ST. LOUIS聽鈥 Leaders here are betting on a national violence prevention model to stem the tide of murders in the city. They hope to launch the program, called Cure Violence, as soon as March in three troubled city neighborhoods.
But the city won鈥檛 run the program itself, and neither will Cure Violence. Instead, leaders are looking to contract with local entities such as Washington University's Institute of Public Health, or a nonprofit organization like the Urban League or Better Family Life.
A city committee is evaluating proposals, officials said; they aim to select a program operator by year's end.
鈥淲e hope for a serious reduction in violent crime,鈥 Mayor Lyda Krewson said.
最新杏吧原创 has seen 173 homicides so far in 2019, the vast majority of those committed with guns. Fourteen children have been killed, 13 by guns. City officials have felt the pressure to take drastic action to quell the bloodshed.聽
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颁丑颈肠补驳辞-产补蝉别诲听Cure Violence Global聽has been touted by advocates as a research-proven method of bringing down shootings in cities across the country. The city announced in early November that the first Cure Violence centers will be launched in the Wells-Goodfellow/Hamilton Heights, Walnut Park West and East, and Dutchtown neighborhoods, chosen for their rates of assault and homicide.
In each of those designated spots, a group of about 10 violence interrupters聽鈥 hired locally and trained in conflict mediation 鈥 will establish relationships with high-risk individuals and discourage retaliation.
Krewson said she's also hoping to connect the local Cure Violence program with "wraparound services," in health, drugs and employment, for instance.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 more than just interrupting violence, though that is the crux of the matter,鈥 Krewson said.
In August, after聽an especially violent summer, Krewson sent a letter to Comptroller Darlene Green asking to invoke the comptroller鈥檚 emergency powers and execute a contract with the nonprofit, bypassing the city鈥檚 lengthy contract selection process. Green聽set aside $500,000聽in emergency funds.
In September, city officials signed a $125,000 contract, which now runs through October 2020, for Cure Violence Global consultants to provide 鈥渢raining and technical assistance鈥 during the program鈥檚 launch in 最新杏吧原创.
Since then, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment has added $1.5 million for the program, and the Board of Aldermen approved a $5 million ordinance for a Cure Violence program. The money is intended to fund Cure Violence in 最新杏吧原创 for the coming three years.
And if the model stacks up with its reputation, Reed said he'd support spending even more, and adding centers to more neighborhoods.
It is unclear if the $125,000 contract with Cure Violence Global includes the training required in all three neighborhoods. Reed said it does. A Cure Violence official, Marcus McAllister, said it doesn't.
The city did not bid out the original contract.
Officials said the comptroller鈥檚 emergency powers supersede that requirement.
City professional services policies require competitive bidding for agreements worth more than $50,000.聽
But City Counselor Julian Bush questioned whether Cure Violence was a professional service, as defined by city rules.
The city鈥檚 health department will manage the contract, but won鈥檛 directly run the program.
That鈥檚 the missing piece of the puzzle聽鈥 the city needs to contract with a local organization, or organizations, to carry out Cure Violence programs in 最新杏吧原创 neighborhoods. Cure Violence Global will train local workers and consult on management throughout the program.
Representatives of the Urban League and Better Family Life said they鈥檙e open to running the program. Washington University officials did not comment.
Reed is eager to get going.
鈥淲e鈥檙e burying 200 people a year, and this year there鈥檚 13, 14 kids dead聽鈥 shot dead in the streets of 最新杏吧原创,鈥 Reed said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still one of the top most violent cities in the country."
"We want to deploy a new methodology," Reed said. "We want a new recipe.鈥
