Peoria Violence Response

In July, it will be two years since the Peoria City/County Health Department first took up the funding for Cure Violence, a nonprofit emphasizing communication and intervention to end gun violence.

Nearly two years after taking on the cost to fund a pre-assessment passed on by a divided city council, the Peoria City/County Health Department is searching for the first employees for the Cure Violence initiative.

The City of Peoria is putting the remainder of its American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded during COVID to work in violence prevention through environmental design.

The city will use $500,000 to install alley and porch lights on private properties located in areas deemed “hot spots” by the police department. The other $700,000 will pay for “scrub tree removal, tree trimming and vacant lot clearance,” allowing for more light in darker areas.

Peoria’s mayor spent a part of this week in the nation’s capital, collaborating and learning with community leaders from across the country.

Former Peoria Community Against Violence CEO Becky Rossman doesn’t want to see families of gun violence victims left without a place to turn. The non-profit victims’ services organization ceased operations on Nov. 30, after it was unable to close a $300,000 funding gap.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali says the city is pushing forward on efforts to address the root causes of violence in the city's East Bluff neighborhood.

The implementation of the gun violence prevention program Cure Violence in Peoria’s East Bluff is at a standstill after a community nonprofit had to back out of its contract.

A Peoria woman has been arrested in connection with a homicide last month.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali says she doesn't have any problems with how programs were selected for the second round of violence prevention funding through the city, but she’s open to taking a closer look at the process.