Housing Bond whiplash
Affordable housing is not a new problem. In 2016, the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County began what would become a long series of housing committees and studies that, eventually, led to conversations this summer about a $50 million housing bond. Officials seemed on board, but then polling from the Chamber of Commerce apparently changed their minds. Then, under a media spotlight, with housing advocates looking on, some of the changed their minds again.
There was also a 1/4-cent sales tax and a $7 vehicle registration considered, with mixed results.
It's confusing, we know.
Housing bond coverage:
- Wilmington could soon see a housing bond. How has it worked in other NC cities? (WHQR)?
- City, county leaders back away from $50-million housing bond after third-party polling by chamber of commerce (WHQR)
- Poll shows voters support housing bond, but not a tax hike to pay for it (WECT)
- City and county leaders want to move forward with $50 million housing bond and sales tax increase (WECT)
Elections, interrupted
Earlier this month, filing for the 2022 primary election kicked off (candidates that won't face a primary challenger still technically register for the primary and are considered to automatically win and advance to the general election).
But, just ten minutes before filing opened, the state courts froze filing for state-level and federal offices — allowing local county candidates to continue filing — while arguments over the allegations of gerrymandering of state and congressional representative maps. Then the courts reopened filing. Then the state Supreme Court suspended filing and moved the primary election from March 2022 to May 2022 and gave the trial court until January 11 to sort out the details of the gerrymandering case.
Right now, it's not clear how that will impact the election. A new filing period hasn't been set yet and it's unclear if the current maps will be used for this election or not.
