A public opinion poll last year revealed that public safety is the top concern for Raleigh citizens and 75% of respondents supported a substantial police pay increase. To reference Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, everything that allows us to enjoy life in our city relies upon a foundation of safety.
We all know that the city needs more density. By following the Comp Plan and the recommended Downtown Transition guideline, the city can achieve much more density and still keep a reasonable height next to neighborhoods.
I’m here tonight to stand in solidarity with Raleigh’s Firefighters and join them in their fight for Separation Allowance. I believe that’s a reasonable price to pay to have a properly funded fire department that keeps us safe, attracts sufficient firefighting staff to our amazing city, and retains experienced and healthy firefighters, so they can not just survive, but thrive in Raleigh.
Highlights from the March 11 Afternoon Work Session and the Evening Public Comment Session
Highlights from March 10 Budget Work Session
If a 30 story tower is approved at this location in a designated Downtown Transition Area, then ALL the other neighborhoods noted here and currently protected by Downtown Transition Areas are at risk. This is a dangerous precedent to set.
If you are interested in protecting our trees, please consider attending the Branching Out information and input sessions, learn more about Leaf Out and how you can be involved, and consider planting native species the next time you garden or plan a new development.
The readers of INDY Week have nominated us as the “BEST LOCAL ACTIVIST GROUP in Wake County”. Please take a moment to vote for us.
Highlights from the March 4, 2025 Council meetings
A proposed Lorimer Spring development of 60 apartments for senior citizens is advancing with no official notification to nor input from neighborhood residents. It has inadequate parking and no real access to transit within safe walking distance. Especially for seniors.
In a misguided attempt to reduce Public Comment meetings from 3 hours to 2 hours in length, what City Council has done is put in place new limits when in fact, no meeting in 2024 ever went over 2 hours. But now, based on the new rules, a majority of the meetings will run less than 45 minutes and speakers will only get 1 minute to speak.
CACs are the perfect forum for these budget discussions because they will broadcast the presentation to a wider audience than the sessions that were offered earlier in the year. Community Engagement is one of the core objectives of CACs, acting as a medium for information between residents, staff and City Administration. I don’t know of any other community group that can offer those same capabilities. The City should be jumping at the chance to take this opportunity.
Let’s just say – the City fell short, big time. The BRT project has become a laughingstock, and the transportation system as-is, is modeled after an airline hub system. Meaning, you must go downtown first to catch another bus. Not to mention that one would have to walk along streets without sidewalks or ample streetlights. What would take 20 min by car is a 1 hour and 30 min ride by bus. But let’s build under the FTOD and TOD.
Highlights from 2/17 budget work session and 2/18 work session on stormwater and 2/18 afternoon session
Local government is generally more democratic than other levels of government and that is largely due to public comment which provides the chance for residents to publicly share thoughts and ideas, and conversely to listen to the thoughts and ideas of other ordinary residents.
Livable Raleigh published our first blog five years ago on February 17, 2020. Just like any other five-year-old, we can’t wait to grow even bigger. So, we’re combining a “FUND-RAISER” with a “FRIEND-RAISER” as our birthday celebration. If you rely on the kind of information you are only able to find through Livable Raleigh, we need your help to grow. Tell all your friends just what a valuable source of information we are.
The nominations for INDY’s Best of 2025 Wake County are open until February 28. You only have a few days to get your choices in. We hope you will consider nominating us again this year as “Best Local Activist Group” in Wake County
I stand before you today because democracy depends on the voices of its citizens, and public comment is one of the most direct ways we, the people, can engage with our local government. The proposal to limit public comment time is not just about minutes on a clock—it’s about the fundamental principle of representation.
King Charles NCOD stands as an example of responsible urban planning, balancing growth with livability. Destroying it in favor of unchecked development will result in irreversible damage to its character, community, and environment. The city must seek smarter solutions that protect Raleigh’s legacy while ensuring sustainable growth.
Highlights from February 11 Work Session on Bus Rapid Transit as well as Public Comment session