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Residents urge more youth programs, reading support and local outreach after weekend shootings
Summary
Multiple residents described recent shootings and called on city, police and community groups to expand youth outreach, reading programs and after-school meals; speakers praised police response time but urged prevention-focused investment.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — City residents used the Feb. 11 public-comment period to press for expanded youth intervention, improved reading programs and community safety steps after two shootings over a single weekend.
Yvonne Dodson told the council she witnessed a shooting at a church event parking lot and said bullets struck a car three spaces from where children were seated. She praised police for arriving in about 3.5 minutes but urged broader community action to prevent future shootings. Dodson credited an anti-violence program called Chain Breakers and said she plans to volunteer and serve on its board. “I asked, Chief Jenkins, what I could do. He gave me a name of a lady that is doing a program called Chain Breakers,” she said.
Sergio Neal and Vic Nichols urged early intervention and education-based prevention. Neal said the recent shootings involved people under 30 and said community volunteers and expanded programs are needed to reach young people early. Vic Nichols highlighted literacy and brighter street lighting as elements that could change long-term outcomes for young residents.
Murrow Rutledge proposed an after‑school dinner program to keep students engaged, suggesting that shared community meals after school would draw youth into supervised activities. Rutledge also urged study of local rights related to offshore energy resources; his remarks on gas extraction were framed as a proposal for potential municipal revenue and were not taken up as a council action at this meeting.
Why it matters: Speakers connected violent incidents to gaps in early education, youth programming and community engagement. Several volunteers and nonprofit leaders offered program models (literacy mentoring, Chain Breakers) and asked for broader citizen participation rather than relying only on government action.
Council members acknowledged the remarks. No ordinances or motions related to these public-safety proposals were introduced or adopted at the meeting; speakers sought follow-up coordination from council and staff.
