(Radio Iowa) – The Waterloo Safe Neighborhoods Commission has proposed steps to help reduce gun violence in the city. Councilman Jonathan Grieder (Gry-der) headed the commission and he says the goal is to identify underlying factors.

The Commission spent that time exploring eight possible plans that include partnering with energy providers to increase the number of streetlights and establishing a violence intervention program. The commission is also looking at creating a coalition of community leaders to meet once a month to get at the underlying problems.

Seven people were killed by gunfire in Waterloo last year, up from four in 2021.