blocks of the rail trail or a connector trail,” Mayor Helfrich notes.The city is also working to enhance its urban mobility infrastructure, particularly focusing on walkability and bikeability. Despite the challenges of retrofitting a Victorian-era street grid,York continues to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility. CREATING A SAFER CITY: VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING In York, public safety combines innovative policing strategies with deep community engagement, resulting in remarkable progress in violence reduction.Through a mix of compassionate outreach and targeted interventions, the city achieved an 80% reduction in gang-related shootings in 2023, demonstrating the effectiveness of its holistic approach. “The most rewarding thing is to see the young people stop shooting each other,” Mayor Helfrich shares. The city’s strategy includes unique initiatives like a violence-related scholarship program that provides educational opportunities to those impacted by violence—whether as perpetrators, victims, or family members.“When you invest in people, you invest in Photo Credit: Clifton Kern York County History Center Made in York 15 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 02 YORK, PA
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