To the Editor.

One thing is abundantly clear, Cranston is a city run by unreasonable men who hold no regard for established medical facts. In the article, Neighbors target police firing range, Rep. Brandon Potter is quoted, “I think most reasonable-minded people are going to agree that schoolchildren should not be listening to gunfire while in the classroom.”

Over the past fourteen months, Mayor Ken Hopkins, Police Chief Michael Winquist, and members of the Cranston City Council have dismissed, disparaged, ignored, and/or slandered neuropsychologist and trauma expert, Dr. Melissa Jenkins-Mangili; double board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Patricia Ricci; and Dr. Erica Walker, a renowned noise pollution expert and professor of epidemiology at Brown University School of Public Health.

These three medical professionals have called for an immediate ceasefire. They implored those in power: The gunfire must stop.

In their letters, testimony, and research it is clearly articulated the irreparable harm and abuse that is being inflicted on hundreds of Meshanticut residents and thousands of students.*

But one does not need to be a medical expert—with an advanced degree—to know gunfire in a congested neighborhood across from schools is wrong. In fact, one does not need a college degree at all.

The only things needed are common sense and a reasonable mind. Two qualities—apparently lacking—in the city officials who continue to allow harm and abuse to be inflicted on the constituents they took an oath to serve and protect.

*Reference:

• Dr. Melissa Jenkins-Mangili’s Open Letter to Mayor Ken Hopkins: https://bit.ly/cranston-trauma
• Dr. Patricia Ricci’s Testimony Before the City Council: https://bit.ly/ricci-md
• Brown University Study Findings: https://bit.ly/Brown-SPH-Cranston-Gunfire-Study

Martha DiMeo

Cranston / Ward 5