Show the Voters Where You Stand
One year into the terms of the four newly elected Councilors, and with Mayor Pro Tem Branch having filed to run for Mayor, I offer the following thoughts. By now, even our new Councilors own the positions by which Raleigh is currently governed. Your current record and what you do to distinguish yourself over the coming year will determine your perception by the voters in the election one year from now.
November 14, 2023 City Council Meetings
Highlights from the November 14 City Council meeting.
Reinstate Raleigh’s BRT promise: Use transit to strengthen New Bern households and families, not displace them.
In 2016 Raleigh’s Planning Director promised Raleigh’s BRT would serve “some of Raleigh’s lowest-wealth communities .. [and] ensure that these investments benefit rather than displace households and families.” At the New Bern BRT Kickoff Meeting, a senior city planner pledged the city would “make sure the BRT benefits … are shared equitably … so that existing residents of the New Bern corridor … are going to be there to benefit”
Raleigh declines under the leadership of the Mayor of DrunkTown
I’d like to talk to you tonight about how the city of Raleigh has declined under the leadership, or lack of leadership, with Mary-Ann Baldwin.
City Council Meetings – November 7, 2023
Highlights from November 7, 2023 City Council Meeting
Council didn’t like your election survey answers. So this time they’re ‘helping’ you get them ‘right’.
Raleigh City Council is doing another survey about election reform. We say another because they did a survey on the topic and published those results in January 2022. But, they didn’t like your answers. So, they are commissioning another survey and this time they are wording the questions differently to try to get answers they like.
RALEIGH PARADE ROLLERCOASTER: Did the Mayor Make Thousands Suffer Because She Was Criticized?
Let’s all remember the City has had nearly a full year to create new safety protocols so that these parade cancellations could have been avoided. And, to-date they have made no public statements about what work they have done to develop the new procedures. Or, if they have even started the process. This debacle and the lack of transparency should be an issue in next year’s City Council election.
New Bern BRT: Bait & Switch or Just Action?
In 2017, ‘The Color of Law’ landed like a bombshell in progressive housing policy circles. In Raleigh, powerful development interests saw the opportunity to adopt — some would say co-opt — Richard Rothstein’s anti-segregation message by promoting pro-density zoning rules that not only lifted exclusionary zoning rules, but went much further. By 2020, a new alliance of developer money, self-righteous Council aspirants and their white privileged adherents provided the lubrication to fast track pro-density zoning proposals. Novice Councilors were assured that pesky public input needn’t impede this sweet deal to meld profits and equity.
The Parade was one of Raleigh’s claims to fame, not anymore!
On that one magical day I always think this is something wonderful Raleigh can do that not every city can do. But now, other cities can do it and we can’t.
Save Mine Creek Trail
Please do not vote to pass this decision. There is another way, there is compromise here. The safety of the residents matters. We matter.