PORTLAND, Ore. — Tre Viontae Savage never takes a day for granted after losing his mother — and most recently — his younger brother to gun violence in Portland.
“I’m just trying to make a positive out of this negative, dark time right now,” said Savage, who is an outreach worker and works to prevent violence among youth.
"It’s just sad. It’s hard," he added.
On Thursday morning, Portland city officials announced how they plan to prevent a spike in gun violence come the summer months, a time when the city usually sees a rise in shootings.
“It's our responsibility to create an environment where safety and security are the norms, not the exceptions,” said Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
New city data shows the number of shootings, including deadly shootings, in Portland are the lowest they’ve been in recent years. For context, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) data shows there have been just over 280 shootings so far this year, compared to over 300 at this time last year and a peak of nearly 500 this time in 2022.
However, as city officials said, the work is far from over.
“We're committed this summer to continue our emphasis around life and safety,” said Portland's police chief, Bob Day.
More police officers will be hitting the streets this summer with expanded hours, and the city is putting more money toward gun violence prevention efforts. But while the data shows a downward trend, mothers who have lost loved ones to the crisis, like Laurie Palmer, say more needs to be done to help communities most at risk.
“My son was shot six times outside a local after-hours here in Portland, Oregon,” Palmer said.
Memories of her son line her living rooms walls.
“At the city level, they're doing a job. They haven't experienced gun violence. We have. We have experienced gun violence, the mothers,” Palmer said.
“Although we're making progress, the toll gun violence takes on our community remains unacceptably high… Gun violence has a lasting impact and perpetuates the cycle of pain and trauma, specifically in the Black community,” said Mike Myers, Portland’s community safety director.
“They need to develop relationships with the parents and people of the community that is being affected by gun violence,” added Palmer.
“It's dark, dealing with gun violence in our community 'cause it's such a small knit of African American community here, so it just hits. Those dark days be dark, but you got to pull yourself out of it,” said Savage.
The city also talked about focusing their efforts on certain high-risk areas where shootings are more common like in some east and northeast Portland neighborhoods. Portland organizations have until May 17 to apply for up to a $100,000 grant to go toward summer gun violence prevention programs, such as youth mentoring and victim support services.