in Politics, Raleigh |

Taking Raleigh back?

Raleigh mayoral candidate Billie Redmond says “it’s time to take Raleigh back.” The question I have is “back to what?”

It seems to me that Raleigh is doing just fine, thank you very much. Raleigh has topped so many best-of lists in the past few years that I’ve lost count:

  • #1 Among Best Places for Business and Careers – Forbes, 2011
  • #2 Next Big Boom Town – Forbes, 2011
  • #3 America’s Cleanest Cities – Forbes, 2011
  • #1 Best Situated for Economic Recovery – Newsweek, 2011
  • #1 Great Cities for Raising Families – Kiplingers, 2010
  • #3 Best Places for Business and Careers – Forbes, 2010
  • #2 Cheapest Midsized Market to Do Business – KPMG LLC, 2010
  • #1 Top Business Climate in North Carolina – Site Selection, 2010
  • #2 Best City to Live, Work and Play – Kiplinger’s, 2008
  • #1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. – msnbc.com, 2008
  • #1 Best Place for Young Adults – Bizjournals, 2008
  • …and many, many more.

Does this sound like a city in distress to you?


Now, did our city leaders make the right call on every decision? No, but it’s weathered a brutal recession much better than many municipalities. It’s got a parks system which is renowned across the nation. Taxes are low, services are high, and the people who move here, stay here.

Is Raleigh plagued with “burdensome environmental policies?” Perhaps if you’re a developer bent on building whatever you want with no regard to anyone else, it is. And that’s what gives me pause about Redmond’s plan to “take Raleigh back.” I fear Ms. Redmond wants to take Raleigh back to its Tom Fetzer days, where our now-vibrant downtown was left to decay, the RBC Center was planted in a field away from key downtown amenities instead of anchoring our city’s center, and overall investment in our community withered. Charles Meeker may not be the kind of mayor that inspires excitement – he’s not a flashy guy by his nature – but he’s generally been willing to make prudent, long-term investments in our city that are now paying off handsomely for our citizens.

It’s clear that Raleigh has been on the right for many years now and the old saw of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies. Unlike Redmond who has no experience as a city leader, Nancy McFarlane has played a direct role in making our city what it is: an unabashed success. Why would anyone want to go back?

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  1. It’s unfortunate that Billie is campaigning to take Raleigh backwards when the facts show that Raleigh is already headed in the right direction. Nancy wants to take Raleigh forward and I am behind her 100%. I know there are challenges right now that we are dealing with as a city and a nation, but those challenges are not just Raleigh’s challenges. They are challenges presented by the global economy. Raleigh is facing those challenges head on and I am confident that Nancy’s experience as a business owner and a Raleigh City Council woman will help carry our city into a brighter tomorrow.

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