Boston Mayor Michelle Wu delivered remarks to news media on Friday after local officials worked this week on developing a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing gun violence in the city.
Wu held a media availability on Friday morning following a violence reduction workshop hosted by the Violence Reduction Center of the University of Maryland.
The program began on Tuesday and came to a close on Friday. It comes amid rising homicide rates in Boston, with 11 so far in 2023, compared to five during the same period in 2022.
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At Friday's media availability, Wu expressed "extreme and deep gratitude" for everyone who participated.
She said the workshop included "long, packed sessions and some challenging conversations as we reflected on what we've experienced and what we still need to do together."
"We are fortunate as a city to see the collaborations and the foundation that's been built," Wu added. "But we are frustrated and ready to see even more. And that's going to require coordination among all of us -- clear goals, accountability, measuring, holding each other accountable and having a united sense that this is a priority for the city of Boston."
Wu and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox announced earlier this week that the city was selected to join the Violence Reduction Center workshop. The program works to bring community leaders and police together to find solutions to reduce gun violence, and brings in experts from around the country.
This week's sessions were aimed at helping to inform the city of Boston's community safety work moving forward, lay down a foundation for best practices and help law enforcement and community leaders implement certain strategies to help reduce gun violence.
"We will not tolerate any neighborhood feeling like residents have to live in fear of violence or experience the loss that ripples down generation after generation," Wu said Friday. "We have the resources, we have the expertise. We need to just pull it all together. It's going to be about following the lead and making sure we keep the momentum coming out of this conversation going. This is about centering the people of Boston and what we know works and what is still needed."
