Several members of the community expressed concerns during Monday’s City Council work session about the rise in crime and violence in Jamestown.

Doug Champ, a local resident warned the council of the unsafe environment people are facing in the city of Jamestown.

“People live in areas where they are a victim of their environment,” he said.

Champ said the City Council has been “late” in their response to handling the gun violence issues in Jamestown. He argued that despite the city hiring additional police officers and making improvements to the police department, the City Council has not adequately handled the situation.

Local residents pleaded with the City Council Monday to take stronger measures against the increase in violence and crime throughout Jamestown. Jeff Russell, At-Large councilman, urged the community to work together to push back against the criminals and to “take back” the city. P-J photos by Timothy Frudd

“You are late with officers on the ground,” he said. “If you had done this last year, when I suggested it, we would have them in place now.”

In addition to criticizing the City Council, Champ criticized Mayor Eddie Sundquist’s response to last week’s shooting on Prendergast. He said the mayor should have held the press conference on the street, rather than in a secure location like City Hall. Champ also described the rise in crime as a “siege” on the community.

Champ asked the City Council to allocate roughly 20% of the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding to increase public safety.

“I want you to put $2 million dollars into public safety,” he said. “I appreciate what you’ve done, but it’s not enough. Would you rather have the American Rescue Plan pay for this, or do you want the taxpayers to pay for it?”

In light of recent violence, Champ said each of the City Council members should be “out in their wards” explaining the current public safety issues to their constituents.

Another local resident asked council members, city officials, and the mayor if they had visited the crime scene on Prendergast after Friday’s shooting.

“There was an active crime scene, I was not going down there,” Sundquist said.

On the other hand, City Council President Anthony Dolce, R-Ward II, indicated that he had personally visited the scene.

“I went down and I spoke to the police chief and I spoke to the former police chief,” he said.

Melissa Paterniti also shared her concerns about the public safety issues in Jamestown.

“Never in my life, have I ever seen it so bad,” she said. “We talk about public safety; public safety starts within the home. We have a people problem. We don’t need police reform; we need people reform. People forgot how to act. This is not the Jamestown that I grew up in.”

While she acknowledged there is no way to stop all violence from occurring, Paterniti said the city needs to take tangible steps to address the issues of crime.

After the members of the community addressed the council, Jeff Russell, At-Large councilman, thanked each of them for expressing their concerns about the city’s issue with violence and crime.

“I’m frustrated about the situation too,” he said. “This is our city. People shouldn’t be coming here and thinking they can do what they want with our city. We need to take it back. It has to start neighborhood by neighborhood, block by block.”

Russell urged the community to work together to send a message to those committing criminal activity in the area.

“Basically tell these people who are coming here to sell their drugs, that are bringing their guns, ‘you’re not welcome here and we’re going to push you out of here.'”

Russell also stressed the importance of people providing the police department and city officials with any information that could be used to identify the suspects of violent crime.

“We have to have help from the public,” he said. “I know people are nervous about coming forward and providing information. If an entire block or neighborhood bands together, they can’t come after everyone.”