>> GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN MARTIN, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE INTER-NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF DURHAM WHICH IS SPONSORING. WE ARE NON-PARTISAN AND DOES NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL PARTIES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DURHAM'S NETWORK NANL 8 AND CHANNEL 99 FOR PRODUCING AND PROD CASTING THIS EVENT. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE INTER-NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES AND REFRAIN FROM TAKING PICTURES OR VIDEOS OF THIS FORUM. PLEASE HOLD ALL APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END OF THE FORUM TO SAVE TIME FOR MORE QUESTIONS. THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE FORUM TONIGHT ARE CANDIDATES IN THE NOVEMBER 7th, 2017 ELECTION TO THE DUHAM CITY COUNCIL. ALTHOUGH EACH CANDIDATE REPRESENTS A PARTICULARER WARD AND MUST LIVE IN THAT WARD, ALL CITY VOTERS CAN VOTE FOR ONE CANDIDATES IN EACH WARD. CANDIDATES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WARD ONE, CORA COLE-McFADDEN, DREEN NAH FREEMAN.
WARD TWO, MARK MIDDLETON AND JOHN ROOKS. WARD THREE, VERNETTA ALSTON, AND SHEILA HUGGINS. EACH CANDIDATE WILL MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT AND CLOSING STATEMENT. CANDIDATES WILL BE ALLOWED 1-AND-A-HALF MINUTES TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION. CANDIDATES ARE ASKED TO OBSERVE TIME LIMITS. ALL QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED BY THE MODERATOR. IF AUDIENCE MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS THEY WISH TO SUBMIT, PLEASE DO SO AT THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THE FIRST QUESTION WILL BE A DIFFERENT QUESTION FOR EACH CANDIDATE AND WILL ASK ABOUT A POSITION THEY E HAVE TAKEN. THE SECOND QUESTION WILL BE A GENERAL QUESTION ASKED TO ALL OF THE CANDIDATES.
THE REMAINING QUESTIONS WILL BE POLICY QUESTIONS AND IN ORDER TO INCLUDE AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE, EACH QUESTION WILL BE POSED TO ONLY THREE OF THE CANDIDATES. HOWEVER, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED AN EQUAL NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. LET'S BEGIN WITH THE OPENING STATEMENTS. MS. McFADDEN, YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS. >> GOOD EVENING. I PRESENTLY SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND MOST LIKELY THIS IS THE SEAT I E HOLD EVERY FIRST AND THIRD MONDAY NIGHTS. I'M NATIVE OF DURHAM, GRADUATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY. SERVED ON NUMEROUS CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES, CHAIRING SO MANY OF THEM. I'M CHAMPION FOR YOUTH FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ALTERNATIVE, TRANSPORTATION MODES. I'M INVOLVED IN THE DURHAM COMMUNITY. I LOVE DURHAM AND I'M RUNNING AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, CONSISTENCY, WISDOM, AND, OF COURSE, A KNOWLEDGE OF DURHAM'S RICH ARE HISTORY ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
I REPRESENT A POPULATION KNOWN AS SENIORS, AND WE NEED A COUNCIL THAT IS NOT HOMOGENEOUS, IT NEEDS TO HE WANT EVERY FACET OF DURHAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YO. MS. FREEMAN. >> HI. DeDREANA FREEMAN RUNNING FOR WARD ONE SEAT. AS A COMMITTED COMMUNITY MEMBER AND RESIDENT IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, I'VE WORKED IN THE VARIOUS CAPACITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY HAD THEIR VOICES HEARD. I WANT TO SAY AS THE OLDEST OF SIX CHILDREN LIVING IN A SINGLE-PARENT HOME, I'VE EXPERIENCED, YOU KNOW, BEING FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE AND CHASING AFTER THOSE PELL GRANTS AND I'VE EXPERIENCED RECEIVING AND MEETING THE SERVICES OF FOOD STAMPS, MEDICAID, AND VARIETY OF OTHERS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A STANDARD QUALITY OF LIFE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND COMMITTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, I'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO DOING THE SAME IN REGARDS TO PROPERTY AND OPPRESSION AND EXPECTING AND POVERTY AND OPPRESSION.
AND IT'S GOING TAKE BOLD LEADERSHIP, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THAT BOLD LEADERSHIP IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MR. MIDDLETON. >> THANK YOU. MARK ANTHONY MIDDLETON SEEKING WARD TW SEAT. I WANT TO THANK INC FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR US. I THINK IT'S FITTING AND PROPER THAT WE'RE MEETING IN THIS PARTICULAR ROOM. IT PROVIDES A POWERFUL GRAPHIC BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ONE CHAIR UP HERE, IT'S MULTIPLE MEANING THAT NOT ONE VOICE SHOULD RULE OR ONE POSITION OR ONE GROUP SHOULD RULE OUR CITY. THESE MULTIPLE CHAIR NEED TO BUILD CONSENSUS. FOR OVER 20 YEARS I'VE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS POLITICAL, RACIAL, SEXUAL ORIENTATION LINES TO AFFECT AND IMPACT THE MST ISSUES WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS CITY FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSE K, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT TO POLICING. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DEBATE AND QUESTIONS THAT WILL COME. THANK YOU. >> MR. ROOKS. >> GOOD EVENING. JOHN ROOKS JR. I'M EDI CONSULTANT OR I WOULD SAY EDI ENGINEER BUT I DO CON STUL STAND — CON TANT WORK AS WELL.
I'M COCHAIR OF LOVE OVER HATE. I'M PART OF ORGANIZATION CALLED MEN OF VISION THAT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY SOURCE ORGANIZATION. I ALSO HELP MY DAUGHTER WITH ORGANIZATION SHE STARTED. SHE'S 14 YEARS OLD, IT'S CALLED REAL KIDS UNITED WHICH TEACHES YOUTH ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE, ENTERPRISING, ACTIVE, AND LIFE PRINCIPLES. I'M RUNNING FOR THE REASON OF OUR PEOPLE. WALKING THROUGH THESE COMMUNITIES, I HEAR THE STORIES DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES THAT ADDRESS THEM AN I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE VOICES ARE HEARD. THANK YOU >> MS. HUGGINS. >> GOOD EVENING. HUGGINS RUNNING FOR THE WARD THREE SEAT. I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS AND I'M USED TO SITTING OER THERE, AND SO DURING THAT ALMOST NINE-YEAR PERIOD, I WORKED IN THREE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS UNDER FIVE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS. I MANAGED BUDGETS, PROJECTS, PEOPLE, I HANDLED THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE INCLUDING ERE SALE, LEASE, PURCHASE, DONATION THAT WENT THROUGH THE CITY. SO I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT GO ON BEHIND THE SCENES. WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES FOR SOMETHING, I UNDERSTAND HOW THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DIVISIONS HAVE TO GO BACK AND CARRY THAT OUT.
I ALSO COME ARE FROM A FAMILY THAT'S BEEN COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE FOR A LONG TIME. MY MOTHER SERVED ON THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS UH NOW. FATHER SERVED SEVERAL TERMS ON THE GREENVILLE CITY COUNCIL. I GREW UP REJ ARE STERING PEOPLE TO VOTE, ATTENDING PRECINCT MEETINGS AND IENS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, DIFFERENT QUESTION FOR EACH CANDIDATE, AND AISLE BEGIN WITH MS.
COLE-McFADDEN. >> THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE ASKED ALL OF THE CANDIDATES, QUOTE, IF TH CITY COULD ADOPT AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MEMBERS, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, WHAT PROVISION SHOULD THAT ORDINANCE CONTAIN, UNQUOTE. YOUR ANSWER. LEGAL STAFF TAKES THE LEAD IN CRAFTING ORDINANCES. UNQUOTE. THE QUESTION, OF COURSE IS, WHAT KIND OF AN ORDINANCE WOULD YOU SUPPORT. ARE THERE ANY MEDZS YOU WOULD NOT SUPPORT? >> I WOULD SUPPORT AN ORDINANCE THAT SERVED SEXUAL IDENTITY, IDENTIFICATION, IF WE COULD DO THAT. >> YOU HAVE A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.
>> OH. WELL, IT IS MY FEELING THAT EVERY CITIZEN IN DURHAM SHOULD HAVE EQUAL PROTECTION. HOWEVER A PERSON WANTS TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF OR HERSELF, IT'S OKAY. SEXUAL IDENTITIES, SEXUAL ORIENTATION WOULD BE TE NEW COVERAGES, I BELIEVE, THAT OUR ORDINANCE COVER NOW. >> THANK YOU. MS. FREEMAN. IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE YOU SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE YOU SAID THE FOLLOWING: QUOTE, IN ORDER TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING A REALITY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE, THE CITY WOULD NEED TO MAKE AN INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT OF ONE HUNDRED MILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS WITH SOCIAL IMPACT BONDS THAT ADDRESS HOUSING, UNQUOTE. TWO QUESTIONS: WHEN ISSUE UGH THESE BONDS HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE CITY'S TRIPLE A BOND RAID RATING, AND IF THE HOUSING UNITS COS, SAY, $100,000 A PIECE, A HUNDRED MILLION WOULD BUY A THOUSAND UNITS. WOULD A HUNDRED MORE UNITS A YEAR FOR TEN YEARS REALLY MAKE A DENT IN THE PROBLEM? >> UM, THANK YOU, I JUST WANT TO TAKE IT PIECE BY PIECE AND SAY THE FIRST PART IS THAT THE IMPACT OF THE TRIPLE BOND RATING WOULD NOT BE NEGATIVE AND THAT THERE'S ALREADY AN EXISTING PUSH TO MAKE A VALUE CAPTURE BOND AND I'M JUST PUSHING TO MAKE IT A VALUE CAPTURE INVEST IN SOCIAL IMPACT ISSUES AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEN JUST MAKING SURE THAT UH YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE HAS TO BE A PROFIT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT HOUSING, ALSO LOOKING AT HOW JOBS ARE USED IN THAT BOND, HOW, UM, SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE STARTING OUT AND FIGURING OUT WAYS OF SUPPORT FROM INCUBATION. BOND, ITSELF WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY MEASURE TO AFFORD AA AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE PARTNERSHIP ACROSS THE BOARD AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALSO AT THE TABLE AND HAVING CONVERSATION ON HOW WE ACTUALLY ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I KNOW THAT THE DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY IS LEAVING THAT CHARGE FOR THE CITY RIGHT NOW AND THIS EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THERE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE AS LOW TO NO INCOME LEVELS BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE AT MODERATE TO MID INCOME LEVELS AS WELL. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS, MULTIPLE LEVELS TO THIS AND IT'S NO JUST A SIMPLE A HUNDRED MILLION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S ACTUALLY UH A PROCESS IN WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT — I'M SORRY. >> THANK YOU. MR. MIDDLETON, IN ONE OF YOUR ANSWERS, YOU SAID EITHER THE CITY CAN TOTALLY CEASE AND DESIST ON IMPROVING ZONING FOR PROJECTS THAT FEW WILL INSATIATE OR THE CITY CAN SUMMON THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO STABILIZE EXISTING AND OF THE TIME HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OUR NEW MISPAL PREZ — UNQUOTE.
IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS REZONING IS NOT EVEN NECESSARY, SMALL HOUSES AND DUPLEXES ARE BEING TORN DOWN TO BUILD EXPENSIVE NEW HOUSES WITH THE SAME ZONING. WHAT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT THAT? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. FIRST PART OF MY QUESTION WAS RESPONDING TO WHAT I THOUGHT WA AN AIR OF UNREAL ISISM IN THE CONVERSATION AND THAT IS, WE TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION AS IF IT'S AN EXOTIC THING AND NOT A BY PRODUCT OF KAPT LIMIT AND MARKET FORCES. FIRST PART OF THE ANSWER WAS TO PLACE THE CONVERSATION IN PROPER CONTEXT. REASON WHY ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN NOT PRETEND THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND MARKET FORCES AND THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE — I'M GOING SUSPEND FOR A MINUTE UNTIL — >> TIME IS, YOU HAVE A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF. >> BIT DISTRACTING. ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF GENTRIFICATION. I THINK THE CITY CAN USE CREATIVELY USE OUR TAX INCENTIVE POWERS TO BRING AND DEVELOPMENT WHICH DO AA AFFORDABLE HOUSE.
LEGALLY WE CANNOT COMPEL DEVELOPERS TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT QUESTION CREATIVELY USE THE POWER OF TAX INCENTIVES TO BRING DEVELOPERS THAT UNDERSTAND OUR CULTURE AND OUR VALUE UH YOUS IN THIS CITY, UM, AND DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS. >> POINT OF ORDER. >> YES. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS MOVING ABOUT AND DISTRACTING. I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE — >> I AGREE. I DON'T KNOW QUITE WHAT I CAN DO. I TRIED TO INDICATE. >> I WILL WALK OUT 'CUZ I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. >> OKAY. I APOLOGIZE, BUT I DON'T HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER TAT SITUATION. >> ARE THSE 21 SECONDS MINE? >> YES. >> AND WE'VE SEEN THE CITY ALSO GET INVOLVED IN PROMOTING DEVELOPMENTS. WE LOOK AT SOUTH SIDE, ROLLING HILLS, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IMPACTS OF IT AND THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH IMPACTS OF IT, BUT THE CITY CAN GET INVOLVED IN PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE CAN BRING IN EXCEPTIONAL CORPORATE PARTNERS AND DEVELOPER WHO IS UDERSTAND OUR VALUES AND INCENTIVIZE THOSE PARTNERS TO CREATIVE USE TAX INCENTIVES.
>> THANK YOU. MR. ROOKS, YOU APOLOGIZED FOR THE ANSWERS THAT WERE SUBMITTED IN YOUR NAME FROM QUESTIONNAIRE FROM QUALITY NORTH CAROLINA. THOSE ANSWERS AS THE HERD SUN DESCRIBED THEM WERE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF LGBQ EQUALITY. WHY DID YOU RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND WHY DIDN'T YOU REVIEW THE ANSWERS BEFORE THEY WERE SUBMITTED? >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. I'M GLAD I I FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO ANSWER IN PUBLIC. UM, HONESTLY, I CAN JUST SAY IT'S JUST A FLAW ON MY PART. I'M VERY — I'VE BEEN VERY ADAMANT IN MAKING SURE THAT I LET THOSE PEOPLE KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN MOST HURT BY THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I ENDED UP POSTING ON MY WEB SITE. THAT'S MY FORM OF BEING TRANSPARENT. UM, AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE FLAWS THAT I ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.
JUST A MISTAKE. SO, UM, THAT'S REALLY IT. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE LGBT COMMUNITY AS I STATED IN MY QUESTIONNAIRE THAT WAS SUBMITTED PROBABLY MORE THAN A MONTH EARLIER, MY SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO, UM, YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S REALLY IT. >> THANK YOU. MS. HUGGINS, ANOTHER QUESTIONNAIRE ASKED INCREASE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHERE WILL MONEY COME FROM? I AM ALWAYS READY TO SUPPORT AND FIGHT FOR FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOWEVER MY SUPPORT WILL BE EVALUATED ALONG WITH NEEDS FOR FUNDING FOR BASIC SERVICES, UNQUOTE. ISN'T THAT PRECISELY THE PROBLEM? FOR THE CITY TO BUILD ONE MORE HOUSING UNIT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY AND THE CITY HAS A LOT OF OBLIGATIONS IT HAS TO FUND.
GRANTED THERE ARE NON-PROFITS AND PRIVATE ENTITIES WORKING ON THE PROBLEM, WHERE DO YOU PROPOSE TO GET CITY MONEY FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? >> I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BUDGET. AS I SAID BEFORE, I WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS, HANDLED THE BUDGET AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL, AT THE DIVISION LEVEL FOR TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE CERTAIN BASIC NEEDS THAT HAVE TO BE MET FIRST, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT MAKING AER AFFORDABLE HOUSING A PRIORITY AND THEN FINDING THE MONEY FOR THAT. THERE ARE SOME THINGS, THOUGH, THAT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SUE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF. >> THANK YOU. I UH WANT TO ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU IN TURN.
I'LL START AT THE OTHER END WITH MS. HUGGINS. YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST ONE OTHER PERSON FOR YOUR WARD SEAT. WHY WOULD YOU BE A BETTER COUNCIL MEMBER THAN YOUR OPPONENT? >> YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M GOING TO SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD TO SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, WHEN YOU COME TO THE TABLE WITH A CERTAIN A AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE, THAT EXPERIENCE MEANS SOMETHING, AND I KNOW THAT IN SOME OF THE ARTICLES AND ENDORSEMENTS THAT EXPERIENCE HAS NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO I'VE STOOD UP IN FRNT OF COUNCIL BEFRE, I'VE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF COUNCIL BEFORE, I'VE HAD COUNCIL ASK ME QUESTIONS, I'VE WRITTEN AGENDA MEMOS AND SAT DOWN WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND PULLED TOETHER TEAMS TO GET THINGS DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE, HOW HARD IT IS TO PULL TOGETHER PEOPLE TO GET THINGS DONE WHEN YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE MONEY FOR TRAINING OR YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FINDING FUNDING. THAT IS ALWAYS A BIG ISSUE. I'VE HAD TO PUT TOGETHER REDUCTION BUDGET PLANS WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS GOING DOWN AND MANAGED TO STILL KEEP ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES AND NOT LAY ANYONE OFF. IF YOU THINK THAT RIGHT NOW TIMES ARE OKAY AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IMAGINE WHAT TIMES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY'RE REALLY TOUGH AND WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL WHO UNDERSTAND HOW TO WORK HARD, PUT THINGS TOGETHER AND GET THNGS DONE. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH EXPERIENCE THAT IS NEEDED ON THE COUNCIL, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS KIND OF WOK AND UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY MATTERS.
IF WE WANT TO IMPACT OUR BASIC SERVICES LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND POLICE PROTECTION AND FIRE PROTECTION AND WATER, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE. >> THANK YOU. MR. ROOKS. >> UM, I GUESS THE QUESTION IS — >> YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST ONE OTHER PERSON FOR YOUR WARD SEAT, WHY WOULD YOU BE A BETTER COUNCIL MEMBER THAN YOUR OPPONENT? >> UM. [LAUGHTER] LET ME DO THIS FIRST. UM, WELL, LET ME START BY SAYING THIS, UM, EVERYONE'S BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ELECTION THUS FAR AND VOTING OVER AND TUESDAY JUST HAPPENING, I'VE DONE SOME NUMBERS AND 50% — 56% OF THE PEOPLE EITHER VOTED FOR MYSELF, THE OTHER GREAT CANDIDATE SUCH AS LA VON BARNS, DEE YEAH NAH HALL AND DONALD AND I BELIEVE THOSE PEOPLE, I BELIEVE THEIR VOICE IS LOUD AND CLEAR.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT IS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO BASICALLY, UM, INSPIRE THEIR CHILDREN. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO THAT IS JUST A GRASS ROOTS INDIVIDUAL THAT IS PRETTY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR ISSUES. I WALK IN THESE COMMUNITIES PRETTY MUCH ON A DAILY/WEEKLY BASIS AND I HEAR THE STORIES FROM WOMEN THAT ARE SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS, FROM MEN THAT DON'T HAVE JOB, LIKE, I'VE TALKED TO THESE PEPLE DIRECTLY, AND I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY IS THAT YOU WANT TO REPRESENT A COMMUNITY, I THINK YOU HAVE TO WITH ABLE TO TALK TO THAT COMMUNITY ON A REGULAR BASIS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. MIDDLETON. >> ROOKS IS A MAN OF GREAT CHARACTER AND PROUD TO KNOW HIM. WE'RE BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY. ANYONE IN THE CITY THAT HAS ANY DEGREE OF FAMILIARITY WITH ME KNOWS THAT LONG BEFORE I GOT TELEVISION COVERAGE OR NEWS COVERAGE I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS ONLY TAKEN PLACE IN ONE ROOM IN THIS CITY, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ROOM IT WOULD HAVE PLAYED IN. THE CONVERSATION HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN WITH A GROUP OF OTHER FOLK, THE QUESTION OF OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WOULD NOT EVEN, IT WOULDN'T LAST TWO MINUTES THE CONVERSATION. I WANT TO SAY THAT.
WHY WOULD I BE A BETTER CITY COUNCIL? I THINK THAT THE SKILL SETS REQUIRED TO BE A GOOD COUNSELOR, THIS IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME AND ENGAGEMENT, NOT THAT JOHN DOESN'T HAVE THE SKILL SETS, BUT I THINK THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE SKILL SET, THERE'S A RECORD THERE FOR ME. I'LL SAY WHAT OTHERS SAID, I HAVE A DEPTH OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND FOR YEARS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE CHANGED POLICY IN THIS CITY. ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY LIFE, I'VE BEN PART OF THE LEADERSHIP APPARATUS OF THE LARGEST GRASS ROOTS NON-PARTISAN MOST DIVERSE ORGANIZATION IN THIS CITY, DURHAM CAN. I'VE WORKED ON EVERY ISSUE UH THAT'S IMPORTANT AND YES I'VE WALKED NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE IN ANY TELEVISION REPORTERS ASKED MY NAME. >> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN, MS.
FREEMAN. >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MY OPPONENT IS ONLY MY OPPONENT BASED ON HER ADDRESS AND THIS IS NOT, IT'S NOT PERSONAL, SO IT'S NOT AN ATTACK ON HER CHARACTER IN THAT WE'RE IN THIS RACE TOGETHER, JUST BASED ON WHERE WE LIVE. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN STYLE AND A DIFFERENCE IN THE [INDISCERNIBLE] IN THE WORK YOU DO AND I ALWAYS LOOK TO WORK FROM THE BOTTOM UP RATHER THAN FROM THE TOP DOWN. BEYOND THAT, THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH I COULD SAY TO DIFFERENTIATE. I THINK WE AGREE ON MANY ISSUES, MANY OF THE CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY, BT HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT ADDRESSING IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE MORE OF A CONVENER AND MORE OF A "IN THE COMMUNITY" KIND OF PERSON ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT RESIDENTS ACTUALLY HAVE, NOT JUST CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MS. COLE-McFADDEN, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE QUESTION? >> NO. I CN JUST SPEAK FOR WHO I AM. I HAVE A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVING BEGUN MY GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE WITH DURHAM COUNTY AND RETIRED FROM A POSITION WITH THE CITY OF DURHAM. I'VE LEARNED HOW TO PARTNER WITH DURHAM WITH DURHAM COUNTY AROUND ISSUES THAT IMPACT ALL OF US. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY UNDERSTAND THAT IT NEEDS TO WRAP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE MUNICIPALITIES AND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND I AM ON BOARD FOR BOTH OF THOSE. I'M A MENTOR, I'VE ADOPTED LAKEVIEW ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, AND SO I'M ALL OVER, JOHN. I HVE EXPERIENCE ON JUST ABOUT EVERY CITY BOARD, UM, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH COMMISSION WHICH WAS FOUNDED SOME YEARS AGO AND I'VE BEEN THEIR ADVISOR.
I'M NEEDED FOR CONSISTENCY, INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, UM, AND JUST BECAUSE WE NEED A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO LOOKS LIE ME ON THIS COUNCIL. NOBODY CAN SPEAK FOR ME UP HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A DIFFERENT AGE GROUP, BUT, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A HOMOGENEOUS COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A HOMOGENEOUS CITY. ENOUGH OF THAT. >> THANK YOU. I SAID THE POLICY QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED TO THREE OF YOU AND ROTATED. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, THE FIRST ONE I'D LIKE TO ASK TO ALL FIVE BECAUSE THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO BROUGHT UP SOMETHING ABOUT THIS QUESTION THAT, AND I CAN'T READ EVERYTHING THEY WROTE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT IN THERE AND HAVE ALL OF YOU DEAL WITH IT. THE QUESTION CONCERNS THE DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH HOUSES APPROXIMATELY 5% OF DURHAM RESIDENCE AND IS OUR LARGEST PROVIDER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR APPOINT ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WHAT DO YU THINK THE HOUSING AUTHORITY NEEDS TO DO BETTER TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DURHAM? WHAT I WANT TO ADD TO THAT IS SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE BROUGHT UP A QUESTION TALKING ABOUT HOW A NUMBER OF RESIDENCES IN ODEM TOWERS, MARINE COURT, DELL MONTH COURT AND OTHERS WILL BE DISPLACED AND DISLOCATED PERMANENTLY WHILE DEVELOPMENT VENTURES INC. IS DOING RENOVATIONS AND RECONSTRUCTIONS TO SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS. I'D LIKE YOU TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF HOW THE DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD DEAL WITH THAT AND WHAT YOU THINK THE DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY NEEDS FROM THE COUNCIL. WE'LL START WITH MS. COLE-McFADDEN. >> YES, FOR YEARS I'VE SAID — WELL WE UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HOWEVER, I THINK A AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE PUBLIC HOUSING SECTOR SHOULD BE A TRANSITIONAL KIND OF HOUSING FOR CITIZENS WHO ARE ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE PRIVATE SOAK TOR.
MORE EMPHASIS PLACED ON HUMAN SECTOR AND UNDERSTAND THEY NEED TO BUILD BUILDINGS, BUT WE NEED TO BUILD PEOPLE AS WELL. I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THEM DISPLACING RESIDENCE FOR ANY PURPOSE. THEY WILL NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF HOUSING IN PLACE BEFORE THEY BEGIN WHATEVER THEIR REHABILITATION IS. ANOTHER PIECE THEY NEED TO DO IS TAKE CAREFUL ATTENTION AT HOW THEY PLACE PERSONS IN PLACES LIKE OLDHAM TOWERS. I LEARNED THEY PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE AGE OR ANYTHING AS WELL AS DISABILITY AND THAT KIND OF THING, THEY WOULD PLACE THEM WITH SENIORS AND THAT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE IT'S PROVEN THAT THAT WASN'T A HEALTHY SITUATION. >> THANK YOU. MS. FREEMAN. >> SO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE DID FOCUS ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF THIS AND RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE ISSUES AROUND SYSTEMATIC AND INSTITUTIONAL RACE CHL THAT HAPPENS IN A ADDRESS. WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MOVES FORWARD IF WE'RE NOT INSTITUTIONALIZING HOW THY DO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THERE'S STOPGAP MEASURES, WE'RE GOING TO DO A DISSERVICE TO OUR RESIDENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT WHERE THERE IS HOMELESSNESS.
UNLESS WE'RE WILLING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION AROUND RACISM AND POVERTY AND REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE HOW THERE'S A LACK OF WEALTH BUILDING HAPPENING IN THE MODEL THAT'S SET UP WITH THE DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY, I MEAN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR HAS STARTED TO TRY AND IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM WHERE THERE'S AN EQUITY BUILDING FOR FIVE YEARS LIKE LIVING IN A HOUSE, BUT THIS THE NEW, LIKE ONE YEAR. YOU CAN'T GO IN AND DISPLACE THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE AND EXPECT FOR THAT TO WORK. THERE HAS TO BE A SLOW-MOVING TRAIN ON THIS AND IT HAS TO BE A LOT MORE CONVERSATION WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING AROUND HOW THEY NEED TO BE SUPPORTED TO MOVE FORWARD SO THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST MOVED BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PROCESS OF DOING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, CAREFULLY, AND SLOW THIS TRAIN DOWN SO THEY'RE NOT DISPLACED.
I WOULD NOT SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD IN A DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WHERE WE DON'T DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. MR. MIDDLETON. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE CITIZENS TO GO TO MY WEB SITE AT MIDDLETON4DURHAM.COM. I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THE ISSUE OF HOUSING AND OTHER THINGS. PLEASE RAD THAT. INTEREST OF TIME I'LL SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE QUESTION. FIRSTLY, I'M GLAD WE'RE PARSING OUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S A POLITICAL TERM. I WAS PART OF THE GROUP OF CITIZENS THAT NEGOTIATED WITH THE CITY AND WITH ANTHONY SCOTT AT DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY TO GET BACK PAY YET PLACE INTO THE CITY'S CLUTCHES AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL BE PART OF THE MIX WHEN WE TALK A ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ABOUT 12,000 RESIDENCE LIVE AND THEY TEND TO BE MOST VUL HERBAL FOLK. THOSE PLACES ARE KRUSHLING AND NEED TO BE FIX. THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE. HOW DO WE DO THAT? BY REDOING IT, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THEM BEING PERMANENTLY MOVED. I HEARD THERE'S A PLAN TO PERMANENTLY MOVE PEOPLE.
FIRSTLY, I SO FAR AS WE GET FRAUL FUNDING FOR HOUSING, WE CAN'T PERMLY MOVE PEOPLE OUT OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. I HAVEN'T GOT ANYONE ON RECORD WHO'S IN AUTHORITY OF THIS CITY TO AUTHENTICATE THAT STORY SO I KNOW IT'S FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE PIP JUST TO SAY THAT. I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY PERMANENT MOVING BECAUSE WE CAN'T, BUT I UH WILL SUPPORT REDEVELOPMENT OF THOSE HOUSING COMPLEXES.
PLEASE GO TO THE WEB SITE AND READ MY PLAN. A LOT TO SAY ON IT. THANK YOU. >> MR. ROOKS. >> YES. THIS PART IS PRETTY MUCH PERSONAL TO ME, BUT I DEFINITELY CHALLENGE SOME PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY UH GO TO SOME OF THESE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND WALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES, WAUG THROUGH SOME HOMES AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A NEED FOR UPGRADES AND POSSIBLY REDEVELOPMENT. OKAY, BUT I'M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO SUPPORT DISPLACEMENT OF FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY ON A PERMANENT LEVEL. THAT MODEL HAS BEEN DONE IN PLACES LIKE CHICAGO AND THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT CHAOS. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. UM, SO I THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A NEW LOCATION FOR RESIDENCE TO LIVE, I THINK WE ALSO NEED BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S IN THAT LOCATION, MEANING, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE OPTIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, OPTIONS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
THERE'S A HOST OF RESOURCES THAT NEED TO BE IN THAT COMMUNITY WHILE WE HELP THOSE RESIDENCE ARE — TRANSITION. >> MS. HUGGINS. >> WHEN MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER AND I MOVED WE LIVED AT HILLEN DEAL, BUT AT THE TIME WE RENTED THE HOME WE WERE TOLD DOT WAS GOING BE WIDENING I 85 AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE. WHEN I WAS GIVEN THIS LETTER EARLIER THIS EVENING ABOUT PEOPLE BEING MOVED FROM OLDHAM TOWERS THAT'S WHAT IT REMINDED ME OF AND THAT'S TOUGH. I KNOW THAT'S TOUGH BECAUSE WE HAD TO MOVE AND WE WERE SENT LETTERS SAY UHHING YOU HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY E TOLD TO KATE THE PREMISES AT, BUT I HAD A YOUNG DAUGHTER, WAS IN LAW SCHOOL, AND MY HUSBAND WAS WORKING AND IT WAS VERY TOUGH.
WE DID NOT FIND A HOME THAT WAS IN THE PRICE RANGE THAT WE WERE PAYING. WE HAD TO PAY MORE AND SO I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO THIS IS TOUGH, AND IN THE SITUATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY NOW, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT. I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT HAVING PEOPLE MOVE WITHOUT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT IS GOING TO BE LIKE AND IT'S NOT JUST THE HOME. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE LIFESTYLE IS, HOW THEY GET TO THE GROCERY STORE, HOW THEY GET TO THE JOB. ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED, AND SO I TELL YOU NOW, I'M SITTING HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE AND I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK SOME REMAINING QUESTIONS TO THREE PEOPLE AND WE'LL BE ROTATING THROUGH.
THE FIRST ONE, AND I'LL START WITH, AGAIN, WITH MS. COLE-McFADDEN, IS AN AUDIENCE QUESTION SAYS THERE ARE CURRENTLY GAPS IN THE CITY'S CODE DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, SPECIFICALLY CLENUP OF LEAD. HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO WORK WITH CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THIS ESPECIALLY YOUNG CHILDREN?, – >> I AM RELYING ON PEACH. WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PEACH HOW TO HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ON MONDAY NIGHT PEACH WILL BE OUTLINING SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THEY WILL BE USING TO ADRESS THIS PROBLEM SO I'M RELYING ON LA NORA SMITH AND HER STAFF TO HELP THE CITY WITH THIS. >> THANK YOU. MS. FREEMAN. >> I'M SORRY, PEACH HAS BEEN IN DURHAM SINCE 1996, IT'S ODD TO JUST START WORKING WITH THEM IN 2017.
>> WORKING WITH THEM BEFORE. >> YEAH, THAT'S A LOT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEAD HAZARDS AND PREDOMINANTLY MINORITY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES. THERE HAS TO BE A MORE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AROUND HOW YOU SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE PARTNERSHIP EFFORT FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH, WHICH IS PEACH. RECOGNIZING IT'S NOT JUST LEAD HAZARDS, THERE'S ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS LIKE TOXIC MULCH IN THE EAST DURHAM PARK THAT'S SHEDDED AND CHILDREN CAN NOW — UNDERSTAND THERE'S CANCEROUS, CANCER-CAUSING MATERIALS IN THE MATERIALS, THESE ARE NOT VERY HARD ISSUES THAT YOU CAN'T WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND OR WRAP YOUR HANDS AROUND.
THESE ARE SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO. JUST MAKING SURE PEACH HAS SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN HOUSING ORGANIZER ON STAFF. MAKING SURE THAT TOXIC MULCH IS NOT PUT DOWN IN PLACE OF WOOD MULCH. UM, I'M JUST NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT WE AS A CITY CAN'T SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE ARE NOW JUST GOING TO ADDRESS IT. IT'S JUST KIND OF FRUSTRATING TO HEAR NOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT. >> THANK YOU. MR. MIDDLETON. >> YES, SIR. WORKING AS COMMUNITY ACTIVIST ONE OF THE THINGS I OBSERVED AND CONFIRMED IS OFTEN TIME ENVIRONMENT ARE DISPARITIES CUT ALONG ECONOMIC LINES. ONE OF THE MOST MOVING THINGS I WORKED ON IS McDUG L TERRACE. THERE WAS A STREAM THAT WAS POISONED. WORKING WITH DURHAM CAN TO GET THAT STREAM CLEAN UP. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HAPPENING IN HOPE VALLEY OR ANY OTHER NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN ST CITY. I'M RUNNING TO BE ON THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE SOMETIMES — OTHER THING I LEARNED IS THAT THE SQUEAKY WHEEL DOESN'T GET THE OIL.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ORGANIZED AND WON'T BRING THEIR VOICES INTO THE CHAMBER. I'M RUNNING TO BET BE THAT VOICE IN THE CHAMBER. WE'VE GOT THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE POLITICAL WORLD TO ORDER THEM TO OPERATE EQUITABLY AND ACROSS THE BOARD. IF I GET ELECTED AND SEE THOSE DISPARITIES, I'M GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. IF THEY'RE DOING TH JOB GREAT THEY'LL HAVE NO PIERCER ALLY. >> NEXT QUESTION WITH MR ROOK. ONE OF MAYOR BELL'S SIGNATURE PROJS HAS BEEN SOUTH SIDE. HAS IT BEEN A SUCCESS? WHO'S BENEFITS FROM IT? — PROJECTS. >> UM, I DON'T THINK MANY P PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITS FROM IT.
I THINK — I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A GENTLEMAN THAT WORKS IN THAT COMMUNITY QUITE OFTEN, OKAY. HIS RESPONSE TO ME — AND AGAIN, I'M GRASSROOTS, LIKE TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEIR VOICES AND THEIR CONCERNS ARE. HE'S JUST STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE UNHAPPY, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE KIND OF BEEN LEFT OUT. BASICALLY GOING BY WHAT SOME RESIDENTS HAVE SAID, THEY JUST WEREN'T HAPPY. >> THANK YOU. MS. HUGGINS. >> REPEAT THE QUESTION. >> SURE. ONE OF MAYOR BELL'S SIGNATURE PROJS HAS BEEN SOUTH SIDE. HAS IT BEEN A SUCCESS? WHO'S BENEFITS FROM IT? >> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE SUCCESS AND WHO YOU'RE ASKING. PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE I'M GOING TO HAVE WITH THIS IS THE IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT IS LEADING A PROCESS OR TAKING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN A PROCESS THAT RESULTS IN PEOPLE WHO WERE RUN LIVING IN AN AREA NO LONGER BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE THERE. GOVERNMENT THEN NEEDS TO TAKE THE LEAD TO WORK ON RECTIFYING THAT SITUATION.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUCCESS, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING HOMES THAT ARE NOW IN A QUALITY STATE CONDITION OR REPAIR OR MAKING SURE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE HOUSED, THEN MAYBE IT'S SUCCESSFUL, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE BEFORE HAVE QUALITY HOMES THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN NOW, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
I'VE BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AT EVENTS OVER IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I'VE LISTENED TO PEOPLE SAY, HEY, I GREW UP OVER THERE OR MY GRANDMOTHER GREW UP OVER THERE AND UH NO THEY'VE REDEVELOPED THE HOMES AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE LIVED IN. THE PEOPLE WHO WE GREW UP AROUND NO LONGER LIVE THERE, AND SO THERE IS THIS FEELING THAT IT'S OKAY NOW TO FIX IT UP AND PUT MONEY IN IT, BUT WHERE WAS THAT ACCEPTED MONEY WHEN WE WERE LIVING THERE? AT THAT TIE, THERE WAS CITY DISINVESTMENT.
NOW THAT WE HAVE CITY INVESTMENT, WE ALSO NEED TO A TAKE THAT A FEW STEPS FORWARD AND CITY NEEDS TO DO BETTER. >> MS. COLE-McFADDEN. LIKE ME E TO REPEAT THE QUESTION? >> NO. WHEN WE STARTED WORK IN THE SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WORKED WITH THE, UM, NEIGHBORS THERE. IT WAS OUR HOPE THAT, UM, THE WORK THT WE DID WOULD BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH ALLEVIATING FINE, IMPROVING HOUSING, AND BEGINNING A SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT. WE HAD PARTNERS THERE, SELF HELP CREDIT UNION, DUKE UNIVERSITY HAD HOPED THEIR EMPLOYEES WOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE THERE BY THEM SHARING WITH THEM A SECOND MORTGAGE. WHAT WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE IS THAT WE WOULD RUN INTO ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH LACK OF CREDIT PREPARATION FROM SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE. THEN I TALKED WITH SOME FOLK WHO HAD LIVED THERE IN THE PAST WHO SAID — AND I JUST HAPPENED TO LIVE ON THE PERIPHERY OF SOUTHSIDE ANYWAY — WHO SAID THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK THERE BECAUSE ALL THE CRIME ISSUES HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED EITHER.
IF WE HAD KNOWN THAT THE COST OF HOUSING WOULD ESCALATE THE WAY THAT IT DID, UH, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT LOOK. I WAS AT A — NEVER MIND. >> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION I'LL BEGIN WITH MS. FREEMAN. HOW GOOD A JOB IS GO TRY INC. AL DOING IN SERVING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO DEPEND UPON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? DO YOU BELIEVE THE PROPOSED DURHAM ORANGE LITE RAL WILL SERVE THOSE SAME PEOPLE ADEQUATELY? >> I WANT TO FIRST SAY THAT I THINK THAT WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THEIR BUDGET, THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. SAYING THAT SIMILAR HOW MAYOR — PRO TEM McFADDEN JUST SAID THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT THE PRICES OF HOUSING WOULD, YOU KNOW JUST MAGICALLY RISE, I THINK THAT THE SAME OUTCOME IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN WITH THE LITE RAIL PROJECT AS WLL WHICH IS WHY I THINK MYSELF AND OTHERS WITHIN THE DURHAM CAN ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSIT ARE TIED TOGETHER WITH JOBS, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THE GOTRIANGLE WORK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE WOULD LIKE IN THIS CITY.
I THINK THE BUS SERVICE, I MEAN THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINE IF WE COULD GET TO 15 MINUTES ROTATIONAL TRANSIT LINES WE WOULD BE IN A BETTERER POSITION TO BRING IN LITE RAIL AND TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE USING IT. RIGHT NOW THE DEMAND IS NOT THERE. I KNOW THAT WITH POPULATION GROWTH IT WILL GET THERE. WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL WE'RE AT POPULATION CAPACITY AN NO ONE CAN MOVE ON THE ROADS LIKE ATLANTA, BUT THERE'S JUST SOME KIND OF SLOWING DOWN, SOME STEPPING BACK AND RECOGNIZING THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ANTICIPATED RESPONSE BASED ON PREVIOUS HISTORY OF HOW THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN REDEVELOPMENT OR AND GENTRIFICATION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME OUTCOME. >> THANK YOU. MR. MIDDLETON. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE PARTICULARS ON MY WEB SITE AT MIDDLETON4DURHAM.COM. MOST CITY CAN BE TRULY GREAT UNTIL CITIZENS CAN ACCESS THAT CITY IS WHERE YOU HAVE A CAR OR NOT. I BELIEVE DURHAM IS ON THE ASSENT AND I THINK DURHAM'S WORTHY OF INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS CITIZEN TO ACCESS EVRY PART OF THE CITY.
GOTRIANGLE I THINK IS DOING A GOOD JOB FOR ITS CURRENT MISSION FOR ITS CURRENT RIDER HOOD. ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE ROUGHLY RIDE OUR BUSES EVERY DAY. MOST OF THEM ARE LOW INCOME, ELDERLY AND DISABLED. WE GOT TO REMVE STIGMA — I GREW UP ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WE GOT TO REMOVE THE STIGMA — SWEET MODDERNIZATION AND BETTER BUS SYSTEM THAT'S MORE ACTIVE FOR THE CITY, THAT'S AFFORDABLE, ELECTRIC, COMBINED WITH SMARTLY INTEGRATING LITE RAIL. WITH THE STRA ARE TEE JIK FORECAST ON WHERE OUR CITY'S GOING, I THINK IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR US NOT TO START LOOKING AT HOW TO INTEGRATE LITE R RAIL. LITE RAIL GOT TO HAVE CLUSTERS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AROUND TE STOPS, CAN'T BE ISOLATED FROM HOUSING.
THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT WE CAN'T BE A GREAT CITY IF WE HAVE CITIZENS THAT CAN'T ACCESS OUR — EVERYWHERE. >> THANK YOU. MR. ROOKS. >> YES, UM, I'M JUST NOT AT LEAST RIGHT NOW THIS MOMENT NOT A SUPER FAN OF THE LITE RAIL. I TINK I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOME OTHER MAJOR ISSUES THAT WERE HAPPENING. I DO UNDERSTAND WITH THE POPULATION COMING MAYBE IN THE NEXT 15-20 YEARS THERE IS GOING TO BE A NEED FOR IT, UM, I JUST LIKE TO POSSIBLE MIMIC SOME OTHER CITIES AROUND US WITH FREE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE FROM THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE READ OR SEEN WAS THAT OTHER TRANSPORTATION IS NOT GOING TO REALLY BENEFIT — I MEAN NOT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THE LITE RAIL IS NOT GOING TO REALLY BENEFIT EVERYONE. IF EVERYONE'S TAX DOLLAR ARE GOING TO BE USED TO FUND THIS, I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IT. AND I THINK WITH THE RATE IT'S GOING TO BE, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE FOR A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE.
I JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO — IF WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL DOWN THAT ROAD, MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS A AT THE TABLE, MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS IN ON THOSE DECISIONS. >> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION I'LL BEGIN WITH MS. HUGGINS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MAYOR ANTIPOVERTY INITIATIVE NOW CALLED TRANSFORMATION IN TIM. WHAT'S IT ACCOMPLISHED AND WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING? >> I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT IN DEPTH. BUT LET ME SAY THIS, I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING TO TACKLE POVERTY. I THINK THAT WE NED TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON JOBS AND JOB TRAINING. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST WITH SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE JOB TRAINING. THERE'S ONE IN PARTICULAR I'M THINKING OF AND THE CONVERSATION STICKS IN MY HEAD BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A GOOD ONE. I WAS GOING THROUGH A TOUR OF THE FACILITY AND I ASKED THE PERSON WAT ARE YOU DOING TO TRAIN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR JOBS FOR THE FUTURE? AND I WAS TOLD, WELL THEY DON'T HAVE THE APTITUDE FOR SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF JOBS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE DECIDING WHO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH AND WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR — SPERP ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY — WE'VE GOT TO SET OUR EXPECTATIONS HIGH, GO TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
IN ORDER TO TALK ABOUT WHAT POVERTY LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE START TO IMPACT THAT, WE GOT TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND WE'VE GOT SAY, LOOK, WHEN YOU'RE COMING TO OUR CITY AND YOU'RE COMPANY AND YOU'RE TALK ABOUT INCENTIVE WHICH IS MAY NOT BE NEEDED AS MUCH IN THE FUTURE, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR OUR YOUTH HERE IN TERMS OF JOBS. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING SFOR THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENCE ARE THE ONES THAT GET THE JOBS AND NOT THAT YOU'RE BRINGING PEOPLE IN TO BUILD THOSE JOBS. WE NEED TO BE MAKING SURE THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS WORKING WELL WITH US AND THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR OUR KIDS. >> MS. COLE-McFADDEN. DO I NEED TO READ THE QUESTION AGAIN? >> NO, I'M GOOD. HAVING BEEN A PART OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, I THINK WE HAVE AT LEAST FOCUSED ON AN AREA AND TRIED TO EFFECTUATE CHANGE HERE. POVERTY DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT AND WE HAVE LOTS OF MORE WORK TO DO.
I AM, UM, IN FAVOR OF FOCUSING MORE ATTENTION ON JOBS AND THAT IS CREATING ENTREPRENEURS WITHIN THAT CENSUS TRACK BECAUSE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WHO HAVE SKILL SETS THAT CAN BE USED AND THEY CAN MAKE MONEY WITHIN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL KINDS OF SKILL SETS ARE THERE, I'M SURE. HOWEVER, WHAT I HAVE SENSED RECENTLY, UM, FOR SOME REASON THERE SEEMS TO BE A SENSE OF APATHY WITHIN NOT JUST THIS AREA BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND UNLESS WE CAN BRING SOME SENSE OF HOPE TO PEOPLE AND SOME SENSE OF UPLIFT — WE HEAR A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT DURHAM — AND UNLESS WE CAN BRING SOME SENSE OF HOPE, UM, INSTEAD OF JUST SOT OF CRITICIZING EVERYTHING AND PULLING THE [INDISCERNIBLE] TOGETHER AROUND MAKING PROGRESS, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT [INDISCERNIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. MS. FREEMAN. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE HONEST AND FORTHCOMING IN SAYING THAT IF WE'RE GOING TALK ABOUT POVERTY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RISISM BECAUSE THE BOOK ENDS THAT HOLD WITH WHITE PEOPLE IN THE LAND – TRANSFER RATE THAT WE HAVE LACK OF. THERE'S A PROJECT CALLED THE DURHAM 150, AND IT DEMONSTRATES EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR DURHAM OVER THE LAST 150 YEARS AS OF NEXT YEAR IN 2019 IN RECOGNIZING THAT THERE WAS A BOOM IN THE BLACK WALL STREET ERA WHERE THERE WAS BLACK OWNERSHIP OF LAND — 20 YEAR, 40 YEARS LATER, THIS BOOK HAS DISSIPATED AND THE RATE OF OWNERSHIP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DECENT, FORMER DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES, THIS ISSUE IS MUCH LARGER THAN JUST BEING NICE AND KIND ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE VERY COMPLEX-LAYERED ISSUES WE NEED TO TACKLE HEAD ON IN ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW PEOPLE END UP IN POVERTY AND WHAT THAT DOES TO THEM. THERE'S TOXIC STRESS THAT YOU LIVE IN IN NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY YOUR BILLS EVERY MONTH. THERE'S TOXIC STRESS YOU LIVE IN, IN LOOKING AT THE CHILD THAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO COVER EVERY MONTH, LIKE EVERY DAY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT — >> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION I'LL BEGIN WITH MR. MIDDLETON. ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE IS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. WHAT MAJOR CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE TO THE UDO. OF COURSE THAT'S THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, OUR ZONING CODE.
>> THANKS. IT'S A MULTI-LAYER QUESTION AND REALLY HINGES ON WHAT IS YOUR VISION OF THE FUTURE OF THE CITY? DO YOU THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY? I'M GOING TO TAKE IT THIS WAY; I DON'T THINK THERE'S SO MUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE UDO IN CURRENT CONSTRUCT. I THINK THE ISSUE UH IS, HOW MANY VOICES ARE INVOLVED IN WHO'S GOING TO IMPLEMENT IT AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. BY THAT I E MEAN THE CONTRACTORS THAT'S GOING TO DO THE WORK THAT KEEP US IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE UDO. I WILL SAY THAT I THINK THAT SOME OF OUR GATEWAYS TO DOWNTOWN, UM, SOME OF THE MONEY AND ATTENTION THAT GOES TO OUR GATEWAY APPROACHES TO DOWNTOWN LIKE PHOENIX SQUARE AND FAYETTEVILLE A APPROACHING DOWNTOWN.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THE UDO BIG ENOUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO INCLUDE AREAS THAT A DON'T SEEM TO BE GETTING THE ATTENTION THAT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE GETTING? BUT AS A DOCUMENT, PHILOSOPHICALLY I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED, BUT I DO THINK THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT AND THE BRAETD OF IT LEAVES SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT RADICALLY AMENDING IT. >> THANK YO. MR. ROOKS. >> I DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE ANSWERS. [LAUGHTER] BUT I GUESS JUST IN A NUTSHELL I JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PEOPLE OR AS MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN BE, BE INVOLVED AT TH TABLE WHEN THE ZONING IS JUST BEING DISCUSSED. JUST FROM MY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ON THAT IN REGARDS TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK ON THAT, JUST MAKING SURE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MS. HUGGINS. >> I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO WHEN I HEAR A QUESTION ABOUT THE UDO IT BRINGS ME BACK TO SOMETHING I'VE BEEN SAYING A LOT DURING THIS POLITICAL PROCESS AND THAT IS, IT'S NOT JUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, IT'S REALLY THE AFFORDABILITY OF LAND, OKAY.
SO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING AND WE E HAVE TO TALK ABOUT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WHAT I SEE GOING ON IS NOT JUST THE DEPLETION OF HOUSING, OF QUALITY HOUSING, BUT I LOOK AT OUR HISTORICAL BLACK LEGACY INSTITUTIONS IN DURHAM, LIKE NORTH CAROLINA MUTUAL AND WE KNOW THAT BUILDING'S BEEN SOLD AND THE SIGN'S COMING DOWN. I SEE McI CANS IN FARMERS CORPORATE CENTER ON THE MARKET. I KNOW THE BLACK TAILOR SHOP AND BARBERSHOP THAT USED TO BE DOWNTOWN ARE NOW GONE. THERE'S STILL PLACE FOR THEM TO GO DOWNTOWN AND IT'S JUST AS HARD FOR THEM TO FIND OTHER PLACES TO GO TO IN THE CITY.
SO WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT HOW WE MAKE THIS SPACE, THE LAND, AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE FOR WHATEVER THAT USE IS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE BEST USE OF THE LAND IN THIS CITY BECAUSE WE ONLY GET ONE PIECE, AND SO THE UDO IS JUST ONE ASPECT OF HOW WE DO THAT. THE OTHER PIECE IS HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ABOT WHAT THEY THINK THE CITY OF DURHAM NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE AND THAT CONVERSATION, I'M AFRAID SOMETIMES DOES NOT INCLUDE EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. A RELATED QUESTION THAT CAME FROM AN INC MEMBER RELATES TO ZONING. ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO VOE ON FAIRLY SOON IS THE OLD WEST DURHAM NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION OVERLAY. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BENEFITS OR DISADVANTAGES OF SUCH AN OVERLAY? COULD OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN DURHAM BENEFIT FROM SOMETHING SIMILAR. BEGIN WITH MS. COLE-McFADDEN. >> THIS IS MY TAKE ON IT. I LISTEN CAREFULLY TO RESIDENTS, I LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND I DON'T WANT TO SUPER IMPOSE MY VALUES ON THEM, SO I WILL GO WITH WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS WANT, AND I DO THINK THAT PERHAPS OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS — IF THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT — COULD BENEFIT FROM THE SAME KIND OF OVERLAY. >> THANK YOU. MS. FREEMAN. >> CAN YOU REPEAT? >> SURE.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON FAIRLY SOON IS THE OLD WEST DURHAM NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION OVERLAY. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BENEFITS OR DISADVANTAGES OF SUCH AN OVERLAY? COULD OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN DURHAM BENEFIT FROM SOMETHING SIMILAR? >> I WANT TO SAY YES, OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD BENEFIT AS MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD GOLDEN BELT HAS BENEFITS FROM LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AS NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION OVERLAY. RECOGNIZING THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN OLD WEST DURHAM HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, WITH THAT NINTH STREET COMPACT DESIGN DISTRICT AND EVERYTHING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT O ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENED ACROSS THAT SPHERE, THERE'S BEEN A PUSH OR KIND OF A SMOOSH ON THE PEOPLE IN OLD WEST DURHAM AND THEN RECOGNIZING THAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE, THIS ONE PROPERTY OWNER WHO'S BEEN TEARING DOWN AND REDEVELOPING — THE WAY IN WHICH THE MARKET WORKS, WE KNOW WHAT THE LEVERAGES ARE AND IF WE DON'T PUT PROTECTION IN PLCE TO KEEP PROPERTY OWNERS IN THEIR HOMES WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE OF GENTRIFICATION OCCUR.
SIMILAR TO UH HOW CLEVELAND HOLLOW WAY OCCURRED, OLD WEST DURHAM WILL START TO SEE THE SAME THING WITHOUT THIS. DRAMATICALLY INCREASED PROPERTY AND TAX VALUES, INCREASED PRESSURE ON PROPERTY OWNERS TO MOVE OUT. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TOOL THAT CAN BE USED. I KOW THERE ARE NEGATIVES TO IN AS FAR AS THE SAME WAY WITH ANY TOOL THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER THAT THERE'S NEGATIVE OUTCOMES THAT CAN OCCUR, BUT I THINK THAT FOR RIGHT NOW IN THIS TIME THAT THIS IS THE BEST TOOL FOR OLD WEST DURHAM AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN SAYING FOR LAST TEN YEARS NOW.
>> MR. MIDDLETON. >> I ELUDED EARLIER TO THE CHARADE WE ENGAGE IN WHEN WE TACK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION AND NOT TALKING ABOUT THE REALITY OF MARKET FORCES. VERY EXISTENCE OF OVERLAY PROTECTIONS POINTS TO THE FACT THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW MARKET FORCES WORK. THAT'S WHY WE CAME UP WITH THE PROTECTION OVERLAY. SO IN SHORT, UM, I WOULD SUPPORT IT IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AS ONE OF THE ARROWS, HOWEVER, IN OUR QUIVER TO MAKING SURE FOLK ARE PRICED OUT. CITY JUST DID A STABILIZATION GRANT FOR SOUTHSIDE RESIDENTS. I SUPPORT THAT AS AN ARROW AND SUPPORT PRTECTION OVERLAYS. NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT SMARTLY AND IN WY WHERE FOLK ARE INCLUDED. NOT CALLING FOR MY MORATORIUMS ON DEVELOPMENT, THAT WOULDN'T BE WISE, BUT I DO THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE MORATORIUM ON UNCHECKED DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK OVERLAY PROTECTIONS ARE A POWERFUL TOOL. THEY'RE NOT PERFECT, NOT A PANSY YEAH, BUT I THINK IT'S A TOOL THAT CAN BE USED. >> THANK YOU. RELATED QUESTION ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND I'M GOING TO COMBINE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE OF THEM IS FROM UH AUDIENCE.
ORIGINAL QUESTION FROM INC MEMBER IS, ARE UH YOU HAPPY WITH THE WAY DOWNTOWN IS DEVELOPING? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE DIFFERENTLY AND HOW? AN AUDIENCE MEMBER SAID WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER AFFORDABLE REGARDING HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY DOWNTOWN? SO YOU TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT; WHAT YOU SEE AS PROBLEMS AND ISSUES THERE. BEGIN WITH MR. ROOKS. >> UM, I THINK EVERYBODY IN HEE WILL AGREE THAT DOWNTOWN DURHAM LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. DEFINITELY SOMETHING, I GUESS, TO BE PROUD OF. UM, BUT IT DEFINITELY CAME AT A DISPLACEMENT OF SOME PEOPLE SO I'M NOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AFFORDABILITITY DOWNTOWN, UH, PUT IT THIS WAY, I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE DOWNTOWN, [LAUGHTER] AND IT'S, I THINK WE NEED TO, UM — THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN NOW, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE PRETTY MUCH WHERE THAT IS. I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE PUTTING ANYMORE MONEY INTO DOWNTOWN. THAT'S JUST NOT — I DON'T THAT WAY RIGHT NOW. I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE REST OF THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE UNFAIR THAT ONLY ONE SECTION OF THE CITY JUST NEEDS TO BE PROSPERING WHILE ACROSS THE STREET, ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE. UM, SO, ALTHOUGH I'M, I BELIEVE IT'S BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN, I JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE IT, WE START CONCENTRATING ON OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MS. HUGGINS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ANSWER THIS IN A MINUTE AND THIRTY SECONDS.
WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY ONE PROJECT I LEAD WAS THE RFP PROCESS FOR 102 MAR STREET. THERE'S BICYCLE SHOP AD OTHER THINGS DOWN THERE. I CAN'T SAY THAT I'M NECESSARILY PLEASED WITH EVRYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE — YOU KNOW, THERE ISN'T A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY DOWNTOWN, OKAY. WHEN I GO DOWNTOWN I SEE HAUSLER, NOT FROM HERE. I E SEE CUTE LITTLE BOUTIQUE SHOPS FROM CAMERON VILLAGE, NICE RESTAURANTS THAT MOST PEOPLE I KNOW CAN'T AFFORD. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF MATCHING THERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAY. WE DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL PLACES EITHER. WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO DOING BETTER JOB FOR THAT. PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WEALTH FOR THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES. IF WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON POVERTY, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO START, AND AA AFFORDABLE DOWNTOWN, NO, I CAN'T LIVE DOWN THERE, EITHER.
>> THANK YOU. MS. COLE-McFADDEN. >> NOT LONG AGO, WE WERE QUESTIONING DOWNTOWN DURHAM INC. ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OR NON-EXISTENCE OF BLACK BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, AND SO I'M REALLY NOT PLEASED WITH THE EXODUS OF BLACK BUSINESSES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. SO WE ASKED THEM, PART OF THEIR DELIVERABLES TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF BLACK BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, THE NUMBERS THEY HAVE DELIBERATELY RECRUITED TO BE IN DOWNTOWN AND TO LOOK AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE TO ASSURE THAT MORE BLACK BUSINESSES ARE DOWNTOWN SO THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF SUBSIDY LIKE WE'VE GIVEN TO THE RICHER BUSINESSES, TOSE WE'VE HELPED WITH INCENTIVES, BUT SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE THE SPACE DOWNTOWN MORE AFFORDABLE.
IN TERMS OF THE HOUSING PIECE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD NOT DO IS STOP, IS TO DO RENT CONTROL. WE ARE PREEMPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MR. WOODARD TO HAVE HIS COLLEAGUES TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. WE'RE LIMITED IN WHAT KE CAN DO FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXCEPT FOR THE JACKSON STREET PROJECT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND PERHAPS WE CAN LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TOO, IN THE OLD POLICE DEPARTMENT SITE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION BEGINNING WITH MS. FREEMAN, AAIN RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING. RECENTLY THE COUNCIL VOTED 4-3 AGAINST THE EXPANSION OF THE CLEVELAND HOLLOWAY LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT. THREE OF THE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS VOTED AGAINST THE EXPA EXPANSION WILL LEAVE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER. WILL YOU FAVOR A NEW VOTE? >> YES, I WOULD FAVOR REVISITING CLEVELAND HOLLOWAY NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION ARE OVERLEI OF LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO HAVE A VERY SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHICH PROPERTIES WOULD BE INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED JUST FOR THE GENERAL SAFETY OR PRETTY MUCH THE GENERAL OVERLAY PROTECTION FOR THE CITY IN AND OF THE HISTORY THAT LIES IN THAT CITY AS A GATEWAY TO BLACK OWNERSHIP IN THE EAST DURHAM AREA.
I'D SAY MY GENERAL STANCE ON LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS IS THAT IT IS HISS HISTORICALLY BEEN A TOOL TO DISPLACE PEOPLE OF COLOR. IN CURRENT TIMES IT'S BEEN KIND OF SHIFT WHERE I KNOW FROM MY SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD WE'VE USED IT TO KIND OF KEEP PEOPLE OF COLOR IN PLACE. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IT WAS PREDOMINANTLY A GATED COMMUNITY THAT HAD SOME PROPERTY OWNERS OR THERE WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 15-20% OF HOME OWNER WHO IS ACTUALLY LIVED IN THEIR HOMES OR PROPERTY OWNERS THAT LIVED IN THEIR HOMES PRIOR TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION OVERLAY, AND THEN JUST WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE LEVELS WITH DIFFERENT TOOLS TO ADDRESS IT WITH A DEVELOPER LIKE SIENTIFIC PROPERTIES WE PUSHED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S PROTECTIONS IN PLACE AND THEN DEVELOPMENTS MOVED UP.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MIDDLETON. >> THERE ARE NUMEROUS I'D LIKE TO REVISION WHAT THE COUNCIL'S DONE OVER THE YEARS. I THINK THOUGH IN THE INTEREST OF THE SANCTITY OF THE PROCESS I'M NOT GOING TO TELEGRAPH SPECIFICS NOW BUT IN GENERAL YES, A NUBER OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO REVISIT. HISTORIC DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT AT CITY COUNCIL FACT THAT BRAND NATIONALS FOR OUR CITY. EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE GET TRUMPET IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, RETIRE, GET EDUCATED. HISTORIC DISTRICTS HELP DRAW PEOPLE TO OUR CITY IS. THEY'RE VERY BEAUTIFUL, POWERFUL. HOWEVER, OFTEN TIMES GETTING THAT DESIGNATION TO A NEIGHBORHOOD HAS PUT UNDUE BURDENS ON PEOPLE. IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE AND HAVE OFTENTIMES BEEN THERE FOR YEARS SO I THINK POPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BUILDING. SO I LOVE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, I'M A HISTORY BUFF, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PLACE UNDUE PRESSURE IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING THE HOUSE, UNDUE BURDENS IN TERMS OF CODE VIOLATIONS FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE OR MAYBE LOW INCOME, IF WE CAN SMARTLY DO IT, I THINK THEY DRAW TO THE CITY, ADD CHARACTER TO THE CITY, BUT WHAT MAKES A PEOPLE OVER THE BUILDINGS.THE – >> MR.
ROOKS. >> PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO THAT, YOU KNOW, JESUS RECENTLY COME HERE LIKE MAYBE HAVE BEEN HERE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, THEY ALWAYS SAY WELL I CAME TO DURHAM BECAUSE I LIKE THE CULTURE, I LIKE THE HISTORY. SO, YES, I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO RESIST THAT VOTE, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAVE HISTORIC DISTRICTS. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE COME HERE FOR.
MOST PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO, THEY DON'T COME IN HOPES THAT DURHAM IS GOING TO ONE DAY LOOK LIKE CHARLOTTE. THEY COME FOR THE HISTORY. THEY COME FOR THE CULTURE. SO I'D LIKE THE TO DO WHATEVER I UH CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT TOSE THINGS ARE STILL IN PLACE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION I'LL BEGIN WITH MS. HUGGINS. THE CITY MANAGER, NOT THE MAYOR, APPOINTS CITY DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OVERSEES THEIR OPERATIONS. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OR ARE THERE AREAS IN WHICH YOU THINK IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDS? >> OH, I ALWAYS THINK W SHOULD BE LOOKING TO IMPROVE OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM THE CITY FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER OF YEARS NOW AND SO THAT PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVE, AND SO ONCE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY FOR A WHILE, YOU'RE IN THERE, YOU'RE ON THE GROUND, YOU SEE THE CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET DONE, YOU KNOW HARD THE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING.
ONCE YOU STEP AWAY, IT ALSO GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO HEAR FROM RESIDENCE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING. SO FRINSZ — I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE IMPACT TEAM ON DIVE SPEED ARE NOW BACK OUT ON BAY STREET. WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, THE STAFF, THEY TALK ABOUT HOW MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MIGHT STOP BY AND TELL THEM ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD TO ASK MYSELF WAS, WELL, NOW, IF WE SAY WE'RE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT SERVICES, THEN WHY ARE WE TAKING SERVICES OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? AND SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF HOW WE CARRY OUT OUR SERVICES, HOW WE DO THEM BETTER, HOW WE DO THEM FOR EFFICIENTLY AND HOW WE RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENCE.
I THINK WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK FOR WAYS TO DO IT BETTER. >> THANK YOU. MS. COLE-McFADDEN. >> HAVING WORKED IN CITY GOVERNMENT ALL MY LIFE AND NOW THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A ROOM IMPROVEMENT. ONE OF THE GREATEST AREAS, THOUGH, THAT WE HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENT IN, IS THE DIVERSITY OF THE WORKFORCE. WE HAVE, I CAN RECALL WHEN WE HAD VERY FEW WOMEN WHO WERE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND NOW I E GUESS WE HAVE JUST ABOUT OVER HALF OF THEM IN LEADERSHIP.
KI RECALL WHEN WE HAD VERY FEW BLACK MEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF DURHAM, WE HAVE A BLACK MAN WHO'S THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION. WE'VE COME A LONG, LONG WAY IN DURHAM. I HEAR VERY FEW COMPLAINTS A ABOUT THE CITY, EXCEPT FOR SIDEWALKS AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF TRAILS AND PARKS AND/OR I'M GOING INTO A WHLE LOT OF COMPLAINTS NOW AND SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT WE NEED TO IMPROVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SERVICES ARE EQUITABLE AND DISTRIBUTED. THAT'S ON OF THE PROBLEMS. >> THANK YOU. MS. FREEMAN. >> I'LL ECHO BOTH MAYOR PRO TEM AND SHEILA HUGGINS RESPONSES IN SE, YES, OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE PROCESS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL AND THE WAY IT'S ALL ROLLED OUT SO SMOOTHLY WHERE THEY'RE PROVIDING THE CUSTOMER — BEING THE CITY RESIDENT OR DEVELOPER OR WHOMEVER COMING FOR SERVICES — AN OPPORTUNITY OR KIND OF A DIFFERENT FEEL IN APPROACHING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW CITY GOVERNMENT CAN BE IMPROVED. THERE ARE MANY AREAS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO ADDRESS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER TO CITY MANAGER IN HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND MAKING SRE I'M FOLLOWING HIS LEAD AS THE PERSON THAT SETS IN PLACE TO MANAGE ALL CITY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
I WOULD SPEAK TO THE DIVERSITY. I WOULD LIKE TO PUSH THAT PUSH THEY ARE IN MAKING SURE DIVERSITY INCLUDED EQUITY AND MAKING SURE THERE WERE LGBTQ PERSONS IN LEADERSHIP AS WELL AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE MORE ACCOUNT BABILITY MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE EQUITY IN ALL DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD SO IT'S NOT JUST TOP-DOWN. WE ALSO TALK ABOUT JANITORS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE LOWER-PAYING POSITIONS BEING OF COLOR. I'D LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE MOVING TROUGH THAT AND MAKE SURE OUR SERVICES INCLUDE MORE AROUND LATY NO COMMUNITY AS WELL – LATINO COMMUNITY AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH MR. MIDDLETON. I DID NOT WRITE THIS QUESTION, IT'S A VERY POINTED QUESTION, HOWEVER.
ALL A OF YOU HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY VARIOUS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES. WHAT WILL YOU OWE THEM WHEN YOU VOLT ON ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNCIL? WHAT IF ANY ARE ISSUES THAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO TAKE A STAND THAT WOULD FORCE LOSING THEIR ENDORSEMENT. >> I DON'T OWE THEM ANYTHING. MY POLITICAL BRAND IS BUILT IN THE CITY NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANY PARTICULAR PARTISAN GROUP OR PARTICULAR CANDIDATE. I WORK IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSED ON ISSUES. WE HAVE A SAYING THAT SAY NO PERMANENT ENEMIES OR ALLIES, JUST PEMANENT ISSUES. I'M PROUD OF THE PUBLIC RESUME I'VE PUT TOGETHER. IF YOU LOOK AT MY ENDORSEMENT, SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT HAVE ENDORSED ME, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ARRAY, SOME OF THEJ ON ITS FACE MAY BE DIE METRICICALLY OPPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER.
I'M PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE WHAT THAT MEANS IS I BUILT RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS. QUOTE, MIDDLETON, WE DON'T LIKE YOUR POLICIES ALL THE TIME BUT WE TRUST YOUR INTEGRITY AND WE TRUST YOU TO LISTEN AND WE'VE WATCHED YOU, END QUOTE. WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOU BUT WE LIKE YOUR PROCESS YOU ENGAGED IN. I DO'T OWE THEM ANYTHING. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE GUY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GET ALL THE ENDORSEMENTS IN THIS PROCESS. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AND I'M GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I'M NOT ON TUESDAY NIGHT THE VOTERS OF THIS CITY MAY ME THE FIRST PLACE FINISHER IN MY WARD AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ENDORSEMENTS, TAT'S BECAUSE OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
>> MR. ROOKS. >> YES. I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY CANDIDATES UP HERE THAT MAY HAVE ONLY RECEIVED ACTUALLY ONE ENDORSEMENT AND THAT WASN'T BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO FIT THEIR MOLD. THEY PICKED ME BECAUSE OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR. SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE I OWE THEM ANYTHING AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE REALLY EXPECTING ANYTHING FROM ME OTHER THAN TO DO WHAT MY HEART BASICALLY SAYS TO DO WHICH IS SERVE THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MS. HUGGINS. >> UM, TRYING TO BE GOOD WITH THIS ANSWER. SO I RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE AFFAIRS OF BLACK PEOPLE. LAST TIME I CHECKED I WAS BORN BLACK AND I'LL DIE BLACK, I DON'T OWE ANYBODY ANYTHING. [LAUGHTER] >> GOOD ONE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD MORE QUESTIONS BUT WE'VE KIND OF RUN OUT OF THE TIE THAT WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS, SO AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU EACH TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
SINCE WE STARTED WITH COLE-McFADDEN IF FA DEN FOR OPENING STATEMENTS I'LL START WITH MS. HUGGINS FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. UH I TELL YEAH, I STOOD OUT IN THE FRONT AND AT ABOUT 6:20 I REALIZED AGAIN WE JUST ARE NOT AS LOVED AS THE MAYORAL DAND CANDIDATES. THAT IS OKAY. YOU ARE HERE AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE. AS I STATED TO YOU EARLIER, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, CURRENTLY PRACTICE LAW ACROSS THE STREET THERE, SO I'M SORT OF STILL HERE, BUT I WORK WIH PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY EVERY DAY TRYING TO BUILD THEIR BUSINESSES, TRYING TO BUILD WEALTH FOR THEIR FAMILIES. I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. MY HUSBAND AND MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE MADE THIS OUR HOME NOW. WE CONSIDER THE RESIDENTS OF DURHAM TO BE OUR FAMILY, AND FAMILY IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME BECAUSE AS I'VE CONTINUALLY STAID THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT MY MOHER AND MY FATHER, I UH WOULDN'T BE HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HEE. I HOPE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME ANSWERS THAT WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING YOU MAKE SURE DECISION. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT ALL OF THESE RACES ARE AND THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT TOGETHER A TEAM OF FOUR WHO YOU FEEL LIKE LEAD THIS CITY INTO THE FUTURE. I E FEEL LIKE I AM THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR WARD THREE GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD AND WHAT I BRING TO THIS POSITION SO I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. >> MR. ROOKS. >> BEEN IN DRHAM FOR OVER 30 YEARS SO I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPEN, SEEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN.
A LOT OF BTTE F THINGS HAPPENING IN DURHAM BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY ALL AWARE OF SOME OF THE TROUBLE SPOTS THAT WE HAVE IN DURHAM AND SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WE HAVE. UM, I DIDN'T GET IN THIS RACE BECAUSE, I GUESS A TITLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I GOT IN THIS RACE BCAUSE THERE ARE SOE PEOPLE OUT IN THE CITY THAT ARE HURTING ALL A OVER THE PLACE, NOT JUST IN SMALL POCKETS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I BRING SOMETHING TO THE COUNCIL IN WHAT I WOULD CALL JUST TRANSPARENCY, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS HAS ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION, MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS AT THE TABLE WHEN THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE FOR THE CITY. AS SHEILA MENTIONED, PLEASE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE TEAM THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PUTTING ON CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE PERSON, IT'S ABOUT A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT YOU FEEL CAN ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER. UM, SO, UH, I WOULD DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE, AND JUST REMEMBER THAT I'M ACTUALLY WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER DOING THIS FOR YOU, FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YO. MR. MIDDLETON. >> THANK YOU FOR THE MEMBERS OF INC AND JOHN AND FELLOW CANDIDATES. COMMUNITIES SPEAK IN ELECTIONS AND ON TUESDAY, THERE ARE 16 PRECINCTS IN WARD 2. I WON 14 OF THEM. THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN LOUD AND CLEARLY AND I'D LIKE TO SERVE THAT COMMUNITY. I GOT INTO THIS RACE AND I CALLED MY PLATFORM, OUR VOICE, OUR DURHAM. AS A CHILD I STRUGGLED WITH SPEECH IMPEDIMENT. BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO READ OUT LOUD, I WOULD CAUSE DISRUPTIONS SO THEY LABELED ME A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE. MY VOICE WENT SILENT BECAUSE I WAS AFAID TO ACT UP.
KIDS THT READ OUT LOUD THEIR VOICES THAT GOD HEARD, THEY WERE CHOSEN TO BE PART OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT, HALL MONITORS BECAUSE TEY STOOD OUT. I MADE A CONNECTION VERY EARLY THAT WHEN YOU SUPPRESS PEOPLE'S VOICES SOMETIMES GOOD THINGS ARE WITHHELD FROM THEM. I'M RUNNING TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE AISLE NEVER BE QUIET AGAIN. I'M RUNNING TO MAKE SURE VOICES ARE HEARD AND NO GOOD THING IS WITHHELD FROM ANY SECTOR OF DURHAM. I TRUST MY ODDS IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH. DON'T TRUST ENDORSEMENTS, THROE THEM AWAY, DO YOUR RESEARCH.
I TRUST THE PEOPLE OF DURHAM, I TRUST MY ODDS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVE YOU FROM WARD 2. >> MS. FREEMAN. >> THANK YOU. AS A FORMER OR PAST PRESIDENT I SHOULD SAY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THIS FORUM IS HIGHLIGHTED AND PROVIDES THE SERVICE OF GIVING FOLKS TO SEE AND HEAR FROM CANDIDATES IN A VERY UNFILTERED WAY. I WOULD SAY THAT IT REALLY IS THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CHANCE TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THIS CITY, AND THOUGH GREAT THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THERE ARE SOME THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED FOR I'M IN THIS RACE AND I'VE BEEN WORKING IN MY COMMUNITY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M CALLED TO DO.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT THAT ALL THE CANDIDATES HAVE TO OFFER AND I WOULD SAY THAT WHATEVER YOUR CHOICE MAY B YOU HAVE AN OPTION IN THIS RACE. I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT I'M BETTER THAN OR LESS THAN OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT BUT I'M HERE TO SAY WE HAVE TO ADDRESS ISSUES HEAD-ON AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WE NEED TO IN ORDER TO ADDRESS IN DIFFERENT WAY OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET SAME RESULTS WHERE WE HAVE DISPLACEMENT AND CHILDREN LIVING IN THE STREETS AND, I MEAN, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN THIS CITY. A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THIS CITY, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY AND GIVE AS MANY FOLKS THE CHANCE TO NOT ONLY BE A PART OF THIS BUT TO ALSO LEAD A PART OF THIS, A AND I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THIS CITY THE CHANCE TO DO THAT WITH MYSELF AND WHOMEVER IS ON COUNCIL BECAUSE I BELIEVE I COULD WORK WIH ANYONE.
I'M RUNNING THIS FALL, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, AND THANK YOU. >> MS. COLE-McFADDEN. >> I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I STILL HAVE THE ENERGY TO DO SO. [LAU [LAUGHTER] HAVE THE TIME, I HAVE GRAND DOGS, NOT GRAND CHILDREN, SO THEY DON'T REQUIRE MY TIME. SO I'M JUST A GOVERNMENTAL PERSON, ANYWAY. I THINK VI A LOT TO CONTRIBUTE TO DURHAM.
COMPLETE UNDERSTAND OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR NEEDS. I UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF A CITY COUNCIL PERSON. WE HAVE TWO THOUSAND PLUS PEOPLE IN OUR WORKFORCE WHO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK AND WE SUPERVISE THROUGH THE MANAGER, THE ATTORNEY, AND THE CITY CLERK, AND I RESPECT THE ROLES OF ALL OF THEM. I UH HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE FROM A ALL WALKS OF LIFE, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE SIX WEEKS OLD, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE TODDLERS, WHO ARE IN THEIR 20S, 30S-70S. ONE OF MY FRIENDS JUST CELEBRATED HER 105th BIRTHDAY ON OCTOBER 10TH. I CAN RELATE TO EVERYONE IN DURHAM FROM ALL WALKS OF LIE. E I CAME FROM A FAMILY OF SEVEN CHILDREN, I WAS THE YOUNGEST. THE ONLY ONE WHO COMPLETED COLLEGE ON TIME. MY DAD WAS HADDED A STROKE WHEN I WAS TEN, HE PASSED WHEN I WAS 15.
MY MOM DIED WHEN I WAS 19, AND I HAVE BEEN OUT HERE STRUGGLING AND WORKING IN DURHAM ALL MY LIFE. I LOVE DURHAM. DURHAM SHAPED ME FOR COMUNITY SERVICE, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AS ELECTED OFFICIAL UNTIL I DIE, BUT I WANT TO BE HERE UNTIL I FINISH THE COURSE GOD HAS PURPOSED FOR ME TO DO IN THIS PARTICULAR POSITION. SO I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. AND WOULD YOU GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? [APPLAUSE] >> CONCLUDE THE FORUM AT THIS POINT. I HOPE MAYBE THE CANDIDATES WILL BE ABLE TO STAY A FEW MINUTES SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WEREN'T ASKED AND YOU'D LIKE TO SOME ANSWERS, HAVE SOME MERCY ON THEM, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH VERY HECTIC CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU..