Upcoming Raleigh Events
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Sertoma Art Center Renovation Project Open House
Sertoma Art Center Renovation Project Open House
Mayor’s Committee for Persons With Disabilities Meeting
Mayor’s Committee for Persons With Disabilities Meeting
District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) meeting
District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) meeting
Tarboro Road Park Redevelopment Open House
Tarboro Road Park Redevelopment Open House
Read up on our latest news…
We’re on BlueSky
Livable Raleigh is on Bluesky. @livableraleigh.bsky.social
Time to Prioritize People in the City Budget
Community engagement for the 2025 / 2026 Raleigh Budget has started. I attended the first virtual session in December, not October, thinking that they would actually engage with the audience. Instead, input was gathered through a number of questions, rather than an informative session and discussion with the public to gather more information about resident priorities and needs. My session had a well educated audience, yet little time was afforded for actual public input.
Neuse River Park – habitat degradation – what can the ecosystem sustain?
When I first joined City Council I met advocates who introduced me to the idea of developing a white water rafting facility in the Neuse River near Falls dam. I was initially enthusiastic about the idea to add recreation to the river. However, as I learned more, I realized the tremendous negative impacts such a facility could have on the wildlife that depend on the river.
I am not anti-development. And neither is Livable Raleigh
INDY Week, please stop referring to me as anti-development. You refer to me as “Livable Raleigh co-founder Stef Mendell, who ran on an anti-development platform.” This has got to stop. I am not and have never been anti-development. And neither is Livable Raleigh. Let’s try to work together and find reasonable ways to accommodate appropriate development. Labeling individuals or groups as anti-development only furthers polarization.
Time for Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives
Nearly half of the housing stock in Raleigh is rental housing and much of the affordable housing efforts by the city have been gap financing for affordable rental units. I think there needs to be a greater focus on creating dense, affordable, multi-family home ownership opportunities, and I think the best way to go about this is by incentivizing and/or subsidizing the creation of limited equity housing cooperatives.
An Open Letter to Mayor Cowell
Open letter to Mayor Cowell. Our proposal is a simple one: Council should not vote immediately after the hearing on the matter addressed by the hearing. Instead, it should take time to consider what the hearing was about, and what was said – and give the public a chance to think about it also, and to react.
December 3, 2024 City Council Meeting
Highlights from the December 3, 2024 City Council meeting
Neighbors left out of the rezoning process – AGAIN!
Neighbors are generally supportive of affordable housing, stating “Given Raleigh’s commitment to providing affordable housing, … eventually an affordable housing development will probably be placed on this site. Our efforts are to assure that a smaller number of units will be allowed and thus the development will be more compatible with our neighborhood and the environment.”
Fix This NOW!
Homeowners being sued by a builder in Woodcrest. This lawsuit is made possible by the City Council which allows major developments without neighborhood input or process and rezoned the missing middle without providing protections in established neighborhoods.
Will the New Council Fix our Crappy Missing Middle Infill Rules and End the Lawsuits?
Livable Raleigh and other proponents of Missing Middle best practices have lobbied Council for years to engage in a community conversation toward adopting Missing Middle infill improvements on the books in other peer cities that actually promote affordability, compatibility and walkable transit access. The latest, and perhaps best rules so far, have been adopted by Sacramento, CA.
November 19, 2024 City Council meeting
Highlights from November 19, 2024 City Council meeting.
Mayor Baldwin Gaveled Out!
An article like the one in the N&O (11/17/2024) about Mary-Ann Baldwin’s self-described “record of progress” is to be expected but there is a lot to unpack here that could help give the new mayor of Raleigh Janet Cowell some direction.
Baldwin is on the way out, but Pay to Play is here to stay
Councilors cringed at Baldwin’s childish bullying. But, most voted with her anyway, packing one last council meeting full of developer approvals while cancelling the public’s last comment opportunity. So much for improving public engagement councilors!
November 6, 2024 City Council Meeting
HIGHLIGHTS Mayor Baldwin announced that Councilors Forte and Harrison would be absent and excused from the afternoon session, but Councilor Harrison was in attendance. Mayor Baldwin announced that Councilor Black will be absent and excused for the evening session....
Raleigh should transition to full-time councilors
On May 7th of this year City Council voted to switch to 4-year staggered terms without putting the issue on the ballot for voters to decide, effectively buffering city council from the corrective action of Raleigh residents’ voting power. While I have heard and respect the arguments in favor of 4-year terms, it should be voted on by residents.
How Raleigh’s Changes to “By-Right” Zoning Rules Affect Engagement and Trust
No one wants to be told their street is going to transform in the next five years, and there’s no way for them to even voice their thoughts and concerns. This pattern of transformation is going to take place, how we guide it is what’s most important. By adapting the zoning code to ensure that everyone comes together, working for the MUTUAL benefit of our city and its housing supply is not some far fetched ambition, but should be the baseline; the bare minimum respect shown to Raleigh’s amazing people. Transparency and working together is what is needed for beneficial growth. It is what the people of our city want.
Council Candidates Melton, Silver & Branch Lead the Race for Developer Cash
In the race for the top developer donations, Raleigh City Council candidates Jonathan Melton, Mitchell Silver or Corey Branch, are the clear developer favorites. Livable Raleigh’s analysis of NC Campaign Finance Reports show that more than 50% of these candidates’ donations – over $88,000 for Melton and $72,000 for Silver – came from development industry donors alone, with many individuals giving the maximum $6,400. One thing is certain: developers don’t hand out thousands of dollars in donations unless they expect serious payback. And sadly, it shows.
Two Years Later, Voters Say Things Are Worse Not Better
Livable Raleigh’s new 2024 citywide poll of registered Raleigh voters conducted by nationally recognized professional polling firm Public Policy Polling was published Tuesday, July 23. You can read our press release here: Voter confidence falls
There are some disturbing trends highlighted in the results in 2024 as compared to 2022. Here we compare 5 questions that were asked in 2022 and asked again in 2024:
Why Leadership Comes From Experience, Not Elected Office
True leadership is demonstrated in how you engage with others, how you advocate for the voiceless, and how you stand up for what is right, regardless of whether or not you hold a formal title. As citizens, we deserve leaders who have built these qualities before ever stepping into public office. Leadership is not granted by a vote, it is earned by a lifetime of service.
Councilors Melton and Forte stole your vote
When you go to the polls to vote this year, you may notice something missing from your ballot. You were supposed to be able to vote on whether Raleigh City Council terms should be changed from two-year to four-year terms. But, Council Members Melton and Forte took that choice away from you.