Raleigh flunks all 5 tests of “Open Democracy”
Bob Geary, resident of Raleigh’s District D and member of the Wake County Housing Justice Coalition, delivered the following remarks at the City Council meeting on September 7: Mayor and Council, I want to recommend a fascinating book called “Open Democracy: Popular...
Metrics of Success – If it Matters, it Gets Measured
One important plank of Livable Raleigh's platform is Evaluation Using Data and Metrics “If it matters, it gets measured.” Raleigh must establish better metrics for measuring growth, equity, environmental quality, traffic congestion and citizen engagement, evaluating...
Artist duo sparks climate action in transformational new exhibit: Turning Point
One of the core tenets of Livable Raleigh’s platform is Environmental Excellence – “The protection of Raleigh’s natural resources – air, water, trees and landscapes — must be integral to every public action.” We are pleased to help promote Meredith College’s Art...
It’s Never Too Late to do the Right Thing.
Bob Geary, resident of Raleigh’s District D and member of the Wake County Housing Justice Coalition, delivered the following remarks about this Council's move of the next City Election to Nov 2022 at the City Council meeting on August 17: Mayor and Council – I suspect...
The Baldwin Recall Petition Isn’t Personal; It’s About Restoring Local Democracy
[Livable Raleigh has done] an excellent job at remaining focused on the nonpartisan issues in a way that aligns with fundamental principles … of local democracy, which is why this movement has gained traction across party lines.
Will Raleigh Ever Protect its LGBTQ Citizens?
In the last week three more local governments have enacted LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Ordinances. Joining the ranks are Charlotte, Chatham County and Winston-Salem. But, Raleigh still offers NO PROTECTIONS to their LGBTQ citizens. This despite the fact that two members...
Buffkin’s COVID Grandstanding Puts Public Health at Risk
It was announced on social media Wednesday, August 11th, that the Raleigh City Council was returning to virtual meetings as a safety precaution against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Not long after, District A Councilor Patrick Buffkin criticized the decision on...
One more reason to recall Baldwin – Raleigh does exist outside the belt line – Guest Commentary
Kris Door, a North Raleigh resident, submitted the following commentary to the N&O as a letter to the editor. It was not published. We are publishing it here as part of our series of Community Voices. There are many reasons why Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin should...
What if Mayor Baldwin was a Republican?
I recently submitted a letter to the editor about Mayor Baldwin and her pattern of undemocratic behavior. The News & Observer deleted my main points (in red), and left just my partisan comments. With that heavy edit, the N&O should have titled my LTE “What if...
Comment on Missing Middle Housing by 8/14 – How to Make Raleigh’s Missing Middle Policy Better
Daniel Parolek coined the phrase "Missing Middle Housing." He recently held a webinar explaining the common mistakes made when implementing this policy. Raleigh is making most of those mistakes with this text change. The Top Five Missing Middle Housing Implementation...