ALBANY, N.Y. -- ”Kids are dying.”
How you stop that from happening is a question that Albany's Gun Violence Task Force has been trying to answer since November. But, since the shooting of Kathina Thomas, people want the wait for those answers to end.
“I really don't have a lot patience for this talk because it doesn't really deal with the problem you have,” one Albany resident said.
“Give us a chance to give back. I've been there, I'm ready what's the holdup,” said Albany resident Allah Sun’Allah.
“I believe that we can be a model city for the rest of the nation,” said Reverend Edward Smart.
Gun Violence Task Force meetsIt's been nearly three weeks since Kathina Thomas was shot and as Curtis Schick reports, the City's Gun Violence Task Force is making progress with plans dealing with the shootings, but some say it isn't happing fast enough.
Right now, small pieces of that model are being put out there for people to see. Smart pitched the Common Council Monday night with his Kathina Thomas legislation. It focuses on teaching adults and kids parenting skills, along with creating a child's bill of rights. Task Force Member and Police Chief James Tuffey says it is also looking to keep community centers open later and on weekends.
“The Task Force is doing really good work. There's a lot of projects and research and activity that isn't being reported in the media,” said Common Councilor Barbara Smith.
Still, both of those plans are looking for funding. And as 15-year-old Jermayne Timmons sits in jail, charged with shooting Thomas, Reverend Smart is hopeful that something good will come out of this sad situation.
“People are tired and finally fighting back. And together, we can make some changes in our community,” Smart said.