Charlene Henderson Charlotte City Council At-Large

Find out more: https://charlenehenderson.com/

Candidate's Questionnaire Answers:

1. How will you ensure LGBTQ+ people are fairly represented on advisory boards and commissions? Do you support the creation of an LGBTQ+ Liaison on staff to better communicate and represent LGBTQ+ issues within the City Manager's office?
   We all have had adverse effects of discrimination. Our civil and equal rights are important and are only a couple of my main concerns. Without a solid understanding of the difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ community, it is impossible to create effective policy that targets and addresses LGBTQ+ unique needs. I will support amplified voices for equity and give an equal opportunity to thrive just like everyone else in this great city. I will continue pushing equality and continue to the re-education of the minds of the individuals through boards, commissions and the City Manager office with liaisons to help bridge the gaps.

2. 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?
   True affordable housing is much needed now more than ever. This is a major concern that can be addressed through retention of livable wage jobs. I will work to have and support incentives for businesses to keep jobs in the communities where they are located, as well as incentives for new skilled labor jobs with livable wages. I also want to hold officials, and developers accountable to community stakeholders. I definitely want to structure a zoning reform policy to encourage development of more true affordable housing.

3. What actions do you support (or have you supported) to ensure people's jobs pay a wage sufficient enough to live and thrive in Charlotte? What next steps and investments do you support to strengthen the Corridors of Opportunity?
   I have supported the city increasing living wages, however the living wages in Charlotte is $20 and above. My fight is to look at bringing skilled labor jobs in manufacturing or health care to the city. The Corridor of Opportunities has mixed revues. The city wants to revisit parts of it and rightfully so. As part of the $38.5 million investment to renew the city's commitment in six key corridors, I will be held accountable to ease restrictions for communities to form new collaborations in diverse communities and will be supporting true affordable housing, Public safety, transportation infrastructure.

4. What specific actions do you support (or have you supported) to address the racial inequities and lack of economic mobility in Charlotte?
   As someone who daily fight for equity, I was courageous enough to put out a lawsuit against the city of charlotte for that very reason. A community such as Historic Hidden Valley, the inequalities are what lead the charge. I will fight for a City Liaison to drive change of equity for minorities and women and create a tool to track business owners of color contracts and how much the city is spending on these companies verses others in real time. The liaison will be tasked to track gender pay equity and the progress we are making to bridge the gap. 

5. What actions do you support (or have you supported) to create a transportation network that provides people with efficient, affordable, and timely options to get around the city? What steps do you believe are necessary to address the inefficiencies and safety issues with CATS?
   My support comes as one that has participated in rallies, marches and protests. Now it is time to turn that into legislation that works, because working together just works. I will support actions to produce more bike lanes and accessible busing to minimize the cars and give more safety options. Let's look at how the airport buses run every 5 to 10 minutes, and see how we can duplicate this throughout the city, which will help create more jobs.CATS contracted employees have the solutions. Let's bring them to the table.