The latest finance reports filed at the end of October provide us with some shocking numbers to add to our previous reporting. Clark Rinehart received HUGE additional spending support from the development community.
Don’t Let Kane Realty Trash Midtown Raleigh!
When you’re a billionaire developer and want something from the public, why bother with obeying the law and showing due respect for your neighbors when it’s easier and more profitable to dispense with public review and successfully lobby the General Assembly to change the law? This is a story about a betrayal of our Midtown neighborhoods, but there is a message here for all our neighbors in Raleigh. I urge all residents of all the diverse communities within the City to read and take note.
Don’t Turn Lassiter Mill Road Into an Unsafe Service Road
A developer wants to build a 15-story building on Lassiter Mill Road at North Hills. Instead of putting shops or restaurants on the ground floor with windows you can look into, they want to build giant blank walls with huge garage doors. This space would be used for trash pickup, heavy equipment, and large tractor-trailer trucks driving in and out at all hours. Neighbors worry this will make Lassiter Mill Road dangerous for people walking, riding bikes, or driving.
Follow the Money – 2026 Campaign Finance Reports
This chart shows you the contributions made to the candidates for this election cycle through June 30, 2026. A large majority of what the City Councilors are responsible for are decisions related to development. These are the candidates that the development industry is supporting. It’s up to you to decide how you want to factor this information into your voting decision.
Developers Buy the Votes, But Taxpayers Foot the Bill
By taking builder money and voting down impact fees … elected officials are directly forcing local counties to raise property taxes on everyday citizens to cover the costs.
City Council Disappoints Again with Z-12-25
The City Council’s decision to approve the rezoning case on West Street (Z-12-25), adjacent to the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood, is hard to understand – unless, that is, you understand that a majority of Council always approves rezoning cases, no matter how outsized, because the development industry controls them.
Councilor Silver Must Recuse!
It would be reasonable for you to believe that once Silver was elected to City Council in November 2024, just one year after being paid to represent the West St property owner, he would feel obligated to recuse himself from any future City Council actions related to this property. But, Silver has stated publicly that he has no intention of recusing himself from voting on this rezoning case when it comes before the City Council.
Livable Raleigh’s Vision for Raleigh’s Sustainable and Equitable Growth
Raleigh is growing rapidly. Where are we headed? Most Raleighites like the idea of growth that is more economical, environmental and equitable. To succeed, we’ll have to grow in ways and in locations that bring fewer cars, more trees and more equitable prosperity.
The Duty of City Council
The late great James West served on this Council from District C for ten years. Dr. West said “It is not the duty of City Council to ensure developer profits. The duty of City Council is to serve all the citizens of Raleigh, to improve their quality of life.”
Baldwin is on the way out, but Pay to Play is here to stay
Councilors cringed at Baldwin’s childish bullying. But, most voted with her anyway, packing one last council meeting full of developer approvals while cancelling the public’s last comment opportunity. So much for improving public engagement councilors!