Upcoming Raleigh Events
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
City Council Pre-Budget Work Session
City Council Pre-Budget Work Session
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 3901 Stratford Ct.
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 3901 Stratford Ct.
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 319 Heck Street (Z-39-25)
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 319 Heck Street (Z-39-25)
Second Community meeting to reactivate the South CAC
Second Community meeting to reactivate the South CAC
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 5621 & 5615 Kyle Drive
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 5621 & 5615 Kyle Drive
Read up on our latest news…
Do Black Lives Matter in Raleigh? (And what’s with the mayor’s dismissive response of “whatnot”?)
At the Jan 5 City Council meeting, two residents spoke eloquently asking the city to create an African-American Affairs Board. Watch the clip to hear these comments and Mayor Baldwin’s denial of their reasonable request. Why did this Council approve a Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board, but not one for the African-American community?
Lack of Progress and Accountability in Raleigh’s Community Engagement Project
On Tuesday, January 5th I spoke to the City Council about the progress of the City's community engagement project. Below are my comments. — Michael Lindsay Hi Mayor Baldwin and City Council members. Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you. I hope all of you...
“Let’s Be Clear: Downtown South does not have any affordable housing”
At City Council last night, Bob Geary, 202 East Park Drive, made the following comments about the Downtown South project. He is a former columnist for the Independent Weekly and a former member of the Raleigh Planning Commission. Good evening, and Happy New Year! Just...
We now have 3 promising challengers for Raleigh mayor and City Council seats.
Yesterday we noted Terrance Ruth's entrance into the 2021 mayoral race as well as Jane Harrison's announcement on New Year's Day that she will be running for the District D Council seat in the October elections. We should've added that Joshua Bradley, a Bernie...
Two promising challengers emerge as ’21 Raleigh election year begins
Terrance Ruth is challenging Mary-Ann Baldwin for Raleigh Mayor. Ruth announced his candidacy earlier today. Baldwin announced her re-election bid at the end of December. Watch Terrance's Announcement Video Campaign website Truth For Raleigh Facebook Truth...
Raleigh’s Leaders’ Moment to Listen
Raleigh is at a pivotal moment, a moment where leaders must listen. For a city that has received so much praise for its quality of life as a great place to live, work, and raise a family, Raleigh’s leadership is being questioned by its most important stakeholders, the community.
Citizens Speak Out: When Council Silenced the CACs, Black Communities Suffered Most
The son of one of Raleigh’s first Black City Councilors speaks out against gentrification in Raleigh. He says this Council’s abolition of CACs “leaves Raleigh’s heart open to knives that will cut neighborhoods and communities up”.
I helped Mayor Clarence Lightner create the CACs. Why is the current City Council so unwilling to listen to citizens?
“The lack of serious communication in the past few days is also symptomatic of an unwillingness to listen.” — Henry Sarnoff, Prof. Emeritus, NCSU
Downtown South Needs a Makeover
During the holidays we are re-posting some of our favorite guest blogs while we take some time away from our normal hectic schedules. Here is a recent message from Jane Harrison. Jane Harrison, Ph.D., works at North Carolina State University for NOAAs Sea Grant...
After Downtown South — what’s next?
Let’s advocate for meaningful community engagement as the Downtown South project moves forward. We need to ensure that concerns about gentrification, affordable housing, flooding, and traffic are addressed and not swept under the rug.
The Question of Equity. Or, Why “Downtown South” is, so far, Right for Kane, Wrong for South Raleigh
“Exclusive is what Kane wants. Inclusive is what Raleigh needs.” The public hearing on Kane’s “Downtown South” project is tonight at 7 pm.
Quality of life hinges on the details in rezonings – my experience
When major commercial development comes knocking onto residential’s door, it is wise for residents to learn from past rezonings. The news of the Downtown South project brings back memories of my involvement with the St Albans rezonings a few years ago. Kane Realty and...
Planning Commission votes 8-0 to deny current Downtown South Project and calls for a revised and improved project.
After six weeks of special meetings and intense analysis, the Raleigh Planning Commission found the Downtown South Project, the largest development proposal ever in Raleigh, to be fundamentally inconsistent with Raleigh’s adopted policies for environmental protection,...
The Public Interest: Can The Raleigh City Council See It?
Raleigh’s city leaders have a civic duty to create spaces for public dialogue; to encourage and listen to diverse viewpoints; offer honest analysis and synthesis toward recommendations that advocate for the public interest; and act in the public interest, which...
Downtown South Project – Final Call to Action
City Council has scheduled a special meeting for the Public Hearing on the Downtown South Project. You have only two days to provide your input into this important discussion. If you would like to send an email to the members of City Council, their email...
CALL TO ACTION – DOWNTOWN SOUTH
Good news: The Raleigh Planning Commission voted 8-0 AGAINST Kane Realty’s application for the massive development they’re calling “Downtown South.” The Commission found that John Kane’s bid for a huge up-zoning of his 145-acre site in South Raleigh, with buildings of...
Fast tracking this project is a betrayal of your relationship with the citizens
Longtime Raleigh resident, Rachel Wooten, PhD, delivered the following remarks to the Mayor and City Council for public comment Dec 1, 2020 To Mayor Baldwin and Council Members, I have just sent an email to you as a member of ONE Wake. I am following up with a...
Profiles in Courage
As the largest development proposal ever seen in Raleigh, John Kane’s Downtown South Project challenges all the normal processes for judging community impacts and benefits. The political pressure for quick approval is equally off the charts, so much so that the City...
Baldwin & Council majority set surprise Dec. 15 public hearing on Kane’s “Downtown South” scheme: Fast-track to approval?
The Planning Commission is still looking at it, and City Council was not scheduled to meet again until January. You know, "Deck the Halls?" Until, that is, Mayor Baldwin and her band of Council followers stepped in to fast-track developer John Kane's "Downtown South"...
At Kane site in South Raleigh, residents choose a new neighborhood over a 2nd Downtown
Until Kane pitched his “New Downtown” scheme, the City showed smaller-scale “Transit-Oriented Development” on South Wilmington Street — because it’s a future Bus Rapid Transit corridor.