An anti-gun violence program that has been controversial in Fresno got something of a lifeline Thursday with a hint at more funding coming from Mayor Jerry Dyer’s budget.
The Fresno City Council increased a grant for Advanced Peace by $250,000, which brought the total funding to $625,000. The contract began in June and the new dollars would make the program meant to reduce gun violence solvent through October, according to city staffers.
The vote came with the suggestion from City Manager Georganne White that Dyer planned to support the program in his budget later this year.
“We don’t talk about the mayor’s proposed budget until he presents the mayor’s proposed budget,” she said on Thursday. “But I think it would be safe to say that, yes, the mayor does plan on providing funding for Advanced Peace in the proposed budget.”
Advanced Peace has been criticized as a program that pays bad actors to not commit crimes. The prevention program identifies the city’s most likely shooters and crosschecks them with police before those potential shooters are asked to join a program run by advocates.
Academic studies have shown the program prevents gun violence.
Dyer built funding for the program into the $2.36 billion spending plan adopted last year. He made the move after the program lost federal funding axed by the Trump Administration.
The program seemed to be in hot water in 2022 when one of its members was arrested with more than 100 others in a major police action.
Councilmember Annalisa Perea said the program is an asset.
“I know there has been some mishaps throughout, but I don’t think that should undermine the good work that the organization has done for our community,” she said during the meeting on Thursday. “It’s important that we do sustain the program, because you guys are incredible community partners for us, for the community and for our Fresno Police Department.”
Related Stories from Fresno Bee
Merced Sun-Star
Reporter Thaddeus Miller has covered cities in the central San Joaquin Valley since 2010, writing about everything from breaking news to government and police accountability. A native of Fresno, he joined The Fresno Bee in 2019 after time in Merced and Los Banos.