LaWana Mayfield
At-Large · Term 2025–2027
LaWana Mayfield serves at-large on the Charlotte City Council. She is the council's most vocal advocate for zero-based budgeting and requested that city staff model a housing bond in the $200–$300 million range for the November 2026 referendum — the highest figure any council member has named publicly.
Mayfield was one of four council members who voted no on the Crosland Southeast affordable housing project, arguing East Charlotte has absorbed a disproportionate share of subsidized housing. On April 13, she successfully pushed a street vending ordinance back to the Safety Committee after the mayor moved to table it, telling the mayor she would bring the item back herself even if it meant "firing me." She has been active on the Citizens Review Board, MPTA board appointment rules, shelter policy, and city consulting work. At the same April 13 meeting, Mayfield chaired the Housing Trust Fund staff recommendations review and traced River District’s history back to 2017, citing verbal commitments for mixed-income housing that were not codified in legal language — while current River District studios list above $1,300.
In The Mercury
Charlotte Housing Trust Fund Staff Picks Are In. The Questions Are Already Louder Than the Numbers.
HTF staff recommendations · Housing Committee chair · River District history
Charlotte City Council Passes First Post-Sales-Tax Transit Budget, Sends Street Vending Back to Committee
April 13 business meeting · Street vending push · “Firing me”
Charlotte's $50 Million Housing Bond Is a Non-Starter. Council Said So Monday.
Housing bond debate · $200–$300M request
Six Council Members Voted for Affordable Housing in East Charlotte. Four Who Champion Equity Voted No.
Crosland Southeast · Equity-based no vote
Charlotte City Council 2026: Budget Pressures, Toll Lane Fights, and the Topics That Actually Matter
Q1 2026 recap · Budget and zero-based budgeting push
Charlotte's Watchdog Board Seeks Teeth, Time, and Transparency
Citizens Review Board reform
What The Mayor Pro Tem Vote Reveals About Charlotte's New City Council
Council dynamics and alignment
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