Mayor Michael Nutter has issued a statement addressing the recent mob attacks that have plagued Center City.“Thesetroubled young people are only a small percentage of our city’s youth;yet, their impulsive actions impact all of our citizens," Nutter said. "We need parentsto know where theirkids are every night. We need mentors to reach out into theircommunities and work with young people. We need the Police Department tobe a continually visible presence on our streets. We need the DistrictAttorney’s Office and the courts to prosecute theseoffenders and make it clear that this behavior has very seriousconsequences. We need this to happen in a coordinated effort."An interdisciplinary response will be forged between the PoliceDepartment, District Attorney’s Office, Law Department,Department of Human Services and Philadelphia Youth Commission, along with cityofficials, business owners and community representatives."Our community service representatives work very closely with thepolice, and as the city is going to announce its own increased deploymentplan, we are very much a part of that," Center City District PresidentPaul Levy said. "We will be increasing our deployment andcommunications network, as well." Other possible components of the city's action plan include stepped-up enforcement and prosecution, as well as socialresponses such as counseling and neighborhood outreach.The police department's SafeCam initiative is also a part of the plan.“Our approach willbe led by a need to quickly apprehend offenders and to prosecute themto the fullest extent of the law while also considering long-termsolutions that will include reaching out through the community,” Nutter said.The exact details of the coordinated response will beannounced the week of August 8.
