Warren council member encourages community to speak up with violence concerns, information

As shootings happen throughout three consecutive days in Warren, one city council member is encouraging residents to speak up about their concerns.
"They're not sure if this could be somebody that lives right next door to them, down the street or it could be somebody from Youngstown or another city," said Ward 2 Councilman, Al Novak. "Some of the people are afraid. "What did I really see, is it worth it?"
Novak told 21 News he's received dozens of calls from people within his ward concerned about the rising violence within the city.
"People are just in their home just sitting and wanting to watch TV and enjoying time with their family," Novak said. "There's a shooting into these habitations where people are just sitting in their house."
"If you choose to be held hostage in your community, all you're going to do is allow lawlessness to become the norm and the behavior," said Pastor Lewis Macklin, Pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church. "We can't allow our narrative to become Gotham City."
Macklin said people who speak up about concerns or even information they have will only help law enforcement and city officials slow the violence.
"Block watch groups and developing a relationship with local law enforcement to be able to provide information under the cloak of amenity so that folks don't become targets or become victims," Macklin said.
Novak reiterated it is important for people living in Warren to speak their concerns even if it is privately with a city official or police.