“This kind of violence will not be tolerated,” Mayor Bruce Harrell said at Tuesday’s rally. “Far too many guns are in the wrong hands here, and we as a community must recognize that one of our first and sacred purposes is to protect those who are vulnerable: our students.”
The plan also includes $10 million for youth mental health and safety over the next school year and expanding access to telehealth to 2,000 students.
Of that amount, $2 million will be dedicated to violence prevention and intervention, and the government will also launch a “100 Days of Action” campaign this summer to curb gun violence.
Paul Patu, co-founder of Urban Family, a nonprofit that works to prevent youth violence and create safer communities, said it’s critical that youth gun violence be addressed immediately.
“Some of what’s happening now should have happened years ago,” Patu said.
Pattu said he appreciates Mayor Harrell’s plan and that a holistic approach involving nonprofits, schools, community members and law enforcement is the best way to address youth gun violence.
“We’re not there yet, but I think it’s a move in the right direction,” Patu said. “If we can mobilize both the people and the resources and really have the heart to heal the community, I think good things will happen.”
He said there needs to be more positive resources for young people.
“There are so many opportunities for young people to buy guns and drugs,” Patu said. “Why don’t we have more opportunities for young people to turn to in our communities?”
The Seattle Student Government is lobbying to secure millions of dollars to provide mental health counselors in schools.
“I hope that students get the mental health resources they deserve,” said Charlotte Ortega, a 10th grader at Lincoln High School and a member of the Seattle Student Government Association.
Ortega said Seattle students shouldn’t have to go to school wondering whether they’ll make it out alive.
“It’s heartbreaking to hear of shootings like the Ingram shooting almost a year ago and the Garfield shooting just recently,” Ortega said.
Ortega said it was important for the mayor’s office to focus on funding in-person counseling because some students don’t have access to the internet at home to receive telehealth services.
She said funding needs to be put in place immediately to ensure students have access to services.
“I urge Mayor Bruce Harrell to put this funding to good use and get mental health resources into our schools as quickly as possible so this doesn’t happen,” Ortega said.
