Durham City Council held a work session focused on housing, development, and transit challenges, with council members raising sharp questions about who gets included in planning and whether current processes protect Durham residents from displacement.
The most contentious moment came when Council Member Chelsea Cook pulled the appointment process for the Durham Homeless Services Advisory Committee, pointing out that applicants were never asked to specify whether they represented the faith community or were formerly homeless—categories the ordinance requires. Cook said the council cannot responsibly fill positions without knowing if candidates met these criteria. City Clerk Lola Roland agreed to contact applicants for clarification before the appointments move forward.
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