September 28, 2015

Hon. Bill de Blasio

Mayor, City of New York
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Dear Mayor de Blasio:
I am writing to you today to bring to your attention a significant disparity that
exists between the funding provided by the City of New York to the Staten Island
District Attorneys Office given the pressing needs that our communities are
facing. As you are likely aware, Staten Island receives by far the lowest allocation
per capita to its District Attorneys office of any borough in the City and just 3% of
the entire Prosecutorial Budget. Most starkly, where Staten Island receives $9.7
million dollars and has a staff of 86; Manhattan receives a base budget of $98
million dollars and has a staff of 975. Staten Island does not have 1/10th the
population of Manhattan and we do not have 1/10th the crime either.
At its base, this disparity is unfair and insulting to Staten Islanders who pay more
than their fair share of taxes and tolls to the City, State, and Federal
governments. But, it is also unwise for the City to turn a blind-eye to the
increasing drug crisis, domestic violence rates, violent crimes, and the overall
loss of quality of life in our neighborhoods. Below I have outlined some of the
major criminal justice issues facing our borough, as well as the budgeting holes
and gaps that are preventing us from turning the tide on these problems. I,
along with my fellow Staten Islanders, urge you to take action to rectify this
disparity and to discontinue the policy of short-changing our borough.
The Problems:
Staten Island is the Epicenter of the Heroin and Prescription Drug Crisis
-

Staten Island leads the City in deaths from heroin and prescription drug
overdoses with the Bronx coming in second. Staten Islands death rate is
three times higher than the Bronx. From 2005 to 2011, while citywide
fatalities from overdoses decreased, the death rate from opioid overdose
on Staten Island quadrupled.
- In 2012, thirty-six people on Staten Island reportedly overdosed on heroin
and thirty-seven on prescription opioid pills, for an average of almost
exactly one overdose death every five days. People believe the actual
numbers to be much higher. Almost every day we read obituaries in the
local newspaper of 20-somethings who died at home, no cause listed.
- Staten has the highest percent of youth, grades 9-12, who have used
heroin; the highest percent of youth who have taken prescription
painkillers without a prescription, and the highest percentage of kids who
have taken other prescription medication without having a prescription in
NYC.
But, the Staten Island DAs office went 12 years without a Narcotics Bureau
and now only has 1 Assistant District Attorney assigned to these cases.

Staten Islands Domestic Violence Rate Is Increasing Faster than Any Other
Borough in the City
-

From 2009 to 2014, Staten Island reported an astounding 64 percent

increase in domestic violence victims, by far the most of any other
borough. The second highest borough was Queens, which increased by
36.7 percent.
- Staten Islands 120 Precinct has one of the highest frequencies of FamilyRelated Homicides in the City.
Yet, the Staten Island District Attorneys Office has the lowest conviction
rates and the highest dismissal rates for domestic violence cases of every
borough in the City. We are the only Borough without an Elder Abuse Unit
in its DAs office and the only Borough without a Community Partnerships
Unit that could work with the community to improve awareness and
partnerships with non-profit organizations. And, although it is finally
opening this month, Staten Island is the last borough to receive a Family
Justice Center.
Violent Crime is on the Rise: Murders and Felony Assaults are Up
-

Violent Crimes are on the rise in Staten Island. Since 2010, there has
been a 14.8% increase in total violent crime in the borough. This is the
highest increase of any borough in the City. The next closest borough is
the Bronx, which saw an increase in violent crime of 5.3%. Manhattan saw
a decrease of violent crimes by 5.7% in the same time frame.
Murders nearly doubled from 2013-2014 on Staten Island. The NYPD
CompStat data shows that, as of 9/20/2015, there have been 9 murders
on Staten Island. At this time last year, there were 11. This is still a 50%
increase from this time two years ago.
o In Brooklyn, murders are down by 45 percent comparing 2010 to
2014.
o In Manhattan, murders have decreased from 70 in 2010 to 37 in
2014 or 47 percent.
o Queens has seen a drop in murders from 2010 to 2014, from 100 to
64 or a 36 percent decrease.
Since 2010, the number of aggravated assaults in Staten Island has
increased by 25.6%. This is compared to 14% in Brooklyn, 9% in
Manhattan, and 16% in Queens.

Community Relations with Law Enforcement

-

In the past year, Staten Island was the site of one of the most high profile
cases highlighting tension between law enforcement and communities of
color in the entire country.
Yet, the Staten Island District Attorneys Office is the only DAs office in
New York City without a Community Partnerships Unit.

The Shortages
District Attorney Office Budgets FY2015
Borough

DA Budget FY2015

Population

Budget by Population

Manhattan

92,541,000

1,636,268

$56.56 per person

Bronx

54,603,000

1,438,159

$37.96 per person

Kings

87,983,000

2,621,793

$33.55 per person

Queens

51,270,000

2,321,580

$22.08 per person

Richmond

9,580,000

473,279

$20.24 per person

SNP

18,346,000

N/A

N/A

District Attorney Office Budgets Executive Plan - FY2016

Borough

Population

Budget by Population

Manhattan

DA Budget FY2016
Executive Plan
98,350,000

1,636,268

$60.11

Bronx

57,972,000

1,438,159

$40.31

Kings

92,129,000

2,621,793

$35.14

Queens

54,153,000

2,321,580

$23.33

Richmond

9,719,000

473,279

$20.54

SNP

19,381,000

N/A

N/A

Borough
Manhattan

Increase in Budget from FY2015 to

FY2016
5,809,000

Percentage Increase from

FY2015 to FY2016
6.28%

Bronx

3,369,000

6.17%

Kings

4,146,000

4.71%

Queens:

2,883,000

5.62%

Staten Island

212,000

2.21%

SNP

1,035,000

5.64%

Staffing in the District Attorneys Offices

Borough
Manhattan

Staff Number in DAs

Office
975

DA Staff Member Per

Borough Population
1678

Bronx

691
2081

Kings

891
2943

Queens:

499
4652

Staten Island

86
5503

SNP

192
N/A

Lastly, investing in the Staten Island District Attorneys office, which allows for the
effective and efficient prosecution of crime drivers but also for initiatives that work
to prevent crime, is a win-win for the City. Safe communities not only provide a
higher quality of life for residents, but they attract business and economic
development as well. In the long run, this investment will make our City safer,
improve quality of life for residents, save the City money, and increase revenue.
This is also the right thing to do. Staten Islanders deserve their fair share from
the City. They deserve to see their tax dollars come back to their community and
address the incredibly serious issues facing us each and every day.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your response and needed
action on this matter.
All the best,

Michael E. McMahon