Next to the Octavius Catto statue outside City Hall, 2023 Philadelphia Mayoral Candidate Allan Domb was joined by two mothers, Cherie Ryan and Darnetta Green-Mason, who lost their sons to gun violence, as he discussed Mayor Jim Kenney’s recent comments at a gun violence press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 20. 

Kenney said the effort was starting to “turn the curve” on violent crime in Philly. It was the day after the city hit 500 homicides for 2023. 

One of the mothers with Domb, Ryan, lost her 18-year-old son Terrence to gun violence 32 years ago on Sept. 2, 1990, as he was leaving a movie theater. Terrence, and his best friend offered a ride to a man who lived in their neighborhood when five men opened fire on the car they were in. The man they offered the ride to was the target of a revenge killing, which killed Terrence in the crossfire. 

Though captured, all were let go over lack of evidence. 

Green-Mason lost her son, Dwayne Erik Green, back in 2007. It was an unimaginable loss that has since inspired her to help others like herself in regards to gun violence in the city that has only gotten worse in recent years. She is a leader in her community, and a block captain. 

Philly’s homicide rate has increased every year since 2013 when it was 240. 2021 was the worst year on record, as it hit 562. And with 2022 not looking any better as it is now currently at 502, as of Dec. 20. Kenney said in a presser yesterday afternoon, Dec. 20, that the city was starting to “turn the curve” in the opposite direction. 

It’s something Domb took aim at.

“We're not turning the curve, we’re behind the curve. That's a direct result of the lack of leadership by the mayor here at City Hall and the culture of lawlessness that has been allowed to exist. I've spent my life in business and government trying to help build this city up. I'm not going to stand by and watch our city get torn down by this crisis,” Domb said. 

Domb has spent the last 40 years as a business leader in the city. He was on City Council for seven years before resigning to throw his hat in the mayoral candidate pool for 2023.

“I'm here today because we need to build change in the mayor's office. And that's exactly what I'll bring. Last week I announced my comprehensive public safety plan that includes 10 immediate steps,” he said. 

The plan is the "Agenda for Long-Term Safety and Opportunity,” a public safety plan that includes 10 major actions Domb would take in his first 100 days in office. He has met with many impacted families, community leaders, and education leaders in neighborhoods across the city about the impact of crime on their daily lives, which helped influence what steps to include:

1. Declare a Crime Emergency on his First Day in Office

2. Aggressively Crack Down on Illegal Guns

3. Declare a Public Health Emergency in Kensington

4. Get Illegal Vehicles Off the Street

5. Crack Down on Retail Theft

6. Increase Penalties for Violence Against City Employees

7. Triple Funding for Recruitment of Police Officers

8. Expand Programs to Protect Against Violence Based on Race, Religion, Gender, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

9. Install Cameras at Every High School, Increase Coordination with School Leaders

10. Clean Every Vacant Lot, Seal Every Abandoned Building

The attacks on Kenney also didn’t stop at “turn the curve.”

“I have no idea why seven years into being mayor, the same day we reach 500 murders, he's finally getting around to moving police into high crime neighborhoods,” said Domb. “This isn't a public relations game. These are people's lives.” 

Domb joins Councilmember Jamie Gauthier in decrying the city hitting 500 homicides. She released a statement on Dec. 20, in which she suggested that the Mayor provide weekly briefings to inform the public of the city’s ongoing efforts to combat gun violence and public safety, in similar fashion to that of the city’s daily COVID updates.

AL DÍA asked Domb if that’s something he would consider as mayor.  

“That would be helpful. When I’m Mayor, I'll call together a weekly meeting of all law enforcement, DEA, U.S. Attorney, Attorney General, ATF, FBI, and the police commissioner. Tell me what's more important than feeling safe, coming to work, sending your kids to school, going out in your neighborhood at night to go eat,” said Domb in response. “I just heard this from three people who told me they won't go out of their homes after five o'clock at night. That’s unacceptable. That's our number one focus and get this crime under control.”