Stop the City’s Violence Now!

I attended a Common Council Meeting on June 19, I am very concern about the violence that has taken place in our city.

Blood has flooded our community from two homicides in the past 14 days. Our hearts were heavy and our tears flowed as the victims were laid to rest. Now is the time for our community to take action on many different levels. We have to get the young people off the streets, especially late at night. As a last resort, we should consider a curfew based on age. I believe there are initial steps we should take.

I humbly suggest that the budget be re-examined. By either rearranging our priorities and/or getting monetary gifts from the business sector, we need to create activities that take up our young people time productively, like jobs. Even public service jobs at minimum wage could help make a difference.

We need to make more appeals to the faith-based section of our community to see what activities they already have to involve our young people. In addition, we should explore with the churches other such initiatives for the rest of this summer and for the future. Where possible we should seek assistance from the federal initiative.

This is a time to consider how to keep existing community centers open later and establish some safe haven centers for our young people to spend their time participating in athletics, academics and other worthwhile endeavors. I am sure that our police officers would agree that their jobs would be easier and safer if there were such places. Perhaps, if it does not violate labor contracts, some of our distinguished public school and college educators could volunteer their time to conduct tutorial services.

We have to tackle the growing gang problem. Our community should hold it's hands open to the young people in gangs and let them know that if they will participate in positive activities and help put an end to violence; these young people will be serving their community. However, if not, our hands will close tightly. We should take whatever legal steps we can and disband the gangs. It may be necessary to enact additional legislation that holds parents responsible for the actions of their children under 18 years of age.

Let us make our children a productive part of our community so that the only tears shed here are those of joy.

Randall Johnson