Community Violence Prevention and Youth Safety

Spoke about the tragic murder of a teenager near a McDonald's after an 8th-grade dance, praised community heroes who sheltered students, and urged city officials to tie the $20 million Allentown Works Recompete grant to robust violence prevention strategies.

Highlighted the rise in community violence among youth, stressed that technology and surveillance cannot replace human mentorship or prevent violence, and urged investment in prevention programs and mental health support.