Activists in Cleveland are calling for the establishment of a centralized Office of Gun Violence Prevention to address the ongoing crisis in gun violence affecting the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. This initiative follows a town hall meeting where 10-year-old Lorenzo Roberson, who lost a close friend to gun violence, voiced his concerns about safety and the lack of resources, particularly in predominantly Black areas like Central and Mount Pleasant, where homicide rates reach as high as 57 per 100,000 residents.
Despite a decline in overall shootings, the need for an organized strategy remains critical, as local groups struggle in isolation to secure funding and implement programs. City Council Member Richard Starr emphasizes that without a concrete plan, Cleveland risks falling behind cities like Columbus, which has successfully created a similar office to better coordinate violence reduction initiatives. Local leaders are now working to secure funding to address this public health crisis effectively.
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