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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 recent problem when the band could not access equipment stored at a recreation facility before a downtown festival. O’Neil asked city leaders and the city manager to investigate access procedures at the recreation center and to ensure staff coordination so the band can participate in public events.
Other speakers linked community festivals to economic development. Retail owner Tony Goodwin, who operates a High Street business, urged the city to work with downtown entrepreneurs to sustain events and cited past downtown closures that hurt small businesses. Joseph Kelly thanked the city for assistance with a neighborhood festival and urged officials to be more proactive in publicizing community events.
Public safety and prevention
Speakers and several council members tied youth support to public-safety goals. Joseph Kelly said the city needs more civic engagement to reduce violence, and Councilman Hugo directed residents to the crime task force’s community engagement committee and web page. Councilman Dodson pointed to monthly civic league meetings where neighborhood leaders meet and suggested those forums as additional engagement sites.
Bridget Toole, who identified herself as formerly incarcerated, said trauma and lack of employment opportunities contribute to violence. She asked the city to expand behavioral-health access for people released from incarceration and to open more employment pathways for people with criminal records. Councilman Tillich and City Manager Steven Carter responded that the city operates reentry and training programs and that staff would provide additional information: Carter directed staff to supply program contacts and assistance.
What officials said
Council members recognized the need for better interdepartmental coordination. Vice Mayor Bill Moody apologized for earlier phrasing in a 2016 tweet that was recalled during public comment and said he had issued an apology online. Council members said they would share information on the crime task force and on city training and reentry programs such as Portsmouth at Works.
Next steps
Councilmembers asked staff to provide updates on recreation center access and downtown event coordination. Councilman Hugo invited festival organizers and residents who want to work on public-safety solutions to contact the crime task force’s community engagement team via the city website.
Speakers and city staff expressed interest in follow-up; no formal council action or additional funding was recorded at the meeting.
