Mike Ross Releases Public Safety Plan

Saturday, Mike Ross released his Public Safety plan at a Peace Memorial Celebration in Dorchester. The plan contains twenty pages of innovative policy proposals on issues like modernizing Boston’s police force, creating more after-school programs for kids, breaking down government silos, and tackling domestic abuse. It is the most comprehensive plan released by any of the candidates for mayor.

Full version of the plan: http://bit.ly/19Ehh8H

Two-page executive summary: http://bit.ly/1b3tTUx

“The opposite of violence isn’t peace, it’s opportunity. I don’t believe that any one of us has all the answers, but that all of us together do. That’s what this plan is about,” said Ross.

The Peace Celebration was planned by Ross and Teah Norfleet, whose brother Jahmol brokered a major gang truce before becoming the victim of gang violence himself in 2006. Families enjoyed ice cream and pizza while children practiced boxing with George Foreman III, who is opening a boxing gym in Fort Point. Teah introduced Ross, talking about her connection with the neighborhood.

“This is my community. This is where I’m from.” said Norfleet, “Mike understands what we need to do to ensure that every neighborhood in Boston is one where kids can have opportunities and feel safe.”

Ross’ plan covers a number programs in Boston that Ross feels should spread, as well as new policies and programs that have been successful in other cities.

The plan is divided into five sections: A plan to fight youth violence, a plan to make our neighborhoods safer, a plan to reduce the impact of guns, a plan to address domestic violence, and a plan to modernize our police force.

Some of Ross’ innovative ideas include:

• Creating more neighborhood police substations and satellite offices, especially in high crime areas, so that communities know where they can find their local police.

• Ensuring that we have a police force that looks like the community it serves, hiring more officers of color, and promoting more women and minorities.

• Providing career opportunities for every kid. We need dramatically to improve vocational education, which is currently offered at only one school. Kids who won't be going on to college still need to get the job skills they need to succeed.

• Replacing violence with service. I will seek out ways to include community service as a juvenile sentencing option, similar to the California Youth Authority’s victim impact panels.

• Expanding afterschool programs, including sports and arts.

• Ensuring that crime victim advocates and social workers provide support and resources to victims and those impacted by the shootings and other violence to help break the cycle of violence, prevent future violence, and set the stage for rebuilding lives and our communities.

• Renewing and strengthening Boston’s gun buy-back efforts.

• Seeking stronger penalties for people who sell and distribute illegal guns, and profit from the sale and distribution of illegal guns to young people.

• Requiring the police to trace and report any firearm recovered from a juvenile.

• Imposing a City safety tax on sales of all guns and ammunition in Boston. This revenue will be dedicated to support community-based anti-violence initiatives.

• Linking health care providers, law enforcement agencies, and other agencies serving victims of domestic violence, to improve cross-agency collaboration and coordination.

• Identifying all possible cutting-edge technologies that can be acquired and deployed as “force multipliers,” effectively enlarging our police force’s capability.

Mike Ross is running for Mayor to use innovative ideas to create jobs, improve schools, and modernize government. A city councilor for 14 years, Ross has worked to end youth violence and to bring schools to underserved neighborhoods. In 2006, Ross formed and chaired a Special Committee to deal with youth violence and he currently serves as the Chairman of the City Council Committee on Public Safety.