Residents press Commission for more transparency on New Community Authority; Mayor proposes $1M neighborhood commitment

Several public commenters told the Commission they were concerned that the City’s proposed New Community Authority (NCA) had been presented using emergency legislation and that residents lacked adequate opportunity to review market studies and other supporting materials. Janet Michaels asked that the July 29 public hearing be reopened with a quorum present and that relevant market studies be made available before any vote.

Commissioners discussed the NCA at length. Commissioner Fairchild urged clearer reporting of downtown investments and asked that the Commission identify outcomes to measure whether hotel and downtown projects benefit neighborhoods. Mayor Turner-Sloss said she supported protecting downtown economic activity while investing in all 65 neighborhoods and proposed a resolution to formalize a $1 million neighborhood development commitment associated with the NCA; she also asked staff to publish answers to submitted questions and to provide materials to the Commission and Law Department for review.

No final action on the NCA occurred at the Aug. 5 meeting; commissioners requested additional information, legal review and neighborhood-focused commitments before moving forward.