Election 2015: Bianchi Says Crime Initiatives Must Make Sense
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I'd like an opportunity to respond to the column in the (July 14)'s Berkshire Eagle from Linda Tyer regarding her crime prevention initiatives. While it is completely appropriate for a candidate to campaign vigorously for office, it is not helpful to distort existing initiatives or provide new alternatives that leave out essential details. Of most concern is her plan to secure a "Cure Violence" program to combat or "interrupt violence" in Pittsfield.
There is a reason why there are only 25 Cure Violence Programs operating in eight countries including the U.S. This program is 100 percent funded at the community level. A Cure Violence program requires a municipality to pay between $350,000 to $500,000 annually, not to mention an initial installment of $25,000 to determine the city's "hot spot."
Typically, the geographic area for a Cure Violence Program only covers two square miles. Additionally, these programs require approximately 18-36 months of highly skilled training and technical assistance from well-paid facilitators in the Cure Violence Program. It is utilized in New York City, Chicago and Baltimore, not in communities the size of Pittsfield. In all three of these cities, the program is funded through their Departments of Public Health. Pittsfield is not in a position, regardless of who the next mayor is, to appropriate $350,000 a year or more to train community members to combat crime.
I believe a better program for Pittsfield is now in place through a Shannon Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, which is designed to address youth and gang violence. We were successful in receiving the grant my first year in office, and increasing it every year since. In addition, the Community Connection program was established. We now have paid mentors and councilors working with at-risk youth. Hundreds of other citizens from various walks of life have stepped up to be volunteer mentors. To date, forty have been trained. In addition, we have received enough support from wonderful corporate citizens to expand a summer youth employment program, where young adults will have the opportunity to be tutored by successful professionals in a variety of settings while earning wages for their efforts.
Two years ago, I added a crime analyst to the Police Department to study the crime statistics, patterns and "hot spots" to better understand the best utilization of police personnel and assets throughout the city. Last year, I instituted downtown walking patrols as well as an Ambassador program where college students work in cooperation with Pittsfield Downtown Inc. and the Pittsfield Police Department. The initiatives were well received by the merchants and the general public. In last year's budget, I added two additional patrol officer positions to increase the ranks of the department. The challenge has been in filling positions because of an ineffective civil service process, but the process is moving forward nonetheless.
I meet regularly, as a group with the chief of police, the sheriff, the district attorney and the head of the Housing Authority. We have discussed public safety issues and best practices. From those discussions came the community center concept that is now established at three key locations in Pittsfield: Francis Plaza, Dower Square and the Wilson Street Housing complex. The goal is to give people, who may feel disenfranchised, a community space for meetings and programming so that they can feel more connected to their community. Recently, a "Mom's Group" was developed at one of the centers.
Unfortunately, what brings a city to its knees is senseless shootings that take lives and shake all of us to the core, such as what happened here on July 4th. Law enforcement professionals call this a crime of opportunity. An individual wanted to injure or kill someone, that individual managed to get a gun and took the opportunity to use it. While we all want more police, no amount of officers on the street can predict or prevent the actions of an opportunistic shooter.
Blaming the mayor or law enforcement for this tragedy is not helpful and distracts from what is actually a much bigger issue. Unfortunately, we live in a society where it is all too easy for the wrong people to get a gun and use it when the opportunity arises. Until this national problem is resolved, these kinds of tragedies will continue to happen on the streets of every city in the country.
Mayor Daniel Bianchi of Pittsfield is running for a third term this November.
Tags: #PittsfieldElection, campaign statements, election 2015,
