Gov. Dannel Malloy answered questions about the recent spike in killings in the capital city while meeting with residents of Hartford's North End on Wednesday to discuss his Second Chance Society initiative Wednesday.
Malloy said the state's recent assistance won't change any time soon.
"We’re sending resources to Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport on an ongoing basis," Malloy said. "We need to support the community. We need to help the community."
On the issue of the Second Chance Society, which eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses and created new housing and substance abuses programs for recently released inmates, Malloy said it's on him to help residents comprehend the significance.
"We also need people to understand that we’re in the process of changing things and particularly with this Second Chance Society initiative," the governor said.
He added that now is the time for him to be even more vocal about it.
"If you’re trying to send a message but the person isn’t open to receiving it because at that point because it’s not important to them at that point then your having delivered it once isn’t enough," he said. "You’ve got to be out there."
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The issue of violence in Hartford has also dominated the race for mayor.
Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra has recently provided several reasons for the 19 homicides already in 2015 when there were only 17 during all of last year.
With help from state police investigators, several arrests have been made in connection with multiple killings, according to Segarra.
"We need to make sure that we work together to maintain continuity so that we’re not responding to spikes and that we have joint cooperation," he said.
Segarra was at the same time critical last week when asked why the homicide number had increased year over year. He cited recent releases from a state correctional facility in Hartford, as well as the lack of resources from the state.
According to state records, an argument can be made that Hartford is receiving more help than ever before, with state aid increasing for 2016 and 2017 with consistent aid in 2015. Overall, Hartford will have received more than $750 million from the state during that period.
In addition, there are more parole officers overseeing fewer former inmates. The number of officers has remained steady at 107 over the past five years, while the number of those being supervised has decreased by more than 700.
Segarra said Wednesday that Hartford could still use more help.
"We could always use more resources, and of course, the state has its challenges and we have our challenges and we continue to work strategically," he said.
Luke Bronin, who earlier this week received the Hartford Democratic Town Committee nomination over Segarra, said the mayor's rhetoric hasn't changed the reality and culture of violence that has overcome the city since the beginning of the year.
"We have seen a devastating spike in crime over the past few months, and I think I have been very clear that this is a time for leadership," Bronin said.
He said Hartford has been in a downward cycle since the spring and that needs to change.
"We cannot be a city where when the weather turns warm, violence becomes part of the forecast," Bronin said.
