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A taxpayer giveaway for a stadium right now is indefensible
For those who want to learn more about TIGs, please join Livable Raleigh this Saturday at 10am for a free community conversation with a panel of experts.
You can register at bit.ly/TIG-forum
Study Group on Council Terms/ Salaries and Voter Engagement/ Participation
City Council created a study group to explore if and how the council’s structure should change. That could include increasing terms from two to four years, upping council members’ pay (currently $17,412 for what’s considered a part-time job), and expanding the...
Can Raleigh Become a Leader in Addressing Climate Change?
Linda Watson, a former member of Raleigh's Environmental Advisory Board, sent the following letter to the members of the Growth and Natural Resources Committee and the full City Council prior to the 1/26/21 GNR committee meeting. She points out Raleigh's climate goals...
This Council abused its white privilege to suppress all Black CAC voices
One year ago, this Council used the excuse of ‘too much white CAC privilege’ to justify and conceal their own white privileged suppression of all Black CAC voices.
Feb. 4: One Year Today Since the CACs Were Gutted by Mayor Baldwin’s Council, and Still No Replacement In Sight
Today, February 4, is exactly one year since Mayor Baldwin and her City Council mates voted to gut the 18 Citizens Advisory Councils, leaving Raleigh without any functioning system for bringing citizens into city government. You may recall that Baldwin launched...
Hey Raleigh: You Could Lead … Follow … Or, Get Out of the Way.
When Mary-Ann Baldwin was a candidate for mayor, she had this to say about Durham: "Durham’s got it going on. Every time I go to Durham, I’m like, wow, this is happening. And that is leadership, plain and simple. [Durham Mayor] Steve Schewel has thrown down the...
Warning: Kane Realty’s tax “ask” for “Downtown South” project could cost us mere taxpayers $450 million — or more
For all the attention it's getting in the press -- which is none -- you might think that Kane Realty has given up trying to avoid paying property taxes on the so-called Downtown South Project. In fact, however, Kane's man Bonner Gaylord, the former Raleigh City...
Stewart and Baldwin: Don’t Speak TRUTH to Power. Speak NICE to Power!
Raleigh resident Tim Niles delivered the following comments at City Council's Jan 19 meeting during the public comment period. Following Mr. Niles' transcribed comments is a discussion of likely Councilor violations of Council's own Code of Conduct. Tim Niles: Last...
Terrance Ruth: A Breath of Fresh Air
In a recent interview with mayoral candidate Terrance Ruth, the Indy’s Jane Porter began by asking why he is running. His answer was plain and to the point: “because I have seen the slow dissolving of public trust in our city.”
Dr. King’s Unfinished Work: Economic Justice
American culture for the most part has grown comfortable with the “I-have-a-dream” Martin Luther King. We love his wonderful words like, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin...
Jane Harrison calls out INDYWeek’s Convenient Scapegoat narrative
Jane Harrison submitted a Letter to the Editor of INDYWeek with her thoughts on their coverage of Downtown South “In your writeup of what you’re watching for 2021, you mention NIMBY opposition to Downtown South—a convenient scapegoat to dismiss authentic and varied community concerns,”
“The Only Thing Worse Than A NIMBY Is A YIMBY,” and other truths about affordable housing and what the “Yes” crowd really means
Instead of building condos for the people who don’t need houses, and hoping that eventually market forces will slowly reduce prices at every level, it’s possible to build for the people who do need houses. There is also no need for progress to involve bulldozing beloved historic places.
Two Raleigh Women Spot a Local Tax Scandal
Did you hear about this tax increment thing that’s happening in Raleigh? Sounds a little sketchy to me! Mega-developer John Kane wants hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to pay for his Downtown South sports stadium.
In Historic Victory, Hillsborough Becomes First North Carolina Municipality to Pass LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Protections Since Sunset of HB142. What About Raleigh?
Monday, Jan 11 the Board of Commissioners in Hillsborough, North Carolina voted to pass an ordinance broadly protecting members of the LGBTQ community from discrimination. The vote makes Hillsborough, a town with a population of 7,000 people, the first municipality in...
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.