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The spike in violent crimes across Houston isn't sitting well with community leaders, who want to see more action from local governments so that the upward trend comes to a stop.
Click2Houston reported that the year-to-year trend for Houston homicides was up 54%, as of February 7. Chicago was the only city to surpass Houston for the number of homicides so far this year. Mayor Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) declared the violent crime across his city a "public health crisis," according to reports from a recent City Hall news conference.
"I'm glad to see community groups and civic clubs pushing back against the crime we're facing in Harris County," Charles Blain, Urban Reform president, said to Houston Daily.
Blain leads Urban Reform, a Houston-based nonprofit organization with a mission to address increased crime, corruption, and unaffordability through community education, engagement, and activism.
"It's promising to see movement at the city [level], but the county still ignores the reality and, unfortunately, until they address their policies, lives will still be at risk," Blain said.
In light of the increased violence and crime in Houston, members of the city's MacGregor Park Super Neighborhood hosted a news conference to emphasize the need for anti-crime efforts from city, county, and state officials.
"Hopefully, law enforcement will build on this movement at the city level and take the opportunity to establish deeper relationships with the communities they serve," Blain said.
Tomaro Bell, a member of the MacGregor Park Super Neighborhood, spoke at the news conference. She said, "This violence is out of control." She added that it wasn't a new problem, but "we're tired of it."
Blain said he was appreciative of anti-crime efforts from Houston's residents.
As of January 30, there were 38 homicides recorded in the city of Houston, just in that month – the highest number of murders in any major U.S. city for 2022, Fox26 Houston reported.