© 2026 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NY governor pledges $10 million to fight domestic terrorism after Buffalo shooting

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she is pledging $10 million to establish new teams in every county and in New York City dedicated primarily to combat domestic terrorism. Here, Hochul holds up signed legislation as she is surrounded by lawmakers during a bill signing ceremony at the Northeast Bronx YMCA on June 6, 2022 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago
/
Getty Images
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she is pledging $10 million to establish new teams in every county and in New York City dedicated primarily to combat domestic terrorism. Here, Hochul holds up signed legislation as she is surrounded by lawmakers during a bill signing ceremony at the Northeast Bronx YMCA on June 6, 2022 in New York City.

In the fight to curb domestic terrorism on the local level, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced new guidance Tuesday to support the development of domestic terrorism prevention plans following the deadly mass shooting in Buffalo.

Hochul pledged $10 million to assist counties across New York in the development of threat assessment management teams.

This is a step in the right direction but more must be done, Javed Ali, associate professor at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, told NPR.

"The more states like New York that develop their own plans to address domestic terrorism, the better," Ali said. "It will provide a quilt-work of different activities in the short-term that will allow some of the more longer-term aspects of the Biden administration's national strategy to take root."

The teams, according to Hochul, will be compromised of law enforcement and mental health professionals, school officials and other important stakeholders tasked with identifying, evaluating and reducing domestic terrorism.

"In the wake of the horrific domestic terror attack in my hometown of Buffalo, I committed to New Yorkers that we will confront the scourge of domestic terror head-on," Hochul said in a statement.

Each county's plan must include input from local law enforcement, mental health and school professionals and others before being submitted to the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Counterterrorism by Dec. 31, according to Hochul.

The Buffalo gunman, 19-year-old Payton Gendron, is currently facing 27 counts following the deadly attack at the Tops supermarket.

If convicted on all 27 counts, Gendron could face either the death penalty or a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

The attorney general will decide at a later date on whether to seek the death penalty, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Jonathan Franklin
Jonathan Franklin is a digital reporter on the News desk covering general assignment and breaking national news.
Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker nests well to the north of us, but winters in Florida, other Gulf states, and the Caribbean. Older males tend to winter farther north, while females and first-year birds winter farther south. Males must return early to establish nesting territories and by staying farther north in winter, they are better able to deal with late cold weather sometimes encountered. Females return to breeding areas about a week later than males.Male Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers can be identified by their red throat. Females and fledgling males have a white throat; young males begin to show red throat feathers early in their second year. Young sapsuckers have dark streaks on the side of the breast and belly; adults show a “cleaner” yellowish belly and distinct black bib on the breast.
  • The Labelle High School Cowboy Marching Band is refusing to participate over requested entry fee; Now the LaBelle Middle School and the VFW are also pulling out in solidarity with the high school band.
  • "Gutenberg the Musical" is in its final weekend of performances at TheatreZone in Naples. The premise is so preposterous it will keep you in stitches.