By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A war on foreign soil and deadly violence at home were addressed Monday night by Bloomington City Council members.

The city’s mayor said he wants the community’s Russian sister city relationship to continue, while an alderwoman is renewing her pushing for a special commission to study gun violence.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe said he’s received “a few requests” to sever ties with Vladimir that were established in the late 1980s at the end of the Cold War.

The mayor said it’s Russia’s central government in Moscow, not its people, that is waging war on neighboring Ukraine.

“I’ve heard many reports in fact of Russians who are in opposition of their government’s actions, and in addition, I think economic sanctions are what’s most likely to have an impact on the Russian government,” said Mwilambwe.

Ward 4 Council member Julie Emig echoed the mayor’s sentiments, also saying the relationship with Vladimir promotes peace.

“That very relationship was forged in large part because of the Cold War, and that’s how we are able to have any hope of last peace in the long run,” said Emig.

The Twin-Cities also have sister city relationships with Asahikawa, Japan and Canterbury, England.

Council member argues for gun violence commission after murder-suicide killed 3 people last week

A six-year old boy and his parents were fatally shot at their apartment on Four Seasons Road last Tuesday, a tragedy that Ward 7 council woman Mollie Ward says should convince the city council to create a special commission on gun violence.

Ward has tried for months to get council approval, but Donna Boelen, who represents Ward 2, said there are existing boards qualified to examine the problem.

However, Ward said what’s happening now isn’t working.

“For those who continue to worry that confronting this issue clearly and directly is a turnoff to outside investors in our community, I wonder what those prospective new neighbors have been thinking as they heard last week’s news,” said Ward.

The deadly shooting was a “worst-case scenario” of domestic violence, said Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Mayor Mwilambwe did not weigh in on setting up a commission, but he said last week’s shooting was “heartbreaking.”

The mayor said many resources are available in the community for people dealing with mental health problems or domestic violence, particularly the PATH Crisis Center, which he said is a gateway to many of the services.