WSFA 12: Montgomery joins nationwide effort spotlighting actions against crime, gun violence

WSFA News Staff

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed is joining a nationwide effort to spotlight ways cities are taking action against rising crime and gun violence.

According to the city, the effort is being coordinated by the Democratic Mayors Association, encouraging mayors to showcase how they are working to make their communities safer.

Reed will host a kickoff press conference at Montgomery City Hall for the weeklong campaign.

“Mayors have attended the funerals and heard the stories of families destroyed because the wrong person had access to a deadly firearm. And as mayors in blue, red, and purple states, we know gun violence is a national epidemic that requires immediate, national action,” said Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond, VA, and the President of the Democratic Mayors Association. “Mayors Stopping Crime: A Week of Action will showcase all the innovative ways Democratic Mayors across the country are fighting back to make their communities safer by being tough on crime and tough on the root causes of crime.”

Under the leadership of Mayor Steven L. Reed, according to the city, crime in Montgomery continues to drop:

• Homicides are down more than 15% YOY;

• MPD boasts a 69% clearance rate;

• Overall crime is down 20% YOY;

The city will be hosting several events this week:

• Tuesday:

  • The Montgomery Police Department will be bagging groceries at Piggly Wiggly on Atlanta Highway.

• Wednesday:

  • MPD will host a Park Walk and Talk at Brewbaker Primary and Intermediate School from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

  • The Office of Violence Prevention will partner with Moms Demand Action to host Mothers Against Violence meeting to support families who have been victims of this violence. This takes place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the armory.

• Thursday:

  • The Office of Violence Prevention will also host a community forum at 6 p.m. at Chisholm Community Center.

  • Montgomery Police Department will host Coffee with the cops on Thursday at Vintage Cafe.

  • At 2 p.m., the CrimeStoppers 2021 Officer of the Year Award Ceremony will take place. CrimeStoppers will recognize 32 members of the U.S. Marshal Task Force, including two MPD members.

• Friday:

  • The city is holding Say No to Violence Day.

• Saturday:

  • The Stop the Violence walk will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the VISTA Shopping Center at 2097 Coliseum Boulevard.

Other participating mayors include Levar Stoney of Richmond, VA; Sylvester Turner of Houston, TX; Melvin Carter of St. Paul, MN; Justin Bibb of Cleveland, OH; Regina Romero of Tucson, AZ; Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, MO; Jack Bradley of Lorain, OH; Libby Schaaf of Oakland, CA; Jane Castor of Tampa, FL; Todd Gloria of San Diego, CA; Caroline Simmons of Stamford, CT; Sharon Weston Broome of Baton Rouge, LA; Aftab Pureval of Cincinnati, OH; Steve Adler of Austin, TX; Satya Rhodes-Conway of Madison, WI; Ron Nirenberg of San Antonio, TX; Kate Gallego of Phoenix, AZ; Joyce Craig of Manchester, NH; John Ernst of Brookhaven, GA; Erin Mendenhall of Salt Lake City, UT; and more.

Read the original article here.