I’m disappointed that while the numbers show engagement has decreased significantly, it’s being reported in a way to make the public think improvements have been made when they have not, All of this during the City Council election as a way to fool the voters. You can’t correct the lack of trust Mickey Fearn found in this Council with this type of deception.
Mayor Baldwin and her City Council majority including Jonathan Melton, Stormie Forte, Corey Branch and David Knight, who are all running for re-election, implemented a tax break policy for developers known as a “Tax Increment Grant” or TIG. Despite Baldwin’s claim otherwise, it can cost the City of Raleigh 5 million dollars in tax rebates every year FOREVER.
At a candidate forum last week, David Knight falsely accused Livable Raleigh of being a Super PAC (Political Action Committee). We’re NOT. We’re a registered 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. PACs are organizations like the “NC Property Rights Fund” and “Triangle Government Alliance” who together supported Knight’s 2019 campaign with spending of nearly $70,000 during an election where Knight got over 70% of his campaign financing from the development industry.
It has been noted that there is a lack of civility at council in addressing Raleigh’s runaway growth. What is the root cause of that lack of civility? Could it start with the name-calling by the mayor and Councilor Knight who refer to their opposition in the pejorative use of Activist and Radical Activist? Could it be fueled by Councilor Knight who refers to citizens who dissent with giving a city staffer unlimited speaking time during the 1-minute public comments period as rude, entitled folks?