2022 Platform

Housing is a human right. The road to healthy, safe, and prosperous communities begins with residents who are stably housed. When folks have safe and stable housing, they can work, raise families, build wealth and experience better health outcomes. Raleigh is slated to grow to roughly 600,000 people over the next decade. In order to house all the folks coming in search of the new opportunities promised by businesses like Apple and Meta, we’re going to need a lot more housing than we currently have. AND in order to house folks who already live here, we’re going to need a combination of strategies to serve our neighbors across the income spectrum.

From council, I will:

• Work with county government to implement tax relief for long time residents who are burdened by rising property taxes

• Continue efforts the build affordable housing units and provide permanent supportive housing for our most vulnerable neighbors

• Prioritize new projects that create mixed income housing

• Ensure down payment assistance is robustly funded to decrease the barriers to homeownership

• Support development projects focused on mixed-use spaces that create walkability and reduce the need for driving and parking

Climate change is happening. The actions we take now determine outcomes for the next generation. In 2021, Raleigh adopted a Community Climate Action Plan. This plan aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions by 80% by 2050 and lays out several good strategies to get there. We need to accelerate these efforts and amplify them in order to preserve a world where we have enough food, water, and safety from extreme weather events.

From council, I will:

• Work to accelerate the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plans - Reliable and convenient bus transit in strategic areas allows non-driving folks to reach their jobs, grocery stores and medical services, reducing costs associated with ridesharing and improving quality of life. Decreasing traffic density through bus service also means that folks in District B who still need to drive can benefit from clearer roads and smoother travel (less stop-and-go traffic results in less GhG emission) I will work to expand BRT to serve more of District B

• Work to accelerate the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail project - Fewer commuters on the road from across the Triangle will improve driving conditions for folks in the district that may continue commuting by car. This improves air quality for all and improves health outcomes. Showing success with the commuter rail will lay the groundwork for evaluating more rail opportunities that connect the NE corner of Raleigh and Wake County to the rest of the Triangle

• Hold developers accountable for building with sustainability in mind - Rather than relying on the incentive of expedited paperwork to entice developers to use renewable energy, I’ll work to make sustainability the expectation

• Decrease the barriers to entry for communities and individuals who would like to adopt sustainable improvements to their homes and businesses but simply cannot afford to - Programs like the Raleigh Rainwater Rewards reimburse folks who make improvements to their space that benefit stormwater management, like installing a rain garden or cistern — but not all our neighbors can provide the upfront cost for these projects. I will find mechanisms that reduce the out of pocket cost for projects like these.

Raleigh residents deserve to be represented by public officials they trust, who they know have their backs. The folks of District B want opportunities to gather, to share their thoughts, and to hear from the city on topics like “how to get a speed bump in your neighborhood” or “who to contact when a street light is broken.” They deserve those opportunities.

From council, I will:

• Push the Community Engagement Board to host regular neighborhood meetings, in tandem with using a broad variety of engagement strategies, like social media and virtual events

• This team should measure engagement across these methods to ensure equitable engagement of all residents

• Host regular opportunities to meet and discuss community concerns directly

• Focus on transparency and rebuilding public trust in the council

Nobody should live in fear that a day at school, a trip to a grocery store, or a visit to one’s house of worship will become fatal. We need collaboration across levels of government to ensure all Raleigh residents are free of violence as they go about their lives.

From council, I will:

• Continue the Council’s work to enact buffer zones around sensitive spaces, such as Women’s Health Clinics

• Work with state legislators to remove preemption limitations, allowing Raleigh to act on the gun safety measures appropriate for our city

• Ensure that first responders are paid enough to live in the communities they serve

• Advance alternatives to traditional policing that provide accountability, renew trust and improve outcomes