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May 12, 2020 <br /> <br />The following comments were submitted by citizens for the May 12, 2020 Virtual City <br />Council meeting: <br /> <br />20-122 <br /> <br />General Comments; <br />1) I am emailing to oppose the increases that may be potentially imposed. I have <br />moved from Portsmouth due to the tolls and low moral of the city due to there being <br />no relief. I really don’t see how residents are able to make ends meet with the city <br />adding excessive fees. And to add insult to injury during a time that the world is <br />going through a time where everything is uncertain and a crisis is in effect. I am <br />speechless. There is no consideration for the residents. I work as a nurse, it was <br />financially draining for me to commute back and forth from Portsmouth to and from <br />work (I work at Norfolk Sentara Hospital). So I moved to Norfolk to eliminate an <br />extra bill of paying for the tolls. However, I find myself visiting Portsmouth often to <br />see my elderly father, thus Id considered moving back to Portsmouth to be closer <br />to him and family but this is so dis-heartening. The city of Portsmouth has no <br />consideration for the residents. As a child, I remember the tolls being implemented. <br />Did the money collected then not pay for the building of the tolls and any revenue <br />needed? Why does it seem like the city of Portsmouth always is in a financial deficit <br />and the residents take the blunt end of the need? Ill never move back to <br />Portsmouth for these very same reasons and my colleagues agree. Its very bad <br />decision making. <br /> <br />Tracy M. Boone (an IC Norcom Alumni, A nurse, former Mt. Hermon resident) <br />942 Vermont Avenue <br />Portsmouth VA 23707 <br /> <br />2) I don't know if you know this or not but as you can see, we are under a national <br />state of emergency. Also a lot of people have been put out of work right now so <br />they are already having a hard enough time making ends meet right now. Think <br />about the citizens of your city before thinking about padding your already filled <br />pockets with the money that people need to survive. <br /> <br />Christopher Weiss <br /> <br />3) I read with interest the plan to end Portsmouth in the paper. When businesses are <br />hit with revenue short falls, they CUT expenses since they cannot TAX their <br />customers. It is long past the time when Portsmouth should be run like a <br />business. All one has to do is look at the way city employees seem to mope <br />through their days not working faster or smarter. Or the proverbial one guy <br />working and two others leaning on shovels can be seen daily. <br /> <br />Will you continue to blame the reason people don't come to Portsmouth to visit our <br />restaurants on the tunnel toll? The reason is POOR MANAGEMENT. It is time to <br />put a manager in place that knows how to work with people AND inspire their <br />reports to get more out of the people the city employs. A "Deep Dive" is needed in <br />ALL city departments, including schools, to see where expenses and jobs have <br />grown as our population has decreased. <br /> <br />These are tough times, do not make it tougher by continuing to allow poor <br />management to be a way of life. <br /> <br />Dan Evans <br />475 Water St Apt 309 <br />Portsmouth, VA 23704 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />