This summer has literally flown by and while August is City Council’s yearly break from Monday meetings, nothing has slowed down for me or any of us at City Hall. Coming off a successful National Night Out Event on August 4, there’s road projects, zoning issues, some great news for Hardesty Park, and just last week, the Mayor’s announcement on the Jazmir Tucker settlement and termination of the APD Officer involved in the shooting..
To be honest, I’ve struggled with the Jazmir Tucker issue, and it’s gone on for almost two years. Public comment before Council Meetings has been focused on Council taking action, but by charter it’s simply not our decision. City Council does not hire or fire anyone, and we don’t get involved in financial settlements, that’s the Mayor’s responsibility. But what comes next? Gun violence is huge problem in our country and there’s far too many guns that end up in the hands of our teenagers; evidenced again last week as another teen was shot and killed in Akron. We need to find ways to change this dynamic, whether it’s through education, youth programming, mentorship or some other means. I don’t have the answer, but like my colleagues and the Mayor, we’ll keep looking at any and all options.
As usual, I hope you’ll join us at this month’s Ward Meeting, Wednesday August 19th from 6-8pm at the Northwest Family Recreation Center at 1730 Shatto Ave. APD officer Aaron Brown will kick us off with safety updates and crime statistics. Next up will be Akron’s Director of Neighborhood Assistance Eufrancia Lash, and Policy & Grants Strategist Emma Lieberth Osborn to tell us about the upcoming Hardesty Park Playgound improvements. If you have young kids or grandkids, you’ ll want to hear what’s on tap! And lastly Casey Shevlin, Akron’s Director of Sustainability & Resiliency will detail the Mayor’s Youth Climate Action Fund Grant Program(see the article under Conservation in this newsletter).
