“We’re Family, We’re Community”: Coney Island Residents and Stakeholders Talk About Community Safety

Overview

In order to understand current community justice and safety issues as well as outstanding gaps and service needs in Coney Island, the Center conducted a series of stakeholder interviews and resident focus groups in Fall 2025. This research was conducted with the support of New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.

Regarding safety, study participants discussed gun violence, the dominant community safety concern; locations considered unsafe, such as some areas of public housing developments and certain neighborhood blocks; and strategies residents use to keep themselves safe, including being aware of their surroundings, staying close to home, and moving purposefully through the community. Participants largely associated justice with equality, specifically regarding access to resources, and with accountability, primarily in the context of the criminal legal system. Participants also spoke about Coney Island’s close-knit nature, which has the potential to be an asset in efforts to improve feelings of safety, justice, and well-being in the community.