“Our purpose is to try to get leadership and regular residents all in one room to address some of the most immediate issues and needs that we’re facing as a city here in Muskegon Heights.”
Muskegon Heights Councilman William Kitchen III is hosting the event.
“We’re not doing a great job as leadership with providing programs and alternatives for our young people to give them a different way to approach this world.”
On Tuesday, one person was killed and another injured in two separate shootings. Last week, five shootings in three days culminated in the death of a 15-year-old, prompting community leaders to organize the town hall.
Kitchen said the goal is to bridge the gap between residents and community leaders and start working toward solutions.
“We have not done a great job in making sure we have the apparatus in place that would give them alternatives to not just jobs, but to housing, to mental health access.”
The Muskegon Police Department says the shootings are targeted. They have increased patrols in affected areas but say they can’t solve the cases without community cooperation.
The town hall will take place Thursday, March 5th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Muskegon Heights City Hall.
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