The Springfield City Council wrestled with a $1 million question: should the city renew its ShotSpotter gunfire detection contract, and if so, what real changes will residents see in the neighborhoods where gun violence is concentrated?
You’ll hear Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory push hard for tying this technology spending to concrete improvements — fixing housing, lighting, alleys, and other conditions linked to crime reduction — rather than just approving another big invoice.
Residents didn’t hold back either:
- Aaron Cahill questioned police accountability after a DUI incident, challenged the city’s ShotSpotter spending, and asked why some wards seem to have to “beg” for basic investments.
- Rosanna Pulido described out of state landlords, alleged fraud targeting seniors, and the feeling of being abandoned by both landlords and local officials while calling for landlord licensing right now.
- Dr. Lesa Johnson delivered a blunt message on racism and respect, recounting years of ignored recommendations on policing, immigrant inclusion, Indigenous Peoples Day, and landlord oversight.
If you care about where Springfield’s money goes — and who feels protected or ignored —this meeting is worth your time.
Why don’t they use that money for The Boss Center Expansion instead of increasing our taxes by 3%. I’m sure tax payers couldn’t care less about an expansion downtown since nobody supports the downtown. I support canceling the contract.
I’m talking about the ShotSpotter million dollar contract money. We should cancel that contract. Honestly I’m tired of every decision made in local government and state government increasing our taxes. Feel free to move our money around from department to department instead of raising our taxes. I mean that’s what we have to do in our own budgets every time government increases our taxes. Our city council needs to do a better job financially.