As a city, we are diminished by every act of violence, criminal or senseless. As individuals we are devastated when they hit home. Two days ago, Reverend Henry Brown, Pastor Sam Saylor and a bright young pastor, Rev. AJ Johnson, preached eloquently at a vigil held to memorialize two such crimes, the death of a young man by shooting and the vicious shooting assault on Pastor Augustus Sealy as he was placing American flags in
his church’s f 
ront yard in anticipation of a Memorial Day service. Thursday, another family was
told a loved one won’t be coming home.
 No public official bears the blame for the scourge of lawlessness but we must all shoulder the
responsibility to address Hartford’s alarming challenge
, together. Reverend Henry Brown and Mothers Against violence have been crusading for over a decade against these seemingly
random acts of horror. They don’t blame—
they call to action. They acknowledge that the only meaningful response is a community response: police, schools, churches, community organizations all working together. The city budget is a political document. We all express horror, sympathy and frustration, but a city budget tells us where our real commitment lies. Fear
 
we may have misjudged where we place our dollars. The reality is our failure to fill police department vacancies has had the consequence of eviscerating our community policing effort, a key component of any coordinated response to crime. Any decline in a police presence on our streets in these times is a mistake.
I’ve been told the only street
 foot patrol is the able officer who keeps an eye on city hall.
Is our shooting task force properly staffed? I don’t think so. And perhaps most importantly, are we treating the Rev. Brown and Mother’s against viol
ence as an important resource or as nuisances? Its time for a city wide look at this issue. Not political speeches but a challenge to all of us, politicians and non politicians alike, to lay aside the one liners and fashion a community, not a political response.
I’ll lay aside any barbs, Im sure the other candidates will also, and meet with the Mayor and concerned citizens. I’m available at his call, any time any place.
 
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