MEDIA ADVISORY
August 5, 2022

State Awards $6M in Violence Prevention Funding to Richmond  

City and State leaders will announce a $6 million investment from the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) program to the City of Richmond’s innovative Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) to address public safety, and particularly gun violence prevention. 

The ONS is responsible for building partnerships and strategies that produce sustained reductions in firearm assaults and related retaliations and deaths in Richmond. They are responsible for directing gun violence prevention and intervention initiatives that foster greater community well-being and public safety. This program was the first of its kind, and has become a model implemented nationwide. This $6M award will continue and expand these outreach initiatives in both the Black and Brown communities to ensure sustainable gun violence reduction in Richmond. 

WHO: Richmond Mayor Tom Butt, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, and officials and staff from the Richmond Office of Neighborhood Safety working on-the-ground as violence interrupters in Richmond will speak. Richmond City Council Members will also attend.

WHAT: Press conference on $6M investment in violence prevention in Richmond

WHEN: Tuesday, August 9, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Front steps of Richmond City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond

CONTACT: Erin Ivie, Office of Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, erin.ivie@asm.ca.gov

MORE INFORMATION:

About the Office of Neighborhood Safety: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/271/Office-of-Neighborhood-Safety