Latest news with #FayettevilleCityCouncil
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'The government has let us down': Fayetteville rallies for democracy in Hands Off protest
More than 150 demonstrators gathered at the Market House in downtown Fayetteville this weekend to protest President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, calling the pair a threat to democracy. The Hands Off rallies were organized nationally, taking place in hundreds of cities across the country April 5, in response to policies that activists say concentrate power, reduce funding for social services and jeopardize civil rights. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., activists of all ages and backgrounds — veterans, people with disabilities, Baby Boomers and Gen Z — gathered to hold signs and chant in condemnation of Trump and his policies. Fayetteville City Council member and mayoral candidate Mario Benavente was in attendance and gave a speech to the crowd, saying that although it will take time to make changes in Washington, D.C., actionable change can happen in Fayetteville. 'I need everyone in this room to recognize what's happening in D.C. It's not something that we can change overnight,' said Benavente, who represents District 3 on the City Council. 'What's happening here in our own neighborhoods, in our own communities, we can have a change this summer to make Fayetteville a beacon of progressive values.' Benavente told the crowd the importance of their voice and pointed out that he sits on the City Council because of a handful of votes. Benavente won by six votes out of more than 2,000 cast in the district in 2022. Three officers with the Fayetteville Police Department made an appearance, but only to remind protesters that the use of bullhorns was prohibited. More protest news: Local religious leaders gather at Fayetteville's Market House to protest federal cuts Marvin Newkirk, a minister at Fayetteville's Divine Call Ministries, attended the protest to stand up for his son and others who have lost their jobs due to recent executive orders. Newkirk said his son was hired by the Department of Education in November 2023 but is now unemployed in Charlotte. He was terminated because of the dismantling of the DOE. 'The government has let us down,' he said. As a minister, he said, he also feels a deeper responsibility to speak out. 'I pray for our elected officials to stand up to this man that is tearing our country up.' Donna McCaslin, a 70-year-old who has lived in Fayetteville for more than a decade, joined the protest out of concern that American rights and freedoms are being stripped away by leaders she views as illegitimate and out of touch. 'Elon is unelected. As far as I'm concerned, he's not even a citizen,' she said, voicing alarm over what she sees as a shift toward authoritarianism. As a U.S. Navy veteran and retired educator, McCaslin said she feels deeply betrayed by a system she dedicated her life to. 'You work all your life … to see your rights taken. I feel abandoned,' she said. More local protests: 'I'd be dead': Fayetteville protesters demand protection in wake of proposed Medicaid cuts Kat Zietkiewicz, a union president at Fort Bragg and mental health social worker, came to the protest out of concern for how recent executive actions are undermining public service jobs and threatening the stability of military communities like Fayetteville. While she supports the idea of strong government leadership, she believes the current administration's sweeping decisions lack foresight. 'These massive changes are just not thought out,' she said, citing the elimination of remote work for psychiatrists as one example. 'We can't get psychiatrists to come to Fort Bragg, so now (Trump) did the executive order to remove psychiatrist remote workers ... How are we going to provide medication for our spouses, our children and our anyone, our retirees. This is not helpful.' A man who identified himself as an Army veteran named Mando entered the Market House chanting 'Trump is your president,' challenging the protest's message. He told a small group that Democrats prioritize "illegal immigrants" over U.S. citizens, sparking a heated debate with protester Alexander Cunningham over immigration and the wrongful deportation of Maryland father Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. A federal judge ruled Garcia's deportation illegal, ordering his return to the U.S. by April 7. However, the Trump administration has appealed, citing lack of jurisdiction and maintaining that Garcia is a dangerous gang member, a claim his lawyers dispute, saying there is little evidence to support it. Cunningham argued that Garcia's case reflected racism and abuse of power under Trump, while Mando falsely claimed Garcia was a gang member who missed court. Mando, originally from Los Angeles, told The Fayetteville Observer he came to the rally to challenge what he sees as misplaced priorities. He said he feels that undocumented immigrants are receiving aid while veterans and low-income Americans are left behind. 'I'm an American citizen, I pay taxes, I do so many things, and now I'm getting rejected by the government,' he said. 'Now you have all these illegal immigrants just coming like nothing, and you're like, dude, like, that's not fair for the other people who are doing it right.' Derrick Montgomery, chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Party, also spoke to the crowd and emphasized unity and the importance of standing up for justice. "I don't know your name, and many don't know mine, but I know your struggle," he said. He highlighted that the rally represented people from all walks of life. "Whether we're wealthy, middle class, unhoused, veterans, or families with disabilities, we do not sit in silence," he said. Montgomery urged the crowd to set aside personal prejudices and come together for a common cause, channeling Martin Luther King Jr., "A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Government Watchdog Reporter Claire C. Carter can be reached at ccarter@ This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Hands Off rally: Fayetteville, NC condemns Trump and Musk
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grants available for public art in Fayetteville parks
Related video: Fayetteville City Council passes 10-year art plan, honors former Mayor Jordan FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The City of Fayetteville is looking for creatives to bring public spaces to life through its new Community Arts Program (CAP). The program will fund artists, performers and organizations to create interactive and engaging arts activations in city parks, with a special focus on The Ramble, according to a news release. The city has earmarked $35,000 for the program in 2025, awarding grants from $500 to $7,000 based on the project's scope and impact. 'Fayetteville has a thriving arts scene, and this program will help bring creativity into our shared spaces,' Joanna Sheehan Bell, Arts and Culture Director said in a press release. 'We're excited to support artists and organizations in activating our parks with diverse, inclusive programming for the community to enjoy.' Local business helps victims of domestic violence on 'Pi Day' Eligible projects include one-time events, recurring program and public art installations, and must occur within the 2025 calendar year. Proposals will be reviewed monthly after the 15th through July or until all funds are allocated. The city is specifically looking for projects in the following categories: Performance & Music – Theater, dance, storytelling, pop-up performances, soundscapes Education – Interactive workshops, art classes, social dance sessions Visual Art – Murals, sculptures, kinetic or digital art installations Applicants must submit a proposal detailing their activation, budget, intended park location, and audience engagement strategy. The online submission form can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fayetteville City Council votes to repeal ordinance that limits rental application fees
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Fayetteville City Council votes on March 4 to repeal its ordinance limiting rental application and background fees to $40. The city council voted 7-1 to repeal Ordinance 6800. Fayetteville city attorney Kit Williams and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said that the ordinance 'likely' violated state code. A bill filed in the Arkansas legislature on Jan. 23 by Sen. Clint Penzo (R-Springdale) aims to limit local governments' control over rent and rental deposit fees. The bill passed the Arkansas Senate and has been sent to the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
04-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
The Agenda: Fayetteville might reverse rental application fee limits
The Fayetteville City Council meets tonight. A few key things council members plan to vote on include: 🏡 Repealing an ordinance passed last year that capped rental application and background fees at $40. The ordinance likely violates a state law that bars municipalities from regulating prices for services, according to an opinion from Attorney General Tim Griffin. The council will also discuss a proposed "Truth in Leasing" ordinance tonight that would require landlords to include "a clear and comprehensive disclosure of all fees and costs that are or could be charged to the tenant by the landlord or property owner in any contract, advertisement or listing, whether physical or digital." Pet, parking, maintenance and background check fees, for example, would have to be disclosed. 💰 Allotting about $3.4 million to pay for raises for all city employees, including about $2.8 million from the city's general fund. The rest would come from dedicated funds like water, sewer and trash collection for employees in those departments. 📍 If you go: 5:30pm at City Hall or online
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fayetteville City Council member sponsoring ‘Truth In Leasing' ordinance
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Fayetteville City Council member Sarah Moore isn't giving up on getting an ordinance passed related to rental fees and costs. After Ordinance 6800 — which was passed by the council but is now in the process of getting repealed — Moore has sponsored the 'Truth in Leasing' ordinance, which would require disclosure of rental fees and costs for leased residential properties in the city of Fayetteville. Moore said this ordinance, among other things, would establish a good preliminary relationship between a landlord and tenant. 'Whenever we are providing all the monthly recurring charges up front, as well as any charges that might exist at the property, I think that it removes a lot of ambiguity,' Moore said. Fayetteville rental cap fee ordinance 'likely' violates state code The ordinance would require landlords to disclose the costs of the following, but not limited to rent, security deposit, application and background check fees, maintenance fees, utility costs, pet fees, parking fees, late fees and administrative, leasing or miscellaneous fees. The 'Truth in Leasing' ordinance was introduced in Tuesday's agenda session. It will be heard by the city council for the first time at the next meeting on March 4. Fayetteville city attorney Kit Williams said he is still reviewing the ordinance to make sure it doesn't break the law. He said the potential issues lie in 'compelled speech' — which is when governments require private entities to label their products — and the feasibility of listing out every single potential cost. Fayetteville city council tentative agenda, Feb. 25, 2025Download 'If you're advertising on an electronic forum that a lot of renters do now, that probably gives the landlord more free bandwidth to put that information in,' Williams said, 'as opposed to if they were having to pay for an advertisement in a newspaper.' Moore said this is just one step in trying to help tackle the ongoing housing crisis in Fayetteville, which was first declared in April 2024. She said the top priority is improving the 'quality of life for all of our residents' by having enough available units not only now but in the future, as well. She said this can be addressed by creating policies to help lower-income people find housing, while also giving seniors available options to downsize from their home as they age — the latter giving a 'different-sized family' the chance to move into the 'more appropriate' place. This ordinance, Moore said, would help potential renters properly budget during their hunt for housing. 'They get to make a decision about, 'I only have $100 extra this month that I can eke out of my budget, and these application fees are $50 each,'' Moore said. ''I need to apply for multiple properties.'' Moore said you can reach out to her, or any of the council members, at the provided contact information on the city of Fayetteville's website with questions or feedback regarding the ordinance or ongoing housing crisis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
