Jennifer Hogan is president and CEO of Community Credit Union.

In 2013, our credit union faced a difficult decision: whether or not to relocate from our Pine Street location in Lewiston. At the time, the challenges facing the neighborhood felt insurmountable. But by 2016, we chose a different course. We stayed. We made a significant investment in downtown Lewiston; we believe in this community and in the people who proudly call it home.

Since then, we’ve committed ourselves to being part of the solution — seeing challenges as opportunities and investing our time, resources and partnerships to help our community move forward. But the needs around us are growing, and we can’t do this alone.

Lewiston is grappling with a rising wave of safety concerns. Recent daytime drive-by shootings, including one across from our own drive-up at Webb’s Market, have left many in our community shaken.

These violent acts are symptoms of deeper, more complex challenges: visible drug activity, untreated mental health crises, human trafficking and the growing challenge of homelessness.

These are not isolated problems. They are part of a larger struggle — one that requires a shared, strategic response. And it must begin now. Because the reality is this: residents, employees and businesses alike are feeling increasingly anxious about what is happening downtown, and what the future holds if things don’t change.

In a recent conversation with our new city administrator, I was struck by his honesty and candor. He is paying attention, and he wants to make a difference. But his words also underscored how difficult the road ahead will be.

The city is down 14 police officers. Calls for service exceed 1,000 a week. With only seven or eight officers on a shift, it’s impossible to prioritize proactive patrols or true community policing. Public safety must be our top priority, but right now the city is treading water with limited resources.

It’s not just a matter of manpower. What we’re doing now isn’t working. We’ve had plans and task forces, but too often they produce reports instead of real solutions. Window dressing won’t do. Lewiston needs to define what is acceptable in our city, confront the hard truths about gangs, drugs and violence and take bold, visible steps toward change.

At a recent city-sponsored listening session, attendees raised important questions about safety. Yet many reported that their questions went unanswered, while others never knew the meeting was even happening.

These breakdowns in communication deepen frustration and erode public trust. In the absence of clear messaging, the perception is growing that city leadership isn’t doing enough — or doesn’t care enough — to make Lewiston safer.

I do not believe that’s the case. I believe most city officials care deeply about our community. But right now, that concern must be demonstrated more visibly and communicated more clearly.

We need transparent updates. We need action plans that engage residents and businesses in solutions. We need to know that the city is not only aware of these crises but actively working — with urgency — to address them.

At Community Credit Union, we’ve committed to being part of that work. We’ve partnered with local organizations, supported youth programming and invested in underserved communities because we believe community safety starts with connection and opportunity.

But our efforts — and those of many others — must be part of a coordinated, citywide strategy that addresses not only crime but also its root causes: addiction, untreated mental illness, exploitation and homelessness.

Lewiston has always been a city of resilience. But resilience cannot thrive in silence. It requires leadership that listens, engages and acts — boldly and visibly. If the city does not take action, residents and businesses may be forced into difficult decisions they do not want to make. That would be a loss for all of us.

We’re calling on the city of Lewiston to step forward, with the community at its side, to create a safer future for everyone. That’s not just good governance; it’s how we build a stronger Lewiston, together.