Councilman Ronald Brewer

The Gary City Council president is leaving office a few months early. William Godwin announced his resignation from the District 1 council seat, during Tuesday's meeting. He lost in his bid for an at-large seat, in May's primary.

The city of Gary officially launched its Operation Safe Zone program at the U.S. Steel Yard Thursday. Mayor Jerome Prince said it lets businesses share their security camera feeds directly with Gary Police, allowing officers to monitor activity in real time.

Gary City Council members continue to voice concerns with Mayor Jerome Prince's administration's plans for federal COVID-19 money. The Ways and Means Committee recently reviewed a proposed ordinance allocating American Rescue Plan funds for various equipment needs. But council members questioned whether some of the items — like half a million dollars to upgrade the mayor's office — really provided the biggest benefit for Gary residents.

A two-decade effort to rename a Gary street in honor of Malcolm X remains stuck in a bureaucratic stalemate. According to a discussion during Wednesday's city council meeting, organizers got the necessary signatures to rename Georgia and Virginia streets to Malcolm X Boulevard and got unanimous approval from the city's plan commission. But organizer Kwabena Rasuli said more than two years later, the street still hasn't been renamed.

As Gary residents continue to push back against proposed industrial developments — and the possible environmental impacts — one city council member wants to know what kind of development they would like to see.

Efforts are underway to bring new housing to the Gary area. Horizon Bank Community Lender Telethia Barrett says she's helped secure federal funding to build homes and boost home ownership for residents with low to moderate incomes.

GARY - The Gary Common Council is considering changes to its approval process of day care businesses in the city.The "Times" reports there has been a…