Gun violence has plagued our city at twice the rate of last year. On average someone is shot in Portland roughly every two days. There have been 50 homicides this year. Not all have been from gun violence, but all of them mean the loss of another life. Add to that the 55 traffic-related deaths and the pandemic, and this has been a deadly year for this city. We cannot lose sight of the fact that these are human beings who have died and there are broad traumatic impacts throughout the community for the lives that have been lost. We have come together to mask up and stay home to keep others safe. We have to come together to do our best to stop the spread of a deadly disease. Violence is also a disease that kills and our community is suffering the consequences. The disparate impacts of violence on our communities of color are shocking. Our African-American, Somali, Iraqi, Latino and other communities are grieving the loss of loved ones. I extend my condolences to all of the family and friends and remain committed to do everything we can to hold those involved responsible for their actions. I again implore anyone with information about any shooting, assault, traffic fatality or homicide case to reach out to our Detectives so they can solve these cases. We need to do everything we can together to break the cycle of violence. Traffic related deaths are often preventable. Slow down, do not operate a vehicle while intoxicated, and follow the rules of the road. Lives depend upon it! Thank you to our valuable community partners including our advisory councils, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Office of Violence Prevention, and our volunteers with the Crisis Response Team and Trauma Intervention Program for their significant efforts to identify alternatives to violence and to support and care for those in our community who are suffering the trauma that results in the aftermath.