com/New-York/Education/Buffalo-city-NY-Education-data.html
US Census (2022) https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/buffalocitynewyork/PST045222