Good afternoon,

I hope you are enjoying the wonderful weather of late. I love having my windows open.

Norfolk Police Department Chief Mark Talbot made a great presentation in September on the declining rates of crime in Norfolk. The crime data I am sharing below represents the time period of January – September 22, 2023 compared to the same time period in 2022.

In 2023 total crime declined 20%. Within total crime there are two major categories — violent crime and property crime.
Overall total violent crime declined 21%. Within the violent crime category, homicides declined 40%; robbery declined 27%; aggravated assault declined 22%; rape increased 11%.
Overall total property crime declined 20%. Within the property crime category, larceny declined 25%; stolen vehicles declined 1%; burglary increased 8%.

This is great news for Norfolk and speaks volumes for the improved safety in our city. As I did many times in 2022, I walked up and down Granby Street in downtown Norfolk on a recent Friday night starting at 11:00pm so I could observe late night happenings in downtown. The enhanced police presence was evident. I was thankful to see that folks were out and about and that it was a safe environment. Norfolk City Council worked hard over the last 18 months to restore safety to downtown and knock on wood…it is working.

In terms of our continued focus on flooding and sea-level rise, I am pleased to share that Norfolk received grant funding from the Department of Defense (DOD) under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program in support of the Hampton Boulevard Drainage Project. This money will include the upgrade of existing stormwater outfall pipes, installation of tidal gates, and elevation of two intersections that will mitigate the severity of flooding caused by heavy rains and high tides on Hampton Blvd. between the intersections with Surrey Crescent and Lexan Avenue. This area chronically floods which causes major traffic disruptions. This is a major corridor leading to the Naval Station Norfolk and DOD recognized it needed to financially support this project even though it isn’t physically on the Naval Station Norfolk base itself. The grant is for $2,369,284 with a required city match of $1,353,876 for a total project cost of $3,723,160. The project will be a couple of years in the making but much needed.

Norfolk City Council has a full schedule this fall including our annual fall retreat on Monday, November 27.

Enjoy your weekend!

Courtney

 

 

Tidewater Community College Visual Arts and Design Center in downtown opened. Cool building.