Harrisburg City Mayor talks crime, Broad Street Market relations [Video]

(WHTM) — In the 1950s Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams was growing up in public housing in the Capitol City.

“Well, I had a father who was real strict, no nonsense father, lovely mother,” Williams said. “It’s the way we were raised.”

Raised well, but racism was a burden. She says, virtually no one of color lived north of Maclay. Yet, “It was well-kept homes, people had pride in where they lived,” Williams said.

Now, as mayor, keeping slumlords out and building nine affordable housing complexes is the accomplishment that brings her the most pride. Her biggest challenge is crime. The victims in the latest homicides in the city were 13 years-old and 17 years-old.

“Immediately after that happened I called Governor Shapiro,” Williams said. “He connected me with the colonel at the State Police.”

Williams says she is ready to send a different message, that crime will not be tolerated. …