Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke exclusively with News 12 on Friday, as he visited teenagers and young adults in East Flatbush.

The group was part of Project ECHO's "Another Way" Violence Prevention Initiative, talking about gun violence prevention and youth crime.

“Every time that happens, it shatters not just one life but the lives of so many around them,” said Mamdani.

Participants used skits and a candid conversation to discuss deescalating situations and responding differently.

“What these children showed us today is sometimes this violence just has to do with the difficulty of processing emotions like frustration, like anger, like disappointment,” said Mamdani.

The latest NYPD data shows overall crime is 6.5% across the five boroughs, including the lowest number of murders, shootings, and shooting victims in recorded history.

News 12 asked Mamdani about his message to New Yorkers who question the low statistics and claim they see violent crime in their neighborhood on a regular basis.

“I think it comes back to the fact that crime may be down, but as long as there is crime, there’s still more work to be done,” said Mamdani.

The mayor said the work is thanks in part to the NYPD and the city’s Office of Community Safety.

In June, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told city council members that conversations between the NYPD and the newly established office “had not commenced.”

But Deputy Mayor Renita Francois said that has changed.

“There’ve been several conversations,” said Francois. “I was able to meet with the police commissioner and speak with her.”

“They’re in active conversation, and it speaks to the fact that when we’re thinking about public safety, we have to take an all-of-government approach,” said Mamdani.