Hate crimes across the city have skyrocketed, with 70 more reported this year compared to last year at this time. 

From last year to this year, there has been close to a 59% increase in overall crime, with a large amount of the reported crimes being hate crime-related. 

This year, 70 more hate crimes have already been reported compared to last year. Local and elected officials and advocates tell News 12 we must come together as a city to stop the hate taking place at home. 

“We need to build deeper bonds between deeper bonds because that is the Brooklyn way,” said Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler. 

Restler says he’s seen an immense amount of hate crimes in his district covering northern Brooklyn. He tells News 12 he is on a mission to host more events to bring communities together. 

“We need to mobilize like never before to deeper cross-cultural understanding and respect,” said Restler.

News 12 also spoke to Scott Richman who responds to incidents in New York and New Jersey and believes what’s most troubling is the string of assaults on the rise. 

This is why he wants the curriculum inside classrooms to change. 

“I think it should be mandatory that people need to be raised to respect the difference in others,” said Richman. 

“We are putting together teams with leaders of diverse backgrounds to meet with schools, associations, to educate about cultures and come from a place of respect and that's how we are going to stamp this hate,” said Restler. 

The NYPD says new neighborhood safety teams will be out to help enhance the NYPD’s efforts to stop the violence in general across the city.