I have been thinking a lot about gun violence lately. It seems like the hot summer months can bring out tense interactions that swiftly become violent and lead to homicide. In cities large and small, mayors are thinking about ways to decrease and ideally one day eliminate the impact of gun violence on families and communities.
During his mayoral tenure in New York, David Dinkins expanded library services and thought deeply about local policing. When Marion Barry was mayor of Washington, D.C., he created jobs programs for young people to give them money in their pockets, a place to be during the day, and a sense of pride and ownership in their daily lives — all of which can have an impact.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson is expanding on this approach. He recently signed Executive Order 2026-3, forming the Mayor’s Office Gun Violence Reduction Advisory Council, which, among other things, establishes the Office of Gun Violence Reduction (OGVR), tasked with coordinating violence prevention efforts, victim services, and community safety investments.
Contrary to popular belief, cities like New York and Chicago have actually seen a decrease in violent crime over the last few years. However, for anyone who is a victim of violent crime or knows someone affected, the numbers still feel too high.
Read the Amsterdam News series about gun violence: Under the Gun
For many municipal leaders, the loss of even one life to violence is far too high. We hope to begin to see similar efforts to the OGVR become a model for other cities to emulate. Johnson said the Office of Gun Violence Reduction will publish monthly reports chronicling the progress of violence reduction investments, as well as an annual report with recommendations for driving improved coordination between government and community stakeholders.
One of the key elements for success will be the Mayor’s Gun Violence Reduction Advisory Council, which will be composed of 17 Chicago residents, including representatives from grassroots organizations, faith leaders, mental health professionals, and philanthropic partners. The Advisory Council will “conduct community hearings and listening sessions to elevate the lived experiences of residents, identify emerging challenges, and assess gaps in services and programming.”
Success comes from hearing from people closest to the problems. It is those individuals who often have the clearest vision about what specific solutions can work for their respective communities.
I hope other cities begin to follow Mayor Johnson’s lead and think at the macro and micro levels in their efforts to reduce gun violence. Listening to communities and having leadership invest efforts for substantive long-term solutions are the true models for our communities.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is a professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
