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Community groups urge Newport News to dedicate 2% of general fund to citywide street-team intervention
Summary
Dozens of residents and nonprofit leaders asked council to create a recurring 2% general-fund line item to support a coordinated Newport News Community Street Team focused on prevention, intervention and stabilization; speakers described local program results and said city funding is the remaining gap.
Several community leaders and residents used the Jan. 13 public comment period to press the Newport News City Council to fund a coordinated community street team that would provide intervention and stabilization services for youth and neighborhoods.
Adrian Cook (Let Our Voice in Power) opened the cluster of comments, describing the group's work with more than 400 youth and asking council to examine a submitted proposal. Latanya Biss Denson, executive director of Abu Unity Incorporated and program director for the VICTOR program, said intervention work "activates when there's imminent violence or violence has already taken place" and asked council to create a recurring general-fund line item equal to 2% of the city's general fund for community-based public-safety efforts so that intervention services can operate citywide. "We are not asking you to replace law enforcement. We are asking you to strengthen public safety by fully funding intervention and stabilization alongside enforcement," she said.
Other presenters echoed the request and cited outcomes and operational details: Kalia Jones (VICTOR program staff) described a coordinated "Newport News Community Street Team" that would centralize secondary prevention and stabilization and argued the approach is cost-efficient compared with the multiple costs associated with violent incidents. Christopher Moore (Back for the Kids) described neighborhood outreach, crisis response and de-escalation work and urged a funding partnership with the city. Uganda Sample Jones (East End Civic Association) said the street team should support prevention, intervention and stabilization and asked for a 2% recurring allocation in fiscal year 2026.
Speakers framed the request as filling a funding gap that prevents scaling proven community interventions; several said federal grants had been reduced and local recurring funding was needed to sustain citywide operations. A mix of residents, program staff and nonprofit leaders emphasized trust-building, follow-up services, and youth-centered programming as central to the model.
Council members thanked presenters and acknowledged record-low crime numbers in 2025 while noting continued need for intervention and partnership. Council direction at the meeting was to coordinate further with the Office of Community Safety (staff referenced Sanithia/ Sanithia White as a contact in the manager's office) and to examine budget numbers and program coordination before any formal allocation.
No formal vote on funding was taken during the Jan. 13 meeting; speakers were asking the council to add the request to future budget deliberations.
