Can $55 million help stop the spike in Wilmington gun violence?
Wilmington leaders are wrestling with how best to spend $55 million in federal money to halt an outbreak of violence thats afflicted city neighborhoods over the past year. Wilmington murders are up more than 60% compared to this time last year. Shooting incidents were up 52% and homicides increased 35% in 2020 during the pandemic. The latest statistics published by the city shows murders jumped 86% over the past two years. Our city is plagued by gun violence, City Council President Trippi Congo said during an online forum this week. Its extremely true for any of you who live in our city, you already know this.  Wilmington has already received $27 million of the money anticipated from the American Rescue Plan, which was approved by Congress in March to help communities deal with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. Late last month, the U.S. Treasury clarified the way cities can use the money. Communities can use these funds to build a holistic, evidence-based approach to combating violence, especially gun violence, through strategies ranging from subsidized employment and behavioral health programming, to Community Violence Intervention programs and community policing, Treasurys chief recovery officer, Jacob Leibenluft, said in a statement.