Residents, nonprofits press Leesburg commissioners on events, safety and land access; Commissioner Peterson disputes alleged misquote

Multiple residents and nonprofit leaders used the public-comment period at the April 27 meeting to announce events, thank staff and raise concerns about safety, housing and city processes, while a sitting commissioner addressed what he said was an inaccurate quote attributed to him.

Simone Richardson, owner of Artists with a Purpose, told commissioners she will host a May 3 downtown cultural event produced under United Arts and asked the city to consider adding more lighting on downtown side streets for safety. "This is our third year doing something downtown... It will be at 3:30," Richardson said.

Pastor John Christian, representing the Community Development Corporation of Leesburg, showed photos of two completed four-bedroom, two-bath homes on lots the city donated and thanked Public Works staff for resolving sewer-root issues that arose during final occupancy inspections. "These two homes are completely built and ready for purchase," Pastor Christian said, describing upgraded finishes and appliances.

Candace Chapman, executive director of Virginia Samers Cares Inc., requested clarification on donated-lot application materials and recapture provisions after her agency's prior request was denied. She asked whether Exhibit C requires a full design up front and whether Exhibit B's intake requirements are established; she also asked what the recapture timeframe is if a nonprofit does not produce a qualified homebuyer.

Anthony Washington, a retired Miami-Dade police sergeant, said he will address code enforcement, law-enforcement and quality-of-life issues across multiple meetings and read a list of crime statistics obtained through open-records requests (homicides, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglaries, larceny, vehicle theft and calls for service) and cited city department salaries he obtained via records.

Later in the meeting, Commissioner Peterson addressed a claim made by an attendee, Mario Nappa, that Peterson had said, "We build the houses, then we worry about the roads." Peterson said that characterization misquoted him and played a short excerpt he said shows his actual comment: "Our state builds the roads after the development. I wish it was the other way around." He said the misquote made him appear indifferent to road and infrastructure concerns and called the mischaracterization a personal attack amid a contentious growth debate.

City staff reminded speakers that matters raised during public comment will either be referred to appropriate staff or scheduled for future hearings if the item is on the current agenda.