If elected, how would you ensure that older adults who live in Durham are included in zoning decisions, particularly individuals from communities that have been historically marginalized?
The accessibility needs of older adults is a topic I have brought up in many meetings around planning. I am a disability services professional and aging and disability are heavily intertwined. It is estimated that one in four adults in the country has some type of disability. By 2030, people 65 and older will outnumber children and by 2050 the number of blind and visually impaired people is expected to double. Our abilities are temporary. We can all experience disability at any time and as we age, all of us will experience some level of disability whether it is hearing loss, diminished vision, mobility impairments, neurological impairments, etc. The city builds a lot of apartment buildings. Most do not have elevators and have limited units that are accessible for people with physical disabilities. Many older adults are unable to spend their later years in their own home and are forced into assisting living facilities or nursing homes due to the inaccessibility of their home. It is important to get feedback from older adults about what they need to feel safe, what amenities they want/need, the wrap around services they need, and incorporate them into intergenerational spaces. If elected, I would implement an advisory board of older adults
from different areas of the city. I would appoint a liaison to field concerns. I would do my best to make sure our community elders, especially those from historically marginalized communities understand new ordinances and require direct engagement with older residents on proposed zoning changes. I would also recommend protections to prevent older residents from being taken advantage of by predatory investors, contractors, etc. I would also recommend consistent workshops and learning sessions around planning and development.
Do you support requiring developers to build accessible, affordable housing? We are aware of the state-level limitations on local municipalities.
Yes
If elected, how would you use the City’s contracting process to incentivize the expansion of affordable and accessible housing for older adults and people who have disabilities?
I would recommend the following: partnering with local credit unions for financing support including low-interest loans and grants for purchasing and/or rehabilitating older properties, collaborating with local non-profits to rehabilitate/repurpose existing structures, purchasing abandoned properties and devalued land before predatory investors swoop in, donating additional city owned land to community land trusts.
Durham currently has at least 1 public school building that is not being used. Considering the examples of New Bethel Homes and the Veranda at Whitted senior housing communities, do you support renovating former schools into housing for older adults?
Yes
Because of factors like low salaries, lack of professional advancement, the growing aging
population and burnout – Durham has a shortage in people who are working in home health. One of the objectives in the City of Durham’s current strategic plan is to build a talented and competitive workforce. If elected, what will you do to support current home health workers?
The first step in supporting workers in all industries, but especially essential workers that provide healthcare for some of our most vulnerable residents, is to pay them a thriveable wage. I would support the unionization of home healthcare workers to negotiate fair wages, benefits, time-off, etc. In order to attract and retain dedicated, quality professionals we must ensure they are compensated properly. I would also reach out to area hospital systems, high schools, colleges, and universities and advocate for cross-training programs and exchanges that provide pathways for advancement for both students and home health workers interested in furthering their career in the medical field while offering training opportunities for students at area schools.
What is your vision for the City to support older adults so that they can age in-place safely
and with dignity? If elected, how will you support organizations that are currently
providing resources to older adults, including advocacy?
I believe that most people would prefer to age in place if they have an option. My vision includes more intergenerational where older adults and their families can live in close proximity to one another. We tend to build niche communities in isolation. There are spaces for adults without children, families, and older adults- all separate communities. We need spaces that bring all of these communities together. I envision our communities being walkable and safe with access to green space, recreation, quality medical care, healthy food, efficient public transit, accessible and accommodating for disabilities. I would advocate for safeguards to protect older adults from losing their home due to situations such as increases in property taxes, predatory buyers, imminent domain, etc. I strongly believe many of the changes we need will likely happen neighborhood by neighborhood. If elected, I would encourage folks to set up mutual aid networks in their neighborhoods where relationships are established and people look out for one another. If we all do a little, no one person has to do too much. It is often difficult for older adults to age in place because they do not have the support. They may not have children or family, or their family may not live close. Rebuilding and reinvesting in our communities and the people in them will help us all get the support we need. Our elders deserve to age at home, safely and with dignity.
The federal bill H.R. 1 (Big Beautiful Bill) will significantly reduce access to essential resources that people in Durham need including SNAP, Medicaid and affordable health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace (Obamacare). If elected, give 2-3 examples of how you will support Durham’s collective well-being given that there will be less access to essential needs like food and healthcare.
- I would advocate to pressure Duke to tap into its resources to help provide healthcare
services to those who may lose access. - I have relationships with many local organizations that provide fresh produce to folks. I
volunteer with Feed Durham and part of their work includes helping people grow their own
food and encouraging folks to grow extra food for others. I have also help set up a
community fridge in Bragtown. As an elected official, I would seek funding to scale these
operations that provide our neighbors with food. - I would recommend the formation of service corps to recruit volunteers with various skills
to volunteer their services to the community. I believe that we are heading for some dark
times and we will need each other to survive. It is imperative we all be ready to lend our
knowledge, skills, and resources. Our survival depends on one another and liberation is on the other side of chaos.
