The Glenwood-Brooklyn Legal Fund has been established and opened a GoFundMe account to support professional and legal efforts related to land-use, zoning, and community-impact issues affecting the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood.
This Fund operates independently from the plaintiffs and from legal counsel. Please donate what you can now.
At the October 7, 2025 public hearing at 7 PM there were a few comments made during the hearing on rezoning request Z-12-2025 to which I would like to respond, in addition to general comments on the overall procedure of the public hearing process.
Highlights from December 2, 2025 City Council meeting.
The Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood group has hired The Brough Law Firm, PLLC to challenge this rezoning case. The firm is investigating what we believe are several defects in how the City has handled the situation. The City has laws and policies that are designed to create gentle transitions from slow, quiet neighborhoods to the busy downtown area. We believe that the City has ignored basic principles and is overrepresenting developer interests. There is no precedent for this rezoning at all. You can’t find a single high-rise this close to a historic district ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.
I plead for your assistance in preserving one of Raleigh’s greatest cultural events—the Raleigh Christmas Parade. Christmas and Christmas Parades are for CHILDREN. I sat next to Hailey Brooks’ father in 2022 as he pleaded that you not eliminate the parade following his daughter’s tragic death. I am here to ask you to reconsider the banning of participation by the under-8 set unless they are on a vehicle. By doing so, you have effectively closed the opportunity to many children who don’t have a ride.
LET THE CHILDREN participate.
It was hard to process the complete lack of interest or support by this City Council for the concerns repeatedly raised by residents. Countless emails, phone calls, meetings, and petitions were met with silence. Council was misled—partly by a Planning Department analysis that failed to identify any policy inconsistencies, and partly by Council member Silver’s one-sided defense that dismissed legitimate concerns raised by residents.
The City does have a plan to support that growth. It is called a Comprehensive Plan. Does the City follow that plan when adding density? Most times, the answer is no!
The approval of Z-12-25 was a huge disappointment to many of the residents in Raleigh’s neighborhoods. What is most disappointing is that there was a workable compromise that would have respected all parties.
A few weeks ago I wrote in a blog that I would consider running for Mayor of Raleigh. I stated that there is much concern about the direction of the City and many have asked that I consider returning to Council. I identified three major areas of concern. I see these as essential issues facing the City and its future. Only with citizen involvement and a Council and Mayor willing to support its citizens will Raleigh be sustainable in the future as a desirable and affordable place to live. We can choose to be Raleigh or we can choose to be New York or Atlanta.
Updates on the Comp Plan and the Mobility Study. Public comments on the noise ordinance as well as the Big Branch Greenway connector, changes to City Boards and Commissions, community engagement, Dix Park, and issues with GoRaleigh. A number of bus drivers are concerned about their own safety and other working conditions.