City Council seeks ideas to end violence in our communities
It is the end of March, and we are again plagued by gun violence in our communities, leaving families devastated and peace destroyed in our neighborhoods. Mass shootings wreaked havoc in Atlanta and Denver, but closer to home, the sheer number of murders and other acts of violence have us on track to another record year of lives lost.
Just one year ago, as COVID began to shut down schools, churches, shops and institutions, we and our neighbors were left with anxiety, wondering what the new normal would look like. Violence soon followed.
While many did the right thing, such as masking up and staying home, some clearly could not handle the stress and uncertainty. As we are beginning to see hope at the end of one tunnel, we must redouble our efforts to prevent another season of despair because of gun violence in Columbus neighborhoods.
The sharp rise in violent gun assaults plaguing our city since the COVID-19 pandemic is our next challenge, and residents rightly are demanding action even as we work to reimagine public safety operations for all neighborhoods.
We cannot accept violence of any kind to be a part of the next normal – for our kids, for our neighbors, wherever and whenever a criminal chooses to take lives. As long as this continues, we all lose.
Columbus City Council is stepping up where we can by awarding grants to grassroots organizations to help prevent violence. We are partnering with a dozen local churches and nonprofits to say collectively, enough is enough. Our March 30 City Council public hearing on violence prevention will be critical as we invite residents to listen to these ideas and offer input.
Now more than ever, it is important to hear from our residents, neighborhood leaders and experts to de-escalate conflict, give youth jobs to keep them off the streets and support families to keep guns away from children.
On behalf of all who are grieving, I’m asking the residents of Columbus to get involved. Be proactive and reach out to your neighbors and our youth. Ask them how they’re doing and see if you can do anything to support them.
It is time that we all lock hands and build bridges of trust between one another, especially with law enforcement.
Columbus is our home and we must be our brother’s keeper so we bring the next generation into a safer, saner America.
The council will host its Reimagining Safety Anti-violence public hearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Community leaders will share proposals for engaging youth in positive activities this coming summer and preventing community violence.
Residents seeking to submit written testimony should send it to the office of the council president. To register to provide testimony and receive a speaker link for the virtual hearing, email Zak Davidson at Zgdavidson@columbus.gov by noon on Tuesday.
The hearing will be streamed on the council’s Facebook page and the City of Columbus Youtube channel.
Shannon G. Hardin is president of the Columbus City Council.