Raleigh City Council, District B
Megan Patton
Are you an incumbent?
No
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?
My long-term vision for handling growth in Raleigh is one that doesn’t leave folks behind — one that ensures our city will be livable for generations to come. The two most pertinent pieces of that vision are housing and sustainability.
Raleigh is expected to grow to 600,000 people before the year 2030. We need places for all those folks to live, and we need to protect housing opportunities for those that already live here. We need homes across the income spectrum, for rent and to own, so that all the folks living in and coming to our city can comfortably live and build wealth. When folks are stably housed in affordable homes, they can work, raise families, and contribute to a thriving community. Health outcomes improve, and so does safety. If we want to protect vulnerable communities, it begins with housing.
In 2021, Raleigh adopted a Community Climate Action Plan that aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions by 80% by 2050, and laid out several good strategies to get there. But we must 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 City Council, there will be work to do around accelerating and expanding both the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan and Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Project, holding developers accountable for building with sustainability in mind and decreasing 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 do so.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
Managing growth, in both the long- and short-term, is our city’s number one challenge because it affects every sphere of our daily life (housing, community-building, infrastructure, sustainability, schools, jobs, etc.). And though handling it well might take quite a bit of work and planning, it will also bring myriad opportunities.
Raleigh is growing for the right reasons. People move here because of the great job opportunities available, the beautiful weather, the great schools, our proximity to both the beach and the mountains. People move here from all over, and they move here for a million different reasons. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and it’s what makes me confident that we can handle this challenge.
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?
I am particularly interested in pursuing policies that foster opportunities for small businesses in Raleigh. I would work to amplify incubator programs for small business owners and expand their presence across our city — especially for businesses owned by folks belonging to historically marginalized groups. We need to lean into our city partnerships and work to expand them where we can. I would also look at ways to reduce overhead costs to new business owners, such as rent. I’d like to use the rezoning process and other city planning processes to encourage smaller retail spaces that will be more affordable to small businesses. Just as the city continues to grapple with how to bake affordability into their housing development plans, so too can the city look for opportunities to improve affordability in retail spaces that support small businesses.
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?
There are a few things I would like to do to complement these initiatives. First, we need to make sure that we are routing buses to the locations where folks need to go — to their jobs, grocery stores, and medical services. This goes hand in hand with planning development that moves critical needs closer to where people live, so they don’t have to bus or drive 20 minutes to the nearest grocery store. We must also pay our drivers well to combat the driver shortage that has resulted in reduced frequency of routes. We must prioritize placing shelters and benches at existing stops even as we build new ones. I would also advocate for building arterial roads as “complete streets” to create more space for bus and bike lanes that are plenty wide and protected.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
From the perspective of including residents in the decision making process, I support the reinstatement of a version of CACs. I’d like to see them broken down to the community center level so they can serve a smaller, more representative population and be more responsive to the needs of individual communities. Neighborhood meetings are an important component toward ensuring that we are comprehensively engaging the community, but they’re only one component of community engagement — the presence, availability, and proactive outreach of councilors are also critical.
Raleigh businesses deserve that commitment, too. Some areas of our city already have well-established organizations, like the Downtown Raleigh Alliance or the North Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. City Council should be using those established organizations as an access point to gather feedback and input from the business community. Where those organizations don't already exist, the council should be analyzing why and working to enhance the community and collaboration between area businesses.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
To address economic growth, affordability, and quality of life while balancing the increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city will require a few things. At the city level, we should look at our current spending practices and increase operational efficiencies where we can by improving software or leveraging automation. We must also continue to partner with state-level elected officials to capitalize on funding and advocate for policies that meet the moment, such as increasing minimum wage (or delegating this power to municipalities). Likewise, we should make sure we’re maximizing federal dollars available for major projects. We’ve seen recently that one seemingly unrelated factor can impact our score on a federal grant application and thus impact how much money we receive - for example, when requesting money for affordable housing, our score (and thus our allocation) is impacted by the presence and proximity of transit services.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
In addition to new projects that combine living, working, shopping, etc. and reduce the need for transportation, we must accelerate plans for projects like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail (GTCR). This would be a huge step toward ensuring reliable and convenient transit in strategic areas that would allow non-driving folks to reach their jobs, grocery stores, and medical services, as well as reducing traffic congestion for folks who still need to drive. While we do that, though, we have to address the immediate driver shortage, so that routes can provide full service. Effective transit can also come in the form of greater greenway connectivity for cyclists and connectivity of more collector streets to create a variety of route options for drivers.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
In addition to fighting for policies, like incubator programs and financial support, that attract, retain, and grow business, we need pursue development and zoning opportunities that encourage businesses to expand across the city so that all districts — not just downtown — can cultivate vibrant commercial areas that flourish and develop their own unique character. If we believe that diversity is our strength, and I do, then spreading these opportunities to all corners of Raleigh will help to to open up the economic base and create job opportunities for folks who don’t have the means to travel, or easily travel, to downtown. Additionally, efforts toward paid, on-the-job training programs can help cultivate strong workforce development and drive folks toward emerging industries and stable careers.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
We must continue to build affordable housing units that are equipped to provide permanent supportive housing to our most vulnerable neighbors; and also ensure that, wherever possible, development projects earmark some units for affordable housing. We need to continue to add density where it makes sense while pushing housing like granny flats and townhomes for residents, rather than short-term rentals. We must reduce barriers to home ownership by doubling down on home-buyers assistance programs and we must find relief for longtime residents who are burdened by rising property taxes.
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.
I am wholly committed to my constituents and goals, but I can be a diplomat when I need to be. I can compromise when the alternative risks hurting my people, when “perfect” becomes the enemy of “progress.” I am practiced at approaching problems from a myriad of angles to get to solutions that work for all stakeholders. I don’t accept that there is only one way to solve a problem. I’m disciplined, hardworking, and dedicated to helping people in all spheres of my life.
Alongside working with our city- and state-level partners, I will listen to and collaborate with residents, small businesses, nonprofits, unions and corporate partners, because it will take listening to every voice to understand and tackle the complex challenges facing Raleigh. We need councilors who are present and available, but we also need systems that engender true community and stakeholder engagement.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Raleigh has an opportunity to lead in bold and creative ways. From council, I will explore cooling pavement options for streets, protect tree canopies that cool streets and sidewalks, and advance the rewilding of some city spaces for stormwater management. I will work to ensure that new construction projects are built with alternative energy in mind, and work toward removing upfront cost barriers for folks to use alternative energy on their own home.
Currently, installing solar panels is cost-prohibitive for many families and businesses regardless of money saved on the back-end. The same is true of installing more permeable surfaces in driveways, planting rain gardens and other strategies for individuals to positively impact their climate. I will promote barrier reducing policies, like grants and no-interest loans, and strong community outreach so that sustainability programs are fully utilized.
As other parts of NC and the world experience the impact of climate change, cities like Raleigh will have an influx of people looking for opportunity here. We must also understand that commitment to climate action isn't only solar panels and recycling programs — we must take a comprehensive approach to climate justice.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
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. No one should be afraid that accessing healthcare will lead them to being confronted by protesters. We need collaboration across levels of government to ensure that all Raleigh residents are free of violence as they go about their lives; greater investments in people, communities, wages, and housing would be a big step toward getting there. Ensuring that first responders are paid well enough to live in the city they serve will go a long way to addressing vacancies we are seeing across first responder positions. We must continue to invest resources in fire services and emergency communications that enable those departments to keep up with the pace of growth in our city. And we must continue to look for efficient, effective ways of getting the right types of first responders to moments of crisis- for example, getting mental health first responders to be first on the scene for mental health and other non-violent crises.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
To me, improving economic and social opportunities within vulnerable communities means beginning from a housing first mindset. When folks are unhoused or unstably housed, they have a difficult time finding work or working consistently. When folks are cost burdened by their utilities and property taxes, they have diminished opportunity to save for the future or spend discretionary income that flows into the larger economy. To that end, I believe that making sure people can live in safe, affordable homes near their loved ones and near amenities is the very first step in ensuring that they have economic and social opportunity.
Are you an incumbent?
No
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?
My long-term vision for handling growth in Raleigh is one that doesn’t leave folks behind — one that ensures our city will be livable for generations to come. The two most pertinent pieces of that vision are housing and sustainability.
Raleigh is expected to grow to 600,000 people before the year 2030. We need places for all those folks to live, and we need to protect housing opportunities for those that already live here. We need homes across the income spectrum, for rent and to own, so that all the folks living in and coming to our city can comfortably live and build wealth. When folks are stably housed in affordable homes, they can work, raise families, and contribute to a thriving community. Health outcomes improve, and so does safety. If we want to protect vulnerable communities, it begins with housing.
In 2021, Raleigh adopted a Community Climate Action Plan that aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions by 80% by 2050, and laid out several good strategies to get there. But we must 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 City Council, there will be work to do around accelerating and expanding both the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan and Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Project, holding developers accountable for building with sustainability in mind and decreasing 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 do so.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
Managing growth, in both the long- and short-term, is our city’s number one challenge because it affects every sphere of our daily life (housing, community-building, infrastructure, sustainability, schools, jobs, etc.). And though handling it well might take quite a bit of work and planning, it will also bring myriad opportunities.
Raleigh is growing for the right reasons. People move here because of the great job opportunities available, the beautiful weather, the great schools, our proximity to both the beach and the mountains. People move here from all over, and they move here for a million different reasons. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and it’s what makes me confident that we can handle this challenge.
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?
I am particularly interested in pursuing policies that foster opportunities for small businesses in Raleigh. I would work to amplify incubator programs for small business owners and expand their presence across our city — especially for businesses owned by folks belonging to historically marginalized groups. We need to lean into our city partnerships and work to expand them where we can. I would also look at ways to reduce overhead costs to new business owners, such as rent. I’d like to use the rezoning process and other city planning processes to encourage smaller retail spaces that will be more affordable to small businesses. Just as the city continues to grapple with how to bake affordability into their housing development plans, so too can the city look for opportunities to improve affordability in retail spaces that support small businesses.
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?
There are a few things I would like to do to complement these initiatives. First, we need to make sure that we are routing buses to the locations where folks need to go — to their jobs, grocery stores, and medical services. This goes hand in hand with planning development that moves critical needs closer to where people live, so they don’t have to bus or drive 20 minutes to the nearest grocery store. We must also pay our drivers well to combat the driver shortage that has resulted in reduced frequency of routes. We must prioritize placing shelters and benches at existing stops even as we build new ones. I would also advocate for building arterial roads as “complete streets” to create more space for bus and bike lanes that are plenty wide and protected.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
From the perspective of including residents in the decision making process, I support the reinstatement of a version of CACs. I’d like to see them broken down to the community center level so they can serve a smaller, more representative population and be more responsive to the needs of individual communities. Neighborhood meetings are an important component toward ensuring that we are comprehensively engaging the community, but they’re only one component of community engagement — the presence, availability, and proactive outreach of councilors are also critical.
Raleigh businesses deserve that commitment, too. Some areas of our city already have well-established organizations, like the Downtown Raleigh Alliance or the North Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. City Council should be using those established organizations as an access point to gather feedback and input from the business community. Where those organizations don't already exist, the council should be analyzing why and working to enhance the community and collaboration between area businesses.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
To address economic growth, affordability, and quality of life while balancing the increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city will require a few things. At the city level, we should look at our current spending practices and increase operational efficiencies where we can by improving software or leveraging automation. We must also continue to partner with state-level elected officials to capitalize on funding and advocate for policies that meet the moment, such as increasing minimum wage (or delegating this power to municipalities). Likewise, we should make sure we’re maximizing federal dollars available for major projects. We’ve seen recently that one seemingly unrelated factor can impact our score on a federal grant application and thus impact how much money we receive - for example, when requesting money for affordable housing, our score (and thus our allocation) is impacted by the presence and proximity of transit services.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
In addition to new projects that combine living, working, shopping, etc. and reduce the need for transportation, we must accelerate plans for projects like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail (GTCR). This would be a huge step toward ensuring reliable and convenient transit in strategic areas that would allow non-driving folks to reach their jobs, grocery stores, and medical services, as well as reducing traffic congestion for folks who still need to drive. While we do that, though, we have to address the immediate driver shortage, so that routes can provide full service. Effective transit can also come in the form of greater greenway connectivity for cyclists and connectivity of more collector streets to create a variety of route options for drivers.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
In addition to fighting for policies, like incubator programs and financial support, that attract, retain, and grow business, we need pursue development and zoning opportunities that encourage businesses to expand across the city so that all districts — not just downtown — can cultivate vibrant commercial areas that flourish and develop their own unique character. If we believe that diversity is our strength, and I do, then spreading these opportunities to all corners of Raleigh will help to to open up the economic base and create job opportunities for folks who don’t have the means to travel, or easily travel, to downtown. Additionally, efforts toward paid, on-the-job training programs can help cultivate strong workforce development and drive folks toward emerging industries and stable careers.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
We must continue to build affordable housing units that are equipped to provide permanent supportive housing to our most vulnerable neighbors; and also ensure that, wherever possible, development projects earmark some units for affordable housing. We need to continue to add density where it makes sense while pushing housing like granny flats and townhomes for residents, rather than short-term rentals. We must reduce barriers to home ownership by doubling down on home-buyers assistance programs and we must find relief for longtime residents who are burdened by rising property taxes.
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.
I am wholly committed to my constituents and goals, but I can be a diplomat when I need to be. I can compromise when the alternative risks hurting my people, when “perfect” becomes the enemy of “progress.” I am practiced at approaching problems from a myriad of angles to get to solutions that work for all stakeholders. I don’t accept that there is only one way to solve a problem. I’m disciplined, hardworking, and dedicated to helping people in all spheres of my life.
Alongside working with our city- and state-level partners, I will listen to and collaborate with residents, small businesses, nonprofits, unions and corporate partners, because it will take listening to every voice to understand and tackle the complex challenges facing Raleigh. We need councilors who are present and available, but we also need systems that engender true community and stakeholder engagement.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Raleigh has an opportunity to lead in bold and creative ways. From council, I will explore cooling pavement options for streets, protect tree canopies that cool streets and sidewalks, and advance the rewilding of some city spaces for stormwater management. I will work to ensure that new construction projects are built with alternative energy in mind, and work toward removing upfront cost barriers for folks to use alternative energy on their own home.
Currently, installing solar panels is cost-prohibitive for many families and businesses regardless of money saved on the back-end. The same is true of installing more permeable surfaces in driveways, planting rain gardens and other strategies for individuals to positively impact their climate. I will promote barrier reducing policies, like grants and no-interest loans, and strong community outreach so that sustainability programs are fully utilized.
As other parts of NC and the world experience the impact of climate change, cities like Raleigh will have an influx of people looking for opportunity here. We must also understand that commitment to climate action isn't only solar panels and recycling programs — we must take a comprehensive approach to climate justice.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
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. No one should be afraid that accessing healthcare will lead them to being confronted by protesters. We need collaboration across levels of government to ensure that all Raleigh residents are free of violence as they go about their lives; greater investments in people, communities, wages, and housing would be a big step toward getting there. Ensuring that first responders are paid well enough to live in the city they serve will go a long way to addressing vacancies we are seeing across first responder positions. We must continue to invest resources in fire services and emergency communications that enable those departments to keep up with the pace of growth in our city. And we must continue to look for efficient, effective ways of getting the right types of first responders to moments of crisis- for example, getting mental health first responders to be first on the scene for mental health and other non-violent crises.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
To me, improving economic and social opportunities within vulnerable communities means beginning from a housing first mindset. When folks are unhoused or unstably housed, they have a difficult time finding work or working consistently. When folks are cost burdened by their utilities and property taxes, they have diminished opportunity to save for the future or spend discretionary income that flows into the larger economy. To that end, I believe that making sure people can live in safe, affordable homes near their loved ones and near amenities is the very first step in ensuring that they have economic and social opportunity.