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Residents tell Newport News council of car damage from construction, street safety risks and vendor harassment
Summary
Residents raised multiple concerns at the Nov. 12 council meeting: Mary Hill said construction on Jefferson Avenue damaged her car and she has not received redress; Michelle Bernard, a mobile-food vendor, reported harassment from another vendor and asked for clarity on delivery/pickup enforcement; other speakers urged tree trimming, improved lighting and traffic controls.
Several Newport News residents used the Nov. 12 citizen comment period to press the city for help with neighborhood safety, property damage and mobile-vendor enforcement.
Mary Hill, who identified herself as residing at 8316 Crittendon Road, told council she had "not received or found any redress" after her car was damaged during heavy construction on Jefferson Avenue. She said she filed a claim and sought a meeting with the mayor and that the damage has caused her "irreparable harm emotionally and financially." City Manager (on the record) said the matter is handled by the city's risk-management office and that staff have been in communication with Ms. Hill and will "close out this matter with you." (Transcript indicates staff directed Ms. Hill to risk management and that the city has had conversations with her.)
Michelle Bernard, who said she is CEO and owner of Shell's Kitchen LLC ("Shell's Kitchen on Wheels") and is pursuing a mobile-street-vendor permit, described repeated harassment from another mobile vendor near the shipyard. Bernard said the other vendor ‘‘routinely park[s] multiple vehicles along the street, blocking access and taking up spaces’’ and that when she parks briefly for pickup (no more than 30 minutes) she has been accused of selling food from her trunk. She told council she needs clarity about where she may lawfully conduct deliveries and pickups and asked for city enforcement so she can operate "peacefully and legally."
Jovan Bennett raised multiple neighborhood safety concerns, including a large tree limiting sightlines at an intersection near Saunders Road, poor lighting affecting elderly pedestrians, and bicyclist visibility at night. He suggested tree trimming, improved lighting and possibly a four-way stop at a busy city-center intersection to reduce driver confusion.
Chris Friar (speaker identified during the comment period) asked whether changes under discussion on the agenda related to Virginia law 58.13221 and the classification of land for tax purposes might affect vacant-lot taxes or how HOA/private roads are classified. He urged council to consider formulas or frontage calculations that could affect medium- and low-density areas and private-road communities.
City staff responded on record to a subset of these remarks: the manager confirmed the risk-management office has been in contact with Mary Hill and offered to follow up. There were no formal council actions that night tied directly to the public comments; council members thanked speakers and signaled staff follow-up where appropriate.
The council's record shows staff and the manager will continue to coordinate with residents on individual claims and enforcement questions.
