HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-15 Press Release - Henry Davis Jr $0131.11$Fti
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HENRY DAVIS JR.
2"dDistrict South Bend City Council
PRESS RELEASE
October 16, 2016
Dear Mayor Pete Buttigieg:
I can't do it anymore, we can't do it anymore and we cannot ask our residents to do it
anymore. As I rose from my bed to give God 'thanks' for another day, I find out there
was another shooting in the district I have represented for 8 years. The shooting took
place in an area that is not unfamiliar with violence as a matter of fact the report from
WSBT news stated 'The area has seen a number of shootings, most recently a woman
was killed in the very same block back in March. In 2013, three men were shot at the
Citgo gas station on N. Olive.' Currently, a senior in my neighborhood is recovering from
surgery because he was beaten and robbed while doing his daily jog. A few weeks ago
we saw a string of shootings that led to 2 young men dying prematurely. Violence has
become a given in South Bend and quite frankly many of our residents feel unsafe.
This past Monday during budget hearing retired police veteran and Councilman Derek
Dieter questioned the number of beats being worked by officers. He stated the number
of beats are insufficient. I remember this being a topic of concern the year prior during
budget talks and it appears that it has not addressed. I can understand the morale of
the officers being low because we have had 4 police chiefs over 4 years. We are
appreciative of Mr. Scott Ruszkowski becoming the new police chief but it will unfair to
think he will come in and swoop down and save the day.
Mayor Pete we need a comprehensive plan for violence that is not limited to more
officers and another armored truck. Our city suffers from a 44% poverty rate, 75% of our
school aged children are on free and reduced lunch and some of those same families
are now eating dinner at their local neighborhood schools. Homelessness and
joblessness is high and hopelessness renounce throughout the entire city. We have to
begin to concentrate on jobs, job training within the most effected parts of the
community, homeownership and loan programs for small businessmen. We also need
to develop stronger ties with our faith community by providing them support to help with
our reentry programming. I voted against the budget because there were no plans
established to correct the conditions that I just explained about poverty and joblessness.
We have a problem that needs to be corrected and if we all work together in our own
227 W.Jefferson Blvd.Rm.441
County-City Building South Bend,IN Office: (574)235-9321
Voicemail: (574)235-5983 Email:hdavis @southbendin.gov
individual lanes we can accomplish it. I am demanding a comprehensive plan to
address violence because our children are dying on these streets and we need them to
become our next mayors, councilmen, teachers, mothers and fathers. Our residents
need to see and feel opportunity within their neighborhoods. Sometimes I feel like
violence is the only correct response to our current conditions --- We must do better?
I look forward to sitting down with you in the very near future to address and find
solutions for the issues that affect everyone's quality of life in the city of South Bend.
In service,
Councilman Henry Davis, Jr.