So what can we do to make sure Raleigh’s elections are as democratic as possible and result in a winner who earns a majority of the votes and not just a plurality.
Raleigh Elections – When are they?
A lot of towns in Wake County are holding general elections this Fall. When is the next general election for Raleigh’s City Council?
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Highlights from September 5 Council Meetings
Council schedules public meeting w/o streaming access or recording
They keep scheduling meetings at locations where they can’t provide online access and they make no effort to record the events for later viewing. They continue to refuse to provide the same level of access they demanded from the CACs. These are CHOICES they are making. And they are CHOOSING to provide the minimal amount of public access required by open meeting laws.
Survey Results are in. Previous Council Fails
This survey is in essence a “Report Card” for the previous City Council that served from Dec 2019 thru Nov 2022. As far as the results for the previous City Council go, Raleigh’s scores declined in 71 of the 98 categories that were surveyed.
What does it mean when 50% of your campaign contributions come from for-profit developers?
A message from Robert Steele. Councilman Jonathan Melton has submitted his mid-year campaign finance reports, and as expected, it’s more of the same. 50% is developer and real estate money. In almost every email the Councilman sends out, he toots his own horn on affordable housing, but can we trust him to have the interests of housing strapped residents at heart when HALF of his campaign is funded by for-profit, and not for-people, developers? I don’t think we can. That’s why I won’t be accepting developer money in my campaign. I want you, the residents of Raleigh, to be absolutely SURE that I am not bought and paid for. We can’t say the same for Councilman Melton.
The Missing Middle Fiasco: 8 Things The New City Council Should Do Quickly
A more sensible approach would’ve been incremental, introducing MM reforms in neighborhoods where actual frequent transit service is available within short walking distances. As frequent transit routes are added, MM’s application could be expanded.
Reining in the worst aspects of this MM giveaway to the development industry is a big test for the new Council. Hope they’re up to it.
Raleigh issues meaningless apology for past racism as gentrification continues
The irony of this council putting forth this apology at this time was not lost on the public. Speaker Jeremy Gilchrest asked, now that you have apologized for the city’s racist past, including urban renewal, who is going to apologize for the current racism that we see systemically gutting out the black community?
Raleigh City Council July 5 Meetings
Highlights from July 5 Council Meetings. Council on hiatus until August 15.
Raleigh Pride, All Talk, No Action
Apparently, it’s only Raleigh that must stay silent out of fear that the politicians on Jones Street might do something to hurt the straight, cis, white residents of Raleigh and we can’t risk that. As long as they are only attacking the LGBTQ+ community, Raleigh’s City Council is good.