First things first: Norfolk’s ARPA public comment period is closing on February 16th, 2022. Get your comments in and tell the city how you think this $154 million should be spent!

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law last March, providing $350 billion to local governments (states, cities, counties, tribal nations) to make critical investments in physical and social infrastructure. Localities must also track and report their expenditures to the federal government, and submit a Recovery Plan Performance Report. An analysis of 150 of these Reports revealed local governments’ priorities for ARPA funds – 76% of plans allocated money to “COVID-19 Economic Impact Mitigation”, 74% to public health, 68% to services to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, 63% to government revenue replacement, 50% to infrastructure, and 21% to essential workers. What will Norfolk prioritize?

Norfolk’s public engagement process has been in progress since November (which was news to me, I only heard about this in January and like to think I’m pretty well-informed). You can give your input here and/or here, or email the city at ARPACommunication@norfolk.gov, or at one of several dropboxes around town.

So what do Norfolkians want? This fascinating dashboard has collected, sorted, and visualized all comments collected so far, which at the time of this writing totaled 1,308 (in a city of almost 240,000 people). The priorities varied by Ward, but overall the top 5 issues citizens want funded are, in order: Parks, Recreation, and Libraries; Violence Prevention; Mental Health; Affordable Housing; and Neighborhood Investments. Homelessness was nearly tied for 5th place. This table shows each of Ward’s top priorities: 

Input isn’t limited to choosing from preselected options. There are plenty of opportunities for write-ins via email, the survey, or the prioritization tool – and they’re all available for viewing (names withheld, of course). Many were eye-opening for this author who, as an uppity childfree millennial living in Ghent, simply hadn’t considered. Issues that stood out are:

• The kids really aren’t alright. Many comments pleaded for the reopening of rec centers and libraries, and generally more after-school programs. The initial closure of these public facilities, and subsequent layoffs of staff, made sense at the beginning of the pandemic. But the continued closures are hurting kids’ development and safety, and their parents’ sanity. 
• More support for the Mosaic Steel Orchestra including a permanent dedicated space. 
• Bring back the Norfolk Emerging Leaders program for meaningful summer youth employment
• Senior citizens aren’t doing too well either, and not for the obvious Covid-related reasons you might expect. The closure of rec centers hurt them too, and many feel isolated and lonely. Loneliness is a serious health risk for the elderly. 
• The permanent closure of the swimming pool at the Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center has left a big hole in the community, and people of all ages mourn its loss.
• The people of Norfolk are tired of Cox’s stranglehold on internet service. As one citizen bluntly put it, “COX SUCKS!” Good news though – construction has already begun on the Metronet fiber optic network.
• Pay city employees more! Stop paying lip service to essential workers – pay them a living wage to keep the city running. Also, let them unionize. 
• Revitalize Little Creek Road. “It can be so much more than used car lots and abandoned signs and businesses.” Besides, “so much money is spent in Ghent and downtown. We pay taxes too, a little love would be appreciated.”
• A “mental health corps” or “health care officers” to accompany or take the place of police officers on emergency calls, in order to better serve people having a mental health crisis.
• More police funding and presence
• Less police funding and presence
• Establish an office of a “resource navigator” to help Norfolk residents learn about and navigate the various resources and services available to them, such as healthcare, child tax credits, rental assistance, social services generally. These services exist but offices are scattered across town – why not centralize them?
• More connected bike infrastructure! And expand the ERT
• More opportunities for fishing, more green spaces with water access. “I can’t fish from a lot of places that I used to because of government regulations and private land ownership. If you don’t have a boat you are very limited.”
• Renovate Attucks Theater and activate the Church Street corridor to highlight African American history.

People also took the time to thank city employees for their hard work trying to keep things running. 

• “Thanks for working so hard for our city! These are tough decisions to make.”
• “Kudos on the idea of helping with home rehabilitation and gap funding for affordable housing.”
• “Thank you for your time and consideration.”

And of course, haters gonna hate.

• “Again, NOT funding for these useless g**d*** bike lanes! It’s a waste of money and you’re pandering to a whiny minority when the very vocal majority DOES NOT WANT THEM!!!”
• “I pay a gargantuan tax bill to live in Norfolk, I’m weary of the city’s funds being devoted to the poor and needy.”

Remember, you have until February 16th to make your voice heard! If you liked or agreed with any of these ideas, make sure to say so! And if you didn’t like something, say so as well. It takes all kinds to make a city, and that’s what’s beautiful about it.

Catie Sauer

Ghent, NFK

Catie was born in Norfolk and as an adult has lived here for two years and change. She has a master's in Environmental Planning and Design from the University of Georgia. She likes hiking, playing trivia, being a flaneuse, pinball, memes, and growing vegetables.