Highlights from September 5 Council Meetings
Actions Speak Louder than words
Actions speak louder than words, and the action city council took on the Shaw University was one that allows religious discrimination to continue, and the enabling of an administration looking to avoid the consequences of their own actions. Government is supposed to protect the community, not to create investment opportunities for the wealthy. And Raleigh City Council chose the latter. It’s a disgrace to democracy.
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?
Protect Democracy, Freedom & Human Rights
There are a lot of attacks on democracy, freedom, and human rights that are coming out of the General Assembly these days. Attacks on reproductive health care (including abortion), trans youth, fair elections, education, etc. What are you as our elected City Council going to do to resist this acceleration into fascism that is happening in the state?
Suppression, Displacement and Conflicts of Interest
When residents are telling you that your project is causing gentrification and displacement, your response should not be to double down and steamroll the people.
Mayor Baldwin, Jonathan Melton and several City Council candidates take anti-LGBTQ cash
INDYWeek reminds us in their Daily Mail that Lt Governor Mark Robinson is still a bigot.
But they fail to make the connection to Raleigh City Council.
So, it’s time to update our previous report noting that developer John Kane is a BIG donor to Lt. Governor Mark Robinson and he is also a BIG donor to Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, Councilor Jonathan Melton and several City Council candidates.
David Knight doesn’t believe all citizens have a right to be heard
Councilor David Knight is a lawyer by profession. But, you would never know that based on the things he doesn't understand about democracy. On August 20, 2022, Councilor David Knight sent an email to the Chair of the Midtown CAC (Citizens Advisory Council)...
Baldwin “Reconsiders” Giving Money to Other Democrats?
Mary-Ann Baldwin, the mayor of Raleigh, has some $500,000 banked for her election campaign. It’s a tribute to how completely she’s owned by Raleigh’s developers – led by mega-spender John Kane, a right-wing Republican known for backing, among other crazies, our very own GOP Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. (And, of course, Trump.)
More Advocacy Groups Charge City Council with Misrepresenting Them
At the March 1 public hearing to review and approve new District Maps for Raleigh’s City Council, the City Attorney claimed Raleigh is not covered by Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and City Staff claimed that the Advocacy Groups who reviewed the proposed maps...
INDY Reader Misses the Point(s)
We previously wrote about INDY Daily's comments on Raleigh Council's undemocratic actions here: INDY Daily BLASTS City Council's Undemocratic Behavior. One of their readers disagrees with their take on it and writes: "This is not a good take with respect to the...