Nicole Stewart, your Hypocrisy is Showing
Councilor Nicole Stewart expressed frustration during the May 5 council meeting that Councilor David Cox hadn’t provided advance notice to her that he would raise the issue of the RDU quarry, though of course he didn’t bring it up; three citizens did.
City Council finds new and novel ways to do nothing about the RDU Airport Quarry
The issue of the RDU Quarry came once again to the Raleigh City Council. And once again, the Council took no action, in the process missing the deadline for supporting a public hearing on the mining permit.
Affordable Housing Bond Process Lacks Civic Engagement
At the May 5 City Council meeting, Raleigh resident Wanda Hunter asked Council to replace the flawed affordable housing bond process with one that is inclusive and equitable, and that authentically engages all of our community.
Mayor Baldwin shows disdain for the public yet again
Did Mary-Ann Baldwin’s disdain for public participation in rezoning cases cause her to violate a new state law this week?
The new law puts rules in place for public hearings when they’re part of a remote, or “virtual” meeting.
Council to hear from developers, not the public, on rezonings (updated 5/14)
Raleigh’s new Council summarily abolished Raleigh’s 18 Citizens Advisory Councils (CACs) without any notice or public comment. Three months later, the CACs’ community-run zoning review process has been replaced with a quickie substitute controlled by the rezoning applicant — i.e., the developer.
Raleigh: A city government without citizens
Having all but eliminated citizen input, and perhaps because half of its members are brand-new, the Council looks to be frozen on stage, with no wisdom to offer. And then they adjourn, congratulating one another on the great job they’re doing!
Raleigh’s Affordable Housing Bond: Pandemic Casualty or Bold Opportunity?
Moonshots are easier when Raleigh’s economy is humming and surpluses can be diverted to social benefits. The true test of the new Council’s commitment to bold, revolutionary and transformative change is at hand now, at this time of recessionary crisis and opportunity.
Show me the money!
Do you have any idea how much money was spent to win the seats on Raleigh's City Council? Do you have any idea where all that money came from? Do you know who is expecting a return on their investments? The data is all available in the campaign finance reports...
N&O Reporter notes Citizen Engagement is worse under New Council Process
On Feb 4, 2020, Raleigh's City Council disbanded the city's Citizen Advisory Councils (CACs) that had been in place for nearly 50 years. CACs provided an opportunity to engage the public and allow a two-way information flow between the public and the city government....
What’s Happening to Citizen Engagement?
For all the talk about how this Mayor and new City Council are going to develop a fantastic, new community engagement initiative, you’d never know they give a hoot about this subject given how they have restricted our ability as citizens to participate on the matters...