Residents press council for community-based safety funding and question NoodleCon spending

Several residents used the public-comment period to press the city on community safety, event spending and support for local businesses.

Walter Harris, who identified himself as executive director of The Cool Foundation and co‑executive director of the Newport News Community Street Team, told council he was ‘‘uncertain of where we're going with this safety thing’’ and urged sustained investment in community-based programs. He said his organization submitted a proposal requesting $2,600,000 to provide ‘safer passage’ services for schools and continuous engagement in neighborhoods and warned that intermittent funding would erode trust and effectiveness.

Latanya Denson (who goes by Abyss) raised concerns about the city’s $3,300,000 investment in the NoodleCon/‘Noodle the Thinkers’ convention. She said the event shifted from a mass cultural gathering to a business-oriented convention and argued that planning and outreach did not sufficiently center Newport News residents, small businesses and local workspaces. Denson said the event drew about 8,000 capacity versus promotional expectations and said future investments should prioritize local entrepreneurs, artists and community-rooted organizers.

Fitzgerald Hartnett, a self-described SWAM-certified business owner, praised the mayor’s economic-development goals but pressed for details on the city’s disparity study and asked what actionable steps are being taken to ensure equitable access to procurement and partnership opportunities for local small businesses. Hartnett said he would be interested in a city contract to consult on improving outreach and communications to broaden participation by local firms.

Mayor Jones, council members and staff acknowledged the comments: the mayor and vice mayor thanked staff and first responders for their work at the recent events, and the city manager said a Community Street Team (CST) request had been included in federal appropriations being carried by Congressman Scott (noting passage in the House and Senate remained uncertain). Council echoed interest in lessons learned and greater public engagement for future events.

The meeting record shows public comment raised funding and equity questions about a large city-sponsored event, asked for concrete study results and proposals to better include local businesses and sustained community-based safety programming. No formal council action on the requests was taken at this meeting; council members said they would take feedback under advisement.