City efforts to tackle gun violence are nothing new. Yet success has been elusive.
While the names of government programs and community organizations have changed over the years, the centerpiece philosophy has remained the same since the 1990s: reaching out to individuals engaged in violence to build positive relationships and defuse conflicts before the guns come out.
As early as 2015, the city auditor’s office noted that outreach to youth “can be ineffective and may even cause harm when it is not deployed strategically.” Ten years later, the auditor released an updated report that observed Seattle government does not have an “all-hands-on-deck” approach to gun violence.
The Bite of Seattle shooting last month that claimed the lives of three people prompted greater urgency to make demonstrable progress in public safety. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree assault and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the incident.
The Seattle City Council has an opportunity to set a clear direction by making smart investments in the upcoming budget.
Councilmember Maritza Rivera drafted a resolution to guide city spending. It is an expression of intent, but an important one.
Rivera wants the city to invest $418,000 over two years to contract with the New York-based National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
NNSC would identify local law enforcement agencies, city departments and community organizations to focus on gun violence. It would facilitate closed-door work sessions for key stakeholders and provide regular advising.
It doesn’t replace the work of existing community groups that work with young people and others. Indeed, such credible messengers are key to the project’s success. Where NNSC differs from other approaches is how law enforcement fits in. Police, prosecutors and juvenile probation counselors are one of the three main pillars, along with parents, principals and coaches; and community-based organizations.
As NNSC states: “Community members with moral authority over group members deliver a credible moral message against violence. Law enforcement puts groups on prior notice about the consequences of further group-involved violence for the group as a whole. And support and outreach providers make a genuine offer of help for those who want it.”
This differs from other violence prevention organizations that seek to marginalize or limit contact with law enforcement.
Last June, Rivera held an all-day gun violence symposium led by the NNSC. The event was attended by then-Police Chief Shon Barnes and every precinct captain, City Attorney Erika Evans, King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion, and community organizations. Mayor Katie Wilson did not attend but sent a representative. Representatives from cities that partnered with NNSC to reduce gun violence also attended, including Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The City Council is expected to vote on Rivera’s resolution about funding a partnership with NNSC in early September. Budget deliberations will follow.
For Seattle to take meaningful steps lowering gun violence, City Hall must get on the same page. Rivera’s resolution and a solid partnership with a recognized national expert is a good place to start.
