We deserve the Truth!

Robert Courts has a deep-rooted passion for his community, Robert spearheads Your Backyard Raleigh (YBY), a platform that fervently promotes the power of local. YBY is all about celebrating and supporting the vibrant tapestry of businesses, events, and individuals that make Raleigh an extraordinary place to live.

Robert spoke to City Council on September 19, 2023:

My name is Robert Courts and I live on Ashland St in Raleigh. I am a thirty-year resident of Raleigh.

For the past twenty-one years I have served as a self-proclaimed champion of local businesses. For the past twenty-one years I have ceaselessly and relentlessly reminded Raleigh of the power of local businesses. It is local businesses that provide Raleigh with its unique character and identity. We provide better goods and services because our ownership is in the business and in the community. We also provide a very powerful impact on the local economy by keeping local dollars local.

I was greatly saddened to recently hear that the Raleigh City Manager’s office cancelled the Raleigh Christmas Parade. Cancelled a seventy-five plus year tradition that not only kicks off the Holiday Season for Raleigh, Wake County but for North Carolina and much of the Eastern Seaboard. An event, that for seventy-five years has brought citizens, children, non-profits and businesses to Raleigh’s downtown to celebrate, to commune and engage.

So, I investigated and quickly learned that the reason the Raleigh City Manager’s office cancelled the Christmas Parade was “out of an abundance of caution and out of respect of the family of Hailey Brooks.” Staff later went on WRAL to say that they discussed this decision with all internal stake holders and the decision was made across the organization.

So, you can image my shock when councilor after city councilor made public comments that they were, in fact, not part of the decision making. They were in fact, shocked that this decision was made. So, I am here today on behalf of all local Raleigh businesses and I want to know what is the truth. Did the city actually make the decision across all departments necessary? Did they even bother to reach out to the family of Hailey Brooks before they made these comments?

Therefore, I am calling for a third party, arms-length, transparent investigation into how this decision was made. I would like to know:

1. What steps did the city staff take to create safety guidelines.

2. What steps did the city take to enhance the parade.

3. When and by whom were these guidelines communicated to the Greater Raleigh Merchant’s Association/Shop Local Raleigh

4. What steps has Greater Raleigh Merchants Association/Shop Local Raleigh taken to prevent future tragedies

I want the Raleigh Christmas Parade and I want to know who had the audacity to cancel the Raleigh Christmas Parade without citizen input.

If you appreciate the kind of reporting we bring to you