I want folks to judge me based on results/outcomes. Look at the things I say and how I work to execute on them. Top priorities are housing supply. We must make it easier to build housing of all types and sizes. I am a pro-density/walkable/non-car dependent person (as a gloss), but think that we need to connect housing growth to transit and life-giving and living-wage jobs (that are being created and imported here, but that aren’t always accessible for current Raleigh residents/constituents). Leo, I think you know this, but I have been actively working with churches (I say this because we live in the American South and there are SO MANY CHURCHES!) and nonprofits to consider developing their parcels/assets for affordable and attainable housing. We’re seeing some movement around the county, but I want to see more. Less surface parking that churches (privilege tax class) own and more housing that will change the generational housing calculus for more people. Second, I’d like to see more small businesses growth across our city. This is something I’m super passionate about a believe makes a city great. I want to see more neighbors have access to the resources, trainings, capital, and talent that they will need to build business. Let’s make profit…profit our community.
Will you support MLB to Raleigh? Are you for a public private partnership? what’s your thoughts on it?
I’m glad to hear that. This was not the case when I was a kid in the late 80s, 90s, and 2000s, even when I went to UM.
Hope you’re well, Jake! I do accept that Raleigh is growing and will continue to grow into the near future. I don’t growth is an immovable force that we cannot control. We can certainly stop or stifle that growth on Council, but I want to see it stewarded/managed well. I think there are certain factions that want it to stop and to keep Raleigh the way it has always been. As much as I don’t want us to lose who we are, or become “everywhere USA”, I also think there are ways to grow well. I’ve said recently that I love that we’re the city of oaks, but I also want us to be the city of opportunities…opportunities to live/flourish, to have living-wage work, to purchase a home, etc. We are not where we need to be and I think we’re at a point of inflection around development conversations TBH, but I think we can build a city that works for everyone (many?). I don’t usually use terms like '“pro-growth” or “anti-growth” to define my stances on issues around the built environment, but I would say I’m pro-people and pro-walkability and pro-density and pro-affordability if there is growth. I am pro-stewardship and management of growth.
As a huge baseball fan and longtime catcher, I love it. But, I think we need to be thoughtful about how the public-private partnership work. My profession life centers around the intersection of community engagement, community development, and economic development so I think having an other pro-team would be a net “win” for the community as an economic driver. Nevertheless, I want to make sure we do it well and look at peers who have done it before us. I think the structure of the partnership will be the key. As a gloss, yes I will support it and will be at most games (too much for this forum?!?! 
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We have to look at permitting reform. I generally subscribe to an “Abundance” agenda and want to examine places where municipalities have put undue regulatory burdens on smaller scale projects (in particular). There are other cities (some bigger, some smaller) that have done so really great work around ensuring that we don’t let great, people-centric projects die a death by a thousand paper cuts because of hidden costs and constraints that really don’t have a public benefit. I think risk management is a huge factor for developers of various sizes, so we need the process to be clear around expectations. I think with clarity and removing some of the unnecessary regulatory burdens, developers will make adjustments to their pro-formas that offer strong community benefits.
Any thoughts on the current state of community engagement? I was critical of the CAC system before but didn’t agree with disbanding it. Thoughts on that?
I know this is a topic of conversation that I need to do more research on TBH. I am aware of the “not legal”/not an option thread of conversation along with places in NC that have not had their hand slapped (yet?) around inclusionary zoning. I remember a land use attorney telling me that these towns had not seen a ton of preferred outcomes with IZ. But, again, I don’t have clear stats in my mind at the moment. This is a topic that I’m doing more research on to provide a more thoughtful and clear answer. When I don’t know, I think it is right to say that especially on the campaign trail. At the moment, I would say…I’m open to using tools that are available to us in our toolbox. I also don’t love the word “extract” in the question, but I think that there is going to have to be supply and subsidy to get the affordability calculus set properly in this next chapter.
I think community engagement is vital and support the CACs being active. I also think that a lot of community engagement happens in unstructured ways so I’ll hold those different ways to engage together as a candidate and, if I have the privilege, councilor. I fear at times that the echo chamber can be amplified in some settings, but that’s why I will be in multiple settings…especially running At Large. Council has to be engaged with residents and constituents on the regular and disseminate clear, concise, and truthful information to the public. I believe in transparency. Talk to folks who know me. I’m a loyal person and a team player, but I am not just going to go along with something because “that’s what our faction does”. I think this next chapter on Council requires thoughtful, engaged, experienced, and nuanced leadership. We have to work in the “both/and” IMO.
I don’t think that it’s any surprise to anyone that Raleigh (like many, many other cities) faces NIMBY resistance to abundance of development on the city’s immediate urban edges: even within the parcels in downtown proper. What are your thoughts about that topic?
FWIW, this is the downtown proper that I am referencing in my previous comment.
It’s the both/and ← Sometimes this feels like I’m giving a political answers, but I sincerely mean it. There are many “versions” of Raleigh. No doubt. My family prefers the downtown lifestyle and amenities, but lots of people also have great experiences in the ‘burbs. No shade from me. But, I do want to attempt to push toward those being 2 different “choices,” rather than a lot of our city being designed in a “suburban” context that is generally car-dependent. It will take time, but we have to plan the tree today.
Yup. I look at this layout often. It’s a good gloss for downtown. I live at New Bern and East, but feel like I am a downtowner and experience a downtown lifestyle. It’s a little bit nit-picky from me. But, something I’ve tried to figure out how to talk about over time.
Thank you for taking the time to field our questions!
I want to see the growth centers prioritize density (in general). don’t love the dichotomy of NIMBY vs YIMBY TBH, but certainly resonate with the sentiment. I’m a big fan of YIGBY though. Also, the NY Times podcast “Nice White Parents” gave me some language around these things and how things operate. Worth a listen. I think having data-driven, thoughtful, and honest conversations with both “factions” about the opportunity cost of our development choices is vital. I don’t see NIMBYs or YIMBYs really chatting with each other, just throwing stones. I hope to convene some of these important convos as a Councilor.
Friends! Yall have been super kind to me and I’ve appreciated the topics/conversation immensely. I would love to share more about my key priorities and platform, so hit me up. I catch a lot of flack publicly for being too much of a downtowner, but I love our community and want to see more opportunities for more people. At a basic level, I’m committed to more housing, more choices, more places and connecting homes to living-wage and life-giving employment that can be reached by efficient, affordable, and reliable transit throughout our city. It’s not going to happen overnight, but we have to get to work today. A lot of folks will be talking about the work. I want to be in the business of working on your behalf and getting the work done, then handing off the baton to the next public servants. You can find out more at www.clarkforraleigh.com. My email is clark@clarkforraleigh.com or cell is 305.968.0087. Looking forward to chatting more soon!
a privilege. happy to do it!
Given that you live on the edge of downtown, what do you want to see prioritized to improve your experience and those of your neighbors?
Thanks a lot, @clarkrinehart. Really appreciate you spending time here and answering some questions. I’ll close the topic now and we can discuss on other threads.