QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should the Columbia city council help fund security training for businesses downtown?

After eight shootings have happened in the Downtown Columbia area within the past two months, Columbia leaders and community members have begun conversations about if security training should increase in the area.

Council also discussed violence intervention plans such as revisiting a 2014 report from a citizen task force that used research and data to outline recommendations to reduce violence in the city of Columbia.

Pat Fowler, First Ward Councilwoman, said the council will also use American Rescue Plan Money to increase downtown safety.

"We have funding and this is how other cities are doing it they are spending it by hiring people, trusted members of the community to go out and do the work," Fowler said.

So, should the Columbia city council help fund security training for businesses downtown?