Dear Residents of the 9th Aldermanic District:
Without question, Madison and our nation are facing historic social and economic challenges, unforeseen since the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. Furthermore, the related unemployment rate and economic crisis could replicate the recession of 2008. These unprecedented conditions have emotionally and economically impacted residents and those who own and operate small businesses.
These pressing conditions have coincided with Madison’s epidemic of gun violence and shootings and the ongoing gang violence that appears to be part of a growing drug war. Most tragically, our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of 11 year-old Anisa Scott, who was shot and killed in broad daylight last summer.
As a life-long resident of Madison, I have never seen such an increase in violent crimes, weekly and sometimes daily gun shootings, an increase in our city’s murder rate and gang-related violence. In addition, property crimes, such as burglary’s and auto theft, has had an 88% increase during the first and second quarter of this year, compared to the same time period in 2019.