10-16-15 Press Release - Henry Davis Jr

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$0131.11$Fti 04 W PEACE Y • I86 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