Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City to reallocate DOJ violence‑prevention grant funds after contractor lapse; council seeks performance data
Summary
The Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence proposed rescinding an expired contract and reallocating DOJ grant funds to continuing providers; councilors asked for capacity reports, budgets, and program metrics before approving reprogramming, and staff said funds must be spent by Sept. 30 under the current grant cycle.
Chief Johnson Kenzie, director of the Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence, told the council that one contractor under a DOJ‑funded program did not participate and that the city plans to rescind the expired contract and reallocate roughly $186,472 plus other funds to organizations that continued services. Staff said the contract in question expired Jan. 31, 2026, and that reprogramming would augment Southwest Center and Good Life (and support Mothers Against Gun Violence working with Salvation Army for victim services).
Stephanie Pasquale, chief strategy officer, confirmed the original contract had expired and staff proposed reallocating available DOJ grant funds rather than leaving them unused. Program lead Latif and staff said recipient organizations are actively hiring and that the grant’s current performance period ends Sept. 30, so reallocations and any hiring must be completed quickly. Council members requested presentations from the providers, an org chart of who has changed roles over the grant, a budget for the proposed allocations and evidence of capacity to absorb expanded work.
Staff said they will schedule committee meetings and provide budgets and program metrics; they noted the city had also applied for another DOJ grant with a different focus but that this particular DOJ fund must be spent in the current federal performance period.
Next steps: the Mayor’s Office will meet with councilors, share program budgets and rosters, and bring committee presentations from recipient organizations before the council takes final action.
