Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln delivered the annual State of the City address on Thursday. He also presented “Key to the City” awards. The event was held in the Port of Stockton and included remarks from the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Stockton Board of Commissioners chair. | MORE | Kristin Smart’s parents honored with Stockton key to the cityWhile the mayor said the city has been making progress in many different sectors, community members in attendance told KCRA 3 that they were anxious to hear what he had to say about homelessness and homicides in the city. Lincoln pointed out that while shootings have gone down by 38%, homicides are up by 19%, but community members expressed concern that violent crimes seem to be happening more among youth. Lincoln cited that 16-29-year-olds have been disproportionately impacted by violence in the city, accounting for 48% of homicides year to date. “Through our Office of Violence Prevention’s Ceasefire strategies, we’ve expanded our services to youth ages 12-17 while creating a youth prevention and intervention program focused on deterring young people from violence,” Lincoln said.In addition to youth-focused prevention programs, LaJuana Bivens with the Stockton NAACP said more must also be done to enhance local law enforcement resources, including the hiring of more officers. “I think there has to be more aggressive recruiting, more diversity,” Bivens said. “Our young people like to see police officers that look just like them. If I can see it, I can believe it, I can achieve it.”She said she hopes the city will also implement additional recreational programs, parks and activities to keep young people in healthier environments. Lincoln said putting a stop to the violence starts at home, but that doesn’t mean the city will slow down efforts any time soon to try to create a safer environment for all. Community members also wanted to hear what the mayor had to say about addressing homelessness.According to data from the city, there has been a decrease in the number of unsheltered homeless residents, as well as a decrease in people experiencing first-time homelessness. Lincoln said one of the goals the city is working towards is having over 980 available shelter beds. It’s progress, Lincoln said, but more will still be done. Community members said reducing homelessness would require the involvement of all people, and said they hope more community-led initiatives will take place. The mayor said the city will continue to secure financial resources grants and partnerships with agencies like the CareLink Community Response Program and Community Medical Centers to find out what’s really driving people into homelessness.
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln delivered the annual State of the City address on Thursday.
He also presented “Key to the City” awards.
The event was held in the Port of Stockton and included remarks from the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Stockton Board of Commissioners chair.
| MORE | Kristin Smart’s parents honored with Stockton key to the city
While the mayor said the city has been making progress in many different sectors, community members in attendance told KCRA 3 that they were anxious to hear what he had to say about homelessness and homicides in the city.
Lincoln pointed out that while shootings have gone down by 38%, homicides are up by 19%, but community members expressed concern that violent crimes seem to be happening more among youth.
Lincoln cited that 16-29-year-olds have been disproportionately impacted by violence in the city, accounting for 48% of homicides year to date.
“Through our Office of Violence Prevention’s Ceasefire strategies, we’ve expanded our services to youth ages 12-17 while creating a youth prevention and intervention program focused on deterring young people from violence,” Lincoln said.
In addition to youth-focused prevention programs, LaJuana Bivens with the Stockton NAACP said more must also be done to enhance local law enforcement resources, including the hiring of more officers.
“I think there has to be more aggressive recruiting, more diversity,” Bivens said. “Our young people like to see police officers that look just like them. If I can see it, I can believe it, I can achieve it.”
She said she hopes the city will also implement additional recreational programs, parks and activities to keep young people in healthier environments.
Lincoln said putting a stop to the violence starts at home, but that doesn’t mean the city will slow down efforts any time soon to try to create a safer environment for all.
Community members also wanted to hear what the mayor had to say about addressing homelessness.
According to data from the city, there has been a decrease in the number of unsheltered homeless residents, as well as a decrease in people experiencing first-time homelessness.
Lincoln said one of the goals the city is working towards is having over 980 available shelter beds.
It’s progress, Lincoln said, but more will still be done.
Community members said reducing homelessness would require the involvement of all people, and said they hope more community-led initiatives will take place.
The mayor said the city will continue to secure financial resources grants and partnerships with agencies like the CareLink Community Response Program and Community Medical Centers to find out what’s really driving people into homelessness.