West Hudson Valley News

Human trafficking remains a significant issue, with many victims going unreported. A recent report from the New York State Interagency Task Force identified 249 confirmed cases in 2022, while the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 467 cases involving 622 victims, predominantly sex trafficking.

Assemblyman Brian Maher, who serves on several committees related to social services and mental health, emphasized the need for comprehensive efforts to combat human trafficking. "Human trafficking is a crime with so many silent victims who are lost with little hope," he stated. Maher expressed the task force's commitment to exploring ways New York can better support survivors and prevent such crimes.

Walsh, a child advocate and member of education and mental health committees, highlighted the dual mission of raising awareness and understanding the problem. "Our Task Force on Human Trafficking is as much a fact-finding mission as it is to raise awareness within our communities," she noted.

Arteta acknowledged the Assembly Minority Conference's dedication to addressing human trafficking. "Thank you, Assemblyman Brian Maher and the Assembly Minority Conference for dedicating resources to this important issue," Arteta said.

Kostyal-Larrier spoke about the collaborative efforts facilitated by the task force. "Human trafficking is happening in all of our communities," she remarked. The task force aims to coordinate services and leverage resources at both local and state levels.

The meeting brought together various stakeholders including law enforcement officials, judges, district attorneys, and representatives from social services organizations. Among those present were Orange County Family Court Judge Carol S. Klein, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, Chief of Police Keith Dworkin from Village of Millbrook Police Department, and others from various police departments.

Additionally, participants included Alison Esposito from the NYPD and David Weiss from Kings County District Attorney’s Office. Organizations like Fearless! Hudson Valley, Inc., Mental Health Association in Orange County, Inc., and Wallkill Central School District were also represented.

The Village of Walden hosted this critical discussion as part of ongoing efforts by the Minority task force which has held previous meetings across different regions in New York State. A final session is planned for New York City stakeholders soon.