Downtown parking policy on council's Dec. 2 agenda
The Goldsboro City Council has spent a significant amount of time discussing and altering a controversial two-hour parking measure. Monday, the policy faces another test.
BY KEN FINE
With support from Councilwoman Beverly Weeks and Mayor Charles Gaylor, District 2 Councilman Chris Boyette tried one last time to convince a majority of members of the Goldsboro City Council to forgo a search for a new city manager — and instead, execute a contract with Matthew Livingston, the man who has, for the last nine months, held the position in an interim capacity.
Two members of the Goldsboro City Council said they wanted to give it six months — that if, after that amount of time, a majority of downtown business owners and local residents remained in opposition to a two-hour parking measure that has seen thousands of dollars worth of parking tickets issued to those who have traveled to the city’s core this year, they would vote to kill the policy.
Three others have been against the restrictions since Day One.
So, when members of the council meet Monday, all eyes will be on Councilwoman Jamie Taylor, Councilwoman Hiawatha Jones, Councilwoman Beverly Weeks, Mayor Pro Tem Brandi Matthews, and Councilman Roderick White.
But of the five, it will be Taylor and Jones who will likely determine the fate of the measure, as the others have repeatedly said they did not believe a parking problem existed until after signs went up and the city’s enforcement officer got to work.
It started nearly a decade ago, when, in 2016, the city commissioned a parking study to anticipate future parking demand as a result of the realization of the Downtown Master Plan. Then, a consultant was hired — a man who,
in early 2023, unwrapped that data during a public forum.
His conclusion?
Downtown Goldsboro had exceeded assumptions made about just how much demand there would be for parking on Center and surrounding streets.
So, he presented, to the 50-plus people in attendance, several options he believed could help the city mitigate potential woes for those wanting to eat, drink, and shop downtown.
The overwhelming majority said they would favor regulations akin to what the city rolled out this year.
But when the signs went up and warning tickets started appearing on windshields, it started a firestorm.
Handicapped residents said they had found parking tickets on their windshields — a violation, they claim, of North Carolina General Statute.
Young women showed up to City Council meetings to share stories about being accosted and propositioned by “aggressive” panhandlers.
Businessowners repeatedly painted pictures of decreasing revenue and clients who had told them they planned to patronize other establishments.
Accusations of “selective enforcement” flew
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— claims that the person handing out tickets was ignoring vehicles that belonged to city employees, including City Council- and city-owned vehicles with Goldsboro’s logo affixed to them.
A petition signed by nearly 100 people — a document containing the names of everyone from real estate agents, tattoo artists, and hair stylists to restaurateurs, landlords, and boutique managers — was submitted to the council.
And so, discussions — and adjustments to the policy — continued.
A moratorium was put into place for a block of Center Street — a move one business owner said was reflective of “blatant favoritism.”
Then, Saturdays were excluded from the restrictions — a “compromise” voted through by the board earlier this year that required the signs to be changed and confused the many business owners who were against the plan because they were told the whole purpose of putting a time limit on downtown parking was to ensure “valuable” spaces were available to shoppers.
And finally, despite a warning from Downtown Goldsboro Development officials, the council voted to allow each of the 108 businesses located within the “restricted area” the right to obtain five placards that extend two-hour parking to four hours.
All the while, Taylor and Jones — each seemingly with the power to kill the policy — said they would honor their commitment to waiting for six months of full enforcement to pass.
Now, that six months is up — making Monday a potential day of reckoning, as a parking discussion is on the council’s agenda and Taylor said her hope was by then, “we can say it works or it doesn’t.”
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'TIS THE SEASON
There is a magic that takes place every year in downtown Goldsboro.
Young and old, from every neighborhood and every background, stand in the crisp, almost-officially-winter air and hold their collective breath as city leaders flip the switch.
What happens next is nothing short of breathtaking every year.
If you have never seen it, please put it on your list for 2025.
The downtown area and the businesses that populate it become a beautiful collection of green, red, and white, with a few lovely Christmas decorations to line the street and sidewalks.
Special music fills the air — you know, the kind that makes you think about a jolly man in a red suit — and there are all sorts of fun activities
community as we enter the official start of the holiday season.
This year, it came a little earlier, right before we all gathered for the Thanksgiving holiday.
As you probably know, we usually take off Thanksgiving to allow our employees to spend the day with their families.
After all, it is our way of saying thank you to them and to the moms, dads, kids, and other family members who share them with us for the rest of the year.
But for some reason, we felt called this week to share a special edition of Wayne Week.
So, surprise, here it is.
We created it because we were so touched by the camaraderie, the smiles, and the good we saw as you gathered this past week to light up our county seat.
All the strife and the arguing of the past few months was set aside and there were handshakes and happy holiday wishes all around.
We know how to be neighbors in this county. Our moms and dads and mamaws and papaws raised us right.
And it made us pretty proud to be your newspaper.
So, as a sign of our gratitude for all you do for this county we all call home, and the kindness and joy you bring to every community gathering, we decided to give you a few photos to remember it by.
Well, more than a few actually — so many that we needed a Thanksgiving week edition.
You see, the truth of the matter is that the faces of the people who are included in this edition are the heart and soul of why what we do matters so much.
You see it in the veterans and senior citizens who helped build and protect this community, and the young adults who are taking the reins.
You see it in the hopeful young faces of the youngsters who we are all protecting it for — and the young men and women who will one day take care of it for us.
There is a lot to be thankful for here today and every day.
But we thought that since we are talking about the kickoff to the Christmas season, we would mention a couple of other thoughts.
You see, Friday is the first official shop until you drop day.
and a few old-fashioned thrills that bring back memories for those who have been around the sun a few times.
But nothing compares to the wonder you see in the eyes of the children who are already thinking past turkey to hot chocolate and candy canes.
Downtown Lights Up is more than just a lighting of a bunch of pretty-colored lights.
It is a chance for us to celebrate as a
After enjoying Thanksgiving with family and friends, the hardcore bargain hunters hit the streets as the shopping season officially begins.
The streets are usually full of happy shoppers who are already in the spirit of giving and ready to get those presents wrapped for Santa to deliver.
But Black Friday is followed by an even more important commemoration, one we hope you will remember as you make your plans to kick off making your own lists and checking it twice.
PHOTO BY CASEY MOZINGO
We are talking about Small Business Saturday — also known as hometown holiday shopping. And while Saturday is the first day, we believe the sentiment should last all season long.
Please remember that the businesses you see along the downtown Goldsboro streets and across the county are not owned by some nameless corporation headquartered in who-knows-where-but-not-here.
The people who run small businesses downtown like Rye Always Fresh, Mimi’s Boutique, 3 Olive Chic, The Picket Fence and Bicycle World — not to mention the 2nd Amendment on Main — offer gifts that you won’t find anywhere else, and the wide variety of restaurants allow you to take a break for a coffee, a bite to eat, or a relaxing and elegant meal.
Whether it is pizza, Asian, a good oldfashioned burger, or steak — or something a little more exotic like Latin cuisine — you can’t go wrong.
And to round out the evening, choose a libation from the Well Travelled Beer or a drink at Church Spirits & Cocktails.
And if you have a name on your list that is particularly problematic, don’t forget that a gift card for a special night out — or as a thank you for a job well done — makes a great holiday gift.
But the best part is that the money you spend will stay right here at home.
The businesses we mentioned are just a few of the many choices. There are many wonderful shops downtown that have unique and special items that will thrill just about anyone on your holiday list.
And, really across Wayne County, you can stop at a variety of stores with plenty to choose from for that special someone.
How about a gourmet gift from Heritage Farms General Store?
Or, if you love those southern T-shirts and fun items that are on even the most hard-to-please teenager’s Christmas list, From the Heart has plenty for you to choose from.
And there is even more to eat throughout the city as well — even some special sweet treats from Café Le Doux or Mickey’s Pastry Shop or a loaf of yummy bread from Great Harvest.
All of them are great places run by great families — some of them for generations.
And they deserve your support.
Many people don’t really think about the local businesses and their impact on this community.
They might enjoy looking at the windows or drop by once in a while to pick up a gift, but they don’t really know how much those same businesses contribute to this community.
It is much more than just the employment they offer and the taxes they pay.
They are often the first places local groups go when they need support for a fundraiser or a youth sports team.
You see their names on many, many donation lists every year, for every event.
They give back as a thank you for the support you give them that has allowed them to build their businesses.
This is our chance to say thank you, too, for what they add to our community.
Starting and maintaining a business is not easy. We know. It takes sacrifice and commitment.
Honoring that is how we encourage more people to make Wayne County the home for their start up — and build the next generation of family-owned businesses.
So, please add an item or two from a hometown business to your Christmas shopping list and plan a couple nights out this season or tap a local business for a holiday party or special event. You will be glad you did.
Immediately after Cyber Monday, the next big ticket shopping day is another special event we want to remind you about.
Giving Tuesday is our chance to remember what Christmas is all about.
There are literally dozens of charities in this community that give back to those in need.
From Habitat for Humanity and The Salvation Army to the United Way, dollars you share are used to make lives better across the county.
And those are just some of the big ones.
There are plenty of local efforts — from charities that rescue abused and abandoned animals to church groups who help heal souls — where you can find plenty of people in Wayne County whose hearts are big enough to take in a few more.
And don’t forget about those who are working with our children like Communities Supporting Schools, the Boys and Girls Club, Ashford Boxing Gym, and Literacy Connections — a group that makes sure no one, children or adult, has to face the challenge of not knowing how to read or communicate effectively.
Those kinds of efforts change lives in your community every day.
Any gift like this is also a break for you — a tax-deductible donation that will be a welcome addition when you do your 2024 tax return next April — not to mention a chance to remind your children and yourself about the true reason for the season.
And, if you want to combine gift-giving with good works, consider a trip to Cry Freedom Missions.
Inside that store, which is located in downtown Goldsboro, you will find unique gifts and items crafted by those who have escaped human trafficking.
It is a chance to effect a real change and to see the names of the people whom you are helping.
An item from Cry Freedom is a symbol of what it takes to combat evil — one community united to fight those who prey on innocents by sharing one dollar at a time.
And these are just a few of the ways you can make the holiday season brighter.
Even if your budget is tight this year, consider adopting a child off a holiday tree or offering a donation of any size to Kriquette’s Kids, a local effort by Kriquette Davis, a true unsung heroine whose heart has no boundaries.
She makes sure, along with her bevy of individual and corporate donors, that no child in this county wakes up thinking Santa forgot them.
She will tell you that their smiles are all the thanks she needs.
We think she deserves a few more than that.
So, thank you Kriquette, and all the people in this community who live their faith and who share their good fortune with those in need.
You make this county a better place every day.
Hopefully, over the coming weeks, we and our neighbors can, in our own way, pay you back for all you do.
And with that, we hope all of you had an amazing Thanksgiving — one filled with love and laughter.
We look forward to, over the next few days, returning to our traditional content format and closing out 2024 with an eye on what we believe has the potential to be an incredible 2025. n
