Albany Violence Prevention Task Force narrows coordinator search, plans outreach and data push before summer

The Albany City Violence Prevention Task Force met Feb. 18 and moved toward hiring a new coordinator, updating its bylaws to reflect a 13‑member panel and stepping up data collection and community outreach ahead of a planned report before the summer.

City Clerk Shaniqua Jackson, speaking for staff, told the task force it had advanced two candidates to a second round of interviews and that the goal was to reach a hiring decision before the group’s March 18 meeting. "We are actively looking for a coordinator... we are heading into the second phase of interviews with 2 candidates," Jackson said.

The update came as members discussed two procedural items staff said are needed to resume full operations: a bylaws amendment to record the council‑approved membership cap of 13 and selection of leadership roles (chair, co‑chair, secretary) for the revived task force. Jackson said once the bylaws language is revised the document can be distributed and finalized.

Task force members emphasized a twin focus on improving…