POUGHKEEPSIE – The Poughkeepsie Common Council meeting on Monday began with Council Chairperson Sarah Salem addressing the recent uptick in violent crimes. In the past few weeks, a 14-year-old was wounded by gunfire, a 21-year-old was shot to death at Washington and Marshall Streets, and another young man was injured by bullets on Smith Street.
Salem called for stepped-up efforts to curtail “kids shooting kids” regarding the most recent gun violence but did not elaborate on the chair’s statement that all of the violence was perpetrated by underage offenders.
Salem announced that the chair wants to know where the guns used are coming from. Calling for a special meeting to discuss solutions surrounding gun violence, Salem said that the chair wants the meeting to facilitate “saving the lives of young children.”
Salem’s proposed roundtable will consist of residents, police officers, council members, and violent crime experts. No date was set for the proposed gathering.
