Raleigh City Council At Large
Anne Franklin
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. What is your long-term vision for growth in Raleigh?
Raleigh has become a great place to live, work and learn. It took thoughtful, collaborative, non-partisan leadership. It takes leadership that listens. I am proud to have been part of that success story for decades and look forward to shaping its next chapters. We accommodated growth while protecting the character of our neighborhoods and city.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
Housing affordability.
6. What are you hoping to achieve as an elected official that will foster a healthy and innovative business environment in both the near and long term?
Create a City Budget Early. Collaborate and find consensus among businesses and residents to guide Council decision-making well before the late spring. This would put facts on the table and encourage examination of priorities for near and long-term expenditure, both public and private. Other communities are doing this. We can use their tools or create our own.
Invest in New Development that uses under-developed large parcels along corridors to attractively absorb growth. These would feature a combo of density + frequent transit + access to green space. Affordable, high quality living is the goal.
Support environmental resiliency. Pursue public and private energy efficiency, city fleet conversions and infrastructure for non-carbon vehicles. Use solar to capture energy. Use vegetation to cool “hot spots”. Reduce waste streams. Assist neighborhoods that are hurt by flooding, trash and dumping.
7. The Wake County Transit plan will expand bus service countywide, implement four bus rapid transit lines, and initiate a regional commuter rail system. What would you like to see the City of Raleigh do to complement or modify this enhanced transit service?
I have worked for decades to support local, regional and statewide public transit. We’ll continue progress on BRT and commuter rail and enhance walkability, bus shelters, biking, plus frequency and reliability of service.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
Expand and refresh city-wide citizen participation. We must overhaul of communication systems so both businesses and residents can keep up with the issues that concern them. Engagement that uses technology and in-person meetings will be refreshed to substantially improve access to decision-making.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
See City Budget above. Finding balance requires a lot of listening. We have a healthy economy, in large part due to the reliability and quality of our public services. Those can only be maintained by attending to the well-being of the people who do that work every day.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
I’ve dedicated decades of work to creating public transit services that help today and support a dynamic future. We might like to see it all in place right now. We will remain persistent. Our people are counting on it. We’ll have to continue progress on walkability, service frequency, bike facilities and improve streets for bus mobility. We’ll need to have whole new communities come on line that feature attractive, affordable living without a car.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Engaging with Raleigh businesses is essential to learn what would make life easier for them and to retain businesses that contribute to our community. Involve Wake Tech to train skilled workers needed for our booming construction and environmental engineering industries.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
We should establish bold goals with all community stakeholders to create affordable homes with every housing development or re-development. Raleigh City workers should be able to live in the city they serve.
I will support engaging citizens in finding locations for new density that “fits”, Explore new housing approaches that feature adaptability of space to meet changing needs so people can stay in their community long-term. Accommodate small households and enterprises that enhance walkable neighborhoods.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation.
This is why I decided to run, once again. Our people will provide 90+ percent of the help we need to address challenges. That means including them at every turn. Citizen Engagement needs to be refreshed and expanded dramatically. It will require staff and communication resources for a mix of virtual and in-person gatherings. I’d like to see a program for newcomers to welcome and orient them to civic engagement opportunities.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
I will vigorously support the City’s multi-layered climate resiliency plans. They address energy use, land use, etc. Our sudden growth gives us an opportunity to encourage investment in new developments that create a combo of housing density + frequent transit + access to green space. Also, we should invest in green stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding and pollution and bring cooling green space to “hot spots”, more frequently found in poorer parts of the city.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Upgrade City Safety. Initiate a city-wide look at what allows us to feel safe. Look at the details, neighborhood by neighborhood, sharing help. Updated policing is only a part. Some crime is rooted in poverty, but its profitability is based on participation of “law-abiding” consumers. We should not allow those markets to find a home in any neighborhood.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Affordable housing initiatives in vulnerable neighborhoods throughout Raleigh can support this goal. Assist vulnerable neighborhoods to collaborate so that owners would benefit from redevelopment or resist together. Support mortgage assistance and home repair for owners. Foster community benefit agreements.
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. What is your long-term vision for growth in Raleigh?
Raleigh has become a great place to live, work and learn. It took thoughtful, collaborative, non-partisan leadership. It takes leadership that listens. I am proud to have been part of that success story for decades and look forward to shaping its next chapters. We accommodated growth while protecting the character of our neighborhoods and city.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
Housing affordability.
6. What are you hoping to achieve as an elected official that will foster a healthy and innovative business environment in both the near and long term?
Create a City Budget Early. Collaborate and find consensus among businesses and residents to guide Council decision-making well before the late spring. This would put facts on the table and encourage examination of priorities for near and long-term expenditure, both public and private. Other communities are doing this. We can use their tools or create our own.
Invest in New Development that uses under-developed large parcels along corridors to attractively absorb growth. These would feature a combo of density + frequent transit + access to green space. Affordable, high quality living is the goal.
Support environmental resiliency. Pursue public and private energy efficiency, city fleet conversions and infrastructure for non-carbon vehicles. Use solar to capture energy. Use vegetation to cool “hot spots”. Reduce waste streams. Assist neighborhoods that are hurt by flooding, trash and dumping.
7. The Wake County Transit plan will expand bus service countywide, implement four bus rapid transit lines, and initiate a regional commuter rail system. What would you like to see the City of Raleigh do to complement or modify this enhanced transit service?
I have worked for decades to support local, regional and statewide public transit. We’ll continue progress on BRT and commuter rail and enhance walkability, bus shelters, biking, plus frequency and reliability of service.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
Expand and refresh city-wide citizen participation. We must overhaul of communication systems so both businesses and residents can keep up with the issues that concern them. Engagement that uses technology and in-person meetings will be refreshed to substantially improve access to decision-making.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
See City Budget above. Finding balance requires a lot of listening. We have a healthy economy, in large part due to the reliability and quality of our public services. Those can only be maintained by attending to the well-being of the people who do that work every day.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
I’ve dedicated decades of work to creating public transit services that help today and support a dynamic future. We might like to see it all in place right now. We will remain persistent. Our people are counting on it. We’ll have to continue progress on walkability, service frequency, bike facilities and improve streets for bus mobility. We’ll need to have whole new communities come on line that feature attractive, affordable living without a car.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Engaging with Raleigh businesses is essential to learn what would make life easier for them and to retain businesses that contribute to our community. Involve Wake Tech to train skilled workers needed for our booming construction and environmental engineering industries.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
We should establish bold goals with all community stakeholders to create affordable homes with every housing development or re-development. Raleigh City workers should be able to live in the city they serve.
I will support engaging citizens in finding locations for new density that “fits”, Explore new housing approaches that feature adaptability of space to meet changing needs so people can stay in their community long-term. Accommodate small households and enterprises that enhance walkable neighborhoods.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation.
This is why I decided to run, once again. Our people will provide 90+ percent of the help we need to address challenges. That means including them at every turn. Citizen Engagement needs to be refreshed and expanded dramatically. It will require staff and communication resources for a mix of virtual and in-person gatherings. I’d like to see a program for newcomers to welcome and orient them to civic engagement opportunities.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
I will vigorously support the City’s multi-layered climate resiliency plans. They address energy use, land use, etc. Our sudden growth gives us an opportunity to encourage investment in new developments that create a combo of housing density + frequent transit + access to green space. Also, we should invest in green stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding and pollution and bring cooling green space to “hot spots”, more frequently found in poorer parts of the city.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Upgrade City Safety. Initiate a city-wide look at what allows us to feel safe. Look at the details, neighborhood by neighborhood, sharing help. Updated policing is only a part. Some crime is rooted in poverty, but its profitability is based on participation of “law-abiding” consumers. We should not allow those markets to find a home in any neighborhood.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Affordable housing initiatives in vulnerable neighborhoods throughout Raleigh can support this goal. Assist vulnerable neighborhoods to collaborate so that owners would benefit from redevelopment or resist together. Support mortgage assistance and home repair for owners. Foster community benefit agreements.