Suffolk’s mayor says growth isn’t a ‘problem’ in his annual state of the city address

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAYV) — Managing growth responsibly is the ongoing state of the city of Suffolk, according to Mayor Mike Duman.

In an hour-long presentation at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Suffolk Tuesday, Duman mentioned many highlights from the past year, but made a point to address the criticism he faces most often: the consequences of growth.

Suffolk leads the seven Hampton Roads cities in growth. It now has a larger population than neighboring Portsmouth, at more than 100,000. Last year, it saw the sixth-highest population growth rate in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

However critics are quick to say the infrastructure is not in place for that growth.

Over the last two weeks, multiple crashes have brought traffic around the city to a standstill during morning and afternoon rush, frustrating residents.

However Duman said it’s not something they can’t overcome.

“My point is that growth itself isn’t a problem; rather, it is a challenge,” Duman said. “The challenge lies in achieving balanced growth, which generates revenue for better public facilities, all while preserving our city’s unique character and safeguarding our residents’ quality of life.”