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Residents and program leaders urge Portsmouth to increase support for youth programs, violence prevention and downtown events
Summary
Speakers at the council meeting urged the city to support long-running youth programs such as the New Generation Marching Band, improve access to recreation facilities and coordinate violence-prevention efforts and downtown events to boost public safety and foot traffic.
Portsmouth — Several residents and program leaders urged the Portsmouth City Council to increase support for youth programming, coordinate responses to gun violence and help downtown events succeed.
Christopher Hines, director of New Generation Marching Band, told the council the band has operated in Portsmouth for 33 years but has been “chronically underfunded, overlooked by the leadership that should be championing” it. Hines said the program sends students to college and provides a structured environment “for talented kids with heart, with rhythm and with drive.” He asked council members to provide basic operational support: instrument maintenance, travel costs and secure rehearsal space.
Sergio O’Neil, a longtime band supporter, said the group represents hundreds of children without direct city funding and recounted a…
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