Issues
Plan for People and Communities
1
Build a Walkable City
Sustainable and Just Land Use Reform
For years, Durham has developed its built environment for cars and traffic rather than people and places. It is time to overhaul our development regulations to ensure new development is pedestrian-oriented, mixed use, and incorporates the adequate provision of public goods like wide sidewalks, transit infrastructure, protected bike lanes, vibrant public parks and plazas, green building design, street trees, and affordable housing.
2
People-Powered Community Planning
A New System of Community Planning
Durham is the largest city in North Carolina without a small area planning program. On Council, I will fight for a system of community planning in Durham to better engage with residents and small businesses, improve infill and redevelopment projects, eliminate food deserts, create pocket parks, small-scale entrepreneurship opportunities, corner shops, social services, affordable housing, and better zoning.
3
Fight for Tenants and More Affordable Housing
Affordable, Accessible, and High-Quality Housing
We need to use every tool in the toolbox to fight economic displacement that is upending Durham's communities. We must ensure that all people that currently live in Durham and want to stay here are not denied a home and community simply because they aren't wealthy and privileged. We must work with tenants and community partners to grow the citywide stock of permanent affordable housing and protect and support our existing stock.
Act Boldly on Climate Change
1
Lead on a Regional Plan for Climate Action
A Climate-Responsible Triangle by 2045
Future generations will look back on the actions we take today and ask whether we did enough to set a course toward becoming a sustainable and carbon-neutral city. To tell them yes, we must develop a bold multijurisdictional climate action plan that involves cities and counties around the region for open space protection, housing and transit goals, reform and advocacy for green energy and jobs, and more. We must deeply involve marginalized communities in all sustainability strategies.
2
End Sprawl & Manage Growth
Changing the Way We Grow
They say the battle over sustainability will be lost or won by how we manage our growth. Durham currently bulldozes nearly two square miles of forest and farmland every year for development of irresponsible and permanent car-centric sprawl development lacking housing variety, public parks, accessible jobs or services, or transportation options. I will work to end unsustainable and unjust sprawl once and for all and reorient our growth to be more diverse, inclusive, green, and sustainable for future generations.
3
Expand Transportation Options
Creating more safe ways to travel
Only 4 percent of Durham residents are able to get to work without a car but our city has doubled down on car-centric infrastructure. Durham must boldly overhaul its street design requirements and procedures for more safe, convenient, and comfortable bus, bike, and pedestrian options. On NCDOT roads that the city doesn't control, we need to adopt and leverage local corridor plans to require better street design and maintenance by the state. On Council, I will advocate for transit-oriented development, keeping transit service free, and bus rapid transit (BRT) to connect Durhamites to the region.
Enhance Local Government Services
1
Expand Parks and Recreation
A Strong System of Connected Parks
Parks and recreation is a fundamental responsibility of local government and an important public good for quality of life. Durham is trailing its peer cities in key metrics like park accessibility and greenway mileage. We need to develop and fund a parks and recreation master plan that enhances and expands our park infrastructure and expands recreation options, especially for Durham's young people. We currently require private greenspace in new development, but should instead require public greenways and parks.
2
Ethical, Transparent, Accountable Local Government
People-Powered Government
Our campaign does not accept contributions from big real estate developers because of the unique authority of local elected officials over real estate regulations. We should expect City Council candidates to do the same. We need a local government that is accountable to people and communities over profit. On Council, I will seek to make our government operations more goal-driven and use metrics to measure our city's progress on issues that represent the values of Durham residents (such as the percentage of residents biking and taking transit to work, the percentage of homes within 5-minute walk to park, rates of residential displacement, etc.). We also must think outside the box on how to support independent local journalism (like a journalism voucher program).
3
Creating Safe Communities
A Range of Strategies for Crime and Policing
Underlying our violent crime problems are federal and state governments choosing not to invest in housing, education, and fundamental social needs; a powerful gun lobby that sinks meaningful gun control legislation; and an unjust criminal justice system. We need evidence-based methods to make communities safer, including implementation of alternative public safety approaches and the expansion of the HEART Program and the Community Safety Department. We also must support comprehensive long-term approaches to crime reduction, like investments in parks and recreation, youth programs and internships, affordable housing, jobs, gang intervention, and progressive criminal justice reforms. Maintaining dialogue and ensuring accountability between the police department and communitymembers is a core part of City Council’s job.
