I am greatly concerned about the apparent involvement of two contractors doing violence interruption work in our neighborhoods – including Life Deeds in Ward 1 – in the alleged bribery scheme that led to charges against Councilmember Trayon White.

One of the contractors, operating in wards 1 and 4, is providing violence interruption services under the auspices of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. The owner of that company also owns another company that does violence interruption work in Ward 5 and provides services under the Credible Messengers program at the Department of Youth and Rehabilitative Services.

While the allegations raise huge questions about the future of those contracts, my immediate concern is ensuring the quality and integrity of the critical services being provided to clients. My office has asked ONSE if they have concerns about the delivery of on-the-ground services and, if so, what actions they are taking or plan to take. And if not, why they are confident in the delivery of those services. My office asked the same questions of DYRS regarding the Credible Messengers contract.

I thank Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who chairs the Committee on Justice and Public Safety, for pledging to hold oversight hearings this fall. I and other councilmembers had already been hearing concerns about the performance of one of the vendors, operating in Ward 1, which led my office and Councilmember Pinto to begin oversight of that contract. In light of this new information, we will work with ONSE to ensure that Ward 1 residents are receiving all the services that were promised. We cannot allow any doubt about the integrity of violence interruption programs in our community.