On April 3, activist Alim Howell participated in a virtual meeting with the office of Councilman Anthony Phillips, speaking with chief of staff Emanuel Wilkerson and legislative director Cykhira Walton.
The meeting subject was having a safer environment from youth to adults in the city.
“It is disheartening that the violence continues to happen across our city especially when it is involving our youth. We continue to try and have services for them to help but it has to happen more frequently for them to get the message. There is also a Philadelphia Police Department crime data statistic page where we can see that crime is lowering but not fully,” Walton said.
The councilman’s website includes information about making Philadelphia a safe place. Phillips wants safer streets, a more visible police presence, constructive community-police collaboration, better schools, cleaner business corridors and a more responsive city government. A former community organizer, executive and youth advocacy leader, Phillips wants to develop and implement programs at schools, churches, mosques, hospitals and community centers that provide opportunities to strengthen the community.
“It is hard to put legislation in our system when the crimes keep happening. Bad decisions and actions have to stop being made across the board to fix gun violence in our city,” Wilkerson said.
Howell’s Race for Peace Committee organization works with the police department. Race for Peace has events, resources and activities for the family that help civilians reach an understanding between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Main goals are having ongoing and continuous dialogue with communities and the police, working with police and seniors, creating peace and harmonious relations between police and members of communities, and promoting excellence in police officer training.
“This meeting was relevant because of myself having a sibling relative in Councilmember Phillips’ District 9. Having a safety instinct for a family member is something that most people’s mindset is sometimes on. More police patrols and officers having higher intensive caution need to take place in the streets strongly to protect and prevent against crime all over Philadelphia. If there is a bigger police presence in all sections citywide then most crimes could be avoided and possibly will not be committed,” Howell said.For more information, go to raceforpeace.org and phlcouncil.com/AnthonyPhillips. To research the crime data statistic rates, go to phillypolice.com/crime-data/crime-statistics/. ••
