TOLEDO, Ohio — Earlier this week, Toledo City Council voted in two new members.
Those new members are Toledoans who have been on the sidelines during this violent uptick in crime over the past few years with no voice on city politics. Over the past three years. the number of juveniles killed by gun-related violence in Toledo has been on the rise.
Gun violence claimed nine young victims in 2022. That number increased to 12 victims in 2023. With only being two months into 2024, Toledo has already seen it's first juvenile death stemming from gun violence.
WTOL 11 interviewed Toledo City Council's newest members; Mac Driscoll and Dr. Brittany Jones.
Driscoll feels that police presence can help put an end to the violent youth crimes.
"If people do choose to engage in a life of crime that's why we have a police force," stated Driscoll. "We need to make sure punishments fit crimes and that dangerous criminals are off the streets and reformed in the criminal justice system but without a doubt there is a role for police moving forward in our community."
He agreed that something needs to be done to address the issue of gun violence on youth.
Driscoll remarked that some ways to do this include making sure kids have something to do and are involved in something positive.
"Empowering our community centers and neighborhood organizations to give kids an alternative to some of those activities that we don't want them to engage in. I think is one of the most important steps we can take as a city," he reiterated.
Meanwhile, another new council member, Dr. Brittany Jones, said that mentors and people who can set a good example are key.
"Community policing, looking out for one another again, getting training and de-scalation amongst the community, that can definitely help," affirmed Jones.
Jones states that despite the uptick in youth violence, there are ways for things to improve.
"Once we address some of those issues, some of the access issues, the quality issues, that could put a little bit of a positive spin and improvement," she said.
Driscoll and Jones both agree that there is still work that needs to be done. Both hope to make a difference now that they have a seat at the table.