Amid a rise in gang-related gun crimes, Santa Rosa leaders are looking for solutions to stop the violence.
One city council member is hoping to bring a new voice to the conversation.
Santa Rosa City Councilman, Eddie Alvarez, said it pains him to witness some of the same gun violence he experienced growing up.
"I’ve definitely had my clothing covered in my friend’s blood as he bled to death in my arms," Alvarez told KCBS Radio, "It’s a sad reality that some of us get to experience in Santa Rosa."
Alvarez is the first council representative for Roseland, a multicultural neighborhood that was annexed into Santa Rosa in 2017 and only received representation in 2020.
He said there’s a distrust of law enforcement within the Roseland community and hopes a personal presence will make for more positive interactions.
"When we see a police officer we see someone who is there to support us, to assist us, to guide us and protect us, and I’m hoping that we can start changing, but it has to be from both sides."
As a direct representative of the community, Alvarez hopes he can bring more attention to the area’s needs. He is confident that Roseland is primed for revitalization, but it must be accomplished through ways "better than what we currently know."
With his voice on the council, Roseland has the potential to receive new city investment in the near future, kickstarting greater economic opportunity which Alvarez believes will help stop the violence.
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