With just two weeks left in 2024, the NYPD is reporting that murders are down about 8% compared to the same time last year and down 15% from two years ago.

Meanwhile, shooting incidents are down more than 6% from last year and there's been a 30% decrease over the last two years, according to city data.

But when it comes to public safety in our city, it's more than just policing.

Deputy mayors Ana Almanzar and Chauncey Parker joined NY1 anchor Dean Meminger Sunday evening to talk about the city’s efforts to keep teens and young adults away from violence.

“The mayor’s North Star is to keep people safe with the lightest touch and so a key part of that is going to be policing, that’s going to be enforcement strategies, but it’s so much more than that,” Parker said, pointing to quality of life initiatives like “Every Block Counts,” a pilot program aimed at addressing historically high rates of violent crime and disorder on specific blocks all across New York City.

Parker and Almanzar said it's just one of many programs that takes a holistic approach to reducing crime and keeping young people safe in the five boroughs.