UES Board To Tackle Rise In Domestic Violence During Pandemic

Upper East Side NY

14 June, 2021

4:38 PM

Description

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — An Upper East Side community board is hosting a special meeting this week devoted to one of the pandemic's most troubling trends: the reported rise in domestic violence. Numerous sources reported alarming spikes in domestic abuse over the past year, based in part on increased demand at anti-violence organizations. Possible causes included state-ordered lockdowns, which essentially trapped survivors with their abusers, as well as lost work and widespread mental health challenges. On Tuesday, Community Board 8's women and families committee will host a meeting devoted to the citywide trend, aiming to explore its causes and discuss whether it will continue. Participants and speakers will include: Assemblymember Rebecca SeawrightManhattan Assistant District Attorney Pamela BlandinoKaren Benjamin-Hamlet, supervisor of the victim assistance center at the Manhattan DA's officeRachel Teicher, director of intimate partner violence intervention at the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College of Criminal JusticeSgt. Sumay Lee of the NYPD 19th PrecinctThe meeting will begin 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, held over Zoom. Members of the public can register here.