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Residents urge Newport News council to prioritize pedestrian access, rethink housing siting and improve shelter policies
Summary
Multiple residents at the March 11 meeting asked the council to reject a housing scheme that they said was disconnected from transit, improve pedestrian infrastructure and safety, review shelter‑activation policies and compensation for shelter staff, and encourage public‑private investment downtown.
Several residents used the March 11 public comment period to press city leaders on pedestrian safety, affordable‑housing siting, shelter operations and downtown investment.
Efra Murghasa, a North District resident, told council he supported the prior rejection of a housing proposal tied to the Iverson family and criticized developments that are built where residents must rely on cars. “I’m glad that you did,” Murghasa said regarding the council’s decision on the proposal. He urged the city to prioritize dense, transit‑connected housing and to use the city’s recent elimination of parking minimums to incent development that serves people who walk, bike or take transit.
Jowon Wheaton, a Newport News Department of Human Services (NN DHS) employee who said he recently worked shelter duty during Winter Storm Kingston, urged a review of shelter activation procedures and employee compensation. Wheaton said shelter staff often are asked to report in difficult conditions and recommended clearer communications, safer travel arrangements for employees, expanding shelter responsibilities across more departments and providing overtime pay when teams are activated: “I strongly… encourage a review of current short shelter operations to include reviewing and creation of policies that ensure timely communication,” he said.
Allen Tanner, a downtown property owner, urged the council to pursue public‑private partnerships and city‑led funds to attract investment downtown and to prepare for personnel increases linked to the shipyard. Tanner asked the city to provide guidance on how property owners and investors should coordinate with the administration to capture what he called a “generational opportunity” for downtown investment.
Other speakers included Juan Banner, who described a personal employment dispute and administrative appeals he is pursuing, and additional comments recognizing recent community events. Council members and staff acknowledged those remarks and said they would follow up where appropriate.
