Wilmington council fails to override mayor's veto of proposed housing trust

Wilmington City Council on July 2 voted and failed to override Mayor John Carney's veto of a longtime housing trust ordinance, a measure supporters said would create a permanent fund and community advisory board to steer future affordable housing investments.

Council Member Chenet Darby, sponsor of the ordinance, told colleagues the measure would establish a permanent housing trust fund and an advisory board to review projects, bring transparency to housing dollars and require council approval of projects funded through the trust. "A housing trust fund isn't successful because it starts with millions of dollars," Darby said in floor remarks, "it's successful because it creates the legal framework to receive and grow housing investments over time." She asked colleagues to vote to override the veto so the framework would exist when future funding opportunities arise.

More than two dozen residents and advocates spoke during an extended public comment period, the bulk urging council to override the veto. Jamila Davyy, a constituent from the fifth district, called on council to "support the resolution to override the veto of the housing trust legislation" and said the need for housing resources far exceeds current funding. Cheyenne Miller, a housing advocate, said the trust would create a permanent place for housing dollars and an advisory board to ensure community input and oversight. Jonathan Tate framed the scale: "we are talking about $1.5 million," he said, contrasting that with the city's police budget to underscore competing priorities.

Opponents and cautious members of the council did not dispute the stated goals but pushed back on timing and implementation details. Council members who opposed the override said the administration and council needed clearer funding sources and stronger implementation guarantees before codifying a permanent fund. Councilwoman Bracie and Councilwoman Cabrera urged the sponsor to return with a version the administration could implement in partnership with council so the fund would not remain on paper. Several members described prior instances when a vetoed bill was reworked with the mayor's office and later enacted.

Clerk roll call produced the announced count of eight yays, fewer than the nine votes required to overturn a mayoral veto. The motion therefore failed and the housing trust ordinance did not take effect. Council supporters said they will continue work on funding options and on building consensus with the administration; skeptics said they preferred additional negotiation before attempting another override.

The action leaves in place the administration's control over current housing allocations; supporters highlighted that the ordinance's passage would have required future projects to come before council after advisory-board review. The council did not adopt the ordinance and no further formal vote on that particular draft occurred at the meeting.

After the vote, the council proceeded with routine business and several ordinances and resolutions were adopted, while advocates and residents signaled plans to continue pressing for a durable local mechanism to fund affordable housing.