Tim Niles, a founding member of Livable Raleigh, delivered the following remarks to City Council during Public Comments on March 1, 2022:
When this council defunded the CACs, you promised a new, REVOLUTIONARY, engagement system.
Last Friday’s Planning Commission Committee meeting was scheduled with only 48 hours notice and never placed on the city’s Events Calendar.
REVOLUTIONARY ENGAGEMENT
This weekend’s Council Retreat is on the city’s calendar. But it indicates you may only watch it online. There is no notice that residents may attend.
REVOLUTIONARY ENGAGEMENT
Immediately after a speaker tells this council she only became fully engaged AFTER virtual participation became possible, Councilor Stewart, apparently not having listened to what she was just told, expressed her opinion that the same people engage virtually that had engaged in-person. There are no new participants.
REVOLUTIONARY ENGAGEMENT
Despite the precedent of Cary’s Council providing virtual public comments during in-person meetings even before the pandemic, our City Attorney still insists allowing virtual public comment during in-person meetings is illegal in her opinion.
REVOLUTIONARY ENGAGEMENT
Despite an opinion from the UNC School of Government stating hybrid meetings are legal, our City Attorney still will not budge.
REVOLUTIONARY ENGAGEMENT
COVID safety protocols are still in place, this chamber capacity is reduced by two thirds. yet you still refuse to allow virtual comments, further limiting public participation.
REVOLUTIONARY ENGAGEMENT
You won’t admit that this council could allow virtual comments. You simply don’t want to.
REVOLUTIONARY ENGAGEMENT
It’s been over two years now.
WHERE’S THE REVOLUTION?
Tim Niles is a founding member of Livable Raleigh and has been a resident of Raleigh for over 30 years.