Matthew Brawith (Legal Aid Society) testifies on community investments over policing
Matthew Brawith of the Legal Aid Society Community Justice Unit, raised in the Bronx, testifies that broken windows policing doesn't work, citing 72% of arrests resolved with dismissal or ACD in 2025. He advocates for violence disruptors, community programs like Save Our Streets, and youth investment over policing.
It's good now?
All right.
Good afternoon.
My name is Matthew Brawith, and I'm a community organizer with the Legal Aid Society Community Justice Unit.
I was born and raised in the Bronx, specifically Mitchell Houses.
My connection to this work is deeply personal, starting as back as 1990 when I lost my father to gun violence.
That experience shaped my commitment to creating safe communities for young people and families like mine.
Broken windows policing has never worked.
Changing the name to quality of life doesn't change its ineffectiveness and abusive practices.
More arrests have never meant more safety.
In 2025, almost 72% of all arrests, including felonies, was resolved with a dismissal or ACD.
Cops don't make me feel safe.
Prevention before crisis does.
That means violence disruptors, outreach workers, credible and reliable community members, love, communication, stable housing, nutrition, pro-social activities for our kids, and most importantly, equality and keeping it real with our community members.
You heard us tell you many times why cops aren't the solution.
So today I will tell you what is.
The DYCD Bronx Spring Break Takeover at YMCA and East 229th Street.
The Bronx Uptown is an example of what works.
Hundreds of youth community members from across the Bronx came together in a safe, welcoming space, trying to enjoy music, dance, get much-needed, valuable community resources.
If you want to prevent violence, we have to recreate more safe places where young people and families can come together, build relationships, have fun, enjoy normal activities without the risk of being criminalized by NYPD.
Everyone deserves this.
Young people should not feel that walking out their homes and meeting up with friends comes with the risk of being watched, profiled, and abused.
Taylor Murphy, founder of the Shoshana Chicken Murphy Foundation, acts before crisis.
He's doing what it takes to reduce violence and make our streets safer.
He gives voices to the voiceless, black men that people label as high risk, and works with them as part of the solution to achieving safety and change.
Save Our Streets is another prime example of our solutions.
Consistency, compassion, chances to create change.
Youth programs and community organizations are doing this work to make our community safer every day.
I love my city.
More specifically, I love the Bronx, and I want to feel safe in my home, and I want to allow my son to hang out with his friends without the risk of being hurt due to community violence or NYPD.
My family is safer when you invest in the Bronx, invest in our youth, invest in our community organizations already doing the work.
Make prevention a priority, not an afterthought.
Give our young people opportunities before they become citizens.
and give our communities the resources to prevent violence before it happens.
Thank you.
I appreciate y'all.
Thank you so much for your testimony.
And now Gina Mitchell.