{"id":970656,"date":"2026-07-31T05:56:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T05:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/970656\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T05:56:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T05:56:19","slug":"sophia-vitello-returns-to-moncrief-for-a-community-tour-after-viewers-weigh-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/970656\/","title":{"rendered":"Sophia Vitello returns to Moncrief for a community tour after viewers weigh in"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.<\/strong> \u2013 A week after her first visit to Moncrief Road<\/a>, News4JAX traffic anchor Sophia Vitello returned to Jacksonville\u2019s Moncrief neighborhood \u2014 this time with local food creators and community advocates who viewers urged her to meet.<\/p>\n

Sophia\u2019s first story spotlighted concerns along Moncrief Road after viewers told her the corridor deserves attention when it comes to safety, infrastructure and quality-of-life issues.<\/p>\n

After that report, Sophia said her follow-up video drew hundreds of comments, including dozens supporting an idea that popped up repeatedly: take a guided tour of the neighborhood with \u201cChef Fatty\u201d (Instagram: RichOffReviewz<\/a>) and \u201cChef Skinny\u201d (Instagram: IAmChefSkinny<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cMy last video sparked hundreds of comments from you guys. 85 of you agree, apparently, that I should take a tour with RichOffReviewz and IAmChefSkinny,\u201d Sophia said in the Instagram video<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Good and bad no matter where you are\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n

Sophia met up with Chef Fatty, Lady (Fatty\u2019s wife) and Chef Skinny to hear what they say is often missed when people only see Moncrief through the lens of crime coverage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin the area, you\u2019re gonna have good and bad no matter where you are,\u201d Lady said. \u201cNo offense to the news, most of the time the news project negatively.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophia told the group she wanted to focus on something different.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were thinking about when was the last time that a reporter has come out here and not ask you guys about a shooting or about a crime that happened,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

First stop: Holley\u2019s Bar B Q<\/b><\/p>\n

The tour included a stop at Holley\u2019s Bar B Q, which Fatty described as a neighborhood staple.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Holley really takes care of the community with like giving away free food to the homeless or just having good prices on food,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Chef Skinny pointed out that community spaces matter \u2014 and said the area needs more of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really need more stuff like in the community to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sophia echoed what she heard: more places for neighbors to gather and more options for young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were talking to me about how they feel like there needs to be more programs or more activities for youth \u2026 to keep them away from maybe being bored and getting into the wrong stuff,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Holly, a park program manager, said there are already services trying to provide pathways.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe bring in different like culinary programs. They can get a ServSafe manager certification. We do the beauty program. We teach them skillsets,\u201d Holly said. \u201cI definitely believe in more programming. We\u2019ll keep them preoccupied, get into less trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018You look good, you feel good, you do good\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n

During the tour, another man praised recent improvements in the area but said he wants to see more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey made the park beautiful now. That wasn\u2019t there a few years ago,\u201d he said, adding that continued upgrades can build pride and momentum. \u201cYou look good. You feel good. You do good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group also pointed out long-standing issues they say don\u2019t get addressed quickly enough, including an abandoned property Fatty said has been sitting for years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like any other side of town, they would have been had to handle. It would have had to be handled first year,\u201d he said. \u201cBut since it\u2019s on Moncrief, it\u2019s going to sit there.\u201d<\/p>\n

A push to keep the focus on Moncrief<\/b><\/p>\n

Sophia noted that beyond the challenges, the tour highlighted residents and businesses trying to support kids and families.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such proof that there\u2019s so many people here who just need help,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Fatty said that\u2019s part of why he and others stay involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cY\u2019all like kids down here that got dreams to like make it out of here. So we try to do what we can to make sure they got a positive image of what \u2026 where to go,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sophia ended the video by asking viewers whether the Moncrief coverage should continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you guys think we should make this a series \u2026 where we come back into Moncrief and we show the love, we show the positivity?\u201d she said, encouraging people to weigh in.<\/p>\n

Background: what Sophia found on Moncrief Road last week<\/b><\/p>\n

Sophia\u2019s follow-up comes after her previous story on Moncrief Road, sparked by viewer feedback after she posted a video about road problems on 103rd Street.<\/p>\n

In that report, residents told her Moncrief has a reputation that can overshadow day-to-day needs \u2014 including concerns about crime, pedestrian safety and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Sophia also reported the city is looking at corridor improvements, including roundabouts \u2014 one at 45th Street and another planned at New Kings Road \u2014 while residents raised concerns about basic safety features like crosswalks.<\/p>\n

The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has completed a study on the Moncrief Road corridor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n