Hartford Court of Common Council Public Comment Meeting – February 9, 2026

This public comment meeting of the Hartford Court of Common Council, convened on February 9, 2026, by Council President TJ Clark, was dominated by testimony urging the council to pass a resolution declaring traffic violence a public health crisis and establishing a Vision Zero rapid response framework. Over a dozen residents, community leaders, and faith representatives spoke in support, many citing personal losses and the urgent need for systematic changes to street safety.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Keisha Dickinson Volt (Chair, Upper Albany NRZ; member, North Hartford Public Safety Coalition) spoke in support of the resolution, describing traffic violence as a daily fear for residents. She urged the council to treat it as a public health crisis and fully implement the resolution.
• Reverend Henry Brown expressed support, noting that too many people are being hit by cars and that young people are losing their lives due to motor vehicles. He referenced Malachi James as an example of a preventable death.
• Henrietta Beckman (President, Mothers United Against Violence, 50-year resident) expressed support on behalf of Malachi's family and described reckless driving as a big problem. She called for respect for traffic laws.
• Lawrence Williams (Edgewood Street resident; Upper Albany NRZ board; Hartford Public Safety Coalition) spoke in strong support, sharing personal economic and emotional costs from hit-and-runs and accidents, including the loss of a cousin and injuries to his grandson. He urged passage of the Malachi James resolution.
• Deborah Davis (Mothers United Against Violence) spoke in support, citing 71 fatalities last year (excluding highways) and calling the resolution a push for prevention. She said violence is violence and asked the city to stand up.
• Brother Calvin X Lovejoy (North Hartford Public Safety Coalition; lifelong resident) expressed full support, arguing traffic violence is structural, not accidental. He described it as a public health crisis requiring data, rapid response, and equity investment, and urged action.
• Fiel Haldane (Lebanon Street resident; Executive Director, Advocacy the Legacy) expressed support, citing walk audits and traffic calming work. She asked that the master plan be revisited as part of the resolution.
• Lucretia Williams (North Hartford Public Safety Coalition; mother who lost her daughter to gun violence) expressed support, sharing her own loss and pleading for safety. She called on the council to listen to the people and put heart into resolutions.
• Pastor (unnamed, Metropolitan AM Zion Church) spoke in support, describing his own fear of walking his children to a park due to speeding traffic. He called the crisis urgent and said kids deserve safe streets.
• Pastor AJ Johnson (North Hartford Public Safety Coalition) expressed support, emphasizing that traffic violence is predictable and preventable. He noted Hartford adopted Vision Zero years ago but lacks structure. He urged passage and full implementation, thanking council members for learning from West Hartford.
• Beverly Hines recited a poem calling for safer streets and homes, urging the council to change Hartford streets in memory of Malachi.
• Jalidas Holloway’s mother (via family member Royal Saez) read a statement: on Christmas Day her 14-year-old son Malachi James was killed in a high-speed collision involving a cyber truck. She said no mother should bury her child and asked the council not to wait for another life. She advocated for street designs that force people to slow down.
• Ken Green (Hartford resident) expressed support for the resolution but emphasized the need for action, not just words. He called for personal responsibility and patience from drivers.
• Dr. Walton Brown Foster (Greater Hartford Chapter of the Links, Inc.) offered condolences and expressed general support for addressing traffic violence.
• Jennifer Holmes (Vice President, Farmington Valley Chapter of the Links, Inc.) thanked the council for Black History Month recognition and expressed sympathy and support for affected families.
• Michael Downs (Hartford resident) supported the resolution and urged enforcement of traffic laws and use of speed cameras, referencing Washington D.C.’s success. He also raised the Hartford school budget, calling on the state to pay transportation costs.
• An unscheduled speaker (name not provided) said she has been a hit-and-run victim three times, criticized lack of enforcement and cameras, and called for more police officers.
• Another speaker (Mr. Katz or similar) advocated for intersection cameras, citing his experience in Washington D.C., and delivered a brief poetic statement about streets painted red with blood.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken during the public comment session; the council will convene its regular meeting separately.
• The overwhelming majority of speakers urged the council to pass the resolution declaring traffic violence a public health crisis and establish a Vision Zero rapid response framework.
• Several speakers referenced the memory of Malachi James (14-year-old killed on Christmas Day 2025) as a catalyst for action.
• The council heard demands for concrete action, including speed cameras, cross-department coordination, improved street design, and accountability.
• Council President TJ Clark noted that public comment is concluded and the council meeting will begin at 7:22 p.m.