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Residents and small-business owners urge council to address downtown parking, casino impacts and transparency
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the council to work with small businesses on Sycamore/Monroe Street parking, criticized overemphasis on Old Town, warned the casino could 'take over' downtown, and called for better transparency and communications from city government.
A series of public comments at the Jan. 6 Petersburg City Council work session focused on downtown business needs, the approaching casino opening and calls for greater transparency.
A speaker identifying himself as Joe presented petitions (about 100 signatures) and asked the council to study a parking deck on Monroe Street (the rear side of Sycamore between Tab and Franklin) so storefronts can attract investors and customers. He said many ground-floor spaces sit vacant because parking is leased to a handful of businesses and urged the city to meet with affected proprietors.
Johnny Sekou, a Sycamore Street business owner and artist, said city planners have not consulted many business owners across Sycamore Street and warned that when the casino opens "they're gonna take over our town," urging the council to coordinate with local small businesses and plan creatively to keep customers local.
Other commenters raised broader concerns: Corey Harris spoke about racist and harmful social-media posts and urged community leadership and role-modeling for Black men; Vernayo Ganaway stressed longtime residents’ needs (lighting, drainage, recognition of businesses beyond ribbon-cuttings) and said the casino is "not our savior;" Barbara Rudolph requested improved transparency, better communication with businesses outside Old Town and punctual public meetings after criticizing the meeting's late start.
Council members acknowledged the comments and said staff would follow up. Council agreed to continue neighborhood outreach and scheduled ward meetings; the clerk announced upcoming Ward 4 and ward 6/7 meetings and local food-distribution events.
