Paterson declares violence as a public health crisis

After a month of deliberation and discussion the city council on Tuesday evening voted in favor of declaring violence as a public health crisis, a declaration which some say will allow the city to obtain grant funding from state and federal entities to address the violence issue plaguing the city.

“We are poised to position ourselves for resources,” said Rick Prince, president of the city’s Ceasefire group. Prince had said the violence in the city is out of control, and the first step towards correcting and lessening the violence is through recognizing the problem exists. “I know this isn’t a panacea,” said Prince. “It’s the first step.”

Bilal Hakeem, a city activist and the president of the Power Coalition, came out against the measure saying it’s a risky step that has good intention but negative implications. “It’s a dangerous step to take,” said Hakeem. He called for public discussion on the matter prior to passage. “We need to have public discussion on this.” Hakeem said violence is common throughout the country, and that it is not unique to the city.

He said, just because there are some violent individuals, does not mean the city should declare violence as a public health crisis, because it sends the wrong messages. Hakeem said it is treating violence as a “mental disease,” and he is against that.

Majority of councilmembers came out supporting the resolution except Kenneth Morris, councilman at-large, and William McKoy, 3rd Ward councilman. McKoy asked for evidence, and he wanted to know which city that passed a similar measure was able to obtain “even five cents.” He said, “The evidence is not there.”

Morris agreed with Hakeem’s position saying, “This is not a Paterson problem, it’s a national problem.” McKoy voted against the resolution, while Morris simply abstained neither voting for or against the measure.

“This bill is moving us forward,” commended Ruby Cotton, the 4th Ward councilwoman, whose section of the city sees the most violence. “I’m expecting you to deliver results,” said Julio Tavarez, who voted for the resolution, to the small group that included Prince and few of his supporters who called for the passage of the resolution. Tavarez said he wanted to see stats and analytic data that show some sort of progress.

Andre Sayegh, mayoral candidate and 6th Ward councilman, voted for the resolution; Rigo Rodriguz, another mayoral candidate and councilman at-large, also voted for the measure. Jerry Flach, director of the Paterson Habitat for Humanity, has long said, almost a month ago, that this declaration will allow city’s non-profit agencies to obtain grants from without to address the violence problem within.

I LOVE PATERSON

MAKE A SELF DEFENSE LAW AND/OR STAND YOUR GROUND LAW and you will see the difference in crime rates. Jails/prisons are packed and plead bargains aren't helping. We are afraid to protect ourselves because we end up in jail if we hurt an attacker. Meanwhile the people who commit the crimes go to jail for a few months get stars for putting in work and come back out to do the same thing. LET THE INNOCENT PROTECT THEMSELVES.I HAVE A GUN AND I GOT MINE FROM A ROBBER WHO PISTOL WHIPPED ME AT MY DOORSTEP AND DID NOT KNOW I'M A TRAINED FIGHTER.I COULD'VE KILLED HIM BUT DID NOT DO IT. I HAVE A FAMILY TO PROTECT AND IT'S SAD THAT IF I WOULD'VE SHOT HIM WITH HIS OWN GUN I WOULD'VE LOST MY FAMILY..HE LIVES ANOTHER DAY TO COMMIT CRIMES BUT BECAUSE I DIDN'TJUSTLAY THERE AND CALL THE COPS, THAT ROBBER WILL THINK TWICE ABOUT ROBBING SOMEONE ELSE..GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE THEM KNOWING THEY WILL GET AWAY WITH CRIMES IS WHAT'S KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE. PATERSON POLICE DO A GOOD JOB BUT CAN'T B EVERYWHERE AT ONCE AND GUN LAWS DON'T WORK…GIVE US SELF DEFENSE LAWS WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR KIDS
- Roger Brown
  
  Wait, so you took this dudes gun and kept it? So you are saying that you are in possession of an illegal, unregistered firearm?
  
  Did you even report this pistol whipping to the police?
  - 4th ward resident
    
    Roger i just read all your other comments. I can tell that you did not read the whole article and are just looking for something to say… I LOVE PATERSON IS CORRECT. violence in Paterson is on the rise and that is because most people that commit crimes go home on the plead bargain and our prisons and jails are over filled he is correct. In jail gang members recruit armed robbers and violent criminals so they come out to do the same thing but they come out in packs to do crimes.I too was robbed at gun point so i know how he feels. I love Paterson did what any man would've done.WHAT IF that robber would've killed him and made it inside his house to his family with that gun. love Paterson COULD'VE used that gun and DIDN'T..that shows you allot.people are shot out here for no reason sometimes. I love Paterson didn't change who he was maybe he has a good heart i would've shot his ass. I understand what he means when he wrote the innocent are afraid to defend themselves..he did not want to lose his family over some piece of shit.I LOVE PATERSON WAS NOT ARMED THE FIRST TIME DO U THINK THIS MAN WALKS AROUND WITH A GUN? HE DIDN'T NEED IT AND WHEN HE HAD THE CHANCE HE DIDN'T USE IT.HE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY. His point is clear guns don't kill people people kill people. WE NEED SELF DEFENSE LAWS. …look on YouTube MILLBURN NJ HOME INVASION.(this man was a repeat offendergoogle it). We need to protect our families PATERSON POLICE ARE GOOD COPS BUT WHEN THE TIME COMES YOU ARE ALONE AND IT'S DO OR DIE
    - Roger Brown
      
      I read the whole thing but, unfortunately, I do not speak Patersonain too well. Where I live we use punctuation and we do not write in ALL CAPS because we like for other people to be able to understand our writing. But yeah, he might want to remove his confession to owning a gun he stole from a would-be mugger. That's a double felony (possession and tampering with evidence) and I would hate for the police to arrest him for it.
    - Roger Brown
      
      I Love Paterson said:
      
      "I HAVE A GUN AND I GOT MINE FROM A ROBBER WHO PISTOL WHIPPED ME AT MY DOORSTEP AND DID NOT KNOW I'M A TRAINED FIGHTER."
      
      Sounds to me like he does have a gun and he stole it from the robber.
Lee Curry

No more talks or discussions, only action. Time to clean up the streets. Hopefully, they can bring in the National Guard and also apply a 12am curfew and close down these fast food stores at 1am. There is no need for food at 3-4am, go home.

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