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Residents and council emphasize mentoring, jobs and enforcement as city leaders hear safety concerns
Summary
Multiple residents urged the council to address violent crime and youth supports; council members highlighted mentoring programs, job training for people with felony records and collaboration among nonprofits, law enforcement and the city.
Several residents used the public-comment period to press the Saginaw City Council to prioritize public safety, and council members responded by highlighting community mentoring programs and job initiatives.
Clint Bryant Sr., who identified himself as a long-time resident, said the city faces a deep safety crisis: “Saginaw is number 1 in crime in the nation,” he said, adding that “90% of the residents do not feel safe in the city.” Bryant urged the council to direct resources to policing and investigations, saying he had waited months without seeing patrols in his neighborhood.
Council members acknowledged the concern and described local efforts to reduce violence. Councilman Ball said his “heart goes out to the sister who lost the children” and urged expanded mentoring and father-engagement programs to reach youth who lack stable supports. “We gotta do more of that,” Ball said, describing work with groups that mentor young people and a recent effort that helped a student who had not been attending school because he lacked adequate clothing.
Councilman Braddock emphasized cross-sector collaboration: “The key word is collaboration,” he said, calling for prevention, education and enforcement to act together. Councilman Ostash and others noted a recent listening session with the governor’s community-violence intervention council director and said the city houses a number of organizations already working on intervention and prevention.
Council members also pointed to employment initiatives, including a city contractor job fair that drew hundreds of students and union or employer participation, and the Saginaw Sioux Pitch Competition for entrepreneurs as programs that can support economic opportunity and youth engagement.
No formal council action was taken during the public-comment period; council members directed staff and community groups to continue existing violence-intervention efforts and encouraged residents to join mentoring programs and job events.
