Businesses near NNS react to sequester

WAVY TV

Updated: Feb 26, 2013 11:26 PM

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Cuts to the defense budget could cause ripple effects in the Hampton Roads economy, affecting many more than the 21,000 workers employed at Newport News Shipbuilding. 

For businesses near the shipyard, a lack of compromise on sequestration by Friday is a frightening thought.

"It's where all of our business comes from so it'd be a bad situation if all of those people disappeared. That means we could potentially disappear," business owner Fannerah Walker said.

Those who have been serving countless shipyard workers for years say revenue is already disappearing.

"It's scary because a lot of the customers are not sure about their jobs and the longevity of them," business owner Danielle Peterson said.

Some feel like Congress is toying with their lives and they're struggling to gain any kind of stability.

"It's in the back of my mind. I've been laid off before so every morning I think about it," shipyard worker Nikkia Slade said.

Tony Hilario of T.J.'s Sports Tavern said politicians simply are not compromising.

"Nobody cares about the small businesses. It's all about money and politics," Hilario said.

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