Billy Maddalon
What steps will you take (or have you taken) to ensure LGBTQ+ people who live in, work in, travel to Charlotte are protected against discrimination and included at all levels of decision-making?
I've been working on behalf of accessibility, equity and equality in Charlotte for much of my adult life. As a former CC member, I tried to role model to other members the true diversity of our community. Before and after my service, I worked with ENC and HRC organizers on the ground to advocate for passage of a local NDO. I spoke before CC numerous times and also met privately with members of CC, personally advocating for passage and for other incremental measures that could be taken internally by the city manager (most of which were enacted).
My service as a board member of Time Out Youth, officer of LGBTQ Dems of NC and board member of Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority have afforded me the access and voice to work on behalf of measurable change in our schools, our public spaces and our hospitality industry.
In 2005, as an appointed board member of CRVA (by Mayor McCrory), I stood up to his decision not to welcome (or even sign a welcome letter) when ENC decided to move their annual Gala to the Charlotte Convention Center. I convinced the board to pass a resolution condemning his decision and encouraging him to do his job and welcome any and all visitors to our city. He had me removed from the board within weeks. That's the cost of leadership. I've been leading for decades.
What will you do (or have you done) to address the affordable housing crisis that plagues Charlotte? What plans do you have to ensure Charlotte develops sustainably for future generations?
As a City Council member, I lead the way for passage of a $1 million city investment in Moore Place, a supportive housing project in Charlotte designed to help address and eliminate chronic homelessness.
I served as a board member of Charlotte Family Housing, where I helped to acquire resources and develop policy for providing affordable and emergency housing for families in shelter crisis.
As chair of the Eastland Area Strategies Team (EAST), I was instrumental in influencing the guiding principles being used today for the comprehensive redevelopment of the former Eastland Mall site. Our principles included a core vision for workforce housing, as a part of a larger vision for a market-forward project.
As a city council member, I commit to support the continued rollout of the 2040 plan, UDO and the policy principles of preserving, encouraging, creating and to the extent practical, requiring affordable housing options for those at or below the area median income. I also commit to not supporting any additional rail infrastructure into fragile communities, until I'm convinced there's a plan in place to mitigate the market forces destroying existing affordable housing stock and displacing existing stable workforce rich neighborhoods.
Our housing crisis is complicated. The genesis and therefore the solution for elder housing, workforce housing, chronic homelessness and for those at the bottom of the wage scale, who qualify for Section 8 vouchers, are all distinct. As a city councilman, my priority would be to develop and support policies that prevent a chronic worsening of the crisis. In each instance, nothing will change until the reward centers change.
What actions do you support (or have you supported) to ensure people have equitable access (including transportation) to jobs that provide a living wage?
As a CC member, I voted to support a change in the Economic Development tax increment and abatement requirements for new job income guarantees. The policy used to be the city would not recruit, nor support new job relocation under $65,000 with tax rebates. I argued that there are tens of thousands of Charlotteans who need jobs, who are not qualified for those jobs paying above $65,000. It was an unintentional, inherent bias embedded in policy, which showed preference for the higher compensation/skill end of economic development.
As chair of EAST, I led the effort to garner CC funding for the Gold Line streetcar, which was the only chance those in West and East Charlotte had to participate in the fixed rail transit system.
As a city councilman, I will advocate for a comprehensive reconsideration of our bus system: where they go, how they connect and frequency/predictability. Importantly, I will support making our transit system accessible through the budget process, by phasing out the fare-based funding model and moving toward fully subsidized funding.
With racism being declared a public health crisis, what steps do you support (or have you supported) to address the racial inequities that exist in Charlotte? These include but are not limited to environmental racism, overpolicing, and access to healthcare.
This is a big area of concern. Let's focus on policing. The institution of the police is often the enforcement arm racist systems, unintentional or not. Policing in America wasn't designed to protect black folks. In fact, it's often been used to protect against black folks.
Everyone's desire is to live in a safe, secure community. Because of disparities in education, income and opportunity, some communities are chronically effected by crime and violence. This reality, in and of itself, is a byproduct of structural, racist bias. Folks who live in lower income neighborhoods deserve to feel safe in their homes and on their streets as much as those in other, more affluent areas. However, in an effort to "fix" the problem, we often end up over-policing neighborhoods, harming the good tissue alongside the disease, creating a sense of powerlessness. I will support ethical policing, based upon defined community values and mission-driven by respect for those who need protection.
Follow the money. What's counted, counts. Wherever CC spends taxpayer resources, there are the priorities. Police in Charlotte need to be recruited better, trained better, paid better and fired more. That's a fundamental paradigm for sustainable, highly performing organizational behavior.
Are there any additional comments or initiatives you'd like to share?
I've spend my whole life working downstream, pulling people out of the river. It's been a rewarding life. However, I know I can be far more impactful if I go up-river and prevent people from falling in. That's how I see my role as a city councilman. Policy drives outcomes and eats strategy for breakfast.
What I've witnessed is benevolent elites in America constantly seek to do more good, but never less harm. Those who commit or support injustice use generosity to cover it up. It's become a system where what's best for society just happens to be what's best for them. Change the rules, change the game. As a city councilman, that will be my commitment. I will work to develop policies designed to change the outcomes for those for whom the game is often fixed against them.