About one in four voters in New York say crime and public safety is their top concern.

The city of Albany recently reported two homicides, and the mayor of the city joined other Capital Region leaders on Monday in sitting down to try to find solutions to gun violence.

“We know that there is a proliferation of firearms coming into our communities,” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said.

She and the mayors of Troy and Schenectady met Monday with representatives of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

“These are problems that are going to be identified locally and need to be solved locally, and it’s incumbent upon the state to hear those voices,” state Division of Criminal Justice Services Deputy Commissioner Joe Popcun said.

The meeting came just days after two fatal shootings in Albany. Police said personal disputes are leading to most of the city’s gun violence, and the incidents are not random.

“There is no one approach to delay with community violence," Sheehan said. "And in fact, law enforcement is only one piece of what needs to be a broader investment.”

In 2021, there were 17 homicides in the Albany, 16 of which involved gun violence. The numbers are not as staggering in Troy and Schenectady, but leaders there said one is too many.

“A lot of the activities in those individuals that make poor choices in one of our communities influences the activities in another community,” Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said.

Another alarming trend is a number of the incidents involve young people, which has inspired Collar City leaders to enhance its community policing initiative.

“And help community members resolve problems before they escalate into more of a crisis situation that causes trauma,” Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said.

The discussion between the mayors was closed to the press, but the trio called it a productive meeting, learning about $100 million included in the state budget to assist DCJS in fighting gun violence.

“Building capacity within the local organizations that do things like mental health, social work and case management,” Popcun said.

The group encouraged the public to be engaged and help law enforcement when possible.

“Many of the successes that we have had have resulted from community cooperation and collaboration,” Sheehan said.