The City of Raleigh will hold elections for Mayor and City Council on October 6th. In the at-large city council race, incumbents Mary Ann Baldwin and Russ Stephenson will face Matt Tomasulo and Craig S. Ralph.
This blog will include interviews with each candidate, with answers published as they are received.
Mary Ann Baldwin is an at-large member of City Council, having served since 2007. The DLA asked Mary Ann a series of questions.
Here are her answers:
What factors need to be balanced in providing for downtown Raleigh’s growth as a vital, sustainable, creative environment for both residents and businesses?
Raleigh’s population will double in the next 20 years. To be prepared, we developed a new comprehensive plan beginning eight years ago. It outlines our vision, goals, strategies, and tactics – covering everything from density to sustainability to creativity. It also identifies eight growth areas, one being downtown.
We need to balance the fear of growth with the reality; the concern about density with the alternative (sprawl); the development of high-end housing with the creation of affordable housing; and the desires of downtown residents with the needs of thriving businesses, coupled with the expectations of visitors and tourists. These are complex issues – not a sound bite. I have to commend the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative, which has done a good job working together as a community, bringing together residents and merchants to talk and even disagree. Being adversarial accomplishes little; being sensitive to other people’s desires, listening to all sides and acting with a good heart is the key to success. It’s all about balance and compromise.
We also have to strive for a better retail mix using strategies and incentives to meet residents’ needs; respect and celebrate the historic and African-American neighborhoods that surround downtown; and create open space, new parks and greenway connections to ensure a great quality of life. Continue reading
