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Plan for anti-violence task force resurfaces in Columbia

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The Columbia City Council is considering the creation of an anti-violence task force to address violence among the city’s youth. 

The task force would last between 12 and 15 months and would seek both short-term and long-term remedies for youth violence in Columbia.  Members of the community began discussing this option in response to high profile shootings involving young people in the city, notably last month’s shooting caught on video at 10th Street and Broadway downtown.  Councilmembers Michael Trapp and Laura Nauser would work as co-chairs of the task force, setting its agenda.  Nauser said youth violence is an issue she’s been working on for a long time.

“This is something I talked about back in 2008 when I made some policy recommendations to the city on how we can deal with youth and families and crime in our community,” Nauser said.  “And so I’m excited that here we are.  It’s a little late, but better late than never.”

The council discussed the task force at its pre-council meeting Monday, encouraging members of the community to suggest what they want to see from the task force.  Columbia’s youth curfew and early childhood intervention to combat violence are two things the task force might tackle.  Mayor Bob McDavid set the August 5th city council meeting as a time for more discussion and a council vote on the task force.  

In other news, the city council approved improvements at the intersection of Keene Street and St. Charles Road.  Improvements include a northbound right turn lane from Keene onto St. Charles and pedestrian signal upgrades.   

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