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8/3/26 (Mayor Nock's Facebook page)
Governor Wes Moore, Senator Alsobrooks, Rep. Andy Harris, M.D., Senator Mary Beth Carozza and Delegate Kevin Anderson,
I never thought I’d write a letter such as this.
Twenty years ago, there was a kid that walked to church by himself along what we called the back burner. This kid played endless hours of basketball in the yard on the corner of 4th and Laurel Street with his cousins and neighbors. He went to Mitchells market to buy a sandwich and drink. All of these locations would be known as "the hood" to most people. That kid was me.
The incredible thing is that I wasn’t scared. Neither my cousins nor my parents were ever fearful. We were able to roam freely due to the safety of our community. Growing up, we believed that as long as we worked hard, treated others respectfully and remained focused, we could become anything. Pocomoke City truly felt like the safest little city in the world.
Now today, that same little boy now serves as mayor of the city he grew up in and barely recognizes it. Today, our children are getting shot in plain sight by other children. Now, parents are reluctant to allow their children to go out and play. Citizens do not feel the peacefulness that previously characterized our community. Trauma is slowly becoming an accepted part of life and that should frighten each of you.
Perhaps the saddest aspect is that so many times the young people committing these crimes are arrested and then released back onto our streets in short order to resume their terrorizing of neighborhoods still trying to recover. Local governments and law enforcement agencies are unable to provide reassurance to traumatized citizens while having neither the authority nor resources available to implement meaningful changes.
I’m writing because we need your help. In my role as Mayor, we’ve invested in sidewalks, roads, neighborhood beautification projects, community events and establishing a local government that represents and serves all members of our community. In addition, we have enhanced our partnership relationships with our churches, schools, police department, and various community based organizations. At present, we are searching for every way possible to improve Pocomoke as a place to live.
However, I have come to a difficult conclusion. Regardless of how many roads we pave, How many sidewalks we repair, How many festivals we host, How many times we celebrate diversity within leadership, None of those things individually will keep a teenager from picking up a gun. Our largest infrastructure gap is no longer made of concrete.
It's hope.
For years, we have begged for assistance in building a community center that will provide our young people with a safe location to receive education, learn recreational activities, participate in mentorship programs, gain job training skills and simply just be kids. However, small rural towns similar to Pocomoke face competition for limited grant funds from much larger cities with large departments of professionals whose sole responsibility is grant writing. We cannot possibly compete fairly.
My staff does the work of four people working on a cup of coffee and prayers. We’re committed; however, being committed isn't going to compensate for lack of capacity. Rural municipalities throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore require technical support, specific funding sources and fair access to both state and federal resources.
The Eastern Shore is often overlooked in discussions related to violence prevention; yet, the reality is that many rural communities are facing similar problems as larger metropolitan areas. Therefore, we need investments that take into account the distinct needs of rural communities rather than programs developed specifically for larger urban areas with dramatically greater populations and infrastructure.
This is not simply about law enforcement.
It is about prevention.
Prevention through mental health.
Prevention through mentorship.
Prevention through recreation.
Prevention through workforce development.
Prevention through providing children with a belief in their future that they will want to protect.
Yes, it is also about assuring that our justice system provides our communities with real options to intervene in meaningful ways when repeat violent offenders pose serious threats to public safety. Our residents deserve assurance that the safety of law-abiding families continues to be the top priority while providing young people with legitimate opportunities for rehabilitation before they enter into a cycle of violence.
I did not write this letter to assign blame. I wrote this letter because I refuse to accept that what is occurring in Pocomoke City has to become the norm for generations moving forward.
On Friday at 10:00 AM, I am holding a Microsoft Teams meeting regarding strategies (both immediately and long term) to combat youth gun violence and methods by which local, state and federal officials can collaborate to alter the course of Pocomoke City. It would be a privilege if you or a representative from your office would join us during this time.
I have never written a letter such as this before.
Perhaps that is precisely why I needed to. Because what we have been doing up until now is no longer sufficient. I don’t want the next generation to hear stories about the Pocomoke I grew up in. I want them to grow up here.
Please let me know if you’re able to attend, my staff will get you the link.
Regards,
Todd
