Antioch’s incoming mayor met with residents of a neighborhood that has seen near constant gun violence, which has made residents feel like prisoners in their own homes.
Much of the violence is centered in the area of the Sycamore Square Shopping Center, where Mayor-elect Ron Bernal made a visit Tuesday.
“What are you going to do differently, that the other mayor, you know, couldn’t get it together and do in our community?” asked Nina, an Antioch resident.
“Well, the first thing we need to do is get a permanent chief,” answered Bernal. “And a good one that understands community policing, is going to establish relationships and build trust with this community.”
Bernal came to the shopping center to talk with CBS News Bay Area on Tuesday. Just as soon as he was out of his car, it was clear people wanted to talk to him.
“The violence,” Nina said. “I’m about to move in January.”
“Well, we need to get the HOA back involved, because they’ve taken off and we don’t have stuff for the kids to do,” Bernal told her.