I attended the first meeting of the Utica Civilian Public Safety Advisory Board with took place at Munson on Monday Jan 29, 2024. It was a chance for people to let the Board and the Mayor know what their concerns were as far as public safety. The shadow of gun violence looms large over Utica, with the year having already witnessed a pair of homicides, escalating the populace’s anxiety over their city’s safety.
The meeting started at 6pm and the Advisory Board introduced themselves, the members were Darlene Mack-Brown, Dzevod Racic, Jim Winston, John Ciccarelli, Monalisa Fermin-Fennell, Sonia Martinez and Tiffanie Davis, they proceeded to describe their duties and responsibilities as Board Members. In attendance was the newly elect mayor Mike Galime, his Chief of Staff Mike Gentile, Chief Williams from the UPD, the District Attorney and members of the City Council.
A sea of earnest citizens from across Utica’s expanses filled the venue, alongside influential figures from Non-Profit organizations dedicated to youth tutoring and mentorship, such as MVLA, Utica Royalties, Study Buddy Club, Rebuilding the Village, The Frontiers, and SNUG among others.
The Mayor and Police Chief talked about working with residents to help make Utica a safer city. The meeting took a decisive turn as the Mayor and Police Chief addressed their commitment to collaborating with locals, aiming to fortify Utica’s safety.
They unveiled plans to roll out sophisticated surveillance technology in West Utica. Mayor Galime resolutely declared his readiness to join forces with any group determined to enhance the city’s quality of life. As various members of the community got a chance to express their concerns it was evident that gun violence and the youth population was on the top of everyone’s agenda. One audience member made it clear that she is willing to work with the police, however it could be potentially dangerous for her or any resident to have police at their home doing interviews. The fear of retaliation or intimidation from the” bad guys” is real. The suggestion to establish a secure, impartial venue for such exchanges was raised to preserve anonymity and safety.
Another point made was the city having after school activities to keep the youth engaged and off the streets. The necessity for after-school programs to engage the youth was mentioned, yet another voice countered, pointing out that while numerous initiatives exist, their promotion is woefully inadequate, leaving many citizens in the dark. As the microphone was passed around the room and concerns and ideas were expressed, a comment that was a punch in the face made many understand the harsh reality of the situation. Evon Ervin struck a chord; she painted a grim picture of bright, promising youngsters armoring themselves with firearms out of fear, echoing a lawless era reminiscent of the Wild West. And to those of you who scoff at this reality, how many states and cities have citizens that do the same with their “conceal and carry permits”. I challenged the audience to reflect on the parallels between this and the concealed carry practices prevalent in numerous states and cities. I question the hypocrisy of those possessing arsenals under the guise of hunting.
In my opinion this meeting was very constructive and made those in attendance realize that the city is here to help its citizens. At one point you could feel that everyone was on the same page and ready to work together. The conversations were eye-opening and very civil. government. I left the meeting with hope and a feeling that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What do you think about our city’s gun problem and what you are willing to do to help make it better. Leave a comment on our FB page or send a letter to the Editor or leave a comment to this post.
David Laguerre
