PA Williams on crew takedowns and inter-agency collaboration

Which I've seen happen now time after time, often in the same spaces.

So this is a great...

We can talk about should they be taken down.

Sometimes you do need some of those law enforcement tools.

Sometimes they're too much.

But if we all agree sometimes that it's needed, after those crew takedowns, are there discussions with other agencies, are there discussions with the Office of Community Safety of what needs to be happening in that community so that you don't have to come back again?

Right, so that was a community safety, of course, is brand new.

So, you know, I tell you, you're asking about historically, there isn't really a history here, right?

But I take your point.

Well, let me just say this, because I've asked this for the past 16 years, before Office of Community Safety.

The question was, are you speaking to other agencies?

We have an office now, but there are other agencies that could have always been brought in.

To talk about what is it that we can do here, because the police have done their part, what else can be done to make sure the police don't have to come back again.

Right, so let me just say, I completely agree with you that we have one of these takedowns, which often are, as you say, geographically concentrated, right, a particular space, you say some violent crew have taken over,

a playground, a certain block, whatever it may be.

We do that takedown, and that then creates an opportunity for the community to take back that space, 100%.

And yes, there are other city agencies that have an important role to play in that.

You know, look, when we do these takedowns, it's not a secret.

Right?

It is known to everyone involved, known to everyone in the community, known to other city agencies.

And I think...

I certainly agree with you that when we have a crew takedown of whatever sort, I think there's a role for other city agencies to play, particularly in that moment, right?

It's a very particular moment, okay, when, you know, shooters have been taken off the street, drug dealers taken off the street.

Okay.

How can, again, the whole government approach, how can agencies help people in that community take back that space for themselves, for their kids?

So I agree with you on that completely.

I just, I don't think that it's, again, it's not a secret when we do these things, and I think there is an opportunity for other city agencies to play a very important role.