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Leonardo Williams for City Council

Uniting Durham to provide safety and prosperity for all.

Priorities

My Platform
The issues that are facing our city are all connected. Housing, community safety, and the pandemic are top priorities in Durham right now. However, we must understand the root causes that lie deep in the fabric of our city first: economic mobility. It is increasingly difficult for residents in Durham to find financial prosperity. Without it, people cannot access basic necessities like food, healthcare, and shelter. Ultimately, we have to admit this can lead to despair, which often leads to the crime that our city is witnessing. We have a responsibility to make sure that the people who live here should not merely live to survive; they should prosper and succeed. A few approaches that I have practiced and will continue to push are to:
Prosperity
Establish a robust Small Business Sustainability and Success Program.

Expand, evolve, and innovate the Office of Economic & Workforce Development to be reflective of Durham’s small business sector.

Establish a Venture Capital firm in partnership with the Durham Chamber to encourage and support economic creativity and mobility.
Public Safety
Fund organizations who are currently performing direct engagement to curb crime at a rate that truly reflects the need.

Establish a city-wide apprenticeship program for high schoolers with startups and local businesses throughout Durham to engage them with prosperity and not crime.

Establish a legitimate emergency response corps for nonviolent offenses.
Housing
Identify and purchase under-utilized properties to expand innovation and opportunity. Increase public-private partnerships for commercial and residential expansion with community-centered design.

Increase our affordable housing inventory. Enhance the diversification of Durham’s housing model to incorporate additional multi-use properties not only as a means to attract more tenants, but to also improve the quality of living conditions for Durham’s public housing residents.
Housing
Continue to invest in a robust Evictions Diversion Program.

Partner with Durham Housing Authority to ensure that public housing is a safe haven for residents.

Increase accessibility to resources for tenants who are prepared to migrate from Section 8 or Public Housing to independent ownership or self-sustained rental properties.
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Housing

We are greater together when we have homes that are safe, secure, and free of environmental hazards.

  1. Enhance the diversification of Durham’s housing model to incorporate additional multi-use properties not only as a means to attract more tenants, but also to leverage the value of public housing (e.g, DHA’s RAD conversation) while simultaneously improving  the quality of living conditions for Durham’s public housing residents.
  2. Continue to invest in a robust Evictions Diversion Program to establish universal right to counsel for those who are facing evictions.
  3. Partner with Durham Housing Authority to ensure that public housing is a safe haven for residents.
  4. Increase accessibility to resources for tenants who are prepared to migrate from Section 8 or Public Housing to independent ownership or self-sustained rental properties.

Community Safety

We are greater together when we have the power to holistically redefine what community safety looks like for our city.

  1. Fund organizations who are currently performing direct engagement to curb crime at a rate that truly reflects the need. 
  2. Establish city-wide apprenticeship programs and mentorship programs for high school juniors and seniors with startups and local businesses throughout Durham.
  3. Establish a legitimate emergency response corps for nonviolent offenses. 

Land Use

We are greater together when we can build Durham to be an accessible and equitable city.

  1. Durham should address future development through a lens of equity, ensuring that community voices have a place in all parts of the design and development process.
  2. Coincide the reconstruction model of public housing with multi-use properties. 
  3. Request the use of sustainable buildings that are environmentally friendly and sponsorship of public parks and greenways.

Economic Development

We are greater together when everyone has access to capital from a robust local economy.

  1. Create our own supply chain of progressive businesses and a supportive culture of homegrown talent.
  2. Partner with local businesses, entrepreneurs, and companies to develop apprenticeship programs for youth of color.
  3. Build collective funds such as the Durham Small Business Relief Fund.
  4. Provide guaranteed basic income, raise the minimum wage, and increase opportunities for businesses to provide healthcare.

Environment

We are greater together when we build a green infrastructure and work proactively to keep our city safe from environmental harm.

  1. Implement more sustainable infrastructure such as trees, green tops, solar panels, renewable energy, and climate sustainable architecture.
  2. Follow guidance from community members for Durham’s Green New Deal as well as the Green & Equitable Infrastructure Bond.
  3. Work with Durham Housing Authority to ensure that public housing is free of environmental and public health hazards.
  4. Encourage policies and practices that go beyond recycling and focus on a circular economy; a regenerative approach that designs out waste and pollution.

Public Infrastructure

We are greater together when we are all connected through pedestrian-friendly streets, public transit, and open trails.

  1. We must work collectively to ensure that all of our residents have access to public transit and are not subjected to prolonged travel times.
  2. Determine strategies that will alleviate traffic congestion, environmental harm, and erosion of current infrastructure.
  3. Repair broken and outdated infrastructure, especially in underserved neighborhoods and spaces.
  4. Increase green spaces in underserved neighborhoods.
  5. Support digital equity initiatives to increase access to broadband across the city.

Inclusion & Race Equity

We are greater together when we build a Durham where everyone can work and thrive together, where we honor each other, and we uplift each other.

  1. Ensure that the work we commit to in our communities is reflective of Durham’s most impacted and historically exploited people with their input, suggestions, and guidance along the way.
  2. Support the work and findings of the Durham Racial Equity Taskforce.
  3. Address the racial wealth gap through reparative policies and raising the minimum wage.
  4. Invest in our Racial Equity Taskforce’s recommendation of a Racial Equity Fund.
  5. Invite and encourage private entities such as small businesses to establish racial equity values; helping to create a community culture that honors and appreciates our people.

What's your vision for Durham?

Mailing Address
4600 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Durham, NC 27707

Email Address
contact@leonardowilliams.com

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