Purpose of this Blog
It is my hope that this blog will provide insight not only into who I am meeting with on behalf of the Town, but also the topics we discuss. I believe strongly in open and transparent government. This blog is one of several initiatives I implemented when I became mayor in 2007 to make the governmental process more accessible to our citizens.
This blog is written with sincerity, honesty, and a commitment to accuracy so our constituents can better understand the work we do. After all, we work for them!
Cary #1 Place to Live in NC
According to Niche, Cary ranks as the best place to live in North Carolina, earning an overall A+ grade. The town also received A+ ratings in the categories of public schools, family-friendliness, and health and fitness. Niche evaluates communities based on overall livability, considering factors such as cost of living, housing, weather, employment opportunities, walkability, crime, nightlife, health and fitness, and outdoor recreation.
Cary earned A grades for jobs and diversity, an A- for outdoor activities, and B-range grades, from B+ to B-, for housing, cost of living, crime and safety, nightlife, weather, and commute times. In addition to being named the best place to live in the state, Cary also ranked first among the Best Suburbs to Live in North Carolina and second among the best places to raise a family.
GoCary Safest in NC
Monday I was notified that GoCary was ranked as the safest transit system in North Carolina. The following is the press release:
GoCary has been recognized by the North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA) as the safest fixed route transit system operating under 1 million miles per year and the safest demand response system operating under 750,000 miles per year in North Carolina. This is the third time GoCary has received both statewide safety awards.
The awards are based on a calculation of preventable accidents per 100,000 miles driven between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, highlighting GoCary’s strong safety performance across both service types.
Transit Design and Construction Manager Jorge Salazar and Senior Transit Planner Mark Eatman accepted the awards this month at the annual NCPTA conference.
“Providing safe, reliable service is at the core of everything we do at GoCary,” said Transit Director Kelly Blazey. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and our commitment to ensuring every rider can travel with confidence.”
GoCary provides fixed route and door to door transit services for residents and visitors, helping connect the community to jobs, schools, health care, shopping, and regional transit options. The system plays a vital role in supporting mobility and accessibility across Cary and the greater Triangle region.
Huntington’s Disease Proclamation
On Monday, I met with the Executive Director of Huntington’s Disease Research, headquartered in Cary, and presented a proclamation recognizing May as Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month. Huntington’s disease is a rare, inherited, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a defective gene that leads to the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain. Most commonly appearing between the ages of 30 and 50, the disease causes serious motor impairment, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms, often resulting in the need for full-time care and a shortened life expectancy.
I want to thank the caregivers who support individuals living with Huntington’s disease, as well as the researchers and advocates who work tirelessly to advance treatment and find a cure.
Meeting with Wiley Nickel
On Monday afternoon, staff and I met with former Congressman and District Attorney-Elect Wiley Nickel. He is requesting funding from Raleigh, Cary, and Apex to support new positions in the district attorney’s office, which he stated is currently understaffed. He believes these additional positions would help reduce the amount of time police officers spend waiting in court for cases to be heard. His request is for $80,000 in the fiscal year starting in January when he takes office and $160,000 annually in future years.
Sister Cities Farewell Dinner
Monday night, Council Member Craig and I attended the farewell dinner for the Sister Cities culinary students from Le Touquet. The students prepared and served a four course meal for the host families, local businesses, and Sister Cities members. It was an evening of excellent food and great company. I am proud of our Sister Cities relationship with Le Touquet, and we look forward to their mayor visiting later this year along with another group of students.
McCrimmon Parkway Community Meeting
Tuesday evening, Council Member Bansal and I attended an open house-style meeting to share updates on the McCrimmon Parkway pedestrian improvements near Panther Creek High School. Staff from several Cary departments were available to discuss the project and answer questions, and a representative from NCDOT also attended. Community turnout was small, which allowed me the opportunity to speak individually with a few residents. You can find out more about the project here.
Economic Development Meeting
Wednesday night, I chaired a meeting of the Economic Development Committee. The agenda included remarks from the Interim Manager, a development update, a budget exercise, and a quarterly report from the President of the Cary Chamber of Commerce.
Highlights from the quarterly report included:
- Class A office space currently has a vacancy rate of 21%, which is 2% lower than the national average.
- Retail vacancy rates remain low, between 2.5% and 3.0%.
- There are currently seven active recruitment projects with the potential to bring 3,170 jobs and approximately $578 million in investment.
- Hitachi Energy plans to open a new $10 million Power Electronics Center by late 2026 or early 2027, creating 150 jobs. This project is part of the company’s broader $1 billion U.S. investment to upgrade power infrastructure.
- Park Overlook, a proposed light industrial development, is currently in the site planning stage. The developer is working closely with Town staff with the goal of breaking ground by the end of 2026.
The Chamber President also discussed several additional issues that will be presented in greater detail at a future meeting.
Council Out and About
One of the things I’m reminded of each week is that Councilmembers are neighbors first. You’ll find us “out and about” in an official capacity, but more often, we’re just residents enjoying everything Cary has to offer.
This week, I had the pleasure of visiting Green Hope High to work with students on a political campaign project, and it was an honor to be part of their learning. Just as meaningful were some everyday moments. Spending time in our beautiful town alongside neighbors, catching tennis matches and baseball games. And especially enjoying an NC Courage match in a packed stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, a reminder of just how special it is to have a venue like that in Cary.
I hope to see you out in the community soon! Whether it’s at a game, on a greenway, or at a local event, these are some of the best opportunities to connect and get to know one another.
Brittany Richards
District A
Biotech Innovation and Investment Summit
Councilmember Bella Huang attended the Biotech Innovation & Investment Summit reception with guests including NC Representative Ya Liu and featured guest Dr. Gregg L. Semenza, 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine. The event brought together leaders and innovators in the biotechnology field.
State of Cary Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices York Simpson Underwood Realty
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht presented the State of Cary at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices York Simpson Underwood Realty. The presentation highlighted updates and priorities for the Cary community.
AARP Regional Meeting
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht attended the AARP Regional Meeting at the Academy Pavilion with partner communities from across the region. Participants exchanged ideas and aligned goals for creating more inclusive, age-friendly communities that support residents as they age.
Advocacy Day at the State Legislature
Councilmembers Sarika Bansal and Bella Huang participated in Advocacy Day at the State Legislature, organized by NCAAT. The event provided opportunities to engage with legislators and discuss community issues.
Sister Cities French Culinary Student Reception
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Michelle Craig, Sarika Bansal, and Bella Huang attended the Cary Sister Cities French Culinary Student Reception. The reception celebrated cultural exchange and international partnerships through culinary education.
Wake County Preservation Celebration
Councilmember Michelle Craig attended the Wake County Preservation Celebration hosted by Capital Area Preservation, Inc. and the Wake County Historic Preservation Commission. The event honored historic sites including Good Hope Baptist Church and its cemetery, while recognizing Shotwell’s historic African American community with a roadside marker.
Interim Town Manager’s Update
Russ’s Message
Council,
This week, I had the opportunity to attend the NC League of Municipalities CityVision Conference in Raleigh alongside Scot Berry and Shelley Curran. We joined municipal leaders and elected officials from across North Carolina to discuss issues impacting local government. It was a valuable opportunity to connect with partners from around the state and hear how other communities are approaching many of the same challenges and opportunities we are seeing here in Cary.
The Quarterly Report covering the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (January–March) is now available online at carync.gov/quarterly. You will also receive a hard copy at next Thursday’s Quarterly meeting. Additional details about the meeting, including the agenda, will be sent on Monday.
Following the Quarterly meeting, there will be no Weekly Report issued next Friday.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Russ Overton
Interim Town Manager
311 Snapshot
311 processed 2,614 new cases this week.
Volume by Contact Method
- Phone: 1,643
- Email: 380
- Web: 307
- Internal: 160
- Walk-In: 65
- Text: 40
- Social Media: 19
56.04% of cases fell into these top five categories:
- Utility Billing & Services: 697
- Inspection Scheduling & Status: 293
- Permitting Inquiries & Payments: 205
- Water Meter Service & Requests: 137
- Parks & Recreation Programming Inquiries & Registration: 133
McCrimmon Parkway Pedestrian Improvements Open House
Staff hosted an open house Tuesday at The Hive in west Cary to share updates on the McCrimmon Parkway Pedestrian Improvements project. The event provided an opportunity for the project team to engage with stakeholders, including Council, Mayor Weinbrecht, NCDOT, and residents, in valuable conversations that will help shape the future of the project. Materials presented during the open house are available on the project website.
Tanglewood Drive Water Main Replacement Complete
Final restoration work has been completed on Tanglewood Drive near the Cary Swim Club and Lions Park following the water main replacement project. Crews installed a new 8-inch ductile iron water main and reconnected services. The roadway has now been resurfaced, speed humps restored, and pavement striping completed.
2025 Annual Water Quality Report
Cary’s 2025 Annual Water Quality Report is now available. The report provides a comprehensive overview of Cary’s drinking water system, including the source of the water, the multi-step treatment processes used to ensure safety, and detailed results from thousands of water quality tests conducted throughout the year. It outlines how Cary meets or exceeds all federal and state regulatory standards, shares monitoring results for regulated and emerging contaminants such as PFAS and 1,4-dioxane, and includes information on system operations like storage, distribution, and infrastructure. The report also highlights key initiatives such as the completed service line inventory confirming no lead service lines, ongoing investments in advanced treatment technologies, and the community’s long-standing success in water conservation efforts.
National Green Infrastructure Leaders Tour Downtown Cary Park
On Wednesday, Cary Stormwater staff led a rainy-day tour of the stormwater features at Downtown Cary Park for more than 50 members of the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange during the organization’s annual conference in Raleigh. Staff highlighted how the Park’s stormwater feature helps reduce downstream flooding while improving water quality through thoughtful plantings designed to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus before water enters Walnut Creek. The tour gave attendees a firsthand look at how public spaces can successfully integrate recreation, aesthetics, and resilient stormwater infrastructure.
Cary Launches Fire Department Composting Pilot
Cary marked International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) by highlighting the role composting plays in reducing waste and returning valuable nutrients to the community. Each year, Cary diverts thousands of tons of organic material, like yard waste, leaves, and food scraps, from the landfill and turns it into compost, with a portion returned to nourish soils at Good Hope Farm.
Coinciding with ICAW, the Cary Fire Department launched a one-year pilot program to test whether collecting sites generated food waste at fire stations is a viable operational practice. The pilot aims to keep organic material out of the landfill, put it to beneficial use, and provide insight into the amount of food waste collected.
Together, these efforts reflect Cary’s broader approach to sustainability by pairing community education with practical operational initiatives that can be integrated into everyday services.
Wands and Wonder: Celebrating Worlds of Wizardry
On May 2, Downtown Cary Park hosted Wands and Wonder: Celebrating Worlds of Wizardry, drawing more than 2,500 attendees for a day of magical fun and imagination. Guests crafted their own wands, learned about mystical creatures, trained to compete for the Quidditch House Cup, and were sorted into one of four themed houses. Cary High School theatre students performed live on stage, and the evening wrapped up with a festive silent disco dance party on the lawn.
State Issued Burn Ban Lifted
The North Carolina Forest Service lifted the statewide burn ban for 81 counties including Wake County, on May 3. The ban was originally issued March 28 due to hazardous forest fire conditions. Effective today, the burn ban has been lifted statewide
Important Dates
Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 p.m.
Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, May 13, 6:30 p.m.
Town Council Quarterly Meeting
Thursday, May 14, 1:00 p.m.
Council Initiated Items
The council has a process that allows members to introduce items for discussion at meetings, often leading to further action. Given the recent increase in these requests, I will begin sharing them here along with my perspective on their pros and cons.
Partnering with the school board to pilot school zone safety improvements
This proposal was submitted by Council Member Bansal, and I provided the second. It has not been scheduled for a council meeting.
Several schools in Cary, particularly middle schools and high schools, are experiencing transportation safety concerns on and around school property. While the schools are responsible for transportation operations on campus and NCDOT oversees roadway infrastructure decisions, progress on improvements has been slow and resident complaints have continued to increase. This proposal would direct staff to work collaboratively with the schools on programs and strategies to help address these concerns.
PROS:
- Allows the Town to take a more proactive role, even when we are not the primary decision-maker.
- Responds to growing community concerns regarding school transportation safety.
CONS:
- The Town is currently understaffed, so this effort could require shifting staff resources away from other projects.
- Potential solutions could result in additional costs to taxpayers if Cary contributes funding toward implementation.
E-Bike Safety
This proposal was submitted by Council Members Bansal and Richards and presented at the April 16th meeting. It will come back to council with recommendations at a future meeting.
The council initially launched a pilot program in June 2022 to allow e-bikes. After a one-year trial period, the program was made permanent, with a posted speed limit of 15 mph on greenways. Recently, however, there have been complaints that e-bikes, scooters, and similar devices are traveling at excessive speeds and creating potentially hazardous conditions.
PROS:
- We are listening to our citizens’ complaints.
- Preventing e-bikes and scooters will possibly make greenways safer.
CONS:
- There is basically no way to enforce an ordinance that has e-bikes or not.
- Any enforcement effort would require additional officers and officers’ time. We are currently underfunding officers and require overtime to maintain existing levels of service.
- We are revisiting a decision that was made after a one-year trial and review of data.
Smoke Free Ordinance
This proposal was submitted by Mayor Pro-Tem Bush and Council Member Craig and presented at the April 16th meeting. It will come back at a future council meeting with recommendations.
PROS:
- Eliminates toxic secondhand smoke.
- Current ordinance does not match state law and Raleigh/Wake ordinance.
CONS:
- Any enforcement effort would require additional officers and officers’ time. We are currently underfunding officers and require overtime to maintain existing levels of service.
Affordable Housing on Old Library Site
This proposal, submitted by Mayor Pro Tem Bush and Council Member Bansal, would place a podium-style parking deck with affordable housing on the former library site. This has yet to be scheduled for a meeting agenda.
PROS:
- Adds parking across from Downtown Cary Park.
- Create affordable housing units in the downtown area.
CONS:
- May underutilize one of the municipality’s most valuable properties. Downtown Cary Park generates approximately $16 million annually in economic impact, and this site could represent an opportunity for a more transformative use.
- The town has already invested millions in renovating the Ivey-Ellington House, positioning this area as a premier destination.
How Cary Government Works
Cary’s government, like most cities in North Carolina and most mid-sized cities in the U.S., uses a council–manager form of government. This system works a lot like a company, but for local government. Residents elect a council and a mayor, who set policy by passing laws, approving the budget, and guiding the town’s overall priorities. The council then hires a professional manager to run the town’s day-to-day operations.
Think of it like a company: the council acts like a board of directors, making policy and representing the public, while the city manager acts like a CEO, overseeing all departments, such as finance, public works, police, and fire, and managing town staff. The mayor leads council meetings, represents the town publicly, and has limited executive authority. While the council and mayor make policy decisions and receive regular reports, they usually see only high-level summaries rather than the detailed inner workings of each department.
In short, just as a board hires a CEO to run a company, Cary’s council hires a manager to run the town, ensuring professional management while elected officials focus on big-picture decisions and community priorities.
You can find additional information about how Cary’s government works on the town’s website here.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about e-bikes.
- “General support” for development in downtown Cary.
- A thank you for not supporting an extra $700,000 to already funded affordable housing projects.
- A request to be interviewed by the 3rd party internal investigation team.
- A complaint about garbage pickup.
- A thank you for prioritizing public safety in the budget.
- Invitations to several events.
- A complaint about teens “playing chicken” on greenways near Amberly.
- A complaint about a “squatter” near Audubon Parc Apartments.
- A concern over data centers in Cary.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Cary Tennis Classic board meeting, a Jordan Lake Watershed Land Conservation discussion with a citizen, and a council quarterly meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 17th, 2026. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts, those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Harold's Blog 