The Florida House of Representatives

Representative Angie Nixon

District 14

May 23, 2022

Sheriff Mike Williams

The Honorable Lenny Curry
Mayor of Jacksonville
City Council President Sam Newby

RE: Lowering and Preventing Crime in our Communities

Dear Sheriff Williams, Mayor Curry and Council President Newby:

Many Jacksonville residents have reached out to me regarding the recent violent incidents
in Northwest Jacksonville. They feel they aren’t being heard and their concerns about
violence in their neighborhoods are not being addressed. I, along with a few mothers that
have lost their children to gun violence, are writing to request that you, in cooperation with
the City Council and other city departments, work on strategies to help lower crime in our
communities.

Here are our collective thoughts on the subject which I will share with you here.

1. Work with families who have been impacted by gun violence. Have quarterly or bi-
annual meetings regarding programs, etc. to start no later than June 30, 2022.

2. Establish a committee/task force where impacted individuals can work with officials
on solutions by August 30, 2022.

3. Analyze the effectiveness of the City’s Cure Violence Initiative and work to adjust and
modify the program for success.

4. Establish a task force with the City and potentially the Chamber of Commerce to
recruit businesses to Northwest Jacksonville and the Westside by September 30,
2022.
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5. Promote more programs that are available for small business owners and parents.

6. Have the Kid’s Hope Alliance provide extended programming hours as many of the
programs end at noon. Provide additional funding for summer camp programs that
operate beyond 6 pm for families that work non-traditional hours.

7. Roll out a city-wide education campaign on secure gun storage to help prevent
unintentional shootings and firearms being stolen from vehicles. Be SMART is a
great resource that can be shared easily, as DCPS has recently shared with families
- besmartforkids.org.

These are just a few ideas for ways we can work together to show our communities that we
hear them and that we care. We need to get back to the “One Jax” mindset. What affects one
family affects us all. I love Jacksonville, its people and its neighborhoods and would be happy
to work with you on these initiatives. Please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Sincerely,

State Representative Angie Nixon

Melissa Jackson
Gale Bostic (S.W.A.V.G.)
Katie Hathaway, Moms Demand Action
Rhonda Phillips, Moms Demand Action
Crystal Turner, Moms Demand Action
Chyrl Anderson, Moms Demand Action
Nikki Carswell - Silent Women Speaking
Beverly McClain – Families of Slain Children

District Address Tallahassee Address

Suite G-121 & G-122 1301 The Capitol
3939 Roosevelt Blvd 402 South Monroe Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32205 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1300
(904) 381-6013 (850) 717-5014