RALEIGH GROWTH The writer is former chair of the Raleigh Planning Commission In his Jan. 10 column, Ned Barnett argues that leaving growth management solutions to localities worsens the problems associated with rapid growth. An understatement for sure. Click on image...
A New Year’s Resolution: Engage with us! Negotiate for us!
Dear Mayor and City Council, As we start a new year, it is typical to make resolutions for self-betterment and better times in the upcoming year. I am no different. However my resolutions are for the Mayor and Council as we move forward in 2022. On behalf of the...
Humanizing the Affordable Housing Crisis
Longtime Raleigh resident Terry Snyder recently spoke at a Raleigh City Council meeting Over the past 49 years that I have lived in West Raleigh, I have witnessed significant changes in development. One of the most alarming negative consequences is the vanishing...
Decisions made by the city should be informed by the residents who live there; what a concept!
Christina Jones, Chair of the RCAC (Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council), recently spoke at a Raleigh City Council meeting: I recently participated in the Midtown CAC ZOOM meeting, in which we discussed Z-45-21. This is a project that will displace current...
The Nuances of Inclusionary Zoning; where there’s a will, there’s a way. Or not!
Lisa Hughet has lived in Raleigh over 30 years and has become a fierce advocate for affordable housing. Hughet became a volunteer construction lead with Wake Habitat for Humanity so she could make a visible difference and also teach others some valuable...
Notice to Renters: Make Way for Expensive Homes.
While Raleigh is booming, more and more folks are finding it harder to afford living in our City. Rents and real estate prices keep going up and up, while naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) is disappearing. The affordable apartments in these photos will be...
Strategic Plan Priorities
Longtime Raleigh resident Larry Helfant spoke at the October 5 City Council meeting and delivered the following remarks: Mayor – shortly after you took office, you created a Strategic Plan for 2021 to 2025. This plan addressed the needs of the community and the focal...
This week in INDY Backtalk
INDY Week Published Backtalk the same day they published the winners of their "Best Of" series and we now have a bit more understanding of why the readers chose us as Best Local Activist Group. The readers' comments in "Backtalk:Wants to be Charlotte So Bad" sound...
Poor Communities Are Not Devoid of Hope or Role Models, Just Resources
In the current issue of INDYWeek, Courtney Napier challenges Raleigh City Councilor Buffkin's assertion that the children of poor people need wealthier people as role models. What follows are some excerpts from her piece: As I was putting the finishing touches on a...
What really happened at the July 6 Council Meeting – don’t be fooled by the clickbait!
If you were to consult local media, you would think the most important things that happened at the July 6 City Council meeting involved hairstyle discrimination and exotic snakes. Or you might mistakenly think that Council took action to address affordable housing...









