Public Safety is a burning issue for a lot of us who reside in 58B.  We all want and need to feel safe in our community and neighborhoods.  When a person does not feel safe, it affects that person’s willingness to visit or invest in our businesses and commercial corridors, or decide to call one of the wonderful diverse neighborhoods in 58B home.  We must address public safety issues that undermine our quality of life by creating intervention and prevention initiatives that promote healthy choices and bring about a safe environment, as we cannot arrest the problem away. 

In addition to addressing the immediate public safety issues, as State Representative I would seek to establish a renewed commitment fostering the human development of our youth and preparing them to be productive participants in social and civic life.  The divestment in urban youth that began in the late 70s and early 80s has had a devastating impact on our community.  It has led to resources leaving our urban jewels known as social service agencies and recreation centers that spoke to and promoted positive and uplifting thinking in our urban communities.  The decision to change funding priorities and remove the necessary resources for the urban community has created a void.  I would promote the notion of creating funding opportunities for our community jewels that seek to change the mindset of youth and their families in our urban communities.