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City OKs staff directive to design a citywide youth‑violence prevention campaign
Summary
Council voted to instruct management to develop and implement a citywide campaign coordinating parks, schools, police and nonprofits to reduce youth gun violence; police briefed council on a recent rise in juvenile incidents and asked for preventive partnerships and programming.
The City of Laredo moved to make a coordinated, prevention‑focused response to a recent local uptick in juvenile‑involved incidents. Mayor Dr. Victor de Trevino offered the item and the council approved a motion instructing city management to develop and implement a citywide campaign to empower neighborhoods, engage youth and families, and curb youth gun violence.
Chief Ricardo Gonzales of the Laredo Police Department told the council that juvenile‑involved discharges and assaults have increased from last year and that arrests of juveniles rose from 54 to 84 in the period cited. "The solution is prevention," Gonzales said, urging partnerships across departments and outside stakeholders; he described steps the department is taking to work with schools and community partners.
Council discussion emphasized a prevention package that includes better utilization of recreation centers, summer programming, mentorships and partnerships with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club. Parks staff reported after‑school programming in seven centers and discussed options for increasing teen engagement; the Parks assistant director and interim director said staff would return with options to expand teen programming and hours.
The motion passed with council direction to coordinate parks and rec, public health, police and community stakeholders, and to present a plan with proposed funding sources and measurable milestones. The mayor and several council members emphasized starting early and aligning school‑level programs with after‑school offerings to change culture and reduce risk over time.
No ordinance or budget appropriation was adopted at the vote; the motion instructed staff to draft a campaign plan and implementation pathway for future council consideration.
