Mayor John Tory seeking an additional $6-million investment in community programing in this year’s budget to reduce youth violence.

 

(CP24)

Visiting North York’s Falstaff Community Centre, the mayor says the money would help give communities the ”tools” needed to ”fight back against those who thrust gangs and guns on their neighbourhoods.” 

If approved by city council, the money would be in addition to $18.6-million in new funding already set aside in the budget for poverty reduction efforts and initiatives to reduce the root causes of violence.

While the city’s been ”steadily expanding” in youth programing as part of efforts to curb violence, Tory says there remains the need for more urgent action.

”In far too many neighbourhoods gun violence has caused a degree of trauma to the people and community itself,” added the mayor.

”No one should have to deal with that.”