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Council members introduce resolution recognizing Philadelphia Community Outreach Committee for West Philadelphia public-safety work
Summary
Council members Jim Harrity and Jamie Gauthier introduced a resolution honoring the Philadelphia Community Outreach Committee for a neighborhood-driven public-safety initiative that members said helped shut down open-air drug markets in West Philadelphia and reduced shootings.
Council members Jim Harrity and Jamie Gauthier introduced a privileged resolution recognizing the Philadelphia Community Outreach Committee (PCOC) for its work addressing open‑air drug sales and community revitalization in West Philadelphia.
The resolution, read into the record during the council session, says the Belmont safety model created and led by PCOC founders ‘‘Ishaq Samay, Abdul Malik Ibrahim, Islam Sharif, and Kabir Rashid’’ helped dismantle six open‑air drug markets, installed community‑accessible surveillance cameras, and led to the establishment of local organizations including the Belmont Civic Association and Holly Street Neighbors CDC.
“Your Belmont safety model has saved lives and made West Philly a safer, healthier, and more vibrant place to live,” council member Jamie Gauthier said while introducing the measure with council member Jim Harrity. Gauthier credited PCOC and neighborhood partners with putting “boots on the ground,” giving residents autonomy over local solutions and saying the city should enable, not dictate, community efforts.
Pete Wilson, a PCOC leader who addressed council, described the group’s street‑level approach: “We shut down a open air drug to produce 3,600 arrests … and the issue is, how much did it cost the city?” Wilson said, arguing that reducing arrests produced savings and improved outcomes. Ishak Samay thanked elected officials and community partners for support and urged other neighborhoods to adopt similar community‑led strategies.
The introduced text asks that “an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Community Outreach Committee.” The resolution was introduced and read; the transcript does not show a final vote or formal adoption on the floor during this session.
Background and context: speakers and witnesses at the presentation credited collaboration among faith organizations, police district captains, grant funders and elected officials — including state Senator Vincent Hughes — with sustaining camera and other grant‑funded efforts. The resolution text links PCOC’s Belmont model to a broader push for neighborhood‑driven public safety and community revitalization.
No formal action to adopt the resolution appears in the session record provided.
Ending: The resolution was introduced and placed into the record for future consideration; the council transcript shows introductions and statements in support but does not record final passage during this meeting.
