NLC Supports Biden Administration Actions to Reduce Violent Crime

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the Biden Administration announced a series of actions to reduce violent crime in communities across the country. National League of Cities (NLC)’s CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony released the following statement in support of this action. 

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in the community they call home. NLC strongly supports the President’s budget request to increase funding for community violence interrupter programs and other public safety grants. We urge Congress to quickly pass the FY 2022 Appropriations to provide the needed additional funding and resources to help local governments combat the rise in violence in many communities across the country. We also applaud the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement to take new actions to stem the flow of firearms used to commit violence and support local law enforcement partners in efforts to combat gun crime.” 

To help local leaders move toward a more equitable vision of public safety, NLC released the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force’s report, A Path Toward Safe and Equitable Cities, in October of 2021. The report outlines five high-level recommendations for city leaders to help improve the ways in which they ensure the safety of all residents. Additionally, NLC released a toolkit that provides extensive context and examples for city leaders to replicate, reference, and adapt as they implement reimagined approaches to public safety that work well in a local context.  

Read more about the Justice Department’s new actions here.