City Council revisited the emotional discussion on gun violence that unfolded last week after community activist Radarra McLendon submitted a letter urging city leaders to invest more directly in youth-focused violence prevention efforts.
McLendon’s letter was read into the record by Councilman O. Christopher Miller during the public comment period at council’s regular meeting Tuesday.
The activist, who coordinated last week’s silent vigil at council’s committee of the whole meeting, attended Tuesday’s session but declined to speak.
The vigil organized to protest gun violence in Reading erupted into emotional outbursts after participants learned of another shooting in City Park.
“We know that it takes a multitude of actions to curb violence, such as safer spaces and mentorship,” McLendon wrote, noting young people need human relationships, immediate crisis intervention and safe physical spaces.
McLendon’s letter specifically criticized a $50,000 American Rescue Plan-funded youth violence prevention website, saying it has not been updated or effectively used since its launch.
Those funds could have instead supported physical safe spaces for young people, she said.
“It costs only $10,000 to keep the doors open to our safe haven on North Ninth Street for an entire year,” the letter stated.
McLendon also renewed a previous request for the city to establish an Office of Violence Prevention modeled after Pennsylvania’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
After the letter was read, Miller said he understood McLendon’s frustration and passion surrounding youth violence but wanted to provide additional context regarding the city’s ARPA spending.
Miller listed several organizations that received violence prevention or youth-related funding through the city’s ARPA allocations, including Centro Hispano, Olivet Boys & Girls Club, YMCA of Reading and Berks County, Star City Boxing and others.
“I think it’s important that people understand that council, when we had the funds available, did what we could to try to help organizations address this issue,” Miller said. “It’s not that we’re ignoring it.”
City Managing Director Jack Gombach echoed that sentiment, saying the city is trying to take a more coordinated approach, moving forward by working with schools, county agencies, nonprofits and private philanthropy.
“We need to look to see how other communities have successfully launched their coalition-building to generate results,” Gombach said. “We need to do a paradigm shift.”
Councilman Raymond Baker, who also serves as an assistant Berks County district attorney, said combating violence requires multiple approaches beyond policing alone.
“You can’t do it with one tool,” Baker said. “You need multiple tools in your tool chest.”
Baker and McLendon thanked council President Donna Reed and council members Melissa Ventura, Jaime Baez and Rafael Nunez for remaining after last week’s meeting to continue talking with residents and activists.
Last week’s vigil escalated after participants learned during the meeting of another shooting near the basketball courts at City Park.
Police are investigating the incident, which left one man hurt.