Anne Franklin, candidate for Raleigh City Council At-Large

The News & Observer asked readers again this year to submit their questions for the people looking to lead Raleigh.

We received nearly 200 questions that covered a range of topics important to city residents.

We asked candidates for a yes or no response to 15 questions with a chance to fully explain their position. If candidates did not provide a yes or no answer, we didn’t include their fuller response.

We also included biographical and open-ended questions. Some responses were edited for clarity or length.

Here is how Raleigh City Council At-Large candidate Anne Franklin answered the questionnaire. Franklin is one of seven candidates for two at-large seats. At-large candidates are elected by the entire city and serve two-year terms.

All eight seats on the Raleigh City Council are up for re-election.

Early voting for the Nov. 8 election began Oct. 20.

Name: Anne S. Franklin

Age: 78

Residence: 200 S. Dawson St.

Occupation: Community organizer

Education: BS in Social Work, 1965, Ohio State University; Certificate, Landscape Architect Assistant Program, 1976, George Washington University

Endorsements (limit to three): AFL-CIO, Livable Raleigh, Raleigh Wake Citizens Assn

Previous political or civic experience? Raleigh City Council At-Large, 1987-1993, GoTriangle Board, 1999-2007.

Campaign website: AnneFranklinForRaleigh.com

How do you identify your political ideology? Non-Partisan on municipal level, Democrat otherwise

How would you add diversity to the City Council? Personally, by my age and depth of experience. I have recruited and oriented a wide variety of people to local governance. I look for ways to put them in advisory and policy-making roles. Persons with disabilities have been under-represented. I could help remedy that.

What is your favorite locally owned restaurant either in the city or within your district?Neomonde Bakery and Deli.

The city of Raleigh lowered the speed limit downtown to 25 mph. Are you in favor of lowering the city’s speed limit to 25 mph throughout the city?

No. Road design encourages people to either speed or slow down. I’d put more streets and roads on a “diet,” especially adjacent to residential neighborhoods.

Should the city help bring a sports and entertainment stadium downtown?

No. Continue to invest in the RBC Center (previous name of PNC Arena). Do not create its competitor.

Do you support reinstating Citizen Advisory Councils?

Yes. Citizen engagement needs to be refreshed and expanded dramatically. They’ll need staff and communication resources for a mix of virtual and in-person gatherings. I’d like to see a program for newcomers to welcome and orient them to civic engagement opportunities.

Would you vote to increase the police department’s budget?

Yes. I believe that will be the result of a citizen-driven examination of public safety facts, policing standards and retention objectives.

Would you vote to increase the salary of the city’s first responders, including police, fire and 911 staff?

Yes. City workers should be able to afford to live in the city they serve. Wages, housing affordability, transportation and work management are all components of making that possible.

Will you support keeping city buses fare-free indefinitely?

Yes. Service frequency is also important. Recruiting enough drivers may need some new management approaches.

The city has received numerous noise complaints about traffic and street racing. Is the city doing enough to enforce its noise ordinance?

No. Let’s give citizens the tools they need to report or monitor these nuisances so that cases may be made against abusers. I understand that our Beltline is being used for car racing. Work with the state to end it.

Would you support the city creating a buffer zone around abortion clinics?

Yes. Patients and health care workers deserve privacy. This should be a county-wide protection. Protesters can be present outside the zone.

Do you support the city’s missing middle zoning changes?

No. I welcome diverse housing options. Many of our most attractive neighborhoods already have them. Change in the middle of neighborhoods deserves local review by residents. The board-brush removal of R-4 and R-2 zoning was too much, too fast, done without citizen participation. Not good.

Do you support the city’s $275 million parks bond?

Yes. This is a “catch-up” bond for long-promised park improvements. Great cities have great parks.

Would you propose additional measures to address the affordable housing crisis for lower wealth residents?

Yes. Set bold goals for getting affordable units wherever there is new development or re-development, everywhere, city-wide. Engage all sectors. Work to make it easy to do.

Do you support Raleigh’s and Wake County’s efforts in bus rapid transit and commuter rail?

Yes. Absolutely! I’ve dedicated decades of work to creating public transit services that help today and support a dynamic future. We might like to see it all in place right now. We will remain persistent. Our people are counting on it.

Should it be possible to live in Raleigh without owning a car?

Yes. We’ll have to continue progress on walkability, service frequency and bike facilities. We’ll need to have a whole new communities come on line that feature attractive, affordable living without a car.

A council-appointed study group made a recommendation to add one seat to the Raleigh City Council. Do you support expanding the size of the Raleigh City Council by a seat?

No. I prefer a weighted majority where citizens vote for half of the council members. Perhaps 10 seats could maintain that approach. In any case, to match our population growth, council members should have beefed-up staff to help with communicating within their districts or city-wide.

Do you think the current City Council has put Raleigh on the right path?

No. Let’s get Raleigh back on track. Collaborative, thoughtful, non-partisan leadership has made Raleigh a great place. Today we are choking on growth. The current council shut down citizen help just when we need it the most. Our people are the richest resource for addressing all the challenges that being an attractive community brings. Ignore them and we miss 90% of what we need to know.

What will you do to ensure Raleigh’s working-class residents don’t get priced out of the city?

Invest in new development that creates a combo of density + frequent transit + access to green space. Pursue affordable units with every housing development or re-development. Support mortgage assistance and home repair for owners. Explore new housing approaches that feature adaptability of space to meet changing needs so people can stay in their community long-term.

What lessons should the city have learned from public safety challenges like COVID, curfews and George Floyd protests? Would you propose any new policies or changes?

Communication is key. Police and city leaders should sit down, frequently, with people who want to protest so they can respect their concerns and plan for safely accommodating demonstrations. Riot gear sends one message: We expect a riot. “Teams” for meetings shut citizens out. We need a major communication systems upgrade. Three years is enough time to have addressed this.

COVID enforced isolation. The city has a role in reconnecting our people through in-person, plus digital events and gatherings.

How can the city limit investment firms from buying entry level homes?

I would look to the city attorney for legal options. The press shining a light on exactly who’s doing what might help cool it down. Helping vulnerable neighborhoods collaborate might ensure that owners would benefit or resist together.

Describe a program in another city that you want the city of Raleigh to try. Please be specific.

Permanent shelter in groups for disabled and elderly people who would otherwise be homeless — Denver, Colorado. Very simple housing was provided in Butler-style building where income-producing activities were undertaken by residents: a coffee shop, bakery, showers and lockers for joggers and bicyclists near their downtown.

Raleigh is the center of one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. How do you personally feel about that?

It’s hard to see our trees and red earth churned up all over town as affordable neighborhoods fall to unknown investors. We have a choice: Put up a fence or make room. I lean toward setting another place at the table. That means we have to get a whole lot more serious about protecting neighborhoods and trees, addressing flooding and trash, plus welcoming new people so they, too, can give back.

Name one initiative you’d propose in your first 100 days in office.

Engage citizens in budget-making early so that priorities for wages, programs and services are not left to the last few months. Individual council members might tackle a particular component and learn right along with constituents. Other communities are already doing this.