Durham Nears End of Budget Process, Proclaims Support for Amazon Workers' Right to Unionize

The council held its last public hearing on the budget, heard about a milestone in the Mayor's Bull City Future Fund, and finalized a resolution supporting Amazon workers’ right to unionize. Residents weighed in on affordable housing, street safety, and expanding the HEART program. 21mins

Budget Housing Policy Labor & Employment Public Engagement Transportation & Mobility
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Original Meeting

Monday, June 2nd, 2025
6672.0
Full Meeting on YouTube
Video Notes

Welcome to the Durham City Council meeting for June 2, 2025.

To view the meeting agenda, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/AgendaCenter.

PLEASE NOTE: Comments left on this livestream will not be read or entered into the meeting record.

For details on how to participate, visit https://www.durhamnc.gov/1345

To contact City Council members directly, visit https://www.durhamnc.gov/1323

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Alex Rosen
Durham, North Carolina
As the Executive Director of See Gov, I focus on how to best achieve our mission of expanding thoughtful and consistent participation in democracy. I develop See Gov's technology, work to grow our impact, and find ways to sustain our nonprofit. I live in Durham, NC and make highlight reels for Durham and other See Gov pilot communities.
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In This Video
  • Council Member Baker discussed the historical context of federal funding cuts and highlighted Durham's unique budget challenges compared to neighboring counties.
  • Council Member Caballero highlighted a local author's book on immigration and discussed changes to federal policies affecting sanctuary spaces in Durham and beyond.
  • Council Member Freeman thanked staff and colleagues for their work on the budget and expressed appreciation for the resources and infrastructure included, while acknowledging ongoing needs and limited funding.
  • Mayor Williams expressed appreciation for the council's commitment and spirited deliberations during recent budget discussions.
  • Mayor Williams announced the distribution of $305,000 to 15 youth organizations in Durham as part of a larger $1,000,000 fundraising effort supported by community partners.
  • Mayor Williams emphasized the importance of supporting youth organizations to address gun violence and improve opportunities for young people in the city.
  • Council Member Baker introduced a resolution supporting the rights of Amazon workers in Durham to organize, highlighting the challenges faced by workers in the state and the efforts of the Durham Workers Rights Commission.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Middleton expressed support for a workers' rights resolution but raised concerns about including unproven accusations against Amazon in the official city document.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Middleton reiterated support for the workers' rights resolution but urged the council to remove language about accusations against Amazon, citing concerns about including unverified claims in an official city document.
  • Council members discussed concerns about including an accusation against Amazon in a workers' rights resolution, with several expressing support for removing the language to strengthen the document.
  • Council Member Cook acknowledged concerns about including allegations in the workers' rights resolution but emphasized the importance of addressing employer actions related to unionization.
  • The council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting Amazon workers' right to unionize after amending the language to address concerns about unverified accusations.
  • Director Reardon provided an overview of the second public hearing on the proposed city budget and capital improvement plan, outlining the proposed tax rate and next steps for budget adoption.
  • Jack Holtzman of the Human Relations Commission advocated for continued and expanded funding for affordable housing programs, including eviction diversion, property tax relief, down payment assistance, and affordable housing requirements in new developments.
  • Mary Rose Fontana, representing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and Bike Durham, thanked the council for including safety improvements for Cook Road and other key corridors, and expressed appreciation for the budget's focus on pedestrian safety and community well-being.
  • Chris Perelstein (aka "Reckless Roxboro") thanked the City Council for fare-free buses and safety projects, but raised concerns about the high cost of design work for Roxboro Mangum and urged more efficient use of city funds for street safety improvements.
  • Shanise Hamilton, representing the Have a Heart coalition, urged the council to fully fund the HEART program, expand its hours, and collaborate with the county and school board to embed HEART teams in Durham Public Schools to enhance student safety and mental health support.
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