One day after he released a new initiative to combat crime and improve policing in Cleveland, Mayor Justin Bibb sat down with 3News’ Matt Rascon to talk about the growing violence in the streets and the shrinking police force.
“It’s frustrating and, quite frankly, unacceptable, the level of criminal behavior we’re seeing in our city,” Bibb told Rascon. “I want to make sure that we continue as an administration to bring the full weight of the law and justice to these criminals.”
In recent weeks, crime in the streets has captured more headlines and hurt more people.
Bibb said, “one homicide is one too many for me as mayor.” According to statistics from the Cleveland Division of Police, homicides have jumped by nearly 30% compared to this time last year, while the number of car thefts has nearly doubled.
“I think we we’re all frustrated. We’ve all been frustrated by the level of violence we’ve seen this summer,” he said, speaking of the city’s leaders.
Frustration over the issue of public safety boiled over last week in the wake of the West 6th Street shooting that injured nine people. At the Cleveland City Council meeting that followed days later, councilmembers—including safety committee chair Mike Polensek—called out the mayor and his office for not doing enough to combat crime and for not showing up to their meeting.
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