[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6553894,"mediaKeyId","5063164-7ee5cf3264ef4530b66e3baa086734c7","parentId",5063164,"title","Newport News survey: residents report good quality of life but rate safety and economy below comparable benchmarks","audioSeconds",329,"startMs",95000,"endMs",424000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063164-7ee5cf3264ef4530b66e3baa086734c7&start=95&end=424","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063164-7ee5cf3264ef4530b66e3baa086734c7/thumbnail_95000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553894/Newport-News/Lee-Hall-County/Virginia/Newport-News-survey-residents-report-good-quality-of-life-but-rate-safety-and-economy-below-comparable-benchmarks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553894-cd7a102223d67407673d48eae1b37d47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161909&Signature=cVCUUZoAs28x-dUj9DsBXmWyPdW2sknl7VrYgtnQoR5noo10fjxxzHH9c8G9Sqrqdl~0cq-H2C7w2hlHD7aNmWgiegVtpFWEnDqtiSgeoGr9r6jN4EFDLvmTqFiBZYzVHloV-3mTLywYCzdn8zsEfaZGL7O5hmJIF6ZWSFUpX5fi1j4FUS5tsGZJCQFnX5KclxQDqsQlXl7lYRpU3amFgHikkQwr7jsf4UuuoqgDkBprDbRLECE3SzErLcwxIXam1QX2tvMFSpCTBRsPcdEzGmSpfOcK8KiftVe53S37IfrfPfm13Vgw7AVS9wbtdvnBPwyCZizqyVemrZsidmqd9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newport News City","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","Polco presented results of a nationally benchmarked community survey to the Newport News City Council, reporting generally positive ratings for quality of life but identifying gaps on public safety and several economic measures.

Sonia Wittingk, executive vice president of data insights at Polco, told the council that the statistically sampled survey collected 313 responses from a mailed and online random sample and an additional 698 voluntary online responses. Wittingk said the sampled responses yield a margin of error of about ±6 percent and were weighted to match the city's adult population. \"About 9 in 10 residents rated the overall quality of life in Newport News as excellent, good, or fair,\" she said.

The survey uses a four-point scale (excellent, good, fair, poor) across 10 facets of community livability. Polco's analysis showed parks and recreation as the highest-rated facet and safety as the only facet below Polco's benchmark group of similarly sized, higher-performing cities. \"Safety ranks as a top priority for residents,\" Wittingk said, noting that day‑time neighborhood safety was high (about 8 in 10 residents), while perceptions of safety downtown and for violent crime trailed benchmarks. Polco also identified a notable importance–quality gap for the economy, with cost of living and downtown vibrancy receiving the lowest ratings among economic items.

City staff said they will use the findings to inform the city’s strategic plan update and budget and to guide public engagement before the council’s July retreat. City Manager Alan said the survey and Polco's benchmarking will help set priorities at the upcoming retreat. Owen Miller, chief strategy officer, and partners from the Virginia Institute of Government presented the planned strategic‑planning process that will incorporate the survey data, council interviews, and additional public engagement.

Council members asked Polco about response rates and how other jurisdictions have used education and communications to change perceptions. Wittingk recommended targeted communications about actual crime statistics and cited examples of broader branding campaigns in other cities that combined messaging with investment. She also noted survey response rates are lower for younger residents nationally and that statistical sampling and weighting can still produce representative results.

Polco provided staff with a full report, including crosstabs by demographic and geographic groups and the open participation survey results; staff said the full report is included in the council packet and available online. Council members and staff said they expect to use the data to track trends over time and to align the council's strategic plan with resident priorities.

The presentation closed with staff describing next steps for the strategic plan update, including individual council interviews, a July retreat session, and additional public engagement opportunities through the summer and fall.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jun 24, 2025 City Council Work Session Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Polco presented results of a nationally benchmarked community survey to the Newport News City Council, reporting generally positive ratings for quality of life but identifying gaps on public safety and several economic measures.","taxTitle","Newport News, Lee Hall County, Virginia","taxId",53170,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6553889,"Council approves two small community grants, 7‑0",22,2979000,3001000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063164-7ee5cf3264ef4530b66e3baa086734c7&start=2979&end=3001","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063164-7ee5cf3264ef4530b66e3baa086734c7/thumbnail_2979000.jpg","/articles/6553889/Newport-News/Lee-Hall-County/Virginia/Council-approves-two-small-community-grants-70","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553889-8aa523d72364e21579d5e89aa0540231/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161909&Signature=L17Siz4JdxyfbIzR1H-YtbK0MbQKRGyMeksenng4c0E0jdPEGvv2og9Zb-n8km9cjKUhu6UOzjO7lGEu6cPhn1mEQM8J1Dmj~z5w0niaLcCQ5uI-EyW1Km4dKiUAaaeflqsRywt4ky7KBrpXm7r9u9ZF1sT9a39VEmx~~Bpt5WeqN-RDdajATFO5c~kCq7tApbBiDRTRIVWdDSj~~5BjvQp-1YUE5UTLMLJgnkWoMSAoo-de~LJ509LkFU0du~bMjKe5~pqK0icQrMy3R49~-hCksizaYvtqRFyTtpO3uLig6~BkX9BFdT1Fry7xqMVPHLeuJZ2yxVEOmnP6y3lCnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newport News City Council voted unanimously to approve two small community grants during the work session.

The motion considered both items together: a $5,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club and a $1,000 grant to the Peninsula Alpha's Father's Day breakfast. The council called the roll and the motion carried 7–0.

Roll call recorded affirmative votes from: Bear Jones; Jasmine Long; a councilwoman whose name was not specified in the audio record; Vice Mayor Bethany; Councilman Coleman; Councilman Ealy; and Councilman Harris. No abstentions or no votes were recorded.

The mayor asked recipients to remain after the meeting to sign paperwork so staff could disburse funds promptly.","On a unanimous roll call, Newport News City Council approved $5,000 for the Boys & Girls Club and $1,000 for the Peninsula Alpha's Father's Day breakfast.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6553892,"Newport News unveils Strategic Housing Initiative Plan to address 21,000‑unit target; council to discuss tactics at July retreat",925,1590000,2515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063164-7ee5cf3264ef4530b66e3baa086734c7&start=1590&end=2515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063164-7ee5cf3264ef4530b66e3baa086734c7/thumbnail_1590000.jpg","/articles/6553892/Newport-News/Lee-Hall-County/Virginia/Newport-News-unveils-Strategic-Housing-Initiative-Plan-to-address-21000unit-target-council-to-discuss-tactics-at-July-retreat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553892-4bdc1535d3891d29aacc072e434e130a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161909&Signature=jHoMQHcEqBk2JCFNNfxNDE5gCHphXsQ716z8a1LyDGlpYYrWLVQfmAmlgWjayUxsMRtmw5tevAIK4r0-7JcTCOpTZDwSgdFPUiAAvkBI1090u8mf7p6WPmwbli46EXHXQUTXDUXIIOZDEB0YZJ8klhZ8Og2UMIjSwWsRvonyLEfiuLcjjDBn6gNRLpQ08o0nEMLLXFIZR-MwqK5pK1o6bGJ5qlWTeI~ayEMR9NmOnk7OqCLm1N3~Oy5jCVcFn61vbZdiCtLEyC1jW1M2OLtZsB2~6spdLLU3wlYZ0XnL6b6rLYlwHz30yfhsp-Ysqzoz47CR8Xp4HeA~MuVbCfBWcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a draft Strategic Housing Initiative Plan (SHIP) to the Newport News City Council, outlining goals and tactics to meet a housing production target identified in the city’s comprehensive housing study.

Terry Francis, neighborhood services office manager, said the comprehensive housing study—launched in December 2024—identified a need for roughly 21,000 housing units by 2050. \"The SHIP is a comprehensive road map,\" Francis said, describing four primary focus areas: housing policy and regulatory reform; production and redevelopment; preservation, maintenance and neighborhood stability; and affordability and access. \"The goal is to prepare us for later conversations\" at the July retreat and to produce a final SHIP for council approval by the end of the year.

Alan, the city manager, and Owen Miller, chief strategy officer, said the SHIP draws on departmental work across planning, development, codes and the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority and links to the strategic plan update. Francis said the team convened a 14‑member steering committee, conducted more than 30 stakeholder interviews, and held multiple public outreach events this spring. The draft includes about 20 tactics ranging from zoning and land‑use adjustments to permitting changes and financial incentives for developers and homeowners.

Council members identified several tactics they want prioritized at the retreat. Councilman Long emphasized redevelopment of aging housing stock, saying about two‑thirds of the 21,000 units will come from redevelopment of older housing. Another council member flagged a land‑value tax as a lever used in peer cities and urged continued attention to permit processing as a way to accelerate supply. Francis and staff said some tactics are already underway while others will require further research and possible budget resources; Francis noted that a housing trust fund is among items that would require future funding decisions.

Council members also asked staff for data on faith‑based properties and underutilized parcels; Francis said staff will check GIS data and noted that some conversions of church land are constrained by state law and the Virginia General Assembly. On neighborhood stabilization, staff described potential facade and residential‑improvement programs and emphasized outreach to seniors on fixed incomes.

Next steps include staff follow‑up, additional public engagement this summer and a detailed retreat‑level discussion in July. Francis said the city aims to produce a final SHIP before the end of the calendar year and will return to council for approval and for vetting tactics with the community.

Votes on related budget or funding decisions were not taken during the SHIP presentation; staff said many tactics will require later review, community engagement and potential budget allocations.","City staff and partners presented a draft Strategic Housing Initiative Plan (SHIP) outlining tactics to reach a 21,000‑unit target by 2050, including zoning and permitting reforms, incentives, preservation, and potential housing trust funding. Council members flagged land‑value taxation and permit streamlining for discussion at the July retreat.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Newport News survey: residents report good quality of life but rate safety and economy below comparable benchmarks

Council approves two small community grants, 7‑0

Newport News unveils Strategic Housing Initiative Plan to address 21,000‑unit target; council to discuss tactics at July retreat