By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
Raleigh, NC - In the latest installment of our Citizen Spotlight, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Council Member Stormie Forte. Council Member Forte is a licensed attorney in the State of North Carolina and in the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina Federal Court. She is also a licensed Real Estate agent.
Forte was elected as one of two at-large Raleigh City Council members in 2022. Before that, she was appointed to represent District D on the Council in 2020. Serving as Vice-Chair of the Housing and Environment Committee, she is a member of the Economic Development and Innovation Committee. Currently serving her third term on the Raleigh City Council, Forte remains a steadfast advocate for the everyday issues that impact residents most. During our conversation, we delved into the essential role of the City Council, recent legislative successes, and the ongoing efforts to ensure equity and affordability in our growing city.
Forte emphasizes that the City Council is the elected body closest to the people. "We deal with all of the everyday issues," Forte explains, "from trash pickup and solid waste services to the Raleigh Police Department, fire department, and our park system. We handle the issues directly related to your everyday life." She also highlights the accessibility of the Council, noting that public comment sessions are held twice a month, providing a platform for any citizen to bring their concerns directly to city leadership.
Recently completing her time as Mayor Pro Tem, a position that rotates annually among Council members, Forte has served as the deputy mayor, filling in for the mayor when needed. This leadership role allowed her to further champion policies that protect and empower Raleigh’s diverse population. Reflecting on her time on the Council, Forte pointed to several key successes. First, Non-Discrimination Ordinance: A partnership with the county to ensure fair practices within the City of Raleigh. Second, The CROWN Act: Legislation designed to prevent discrimination based on hairstyles, a policy Forte notes is personally significant. And finally, Disparity Study: A critical review of contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses. "Our review was not great," Forte admits candidly, "and so we know we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve put things in place to bring those opportunities to the forefront."
Affordable housing remains a top priority for Forte and the Council. She discussed the city’s partnership with CASA, providing $10 million toward King’s Ridge, a 100-unit facility on Movement Avenue designed to move individuals directly from being unsheltered into a supportive environment. Forte notes the scale of the challenge: "To solve the affordable housing issue in Wake County, you need 65,000 units. All of that can't be built in Raleigh, so we have to work with the county and other municipalities to get that done."
Our discussion also touched on the recent consolidation of affinity groups, including the African American Affairs Board under the Human Relations Commission umbrella. Forte addressed the frustrations many in the Black community are feeling regarding this change, "When you're a body elected to represent the entirety of the city, it's hard to say one particular group gets access and another gets denied," Forte says. "We want to make sure that no community feels marginalized. The Human Relations Commission is already tasked with this mission, and they can form subcommittees to investigate and report back to the Council."
For residents in historic neighborhoods like Biltmore Hills or Apollo Heights, Forte highlights available city and county resources. Programs exist for both historic preservation and general home repairs through forgivable loans. Additionally, she noted that seniors or disabled residents earning under $60,000 annually might be eligible for county tax relief.
As a board member of the City of Raleigh Museum, I spoke with Forte about deepening the relationship between the museum and the Council. Forte spoke highly of the museum’s work and encouraged continued dialogue regarding funding and logistical needs, such as parking and expansion. To help with downtown foot traffic, Forte reminds citizens that city-owned parking decks now offer two hours of free parking. "We want to make sure our small business community and organizations downtown remain vibrant," she says.
Stormie Forte continues to be a vital voice for Raleigh, focused on ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in our city.
