Since January 2020, there have been more than 820 people under the age of 21 Injured or died due to gun violence In Philadelphia.

Several city councillors led by Helen Gym are pushing the Kenny government to use the city’s $50 million in federal relief funds to address the rising problem of youth gun violence.

On Tuesday, City Councillors held a press conference at the Hawthorne Entertainment Center in South Philadelphia, where they introduced Youth-supported anti-violence agendaThe agenda comes from the Committee on Children and Youth and was formulated in response to young people affected by gun violence asking the city to take action.

“If we don’t prioritize our young people, we will deal with the same issues in 10 years,” said Senator Kenyatta Johnson.

Later, the lawmakers expressed their support for efforts to get the Kenny government to allocate an additional $100 million for these anti-violence projects.

The funding will target the communities with the most shooting incidents and provide more services to youth in the area, including guaranteeing employment and extending the opening hours of entertainment centers to midnight. Philadelphia subway report.

The plan will also provide resources to the 25 public schools, charter schools and alternative schools most affected by community gun violence. It will also support trauma counseling, youth programs, and affordable housing in the 10 postal codes with the most shooting incidents, most of which are in the north and west of Philadelphia.

The proposal was made when the Mayor’s Office finalized the city’s spending plan for the next fiscal year (starting on July 1). So far, $36 million has been allocated for non-police, anti-violence initiatives-twice the city’s expenditures this fiscal year.

Kenny spokesperson Dianna Gamble told Metro that the mayor’s office has not yet reviewed the plan.

“For the mayor and this government, nothing is more important than reducing gun violence and saving lives-especially the lives of innocent children,” Gamble said.

The Children and Youth Committee met with organization and community leaders, held public hearings and chaired the city hall to hear directly from young people. They also surveyed hundreds of community members and organized two public city halls to address the need for students and schools to promote safety.

“Young people tell us that their communities are in crisis and demand that the city government take immediate action to improve their lives,” City Councillor Helen Gym says“On the contrary, we must invest in things that can improve the lives of young people, prevent the escalation of violence, and build a system to let young people grow up to know that their lives are valued and their potential is unlimited.”