Mayor Bobby Dyer on Tuesday announced forming a task force to examine public safety issues that have bedeviled the city and hurt its image as a tourist destination.
The Mayor’s Task Force for a Safer Virginia Beach will hold meetings and community listening sessions and deliver recommendations in October. Ideas may be included in the city’s legislative agenda for the General Assembly.
The group could come up with ways to help deal with crowds and violence, which were prominent this spring after shootings in the resort area led to emergency curfews.
“We’re going to come up with short-term and long-term goals,” Dyer told WHRO. “This is not something that’s going to be fixed overnight. A lot of it is going to take time and effort, but that's why we’re bringing all the key stakeholders.”
The task force will include government, business, faith members and young people.
State Sen. Christie New Craig, a Republican, and Del. Michael Feggans, a Democrat, will serve as co-chairs. Both represent parts of the city.
Feggans said it will seek ways to make the whole city safer while understanding the importance of the Oceanfront. He sees the process, in part, as a way to improve communication between city and state leaders.
“For me, it’s important we’re not just looking at the Oceanfront but all of Virginia Beach,” Feggans said.
Craig said she hoped the task force will find ways to protect citizens, business owners and law enforcement.
“We really have a gem down at the Oceanfront, but with all the violence that’s been happening, it’s tainted our area,” Craig said.
Virginia Beach has pushed for greater power through the state to address sudden “pop-up” events that can be fueled by social media and gather people suddenly, sometimes resulting in violence. Dyer made it clear that support for that legislation, which didn’t advance this year in Richmond, is on the table again. Craig and Feggans said it will be revisited.
Councilmember Worth Remick, whose district includes part of the resort area, said he hopes the process considers a range of issues about behaviors, such as public marijuana consumption and unsafe e-bike use, that contribute to public safety concerns.
Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson, whose district also includes part of the resort, said the city has taken steps to provide opportunities for youth, including its Parks After Dark program, and schools can assist with helping young people learn about de-escalation and anger management.
“It’s really necessary to have an education program in the schools,” Wilson said.
