Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville’s Commonwealth Attorney Joe Platania joined Morning News to reflect on recent community events and public safety concerns. With thousands gathering downtown for the TomTom Festival, Platania commended the efforts of organizers and law enforcement for maintaining a secure environment. “It was really nice to see Charlottesville enjoying itself safely and responsibly,” he said, highlighting the collaboration behind the scenes that helped prevent any major incidents during the large event. 

The conversation then shifted to broader crime trends and ongoing investigations involving youth and gun violence. Platania acknowledged a troubling pattern: “We’re still seeing groups of young people that are having conflict with each other, you know resorting to pulling out firearms and discharging them,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of continued law enforcement focus and collaboration. He also stressed the challenges of addressing public perception despite encouraging crime data, saying, “You can’t use data to deal with people’s feelings, and if they feel unsafe, they feel unsafe.” 

Looking ahead, Platania expressed cautious optimism about efforts to intervene early in the lives of at-risk youth. He pointed to successes within the juvenile justice system, though he acknowledged the lack of media attention on these stories. “There are a lot of people that the intervention does help save their lives and turn it around,” he said, reinforcing the importance of continued support and reform efforts to keep young people on the right track. 

Listen to the full conversation here: