Tax Breaks for Developers and Tax Hikes for Homeowners

Tax Breaks for Developers and Tax Hikes for Homeowners

Mayor Baldwin and her City Council majority including Jonathan Melton, Stormie Forte, Corey Branch and David Knight, who are all running for re-election, implemented a tax break policy for developers known as a “Tax Increment Grant” or TIG. Despite Baldwin’s claim otherwise, it can cost the City of Raleigh 5 million dollars in tax rebates every year FOREVER.

David Knight is having a terrible, no good, very bad week.

David Knight is having a terrible, no good, very bad week.

At the Oct 4, 2022 City Council meeting, several speakers during the Public Comments portion of the meeting called out David Knight for LYING to the public. We are amazed his nose hasn’t grown several sizes longer just like Pinocchio! Frank Hielema pointed out...
STOP LYING ABOUT CACs!

STOP LYING ABOUT CACs!

I want to clarify some misinformation that continues to be spread, from this council, about CACs and their role in Raleigh’s rezoning process.

David Knight must cease and desist immediately.

David Knight must cease and desist immediately.

At a candidate forum last week, David Knight falsely accused Livable Raleigh of being a Super PAC (Political Action Committee). We’re NOT. We’re a registered 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. PACs are organizations like the “NC Property Rights Fund” and “Triangle Government Alliance” who together supported Knight’s 2019 campaign with spending of nearly $70,000 during an election where Knight got over 70% of his campaign financing from the development industry.

It’s David Knight causing the lack of civility at City Council.

It’s David Knight causing the lack of civility at City Council.

It has been noted that there is a lack of civility at council in addressing Raleigh’s runaway growth. What is the root cause of that lack of civility? Could it start with the name-calling by the mayor and Councilor Knight who refer to their opposition in the pejorative use of Activist and Radical Activist? Could it be fueled by Councilor Knight who refers to citizens who dissent with giving a city staffer unlimited speaking time during the 1-minute public comments period as rude, entitled folks?

David Knight is the one misleading the public.

David Knight is the one misleading the public.

I would like to correct some statements that were made by Mr. Knight at the Sept 20th Work Session. Mr. Knight totally twisted the work of the CACs. The only one misleading the public is Mr. Knight.

Melton will take $$$ from ANYONE!

Melton will take $$$ from ANYONE!

At a City Council At-Large Candidate Forum held Sept 27, 2022, Councilor Jonathan Melton said “I’ll take ANY contribution” in a response to a question about the influence of big real estate developers on Council. That includes a sexual predator and an Anti-LGBTQ bigot.

October 4 City Council Meetings

October 4 City Council Meetings

HIGHLIGHTS o Southeast Special Area Study referred to Planning Commission. This would potentially involve adding an area larger than the size of the Town of Chapel Hill to Raleigh. Discussion about whether or not Raleigh has the water to accommodate this growth,...
David Knight lashes out at community groups

David Knight lashes out at community groups

David Knight is struggling to divert voter attention away from his council record of development industry payola, citizen suppression and environmental destruction by lashing out at anyone who dares to fact-check his false claims.

Cat Lawson, Dist A Candidate, Does She Trust the Citizens?

Cat Lawson, Dist A Candidate, Does She Trust the Citizens?

If Cat Lawson’s understanding of being a City Councilor is that it is an “exercise in public trust,” why doesn’t she trust the public to know who she really is when she is asking for their support and their votes? Why is she scrubbing her history of anything that might be problematic for her run for office?

CACs are what democracy is all about – Councilor David Cox

CACs are what democracy is all about – Councilor David Cox

Mr. Knight misunderstands what CACs did. People exercised their right to express their support or not of proposed changes in the city code through non-binding votes.

It is chilling to think that anyone in 21st century America after all our Country has been through to secure our rights to speak freely, to petition our government, and to vote at everything from neighborhood book clubs to electing the President could utter such words.

Mary Black-Branch, Dist A Candidate, in her own words

Mary Black-Branch, Dist A Candidate, in her own words

Mary Black-Branch is Livable Raleigh’s endorsed candidate for City Council in District A. She recently answered a question about herself on Twitter and we are reposting her answer here.   Question: What got you into activism? Mary’s answer: This is...
Mayor Baldwin, Jonathan Melton and several City Council candidates take anti-LGBTQ cash

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.

Councilor Knight on CACs, They are Inappropriate!

Councilor Knight on CACs, They are Inappropriate!

Knight said the CACs, by continuing to call themselves CACs, were misleading the public. They were self-elected, self-selected, exclusive and inappropriate.
He said the one vital thing they were doing was voting on other people’s property rights without being elected to do so.
The only one misleading the public is Knight.