Editor's Note: Two Cleveland mayoral candidates have reached out to us regarding their platforms on the critical issue of public safety. On July 30 we published Justin Bibb's op-ed. Today we publish Zack Reed's. Primary election day is September 14 with the top two candidates advancing to the general election on November 3.Early voting starts next Tuesday, August 17.
Cleveland, I know and you know that we are currently moving in the wrong direction. As it relates to responsive government, education for our children and of course, safety. We have now reached 100 homicides for the 10th consecutive year in a row. How can we attract business development? How can we treat the ongoing emotional trauma that our children are dealing with if we can’t stop the source of their trauma? The answer is obvious; we can’t. Our neighborhoods will continue to implode if we don’t stop the violence. Gun violence is an ever-present threat that is crippling our community. Many of our residents are frozen by the fear of what might happen if they dare to let their children walk to a neighbor’s house. Others have simply made the decision to leave Cleveland altogether. This is not a formula for growth and prosperity. This is a formula for the decimation of a generation. It must stop.
I’m running for mayor of Cleveland to bring to this epidemic the urgent attention necessary to eradicate it. This problem of violent crime that took decades to unfold will not be ended in a day or even a year, but I have devised an urgent strategy to combat this violent crime at its roots. My first step in this process is to be a visible and accessible mayor. As many of you know, I’m always in the community. This will only intensify after I’m elected. I’ll be on the ground, talking to residents, religious leaders, community organizations, young people and gang members. We will implement a “focused deterrence” model of policing that offers some known offenders programming as an alternative to jail. Those who wish to continue to put our residents in danger will have to face the consequences of our legal system. But my 10-point safety plan is about more than increasing arrests. My plan includes precision policing, real community policing and proactive crime prevention using the “Cure Violence” model which utilizes a public health and behavioral modification approach to public safety.
As a product of Mt. Pleasant, I was honored to represent my neighbors in Ward 2 and I worked diligently to enhance the livability of the ward by overseeing millions in new infrastructure, including six CMSD schools. Educating our children remains the catalyst for breaking the generational curse of violence. In the choice for weapons to combat violent crime, no other is as powerful education. And no other voice is more powerful in this next election than yours. We have an opportunity for substantive change this September 14th. We have the opportunity to send the message that help is finally on the way. My entire adult life has been about fighting for people just like my neighbors on 149th Street off Kinsman. Hardworking people who believe in this city so much that they refuse to leave. I’ll proudly stand with those residents. This time though, the mayor’s office will give them reasons to stay. Early voting begins August 17th. Make your voice heard.
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Zack Reed is a candidate for mayor of Cleveland.
