Mayor Vi Lyles
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 continue to be inspired by our city's dedication to its people, and am proud of the amendment to our original Nondiscrimination Ordinance last year, upholding and furthering our commitment to our LGBTQ+ neighbors, particularly our transgender neighbors unjustly hurt and endangered by HB2.
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?
Affordable Housing has continuously been at the top of my priority list, and remains so in my campaign for reelection. I'm proud of the $50 million this city committed toward affordable housing in 2018 (and the $50 million matched), but I'm looking ahead to even more. I urge everyone to look into the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the Leading on Opportunity force we have developed to ensure that Charlotte's rapid growth is equitable, and remains so for many, many years to come.
What actions do you support (or have you supported) to ensure people have equitable access (including transportation) to jobs that provide a living wage?
After affordable housing, transportation is one of my top priorities in strengthening our city. The people of Charlotte must have the means to get to their jobs, their homes, their loved ones. In addition to the light rail line opened in my first term and the infrastructure plans outlined in the Comprehensive Plan and overseen by Leading on Opportunity, I would like to see a ballot-passed sales tax that would provide our city with the infrastructure funding to ensure that all the people of Charlotte have safe and reliable transportation, whoever and wherever they are.
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.
Racism infiltrates too many aspects of our lives to count, which I've experienced first-hand throughout my life and career. Nondiscrimination Ordinances are one example of a solution, but sustainable solutions are also far-reaching, long-term, and innovative. We cannot combat racism in Charlotte without equity. When COVID threatened funding at Johnson C. Smith, this city responded by donating not just money, but internships to ensure the success of its students; even Atrium has pledged to fund medical school for a number of Johnson C. Smith's students, because we need more black doctors. These are the types of solutions we want. In a recent forum with WFAE on Equity, myself and my panelists were clear: we combat racism with equitable solutions (affordable housing, reliable transportation, jobs that provide a living wage, a support system for immigrants and refugees moving to our city, de-escalation and diversity training for police, well-funded schools, etc.)
Are there any additional comments or initiatives you'd like to share?
I have worked for this city for a long time. And while I would love your support for a third term, what I would love even more is for everyone to find a part of this community to support, in whatever way you can. We need tutors to assist our under-performing schools. We need mentors for our children. We need volunteers at our nonprofits. We need voters and community-members who care about this city. Find what you're passionate about and help us make Charlotte home!