Accomplishments - Joash Schulman for City Council

Joash's Accomplishments

Below are highlights of the accomplishments we can be most proud of

Since January 2023, I have been entrusted with the responsibility and the privilege of representing you on the Virginia Beach City Council. When I asked for the job, I made you a promise that I would fight for funding to improve our roads, to rebuild our schools, to strengthen our defenses against recurrent flooding and sea level rise, and to deliver long overdue pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity improvements. I also promised to advocate for policies that safeguard and enhance our coastal environment, and to support neighborhoods by helping to ensure that new developments are appropriately scaled and consistent with community character.

Investing in Roads & Infrastructure

Secured $15M+ for long-delayed road projects on Shore Drive and Pleasure House Road.
Secured funding for long-requested updates to the Shore Drive Corridor Plan and Design Guidelines.
Restored 30-minute bus service on HRT Route 35.
Approved funding for neighborhood safety and connectivity projects, including:
- A temporary sidewalk project along Shore Drive in Ocean Park
- A sidewalk project on Lookout Road in Chesapeake Beach
- A mixed-use path connecting Lakeview to Lake Smith Terrace
- 5 new crosswalks and pedestrian refuges along Independence Boulevard between Virginia Beach Boulevard and Pleasure House Road.
- A manually activated pedestrian signal at First Court Rd./Greenwell Rd. near the Bayside Rec Center/Bayville Farms Park.
Led an effort resulting in modifications to the intersection of Jeanne Street and Constitution Drive to improve sight lines, widen travel lanes, and to make it safer to navigate the intersection.

Supporting Our Schools & Students

Secured $15.4M to kickstart design work for Princess Anne High School, Bayside High School, and Bettie F. Williams Elementary/Bayside 6th Grade Campus.
Expanded opportunities for students to serve on city boards and partnered them with environmental projects that saved over 700 Live Oak trees from destruction.
Approved historic new funding for community arts initiatives and connected Princess Anne High School Students to a $10,000 Creative Neighborhood Grant they successfully obtained from the City’s Cultural Affairs Department for a mural project in partnership with the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Protecting Our Neighborhoods

Installed security cameras, speed bumps, and added a nighttime security guard at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility to address public safety and neighborhood traffic concerns.
Supported critical pay raises for police, firefighters, EMS personnel, teachers, and city employees.
Tackled homelessness and encampments through coordinated public safety and human services efforts.
Prevented an illegal nightclub from gaining approval to operate near Pembroke Meadows and Aragona Village.

Safeguarding Our Coastal Environment

Fought offshore drilling to protect our coastal environment and tourism economy.
Organized a community-led cleanup of Lake Bradford in Chesapeake Beach.
Secured funding and approvals to conserve property for open space/park purposes in Ocean Park and Aragona Village.
Advocated for and created policies to encourage sustainable redevelopment in areas of our city that do not present environmental/flooding challenges or disruptions to established suburban neighborhoods.
Secured funding for season-long restrooms for beachgoers at Chesapeake Beach.

Smart Growth & Responsible Development

Successfully advocated for neighborhoods during the development process to help scale down overdevelopment, ensuring projects preserve community character.
Worked with our City’s Legislative Affairs office and Council colleagues to clearly communicate to the General Assembly our opposition to the relocation (or redevelopment) of the Virginia Tech Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
Approved historic grant funding for the Virginia Beach Trail Project and championed reinvestment in public facilities in Pembroke and Town Center.

Fighting for Taxpayers

Voted to cut the real estate tax rate in 2024 and opposed hikes in 2023 & 2025.
Approved a new 5-day grace period before late fees begin to accrue on tax bills.
Successfully championed the redirection of $450,000 in unspent federal COVID-19 relief funds to support the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.
Secured approval for legislation that protects elderly/disabled real estate tax relief when recipients purchase a new primary residence.
Helped secure a 10.1% personal property tax credit, saving residents up to $80 on each vehicle they own in 2026

Commitment to Communication & Transparency

Hosted nearly a dozen District 9 Town Halls and Community Information Meetings covering city-wide and District 9 projects and initiatives.
Regularly attended District 9 civic league meetings and neighborhood events.
Responded to hundreds of citizen requests covering issues such as potholes, trash/recycling collection, roadway and lighting conditions, homeless encampments and derelict properties, speeding and dirt bikes in neighborhoods, and late-night gatherings and disruptions.