Public Safety

Although statistics say that crime in Durham is dropping, many of our neighbors do not see that in their communities. Hearing gun shots is a daily occurrence in parts of town, and there is a seemingly endless epidemic of car break-ins and thefts. Our public safety officers are there to assist in the aftermath of crimes, but we can do more to help both the affected communities and our officers: treating the precursors to crime as the public health issue they are. We have increasing challenges to combating this problem: the federal cuts to food assistance, education, and medical coverage combined with our state's further reduction in firearm regulations have created an environment of desperation that leaves many feeling disenfranchised from their communities. The city needs to work with the county to prioritize filling the gaps in funding to ensure our school children are not hungry, that enriching afterschool care is available, and that people can feel secure in their housing.