“Holyoke City Council Considers Ezekiel’s Plan to Curb Gun Violence and Enhance Public Safety”
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HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Two months after a shooting in Holyoke took the life of an infant. City councilors voted on Ezekiel’s Plan on Tuesday evening, an initiative to curb gun violence in the city, named after the shooting’s young victim.
The $1 million safety plan calls for the hiring of five additional police officers, bike patrols and a new city-wide surveillance camera system.
Holyoke city councilors took up Ezekiel’s Plan on Tuesday night, the plan named after the infant who was killed when a stray bullet from a gunfight struck a pregnant woman and killed her baby.
The $1 million public safety plan calls for a city-wide camera system connected to ShotSpotter. The addition of five police officers and a slew of community outreach initiatives.
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The plan sparked debate amongst city councilors.
“Ezekiel’s Plan itself is good law enforcement sense,” expressed City Councilor Joseph McGiverin. “It’s well thought out and it’s geared to the safety of things that should be happening.”
“This is something simply we cannot afford on a whole bunch of levels,” explained City Councilor Kevin Jourdain. “We already have a 2 to 3-million-dollar structural budget deficit. If we were to approve this later tonight, dollar for dollar, this is going to get added to taxes.”
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia told Western Mass News another concern he’s heard about the plan is the possibility of over policing and he disputes those claims.
“This plan doesn’t mean over-policing,” said Mayor Garcia. “It means building up the adequate capacity we need at the department so we can keep up with the responsibilities of that department.”
Garcia added that if Ezekiel’s plan is implemented, residents could feel the positive impacts in the city over the next year.
“We need to do more than just having just a reactionary position,” added Mayor Garcia. “Whether it’s on the board of health, police, our building department. We need to take on more forward-thinking effort.”
The city council did not reach the majority of votes needed to pass the $1 million budget needed to fund Ezekiel’s Plan but they did vote unanimously to reconsider the plan at a later date.
Copyright 2023. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.
Holyoke City Councilors Vote on Ezekiel’s Plan to Curb Gun Violence
HOLYOKE, Mass. – In a bid to curb gun violence in the city, Holyoke City Councilors voted on Ezekiel’s Plan, a $1 million safety initiative named after the young victim of a tragic shooting incident that occurred two months ago.
The plan, which was discussed during a city council meeting on Tuesday evening, proposes several measures aimed at enhancing public safety. These include the hiring of five additional police officers, the introduction of bike patrols, and the installation of a new city-wide surveillance camera system.
Ezekiel’s Plan was inspired by the tragic death of an infant who was killed by a stray bullet during a gunfight that also claimed the life of a pregnant woman. The devastating incident shook the community and prompted local authorities to take action against gun violence.
The proposed safety plan received mixed reactions from city councilors, leading to a heated debate during the meeting. City Councilor Joseph McGiverin expressed his support, noting that the plan was well thought out and focused on enhancing safety.
However, City Councilor Kevin Jourdain raised concerns about the city’s budget deficit, stating that implementing Ezekiel’s Plan would add further financial strain to the community. He argued that it would ultimately lead to increased taxes for residents.
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, in an interview with Western Mass News, addressed another concern raised about the plan – the possibility of over-policing. He emphasized that the intention was not to over-police but to provide the necessary resources for the police department to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.
Mayor Garcia also highlighted the potential positive impacts that Ezekiel’s Plan could have on the city, stating that it would move beyond a reactive approach and focus on proactive efforts to address public safety concerns.
Despite the debate, the city council did not reach the majority of votes needed to pass the $1 million budget required to fund Ezekiel’s Plan. However, they did vote unanimously to reconsider the plan at a later date, indicating that the issue remains a priority for the council.
If implemented, Ezekiel’s Plan is expected to make a significant difference in Holyoke, with residents potentially experiencing the positive impacts within the next year. The plan represents a comprehensive approach to tackling gun violence and aims to create a safer environment for all community members.
As discussions continue, Holyoke remains committed to finding effective solutions to combat gun violence and ensure the well-being of its residents..
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Glenn Kittle,Marcos Figueroa,Abigail Murillo Villacorta said Holyoke City Councilors discuss vote on ‘Ezekiel’s Plan’ for safer streets
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