Arthur Griffin, Jr.
What steps will you take (or have you taken) to ensure LGBTQ+ people who live in, work in, or visit Mecklenburg are protected against discrimination? What steps do you support (or have you done) to protect equitable access to healthcare for all people, including Transgender people? Do you support expanding the "Getting to Zero" Campaign for Mecklenburg County?
As an African American man, born in the south during one of the darkest times in American and local history, I know first-hand the trauma and isolation that discrimination can cause. I can recall and visualize having to use bathrooms and drink water in public spaces designated as “Colored.” I recall being refused service, denied opportunity, and excluded from basic rights simply because of the color of my skin. Although it was humiliating, degrading, and caused ongoing concern for my safety, it also lit a fire inside of me to ensure that no one, regarding of their circumstance would ever have to endure the experiences that I have. I support Mecklenburg County’s equity lens and current goals of the County’s Non-Discrimination ordinance, as well as the City of Charlotte and those county township efforts to same.
In the 1990’s, as a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, I attended meetings of Time Out for Youth at the Great Aunt Stellar Center which offered support, advocacy and opportunities for personal development and social interaction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth. Also, I supported the efforts of
Dr. Jessica Saxe and others in establishing a specialized clinic to serve these youth long before unique healthcare services were available.
As a cancer survivor, I know all too well the need for quality, equitable and accessible healthcare which we also witnessed during the pandemic. As a young litigation paralegal at Legal Aid Society, I represented low-income clients that were denied eligibility for Medicaid benefits. I educated low-income Mecklenburg residents about their rights to receive and having access to quality healthcare under the Hill Burton Act, a federal law that required hospitals to provide quality healthcare to indigent citizens.
I support expanding the “Getting to Zero” Campaign for Mecklenburg County. Of the approximately 7,000 Mecklenburg County residents living with HIV over 70% are African American residents . We must educate, test, treat and reduce the number of Mecklenburg County residents living with HIV.
What will you do (or have you done) to maintain equitable access to green spaces and parks in Mecklenburg County? What plans do you have to ensure affordable housing to Mecklenburg County residents?
On December 14th 2021, I was granted the honor to partake in the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Pearl Street Parkway which as a child was the only park where myself and other African Americans were allowed. It was during this time in my childhood that I learned how critical green spaces and recreational areas are to neighborhoods in addition to the disparities that can occur. ALL neighborhoods should have equitable access to county recreational and leisure assets which encourage healthy lifestyles. It is also an honor that my memories and words are forever etched into the beautiful artistic piece that stands over 20 feet tall in new Pearl Street Park as it serves as a reminder of the progress that we have made as well as the distance that remains.
Overall, Mecklenburg County is the home to about 21,000 acres of county-owned open spaces and parkland. I support the Meck Playbook as the driver and implementation framework for Mecklenburg County Comprehensive Park and Recreation Master Plan for the City of Charlotte and the six towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Mathews, Mint Hill, and Pineville, as well as the unincorporated areas. Parks and green space play a vital role in our community. Parks are one of Mecklenburg County’s most foundational civic assets, providing many environmental, social, and economic benefits. Most of the lowest rated parks fall within communities with higher rates of poverty, higher rates of youth and adults over sixty-five and a higher population of minority residents. Investments in parks, through improved infrastructure, community engagement, and other place-based strategies can also address long-standing social and economic divides. Park, greenway and trail access should be a driver of more livable and equitable communities.
According to the Urban Institute, Charlotte has a need for approximately 23,000 units of affordable housing for very low-income and 40,000 units in the Charlotte Metro. It takes 113 hours of work at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Charlotte. I support the adage of “if you work in Mecklenburg County, you should be able to afford to live in Mecklenburg County.” This holds true for all of Mecklenburg County, to include our townships. The average cost of a home in Davidson is over $500,000. In addition to low-income residents and low-wage workers, municipal workers in both the city and townships such as teachers, police, and utility workers are house cost-burden and unable to reasonably reside in the community that they work in. As Chairman of the School Board, I put forth a strategy to use excess school property to be used as leverage in building affordable housing in Mecklenburg County. I continue to support that strategy today.
What actions do you support (or have you supported) to ensure people have equitable access (including transportation and housing) to jobs that provide a living wage, including supporting minority-owned businesses? How are you addressing the Leandro ruling to ensure equitable access to education?
Although the County is limited in its affordable housing toolkit, I support investments in supportive services, shelters, home repair, the establishment of a rental subsidy program, property tax assistance for seniors and disabled, and use of tax increment financing (TIF) strategies. Also, I support strategies to allow residents to live in areas of the county that provides greater access to living wage jobs, great schools, and safe communities despite their source of income.
There are 1,379 Minority Owned Small Businesses (MOSB) located in Mecklenburg County. Small businesses employ 47% of the private workforce and account for 65% of net new job creation. However, MOSBs face barriers such as access to capital, access to markets and operations. Of the 1, 379 MOSBs, 507 are in neighborhoods which are minority concentrated. Many face the need for marketing and operations support. I support the county’s current strategies of small business revolving loan fund, Mentorship Program, Business Concierge support services. However, according to the most recent MWBE study, the county needs to accelerate its efforts to meet and exceed its disparity goals in business participation with MWBEs.
As Vice-Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, I encouraged the Board to become a plaintiff in the original Leandro lawsuit against the State of North Carolina. I have closely followed this case since 1995 and support the constitutional right to a sound basic education for every student in North Carolina. This case is about more than just money. North Carolina’s educational system has unjust policies and procedures that need to be addressed such as two assessment systems that historically supports institutional discrimination
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 Mecklenburg County? These include but are not limited to environmental racism, overpolicing, and healthcare access.
I support Mecklenburg County’s commitment to use an equity lens in its establishment of policy, review, and operations. Growing up in Charlotte I saw firsthand the development of Independence Boulevard through my community beginning with increased pollution and destruction of a neighborhood. I further saw the intersection of Interstate 85 and 77 crossing in the middle of our African American community. An increase in childhood asthma an immediate result. I know firsthand how racism has created a public health crisis and will work diligently at every turn to mitigate the harm caused. As a school board member, I worked hard to make equity a reality. As a Trustee at Central Piedmont Community College, I continue to make equity a reality in the everyday lives of our students. I approach the notion of restorative justice through an asset rather than deficit lens.
Thanks for sharing your vision of how to make Mecklenburg a more equitable, inclusive place! Are there any additional comments or initiatives you'd like to share?
I have a long history and legacy of standing for equity in our community as it is the cornerstone of my belief system. Although I have not served in an official capacity for several years, I have steadily worked behind the scenes to help continue to move our community forward.