Video highlights of the leadership gathering at city hall on Thursday:
POUGHKEEPSIE – Following a Tuesday afternoon shooting near Poughkeepsie High School that injured two teenagers, Poughkeepsie leaders came together at city hall to call for an end to gun violence. Noting that representatives from all levels of government, police administration, and civic leaders were standing together, Flowers said the entire community needs to come together to work toward a solution to the gun violence.
“Unfortunately, in the last few weeks,” Flowers said, “We’ve had several people who were injured by gun violence and unfortunately, we had one death.” The mayor noted that gun violence and crime, in general, have negative impacts on the residents as well as the businesses that suffer because people are afraid to travel to the city.
“People need to feel safe in the City of Poughkeepsie and too many of our young people are becoming victims of gun violence and engaging in gun violence activities,” Mayor Flowers said. “Today, we stand in solidarity against the gun violence in the City of Poughkeepsie and send a message that this (gun violence) will not be tolerated.”
City Council Chairman Da’Ron Wilson stressed that the council is taking gun violence seriously but called for the community’s help in making the city safer. “We need a commanding effort from our entire community to mitigate the violence and start doing things,” while reviving the phrase used following the 9/11 terrorist attacks; “If you see something, say something.”
