Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) visited a downtrodden area in Newburgh yesterday that he referred to as "blood alley."
Schumer was taken around Newburgh by Mayor Nicholas Valentine and other local officials.
"This city led the state in violent crimes last year, on track to do it again this year," Schumer says. "We're here to prevent it from doing it next year."
Newburgh's gang problem gained national attention recently when nearly 80 alleged members of the Bloods and Latin Kings gang were arrested during an FBI raid.