Mayor Ed Gainey Calls Community Meeting In Homewood To Stem Gun Violence

By: Andy Sheehan and Jessica Guay/KDKA-TV News

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey was in Homewood Tuesday night after calling a community meeting to address the rise in gun violence which has taken the lives of younger and younger victims.

Hundreds of people who want to be a part of the solution showed up to the mayor's community meeting. Mayor Gainey is asking everyone to help end violence in their communities.

"I'm not talking about everyone got to like each other, I understand that, but we got to come together because our children are dying. They are inherent of a cycle of violence and culture of violence that only we can stop," said Gainey.

All eyes were on Homewood Tuesday night as the Community Empowerment Association building was full of residents, activists, police, city officials and more. They are collaborating to come up with a plan.

"Having a conversation could change their lives, change their minds. That's what the goal is, to embrace them with love," said Ayodeji Young, the vice president of Homewood Community Sports.

Gainey said he wants to give people the help they deserve. He invited vendors to the meeting so they could share resources for mental health services, drug and alcohol recovery and sexual assault victims.

"For all of y'all who knows family members who need help, and you leave here empty, you could have helped them," Gainey said.

Homewood residents KDKA spoke with said something must change.

"We've got to work on building self-respect so young people have respect for other lives, so prayerfully we will see change come about. There's too much senseless violence that goes on," said resident Rita Gregory.

The mayor said Homewood is the community that made him and now is the time to stand up.

"We want zero gun violence, we want zero. I know people might say that's not realistic. You mean trying is unrealistic? Or is it time for us to go and get it? So let's go get it," Gainey said.

Dr. Heath Johnson, the city's crime analysis coordinator, shared data that showed a lot of the city's violence has happened in Homewood. The city's crime data shows the neighborhoods with the highest number of homicides since 2010 are Homewood South with 47 and Homewood North with 43.

In preparation of the meeting, Gainey walked the streets of the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, talking to residents and community leaders about their concerns.

With a crowd of people in tow, Gainey took to the streets in advance of the meeting, taking the pulse of people like Michael Chatterfield about the climate of violence that has gripped the community.

WATCH: KDKA's Andy Sheehan reports

"I'm scared to send my kids outside, scared somebody's gonna get shot. There's just too many shootings going on," Chatterfield said.

Gainey has vowed to take the issue of gun violence -- especially young people with guns -- head-on. Starting with the input of the residents who live it, he will be trying to craft a plan of action to address the crisis.

"The mayor really wanted to take some time to have respectful, thoughtful, calm conversations with members of the Homewood community. He really believes if we are going to make this a welcoming, safe city, that starts with listening to those impacted by the violence in our community," said Press Secretary Maria Montaño.

After community meetings, Gainey says he'll be enlisting the involvement of the broader community -- the hospitals, universities, corporations and foundations. Calling the violence a public health crisis, he wants to develop a comprehensive plan to attack it.

"We have to do something. Everybody. This is our city," Gainey said.

Gainey has a leg up in addressing the problem in Homewood, where he is on a first-name basis with many already.

"He always said he wanted to do it. I believe in him," Chatterfield said.

Gainey invited all interested parties to attend the meeting. He believes the problem is beyond the capabilities of the city and police and must involve the entire city.

In:
• Homewood