by B G | May 9, 2020 | Blog
The issue of the RDU Quarry came once again to the Raleigh City Council. And once again, the Council took no action, in the process missing the deadline for supporting a public hearing on the mining permit.
by S M | May 8, 2020 | Blog
At the May 5 City Council meeting, Raleigh resident Wanda Hunter asked Council to replace the flawed affordable housing bond process with one that is inclusive and equitable, and that authentically engages all of our community.
by B G | May 7, 2020 | Blog
Did Mary-Ann Baldwin’s disdain for public participation in rezoning cases cause her to violate a new state law this week?
The new law puts rules in place for public hearings when they’re part of a remote, or “virtual” meeting.
by S | May 5, 2020 | Blog
Raleigh’s new Council summarily abolished Raleigh’s 18 Citizens Advisory Councils (CACs) without any notice or public comment. Three months later, the CACs’ community-run zoning review process has been replaced with a quickie substitute controlled by the rezoning applicant — i.e., the developer.
by B G | Apr 30, 2020 | Blog
Having all but eliminated citizen input, and perhaps because half of its members are brand-new, the Council looks to be frozen on stage, with no wisdom to offer. And then they adjourn, congratulating one another on the great job they’re doing!
by S | Apr 14, 2020 | Blog
Moonshots are easier when Raleigh’s economy is humming and surpluses can be diverted to social benefits. The true test of the new Council’s commitment to bold, revolutionary and transformative change is at hand now, at this time of recessionary crisis and opportunity.
by M L | Apr 10, 2020 | Blog
Do you have any idea how much money was spent to win the seats on Raleigh’s City Council? Do you have any idea where all that money came from? Do you know who is expecting a return on their investments? The data is all available in the campaign finance...
by S M | Apr 9, 2020 | Blog
On Feb 4, 2020, Raleigh’s City Council disbanded the city’s Citizen Advisory Councils (CACs) that had been in place for nearly 50 years. CACs provided an opportunity to engage the public and allow a two-way information flow between the public and the city...
by S M | Apr 6, 2020 | Blog
For all the talk about how this Mayor and new City Council are going to develop a fantastic, new community engagement initiative, you’d never know they give a hoot about this subject given how they have restricted our ability as citizens to participate on the matters...
by S M | Mar 30, 2020 | Blog
Dear Mayor Baldwin and City Council Members, We are not living in “business as usual” times. On the City website, a notice has been posted to hold a “virtual” City Council meeting on April 7th where there will be “public comment” allowed so we can continue to...
by S M | Mar 24, 2020 | Blog
Dear City Manager Hall: I am writing on behalf of many Raleigh residents. First of all we want to thank you for your leadership during this time of unprecedented crisis. We appreciate the very big challenges you and other City staff are facing as you endeavor to run...
by S M | Mar 21, 2020 | Blog
Sports Stadia and Affordable Housing… … both share the feature of a taxpayer subsidy. Subsidies from public revenues are needed when a project is not feasible in a ‘free market,’ i.e. it will not generate income exceeding its costs —...
by S M | Mar 21, 2020 | Blog
In 2017 the city commissioned a new logo. It cost $226,000 City leaders say Raleigh’s new $226,000 logo was worth it https://abc11.com/2624736/ “The project, accomplishing part of the City’s strategic plan to find a way to effectively tell...
by S M | Mar 21, 2020 | Blog
Excerpt from The Carolinian Newspaper, March 19, 2020 edition. Editorial by Danny K. Manning
by B G | Mar 20, 2020 | Blog
Two competing ideas, one good, one bad, are out there for spending money from the taxes on restaurant meals and hotel rooms in Raleigh and Wake County. The bad idea, pushed hard by Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin this week at a truncated City Council meeting, is to spend it on...
by S M | Mar 20, 2020 | Blog
It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious threat to our health, safety, and way of life. Please adhere to the guidelines from local, state, and national governments. And please do what you can to help others. We will not recover quickly or easily from the...
by S M | Mar 19, 2020 | Blog
Did you know…. from our friends at INDY https://indyweek.com/news/wake/raleigh-soccer-stadium-john-kane-downtown-south/ as catalysts go, taxpayer-subsidized sports stadiums aren’t very good ones. Economists are nearly unified in the belief that they...
by S M | Mar 17, 2020 | Blog
The massive taxpayer subsidy John Kane is requesting for his Downtown South sports and entertainment project is a startling replay of his 2007 pitch for North Hills East subsidies. In 2007, the News & Observer wrote: “Kane wants about $140 million in local...
by S M | Mar 16, 2020 | Blog
Your best resources for COVID-19 information: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – https://www.cdc.gov/ State of North Carolina – www.ncdhhs.gov Wake County – www.Wakegov.com City of Raleigh...
by S M | Mar 16, 2020 | Blog
Local developers want a share of the Raleigh and Wake County hospitality tax. It’s the extra six percent you pay on local hotel bills and the extra one percent you pay on restaurant and bar tabs. They’re requesting $13 million a year for the next 20...
