many of those people traveling this Independence Day are getting together for fireworks and parades and backyard barbecues a sign that summer is in full swing but that's also a time when violent crime historically spikes this weekend was no exception in Trenton where a shooting brought the total number of homicides in the capital city to 19. six of those homicides were in June alone today Trenton leaders rolled out a new Public Safety plan for the summer and as Melissa Rose Cooper reports it focuses on targeted Hot Spot areas you have to do something we either put the work in up front or we put it on the tail end when we're dealing with bodies and blood and we made that decision to do it up front that's why Mercer County prosecutor Angela on free says he didn't hesitate to say yes when Trenton mayor Ryan garciara and Trenton Police director Steve Wilson asked him to collaborate on a new initiative tackling violence in the city this summer um but your city Administration your city legislation is not taking the violence in the city lightly um anyone who would say that is wrong the public safety plan aims to curb crime through a collaborative effort between police other government departments and the community the goal is to figure out the best way to Target neighborhood hot spots areas known for repeated criminal activity what we are announcing today is a community-based response to Violent climb some of them start with quality of life issues such as an abundance of ATVs in the street public disorderly conduct including open containers of alcohol and a lot of that just are those are attractive nuisances that lead to Greater criminal conduct this comes as a city is dealing with a surge of violence during the summer months a shooting over the weekend brought the total amount of homicides to 19 in the city for the year six of them happening in June alone we really believe that those that are closer to the problem are closer to the solution Tracy scifex is the former director of the Trenton restorative street team he says engaging res residents with police is one of the best ways to really get to the source of violence because as the prosecutor said folks are not just going to afford and come forward with information when you're out there in the street but people with that incredible messages people who have staying in the street former leaders former gang leaders don't have those conversation and those are the ones we need to put out in the street compensate them for their time but put them out in the street to do the work I remember being a young trooper and we would send in our tactical Patrol units and there'd be marked troop cars on every turn that doesn't work anymore quite frankly not with the intelligence that we have and that we're stopping somebody with a broken tail light on their way to their second job who has a warrant for a seat belt ticket when two blocks away is somebody who's been involved in three shootings and shot once themselves that's the difference to go after those that are creating the most havoc on our street and not to come in and punish a public that are just trying to make it from paycheck to paycheck our clearance rate for violent crimes is something that our Police Department along with the county and the state should be commended for it is also something that those who are engaged in nefarious activities should know we've made it clear you won't get away with it in the capital city yet make no mistake our focus is on deterrence and while our Police Department can expect to deter our all crime on their own they are using a community-centered approach to do so and by this we'll be concentrating on a lot of the quality of life issues that the public demands Trenton's Public Safety plan has been in operation for the past week and also includes investing more in the city including creating more job opportunities and recreational activities for youth for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper [Music]