Carol Costello

To Whom It May Concern,

I want to express my admiration for SecUrban Living and its courageous efforts to make communities safer.

I’ve been a journalist for more than 30 years. I’ve worked for local Columbus TV news stations, WSYX and WBNS, as a crime reporter/anchor; as an investigative journalist at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.; and for nearly 20 years at CNN as a national/political correspondent and anchor. I now produce deeply investigated true crime podcasts.

I have covered crime and political issues on the ground with critical—and often highly skeptical—eyes. In other words, I’ve heard it all when it comes to fighting crime, especially drug-related crime. Most efforts come from a good place, but ultimately fail because they don’t take into account, as a Columbus detective recently told me, that “it takes a village.” A village that includes not just police, but neighbors and local politicians.

SecUrban understands that.

The organization’s foot soldiers have witnessed the devastation drugs, addiction, and violent crime have on a community, yet they “fight the fight” in a compassionate way—with an eye toward how drug dealers prey on people who need help, not heartlessness. They understand that people struggling with addiction and those caught up in the sex trade are often among the most vulnerable.

Just as importantly, SecUrban never loses sight of the difference between fighting crime and simply taking matters into its own hands. They make sure to work with their neighbors, the community, police, and local politicians. They believe that lasting change comes from bringing people together and empowering them collectively—not from acting alone.

I hope you will seriously consider SecUrban Living a fully funded partner in making communities across the region—and the nation—safer.

Sincerely,

Carol Costello
Producer, God Hook: The Ohio Craigslist Killer, Blind Rage