Preceeding the March 18 meeting, I created a short survey and knocked on every residencial home along my street. About half of the homeowners answered my survey, with two people declining. In asking their thoughts on the upcoming Social District decision, I discovered that the vast majority of residents had no idea a Social District was in the works. I went to my town's Facebook page, and confirmed that while there were 11 posts about the start of the summer Downtown festival, and a whopping 36 about park updates, renovations, and open houses, not a single post mentioned the Social District, which I found peculiar because the Town seemed relentless in gaining resident feedback about the Unified Development Ordinance but was radio silent about an amendment to it.

I brought the results of my survey and the Town's lack of public engagement before the Board of Commissioners.

"Madam Mayor and Commissioners, good evening. My name is Abby Black.

It is clear that the Town and many of the Downtown business owners desire a Social District. However, I was unable to locate any singular or combined poll surveys put forth by the Town through Town News or social media to discover what the residents desire.

As a life-long resident and concerned citizen, I wanted to find out what other residents thought about the issue. Since the February Board of Commissioners meeting, I have canvassed 46 homes along South Main Street, which is one of the most trafficked thoroughfares to Downtown. Of the 46 residences, 22 people answered the survey - 48%. My findings are as follows:

+ Only 10 residents are in favor of a Social District, less than half of the residents I was able to speak to
+ Of those 10, 1 openly admitted they were an alcoholic and this meant more access to alcohol
+ 80% of residents I surveyed will not go Downtown more often if there was a Social District

+ 14% of residents stated they will actually AVOID Downtown if there was a Social District because they would not feel safe
+ These percentages are based on one signature per household. There are another 3 people in those separate households that were also not in favor of a Social District.
+ Two long-time residents at separate addresses stated they are planning to move away. They said they feel the Town no longer cares about what the residents think, or listens to what residents want. They said that the town is no longer family friendly.
+ The majority of responses from the residents are either not in favor at all, or unsure about a Social District and they would like the opportunity to receive more information and discuss it further in order to make a more informed decision

The Social District is intended to draw more people Downtown. My findings indicate reality points in a different direction.

The Social District is also intended to attract young adults. Only three residents I surveyed are under 40 years old. Coincidentally, in researching North Carolina’s Judicial Reports on DWI convictions, the demographic most often convicted of DWIs are young adults. Just last month, a young woman drove while intoxicated and totaled her car on our next-door neighbor’s trees. Had those trees not been there, she may have ended up in our neighbor’s car port or living room.

Social Districts are apparently very popular, but again, I discovered that the vast majority of residents along South Main were completely unaware that a Social District is in the works. Most of them did not know what a Social District was at all. I must ask, how can residents be in favor of something if they don’t know about it or understand it? If my neighborhood's responses are a reflection of the town as a whole, then 55% or more of residents do not want or are unsure about a Social District.

Do other neighborhoods near Downtown feel the same as my own community on and around South Main Street, which is directly effected by the Social District? Do residents want a Social District, or is support limited to mainly Downtown businesses and friends and patrons of those businesses? Unfortunately, a large portion of residents do not routinely visit or patron Downtown. Is the voice of those residents important, as well? The Town posts a reoccurring weekly “What’s Up” notifier on the Town’s Facebook Page, As you can see by this slide, such posts and surveys have routinely been given to other Town endeavors. The Social District, which has been on the agenda for several months, has had no mention at all on the Town’s media or news pages.

In fairness and transparency, I ask that the Town delay the final vote on the Social District and instead offer at least one open house to residents on the matter. I ask that the Town use its “Your Opinion Matters” graphic on social media to post more than one survey about what residents think about the Social District.

Again, I ask the Commissioners to delay this final vote on amending Ordinance Chapter 20, Article one, General Section 20-2 until a town-wide survey is conducted. Thank you for your time."

After very little discussion, with one commissioner recommending that the Town should have public outreach about a Social District before its implementation, the commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of a Social District.