June 11 City Council Afternoon Session and Public Comments
Highlights from Work Session on Downtown and from Public Comments
JUNE 10 BUDGET WORK SESSION
Approved operating and capital improvement budgets by a vote of 5 to 2 with Councilors Black and Jones voting against.
Missing Middle, If it Matters, it Should Get Measured
As part of our preparation for the upcoming City Council elections, we have been having conversations with City Council Candidates. One of the biggest issues facing Raleigh right now is the public’s desire to have reforms made to Raleigh’s Missing Middle policies that were implemented in 2021 and 2022. We have listed several previously published blogs related to Missing Middle for your review that explain our position about the Missing Middle policies.
Mitchell Silver – Trendy Pitch Man
The N&O has twice [April 15 & May 30] quoted Livable Raleigh describing council candidate Mitchell Silver as a “development lobbyist.” Raleigh residents have every right to question where Silver’s allegiances lie. Just ask the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighbors who were hit twice with his trendy but false pitch for 30-40 story towers next door.
JUNE 4, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING
Highlights from June 4 Council Meeting
City Council Budget Work Session June 3, 2024
Highlights from June 3 Council Budget Work Session
Are 1800 Sq Ft homes “Cottages?”
We must all be aware of possible changes coming to our neighborhoods in time to weigh in. But since the developer is only required to notify the immediate neighbors, not the neighborhood, those living right next to a piece of land may be the only residents even aware (if they are) of a project being planned. Thus, any objections are likely to come only from those who know about and are affected by the project. How is anyone else supposed to find out about it? Those who DO know must spread the word so neighborhoods can more effectively object, if necessary.
Repeal and Trust the Voters
The UNC School of Government advised us: “If they’ve already formally adopted the ordinance, a member will need to make a motion to repeal. That motion would need to pass by a majority vote to repeal the ordinance.”
You could have made a difference but you failed!
This decision further undermines any trust with your decisions and who you are truly representing. It’s unfortunate because you could have really made a difference with this vote and you failed and further undermined any trust and transparency.
May 21, 2024 City Council Work Session & Afternoon Session
Highlights from May 21 Work Session and Afternoon Session
MSD moves power from city government to private interests
The survey done by the community engagement department strongly indicates the amenities this MSD proposes do not align with what residents are willing to pay for, and since it is the businesses in the area that want these amenities, it should be the businesses that pay for them; not the residents.
Helping Hands – we need your hands too!
Join with us and these City Council candidates to help us get 5,000 signatures on the Election Reform Petition. Hold City Council to their promise and let the voters decide.
May 14 City Council Meetings
Highlights from May 14 work session and public comments session
Portland Measures Missing Middle for Success
Raleigh’s missing middle rules promote profitability, but they fail at every other community goal: affordability, neighborhood compatibility, walkability, accessibility and equity. By excluding community goals, Raleigh’s missing middle rules have created a situation where the missing middle infill being built is very big, very unaffordable, incompatible with its surroundings and more often than not, demolishes rather than increases Raleigh’s supply of affordable dwellings.
Election Reform Timeline
Six councilors made public statements in support of using a referendum for the voters to make the decision on election reform over more than a year. Most voicing that support as recently as one month before they suddenly changed course and turned their backs on the promise they made to the voters. And, they did so without any explanation for what caused them to abandon their firmly stated positions.
City Council broke their promise to you!
At their May 7 meeting, Council reneged on their PROMISE that they would put a proposal for four-year terms with a nonpartisan primary on the November ballot for the voters to decide. Instead, all on their own, they unilaterally approved staggered four-year terms with a primary beginning in 2026. The councilors arrogantly noted that if citizens didn’t like their backtracking on their commitment, they could “just go collect 5,000 signatures” on a petition within 30 days and force the council to keep their promise of placing the issue on the ballot as a referendum in November.
May 7, 2024 City Council Meetings
Highlights from May 7 Afternoon and Evening council meetings.
Fair compensation for RPD
It was embarrassing to listen to both Fire and RPD ask for additional compensation just to stay competitive with neighboring communities. Raleigh has the best training facilities in the area but we suffer from retaining personnel because, although we are the Capital City, we don’t provide fair compensation or benefits.
Best of Wake County 2024
INDY Week Readers Name Livable Raleigh Best Local Activist Group – Wake County – 2024. Our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the event. We pledge to continue bringing you the kind of local activism you appreciate.
Don’t Put the Cart Before the Horse
On May 7th, Council will hear from the public about the idea of creating a self-taxing Municipal Services District (MSD) to improve safety, cleanliness and growth in the corridor. Our opinion is that adopting an MSD first puts the cart before the horse. Livable Raleigh recommends that Council follow the precedent of Raleigh’s existing MSDs: Begin by funding and adopting a strong Area Plan vision supported by all stakeholders to guide Council rezonings and investments. Then decide if an MSD is needed to manage safety, cleanliness and the adopted Area Plan vision.