Raleigh, NC- Mayors (including Mayor Wall) from North Carolina’s largest cities and towns gathered in the state capital today for a news conference urging state legislators to pass state-wide anti-gang legislation. Joined by state legislators and law enforcement officials, they urged officials to pass gang legislation that would create stronger punishments for criminal actions and allocate funding for prevention and intervention programs. Following the press conference, the Senate voted 47-0 to approve the two pieces of street gang legislation.
North Carolina Metropolitan Coalition Chairman and Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy applauded the action of the Senate and expressed his appreciation to the Mayors and law enforcement officials who worked to obtain the passage of this critical legislation. Mayor Foy said, “This legislation will give cities and towns across North Carolina additional tools to prevent and suppress gang activity.”
Mayors attending the press conference included the mayors of Burlington, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Concord, Durham, Winston-Salem, and Salisbury. The mayors were joined by Mayor Pro-Tem Susan Burgess of Charlotte who is the President of the North Carolina League of Municipalities, as well as state legislators, municipal officials and law enforcement officers from around the state.
Law enforcement officials from the following municipalities participated in the press conference: Charlotte, Concord, Durham, Fayetteville, Gastonia, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Salisbury, Wilmington and Winston-Salem.
Recognizing the impact gang activity is having on our communities, the mayors of the North Carolina Metropolitan Coalition have made gang legislation a priority. Former Coalition Chairman Allen Joines, Mayor of Winston-Salem, appointed a special subcommittee comprised of Durham Mayor Bill Bell and Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz to address the prevalence of gangs in the state.
With their leadership, the Mayors held a series of meetings with the Attorney General, Senate leadership and groups who had expressed concern with the legislation.
The mayors in the Metropolitan Coalition have identified public safety as a priority issue
and the Coalition has endorsed efforts to pass the Street Gang Suppression Act as well as
the Street Gang Prevention and Intervention Act, currently being considered in the
General Assembly (H274/S1358). The NC Metropolitan Coalition recognizes that a
balanced approach of prevention, intervention and suppression is needed to address gangs
and supports both bills.
The NC Metropolitan Coalition was established in 2001 and is comprised of 25 of the largest cities in North Carolina. It was formed by the mayors to encourage the continued development of the urban areas in North Carolina as livable, environmentally sound, and economically viable centers. More details on the Coalition, including its priorities can be found at