RE: Use Your Voice!

Virginia Beach City Council Meeting 11.16.22

@Orangeboxcutter, Charles Rasputin, Owner of Slowdive Gallery in Norfolk speaking to Virginia Beach City Council

I went to the meeting on November 15, 2022 to get some insight on how some of the locals really feel about SITW making its return to Virginia Beach.  Overall all speakers were in support of the festival finally coming back home and are very excited for it as much as we are at Social Supply VA.  Despite the excitement, there were some key points that some had spoken out about.  

• Public Safety

  • Lack of communication between emergency personnel during the festival.  How can they avoid miscommunication on who is or isn’t allowed into certain tents for emergency reasons?

• Transportation

  • Prices on public transportation such as Lyft and Uber hike for short distances.  There is a local Taxi business that can help with this problem, but are not given access to rideshare pick up/drop off points.

• Overall Transparency of Government & public investments

  • This is a very important part that the masses don’t look into.  How is our taxes being used for the festival?  Can we have input on such decisions? Can we share our ideas on making SITW as smooth as possible?  

• Representation of small local businesses

  • Some local businesses are in full support of the festival but feel disconnected to the festival.

    • We are actively working on something that also addresses this concern.

These are just some if not all of the pain points I heard during the meeting.  I didn’t hear any feedback from any of the council members at the time.  I do hope that they address these issues and have a solution for them. But we are actively working on something that would also help address representation of small local businesses. 

As much as I am very excited for SITW to be back home here in Virginia Beach,  let us not forget who we really are putting on for.  Let us elevate one another and help solve these issues.  We all can be a part of the growth and progression in the 757.  It doesn’t make anyone uncool to support the political side of these events.  We all have a platform to use as much as the next person does.  Our collective network alone can easily make change here, but imagine if we collaborate with those who are in charge of really making things happen like Something in the Water.  USE YOUR VOICE BRO!  PEACE!

Post meeting thoughts from Charles Rasputin, Careyann, and Cam Jarnagin.