Raleigh City Council Public Comment Session - April 8, 2025
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Raleigh City Council Public Comment Session - April 8, 2025
This was an evening public comment session held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in the City Council Chamber in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mayor Janet Cowell presided. The council listened to 17 speakers on a variety of local and national issues. No votes or formal decisions were taken.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Olivia Cisneros (resident of Brookside Drive, on behalf of herself and six other households): Expressed concern about the proposed bike lanes on Brookside Drive. Asked the council to reconsider the current plan and instead adopt a compromise proposal (presented at the March 18 meeting) that includes a cycle track for Con Elementary students while preserving street parking for residents. She stated that while not opposed to bike lanes, removing all street parking would create a hardship for residents with short driveways.
- Ezekiel Snyder: Called for bolder climate action, stating that Raleigh’s climate goals (80% reduction by 2050) are insufficient. Urged the council to commit to a Green New Deal, full decarbonization by 2040, expanded public transit, and elimination of food deserts.
- Octavia Rainey (civil rights activist): Raised concerns about the Housing Appeals Board being merged into the Board of Adjustment but not hearing any housing appeal cases. Asked three questions: whether the Board of Adjustment knows it should hear these cases, whether members are trained, and whether citizens know they can bring appeals. Cautioned against merging boards until the issue is resolved.
- Jessica Turner (member of Southeast Raleigh Table, part of One Wake): Spoke in support of One Wake’s request for increased city funding for affordable housing—specifically $70 million per year and 100 acres of city-owned land for affordable housing communities. Thanked Mayor Cowell, Councilors Forte, and Melton for agreeing to attend a Nehemiah development visit in New York.
- Hanadi Ali: Read a poem and expressed exhaustion with the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Called for a ceasefire, questioned US funding of Israel, and asked council to vote for a ceasefire.
- Myssa Saltari: Condemned the killing of 15 paramedics in Gaza on March 23, calling it an execution. Demanded accountability, international investigations, and sanctions.
- Hasina Sanders: Celebrated a community health fair and summer camp organized by Mr. Anderson, which provides STEM opportunities for disadvantaged youth. Requested that council members attend and consider providing financial support from discretionary funds.
- Chris Remaley (director of Little Makers Academy, a child care center): Described challenges from federal funding cuts (English language tutoring program lost funding) and the voucher crisis in Wake County. Noted that child care professionals are underpaid and lack benefits. Invited council to visit his center to discuss solutions.
- Alexis Andrews (owner of Youth First organization and Flex Fitness): Shared her work providing meals, community events, youth programs, and mental health support. Requested assistance from the city to acquire a building (zoned and owned by Wake County) for a permanent location, plus guidance and funding.
- Paul Thompson: Advocated for inclusion of skate parks in future city park developments, noting Raleigh’s large skateboarding population and inadequate space.
- Riley Murphy: Returned to advocate for a public, legally sanctioned DIY skate park. Reported progress (design, fundraising) since the previous March 11 session, and noted that the previous Graveside DIY skate spot was torn down six weeks ago and the Skate Raleigh space will soon be demolished. Suggested multiple smaller spaces.
- Donna Bailey: Opposed the city’s policy of accepting money in lieu of actual affordable units, citing the Go Triangle Hoffman project next to Union Station (which was to provide 39 affordable units at 10% of total) and a rezoning case at Peace and West Street. Stated that affordable units must be included, especially near transit, and that paying a fee sets a bad precedent.
- Chris Crewe (retired resident): Urged the council not to limit or remove public input opportunities. Spoke in favor of historic preservation and neighborhood character overlay districts, warning against piecemeal zoning changes that contradict the Comprehensive Plan and UDO.
- Alex Bursett: Thanked the council for approving the bike lane plan on Brookside Drive, stating it is best for multimodal infrastructure, public health, safety, and climate outcomes.
- Chris Servicki: Condemned the killing of 15 aid workers in Gaza by Israeli forces, urged the council to do more to address the situation, and called for enforcement of international laws (Leahy law) and ICC warrants.
- Athena Wallen (resident of Brookside Drive): Supported the approved bike lane plan as a step toward breaking car-centric infrastructure and accommodating multiple transportation modes. Encouraged the council to continue making decisions that prioritize people over cars and address infrastructure gaps.
Meeting Transcript
All right, everybody, welcome to the public hearing. Public comment. Public comment, sorry, I always get those words. Um tonight, and as you know, we um generally are just listening uh tonight. This is your time and uh three minutes each. So we will start with the sign-ups, and we have Olivia Cisneris. Hi. I I didn't know I was gonna be first. I'm a little nervous. Uh so yeah. Okay, tell me when the clock starts, I guess. As soon as you start talking about it, it already started. So we're still on three. Okay. Ready. All right. Umlivia Cisneros. I'm a resident of Brookside Drive. I'm here today to address the proposed bike lanes that are set to be implemented on our street this summer. While I understand you already heard from myself and several of my neighbors regarding our concerns, I'm speaking on behalf of myself and six other households along Brookside to ask you to reconsider the current plan for bike lanes. At the March 18th council meeting, the Transportation Department presented a compromise proposal, which included a cycle track for con elementary students to safely bike to and from school while also allowing for parking along Brookside for residents. We are asking that you take another look at this option. We feel that this plan offers a safe route for cyclists while also preserving the parking spaces that are essential for Brookside residents. While we are not opposed to bike lanes and fully support the idea of providing a safe and accessible route for cyclists, we believe that it's equally important to consider the needs of those who rely on street parking and drive cars. Removing all street parking parking on our street would create a hardship for many residents, especially those who do not have extended driveways. The current proposal seems to prioritize one group of users at the expense of another, and we believe that a more balanced approach is needed. We believe decisions regarding our street should benefit everyone who uses it. The current proposal to promote to remove all street parking in favor of bike lanes creates an unfair situation for those of us who live here. Thank you, Ms. Cisneros. Okay. Next we have Ezekiel Snyder. That is nearly 80% of Raleigh's population. From the destruction of Hurricane Helene this fall to increasing rates of wildfires and heat waves, it is clear that climate change is not some far-off threat. It is here now, and it is harming Raleigh residents. And yet, in the face of this destruction. And many other uh consequences of climate change, our city's climate goals still fall short. Our city council's climate action plan aims for an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by twenty fifth twenty fifty. This is not leadership. This is a delay. As the capital of North Carolina, we have the opportunity to set an example for the rest of our state. Every year that we delay bold action, more lives are lost to rising temperatures, flooding, and air pollution. Vulnerable, vulnerable communities pay the price for our inaction. Extreme heat is killing thousands every year. Flooding is swallowing homes and infrastructure. Air pollution is worsening asthma and heart disease. Climate action cannot wait. If our federal government is not going to stand up for us, we need Raleigh City Council to be our advocates. It is your responsibility to lead us to where our nation, national leaders will not. Now is the time for action.
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