Jane Harrison, candidate for Raleigh City Council District D
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 District D candidate Jane Harrison answered the questionnaire. Harrison is one of four candidates for the southwest Raleigh seat.
District D candidates are elected only by people within the district and serve two-year terms. Stormie Forte, who currently holds this seat, is running for one of two at-large seats in this election.
All eight seats on the Raleigh City Council are up for re-election.
Early voting for the Nov. 8 election began Oct. 20.
Name: Jane Harrison
Age: 37
Occupation: Environmental Economist
Education: Ph.D. Natural Resource Management; M.S. Agricultural, Development, and Environmental Economics; B.A. International Studies with minors in Economics and Spanish
Endorsements (limit to three): Wake County Democratic Party, Sierra Club, Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association
Previous political or civic experience? Co-Chair, West Raleigh Community Advocacy Council; Advisory Board, NC Water Resources Research Institute; Coordinator, National Sea Grant Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility Community of Practice; Co-organizer, Paid Parental Leave Workgroup, Committee on the Status of Women, NC State University; Sponsor Circle Host, Afghan humanitarian parolees; Co-Founder/Organizer, Women’s Climbing Network, Triangle Chapter of the American Alpine Club; Volunteer, Raleigh Boys & Girls Club
Campaign website: JaneForRaleigh.com
How do you identify your political ideology? Democrat
How would you add diversity to the City Council? Progressive voice that is not tied to the real estate development industry. I’m a scientist who will use fact-based decision making and stay connected with Raleigh residents to implement policy.
What is your favorite locally owned restaurant either in the city or within your district? Gym Tacos on Hillsborough Street is a new favorite. Their burritos and tacos are excellent, the setting is casual and bright, the price is right. I recommend the burrito al pastor and the salsa bar. I’m excited to see their business grow from a food truck to two brick and mortar locations in Raleigh.
The city of Raleigh lowered the speed limit downtown to 25 mph. Are you in favor of lowering the speed limit to 25 mph throughout the city?
No. Community engagement and analysis are needed to determine the benefits and costs of such a policy before I would move forward on it. Some of the benefits I see are that driving at 25 mph improves reaction to unexpected circumstances and helps avoid a crash. Pedestrians struck by vehicles traveling at slower speeds also have higher chances of survival. I would recommend we evaluate which streets are appropriate for this policy and gather sufficient community input to understand concerns.
Should the city help bring a sports and entertainment stadium downtown?
No. Private development of a sports stadium does not need city resources to be successful. We have too many other pressing needs at this time.
Do you support reinstating Citizen Advisory Councils?
Yes. Raleigh is better off when neighbors communicate, organize, and advocate to address issues of common concern. I advocate for revamping CACs and providing city resources like a place to meet, zoom or hybrid meeting technology, and help with outreach. CAC leaders would benefit from leadership training. Meeting facilitation, agenda setting, a structured process of engagement — these are key skills. I would be open to CAC boundaries changing to have more groups across the city.
Would you vote to increase the police department’s budget?
No. I would need to know what the budget increase was for before making such a decision. For example, I appreciate RPD’s addition of the ACORNS unit that provides social workers to people in need. I also want to see sufficient funding for professional development training for officers on mental health, de-escalation, use of force, and innovative approaches to reduce violence.
Would you vote to increase the salary of the city’s first responders, including police, fire and 911 staff?
Yes. Essential city services require a well-compensated labor force. I am grateful for the work of Raleigh’s first responders and want to ensure they have the pay and tools needed to be successful. I will advocate for salary increases for all essential city workers that are adjusted fairly for inflation and are on par or better than neighboring municipalities. It is a priority for me that we meet the demand for keys services: the work of first responders, sanitation workers, parks staff, etc.
Will you support keeping city buses fare-free indefinitely?
Yes. Fare free buses incentivize ridership, reduce the time buses idle while passengers get on and help low-income people who depend on the bus.
The city has received numerous noise complaints about traffic and street racing. Is the city doing enough to enforce its noise ordinance?
No. It’s not being enforced because there currently aren’t enough resources available to address it. We have significant vacancies at RPD, and officers have limited time to respond to noise complaints.
Would you support the city creating a buffer zone around abortion clinics?
Yes. We should protect safety and privacy of local clinics and patients, implementing noise and distance buffers.
Do you support the city’s missing middle zoning changes?
No. What’s missing from our current missing middle policy is affordability, environmental protections, and community engagement. I recommend we add an affordable housing requirement before allowing some of the densest configurations planned, as well as a tree protection ordinance and robust community discussion to ensure this policy provides the community benefits intended. Let’s ensure new middle housing won’t exacerbate, and instead can contribute to reversing displacement trends.
Do you support the city’s $275 million parks bond?
Yes. There are significant benefits to District D, including development of the Devereux Meadows Park, improvements to Dix Park, Lake Wheeler Road and the multiuse path, Method Community Center, and Walnut Creek greenway. If we don’t pass the bond this year, costs deferred will grow.
Would you propose additional measures to address the affordable housing crisis for lower-wealth residents?
Yes. Quality housing for residents <30%, <50%, and <80% of AMI should be a priority in all future development projects. I advocate for tax abatement and utility relief for low-income homeowners to prevent displacement. We also need additional investments in programs to repair homes and help people stay in place. The city needs a coordinated legislative agenda with other municipalities to push a bold plan for housing affordability.
Do you support Raleigh’s and Wake County’s efforts in bus rapid transit and commuter rail?
Yes. We must continue investments in public transit infrastructure including commuter rail. At the same time, we should work to retain and recruit bus drivers so that our current routes can run more frequently. Our bus system does not have sufficient human resources for it to be a first-choice option for most residents.
Should it be possible to live in Raleigh without owning a car?
Yes. I’m a bicycle commuter and it’s a priority for me to have safe streets for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as ample public transportation options. But right now, it is a challenge to not have access to a vehicle. The frequency of bus service is hourly for most routes and sidewalks, the greenway, and bike lanes are not available throughout the city. We must continue investments in alternative transit infrastructure.
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 council by a seat?
Yes. The City Council should increase its size to by adding one district seat. District councilors have a lower financial barrier to entry, and district seats are more likely to attract diverse, non-traditional candidates. In addition, district councilors are better able to stay connected with constituents and gather local input.
Do you think the current City Council has put Raleigh on the right path?
No. Community engagement is a sore spot for Raleigh. All voices should be at the table and city leaders should recognize the voices of groups impacted directly by new policy. We need neighborhood-led community forums to convene across the city to share information and empower residents to contribute to Raleigh. We need to go beyond informing residents of what’s coming but rather build a vision of the future together. We need a ground up approach to policy, not the current top down approach.
What will you do to ensure Raleigh’s working-class residents don’t get priced out of the city?
Raleigh needs a bold, comprehensive housing affordability plan that considers policies and programs like the following:
Property tax abatement and utility relief for low-income homeowners
Preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing
City purchase of land along transit corridors to establish new affordable housing complexes
Incentives for first-time homebuyers including affordable mortgage credit
Historic federal investments to increase housing supply — build, preserve, and rehab units affordable to lower-income families-Rent stabilization to limit year over year increases to a sustainable growth rate
Inclusionary housing for affordability which would require new developments of a certain scale to provide a percentage of housing below market rates
Tenant protections to prevent evictions and provide relocation assistance
Prohibition of housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, or the source of one’s income
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?
The COVID pandemic highlighted the need for the city to work with county, state, and federal partners on a cohesive response. All levels of government must share valid science and practical facts to prevent confusion and avoid divisive public messaging. There weren’t enough resources available for testing or masks, and all levels of government must work together to ensure the public has what is needed in a health crisis.
The George Floyd protests were a time of collective grief and pain. Overuse of force is a chronic issue our country has grappled with for centuries. In a protest situation related to the police, our community would be well served by ombudsmen or people that are trained in crowd control but are not associated with the police. There are first responder units separate from police in other cities, for example Denver, Colorado, and Eugene, Oregon. We must be proactive to keep our city safe, ensuring that officers are well trained in de-escalation and techniques to reduce violence.
How can the city limit investment firms from buying entry-level homes?
The city doesn’t have the power to limit home purchases. A policy would need to be implemented at the state or federal level. I advocate for a bold, comprehensive affordable housing plan that would monitor the prevalence of these purchases and make strategic investments to preserve currently affordable housing and build new entry-level housing.
Describe a program in another city that you want the city of Raleigh to try. Please be specific.
Wilmington and New Hanover County have tree preservation ordinances that protect significant species like live oaks. Raleigh should institute strong tree protections for native species of a certain size and create a tree fund when protection isn’t feasible. Replacement requirements for smaller trees cut down, and a tree mitigation fee to pay for trees to be planted elsewhere would benefit Raleigh. Trees help clean and cool the air, clean stormwater, reduce erosion and add immense value to our city. We need safeguards in place to protect our tree canopy.
Raleigh is the center of one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. How do you personally feel about that?
I love that Raleigh is dynamic and we have people from all walks of life here, as well as a diverse economy. I want to ensure we are on a path of sustainable growth that includes all of our residents in the conversation. Raleigh has one of the strongest economies in the country, and yet many residents here are still excluded from our city’s economic vitality. We have disparities in education, income, employment, and home ownership that must be addressed.
Name one initiative you’d propose in your first 100 days in office.
I will (1) Bring back the CACs, revamped; (2) Further strengthen the city’s housing affordability plan with a focus on reversing displacement; and (3) Establish monthly meetings with District D residents to stay in touch with community needs and vision.
One initiative (1), I re-established the West Raleigh CAC after city support was removed, and I want other community groups that disbanded to come back to life. We have a new generation of leaders in the West Raleigh CAC that follow well designed bylaws that provide structure and consistency across meetings and with different audiences and speakers. We again hear from developers and residents, police, city staff and external leaders to become more informed and engaged on what matters to us in our city. I want that to be possible across Raleigh. I would work with the Office of Community Engagement and their resident board to develop the next iteration of these neighborhood-led groups.
