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Councilors press for action after Robert Smalls power outage; Smith urges data-driven gun-violence response
Summary
City staff reported a power outage and safety concerns at Robert Smalls Apartments, and Councilmember Smith called for proactive, data-driven measures to address local gun violence despite state preemption on firearms policy.
City staff and councilors used the Sept. 9 meeting to flag tenant safety concerns at Robert Smalls Apartments and to press for more proactive measures on gun violence.
In a staff update, Story reported that power was cut to some units at Robert Smalls Apartments last week "at no fault of the tenants," a condition staff said resulted from a miscommunication among the ownership/management team and was corrected within hours; Story said some units were out of power for as long as 24 hours. City staff said they have contacted ownership, engaged the police department, and are pursuing additional technology and increased officer presence to address criminal incidents and restore a safer environment for residents.
Councilmember Smith (first reference uses role label shown in the transcript) delivered a lengthy statement citing recent school shootings and local incidents: "I grieve for the families... I grow incredibly angry at the preventability of all of it," Smith said, noting that roughly half of South Carolina households have guns and that many juvenile shooters obtain firearms from home. Smith asked council and staff to use monthly crime data more proactively, to expand public education (including distribution of free gun locks), to partner with the county gang task force and to pursue federal crime-prevention grants.
Smith acknowledged legal limits on municipal gun policy in South Carolina, saying the state preempts local action on many gun-safety measures, but argued there remain steps the city can take on prevention, safety programming and enforcement coordination. Other council members reinforced the request that staff pursue practical measures for tenant safety at Robert Smalls and press the property owner to prevent future utility interruptions.
What happens next: staff said they will continue coordination with the property owner and police and will report findings from federal reviews or investigations to the mayor and city manager as appropriate. Council did not take immediate formal action on Smith's requests during the meeting; an executive session followed the public portion of the agenda.
