ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester, a city that Mayor Malik Evans says is grappling with a persistent surge in gun violence, finds itself teetering on the edge of a full year under a state of emergency. 

Mayor Evans recently extended the emergency order, granting himself and local authorities enhanced abilities and resources to tackle the city's shootings. With incidents of gun violence continuing to plague the community, there is a need for action. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rochester, New York has been under a state of emergency for nearly a year due to escalating gun violence

  • Mayor Malik Evans extended the local state of emergency to June 14, granting additional powers and resources to combat shootings

  • Despite efforts to address the issue, the city has seen a significant number of shooting victims and homicides, although recent statistics indicate a decrease compared to the previous year

On Tuesday evening, police say another shooting took place, leaving a man critically injured, adding to the toll of three weekend homicides. 

As the state of emergency enters its extended phase, questions arise about its effectiveness and impact on the safety of Rochester's residents. Originally implemented on July 21, 2022, the state of emergency in Rochester has now been extended almost 10 times. The most recent extension pushed the emergency declaration to June 14 and came with an initial expiration date of May 15, 2023. 

The power to declare states of emergency lies with municipalities in New York state. Typically, such measures are taken in response to natural disasters like blizzards or floods. However, in this case, the state of New York had already declared a gun violence state of emergency, prompting Rochester to follow suit. 

According to Linda Kingsley, corporation counsel for the city of Rochester, the state of emergency has been invoked approximately 15 times since its inception. This action has resulted in the closure of establishments that police say were involved in gun violence incidents or exhibiting reckless behavior. Authorities persistently want to ensure residents' safety, responding when security measures are lacking or when shootings occur within these establishments. Kingsley emphasized the intention to work with business owners to enhance safety measures rather than resorting to closures.

As of May 15, the city has had 64 shooting victims this year, a decrease from the 339 victims reported at the same time last year. In addition, there have been 14 homicides this year, compared to 76 during the corresponding period in the previous year. 

While the numbers show a decline, it has yet to be established whether that is a result of the state of emergency. July 21 will mark one year since the state of emergency was first put in place.