Friends,

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Here in Little Rock, we are committed to doing our part to reverse what has been an alarming national trend of increased gun crimes. We have implemented a multi-faceted crime reduction strategy involving targeted police patrols along with comprehensive prevention, intervention and treatment programs to both reduce gun crimes and take illegal guns off the streets. 

Yet, there's still so much more work to do. Earlier this year, an analysis of CDC data showed that gun deaths among children and teenagers rose by 50 percent nationwide between 2019 and 2021. That sobering statistic alone should serve as a call to action for all of us to do everything we can to raise awareness of the true impact of gun violence and work together to find solutions to the problem.

I'm grateful to lead a City that is proactively seeking out those solutions. In 2022, LRPD seized more than 700 weapons that can no longer be used in the commission of crimes. We are also focused on promoting gun safety initiatives, safe gun storage and programs like gun buy-backs. The next scheduled gun buyback event is Saturday, June 24, at St. Mark Baptist Church, 5722 W. 12th Street. The City of Little Rock will join the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and other sponsors for this event..

Here in the state's Capital City, our crime prevention strategy this year has resulted in a five percent drop in violent crime compared to 2022. In addition, Little Rock's homicide rate is 45 percent lower than last year. However, just one life lost to homicide is one too many. Please spend this National Gun Violence Awareness Month finding ways you, too, can contribute to a reduction in gun crime.

The Mayor's Youth Council (MYC) is comprised of Little Rock students in grades 9 through 12 who are interested in civic engagement and investing in their neighborhoods. I'm always grateful to hear from the MYC about what its members believe are the most important issues facing our City and its generation. I'm proud of their leadership and grateful to support the program each year.

Last week, the MYC had its last meeting of the school year and we celebrated the seniors who participate on the council. I was glad to present them with graduation certificates and visit with them to reflect on their service and work.

This year, the MYC chose environmental sustainability as the topic it was most passionate about, and last week they ended their school year with a tree-planting project at Murray Park. The group planted trees to replace those damaged by the March 31 tornado. Other sessions over the last few months have focused on environmental initiatives such as the importance of local food systems and how eating locally sourced food helps reduce emissions.

I appreciate the council members and their commitment to become better-informed, civic-minded residents.

• The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, June 6, at 6 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here.
• On Wednesday, June 7, at 10:30 a.m., we will hold a news briefing to update Little Rock residents on the City's ongoing response to the March 31 tornado. The briefing will be streamed on the City's Facebook and YouTube pages.
• The Little Rock Planning Commission meets at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. The Commission makes planning and zoning recommendations to the City Board.
• The Little Rock Zoo is hosting a job fair on Saturday, June 10, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Zoo's front plaza on Zoo Drive. Participants may apply for one of multiple positions on the Zoo's guest services team.
• Also on Saturday, June 10, the City's Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs will host a Down Payment Assistance Fair at the Southwest Community Center, 6401 Baseline Road, from 9 a.m. to noon. As part of National Homeownership Month, the City will be informing potential first-time homebuyers, lenders and realtors about the Down Payment Assistance program to offer up to $6,000 in down payment help to eligible first-time homebuyers.