What happened Saturday night, at the Warren Street playground, was an unexpected tragedy that is happening all too frequently across our state. It is, however, an opportunity for Lynn to turn tragedy into triumph.
On Sunday morning, I joined my Stop the Violence Lynn (STVL) team in helping to clean up Warren Street playground. STVL is a group that was organized six years ago by now-City Councilor Fred Hogan to help curb violence.
I was an original member along with Antonio Gutierrez, Rob Smith and former City Councilor and state Rep. Peter Capano. This group has grown over the six years and I am very proud to be a member. Our team showed up Sunday morning STVL Strong for the cleanup.
I was equally impressed by the number of neighbors who came out. It was a real tribute to the people who live around Warren Street playground. This is a real neighborhood. The park is in the process of a major transformation and one event should not derail the progress. The neighbors need to know, and deserve, that they will have a nice playground where they can congregate in safety.
On Saturday, Sept. 14, Stop the Violence Lynn will host its sixth annual Walk for Peace. This is an opportunity to step up and show that Lynn wants to put an end to this needless violence.
The walk will start from Lynn English at 4 p.m. and end at the Warren Street Playground. A large turnout will show that Lynn is committed to being a safe community where violence is not the Lynn way.
John Ford
Lynn School Committee
