More news…
Whenever Mary-Ann Baldwin calls for ‘flexibility’, what she wants is a backroom deal.
When Mary-Ann Baldwin recently called for “flexibility” in spending Raleigh’s proposed Affordable Housing Bond funds, what she really wants are fewer constraints on how the money will be spent, thereby creating more opportunities to parley taxpayer-funded development deals with supplicants in Barnhill’s back office.
In the “Save Shelley Lake” rezoning case, will Council do its job? Does it even know what its job is? (Councilor Buffkin: This mess is on you.)
It is the job of a conscientious City Council to mediate between profit-seeking developers and neighbors whose property rights — and quality of life — are in danger of being trampled.
NOW is Your Chance: Help Save Umstead State Park from that Giant Mining Pit/Quarry
This is likely your last chance to speak out and help save Umstead Park from the RDU Quarry.
The City Council’s Affordable Housing Bond Issue: “Buckets” of Debt ($80 mil) in Search of a Plan
The bond proposal is full of holes where the details should be. Still, we haven’t given up hope that we can persuade Council to focus on the real needs and fight gentrification in our historic African-American communities.
Raleigh is in crisis: What now for our City?
We are two cities in one: A surging city for whites and the highly educated. A city in crisis for many African-Americans and other people of color.
Pave Paradise
Midtown Raleigh resident Larry Helfant recently emailed the Raleigh City Council to share his concerns about a rezoning (Z-41-19) near Shelley Lake. The Public Hearing is June 2nd. Apparently the City Council plans to go ahead with public hearings and other business as usual, despite a pandemic and civil crisis.
Maslow or Moonshot? Sign up by Friday to weigh in at the 6/2 Budget Hearing
What we need is a real moonshot budget that prioritizes Raleigh Human Services and an Affordable Housing bond that deals directly and effectively with the horrifying impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are tearing at the fabric of so many Raleigh lives, particularly the lives of homeless mothers and their children.
Quick wins for improving community engagement at Council meetings
Livable Raleigh offers some suggestions for improving community engagement at Council meetings.
Baldwin’s PC purge continues: Planning Commission Chair Edie Jeffreys is targeted for removal
Since Baldwin & Co’s election, early dismissals from the Planning Commission have come at a rapid pace. Who’s getting dismissed? Anyone not employed by the development industry or beholden to the Baldwin bloc on Council.
Patrick Buffkin — Missing in Action
Although Councilor Buffkin did share the concern that citizens weren’t provided alternate methods to access CAC meetings as justification to abolish that system, he is MISSING IN ACTION when it comes to providing access to his own district meetings.
Wanda Gilbert-Coker: We Are Sick and Tired of City Council’s White Privilege
The network of CACs benefited the Black community. It was an opportunity for Black people to voice their concerns on City issues. Also, it empowered the Black community to organize against gentrification. This is why it was dismantled.
Why did they kill our Citizen Advisory Councils? (the secret video!)
This just-unearthed video, produced by the city BEFORE Baldwin took office, shows the CACs for what they were really were. Take a look and if you like, share it before the secret is buried again!
Raleigh, we have a problem: Our “Affordable Housing MoonShot” is way off course
Raleigh’s affordable housing bond survey lacks important sampling methods and validation techniques required to produce an unbiased picture of public sentiment. Intentionally or not, the survey ignores low-wealth residents and confuses the public’s true feelings about the affordable housing bond.
Nicole Stewart, your Hypocrisy is Showing
Councilor Nicole Stewart expressed frustration during the May 5 council meeting that Councilor David Cox hadn’t provided advance notice to her that he would raise the issue of the RDU quarry, though of course he didn’t bring it up; three citizens did.
City Council finds new and novel ways to do nothing about the RDU Airport Quarry
The issue of the RDU Quarry came once again to the Raleigh City Council. And once again, the Council took no action, in the process missing the deadline for supporting a public hearing on the mining permit.
Affordable Housing Bond Process Lacks Civic Engagement
At the May 5 City Council meeting, Raleigh resident Wanda Hunter asked Council to replace the flawed affordable housing bond process with one that is inclusive and equitable, and that authentically engages all of our community.
Mayor Baldwin shows disdain for the public yet again
Did Mary-Ann Baldwin’s disdain for public participation in rezoning cases cause her to violate a new state law this week?
The new law puts rules in place for public hearings when they’re part of a remote, or “virtual” meeting.
Council to hear from developers, not the public, on rezonings (updated 5/14)
Raleigh’s new Council summarily abolished Raleigh’s 18 Citizens Advisory Councils (CACs) without any notice or public comment. Three months later, the CACs’ community-run zoning review process has been replaced with a quickie substitute controlled by the rezoning applicant — i.e., the developer.
Raleigh: A city government without citizens
Having all but eliminated citizen input, and perhaps because half of its members are brand-new, the Council looks to be frozen on stage, with no wisdom to offer. And then they adjourn, congratulating one another on the great job they’re doing!
Raleigh’s Affordable Housing Bond: Pandemic Casualty or Bold Opportunity?
Moonshots are easier when Raleigh’s economy is humming and surpluses can be diverted to social benefits. The true test of the new Council’s commitment to bold, revolutionary and transformative change is at hand now, at this time of recessionary crisis and opportunity.