Carrboro Town Council and mayoral candidates discuss transportation, climate in forum

On Sept. 22, NEXT Chapel Hill-Carrboro and the Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition co-hosted a forum for Carrboro Town Council and mayoral candidates at the Drakeford Library Complex.

Incumbent Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee, Carrboro Mayor Pro Tem Danny Nowell, Carrboro Town Council member Cristóbal Palmerand former Carrboro poet laureate Fred Joiner were present.

Executive director of the Community Empowerment Fund Donna Carrington moderated the forum.

Housing Access and Affordability

Carrington began by asking Joiner, the only non-incumbent candidate, what the Town is doing well to promote housing access and affordability, and what he would change if elected.

Joiner said  he is still learning about the Town’s processes and thinks streamlining engagement with developers would increase accessibility.

Carrington asked incumbent candidates on how their understanding of the Town’s affordable housing needs has changed since they have been in office, and how they would address those needs in their next term.

Nowell said the Town must focus aggressively on increasing affordable housing units through gap financing projects and innovative loan structures.

“Right now, we are in a crisis. We have fallen so far behind that it is not just a need to add housing — it is an emergency,” Palmer said.