Megan Patton, candidate for Raleigh City Council, District B, answers our questions
Raleigh voters will pick a new mayor and City Council members this November.
All eight council seats, including the mayor’s, are up for grabs, with all the incumbents except for current Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin seeking another two-year term.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 17, through Saturday, Nov. 2.
To help inform voters across the state, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Megan Patton
District/seat: Raleigh City Council, District B
Political party: Not stated in nonpartisan race
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 36
Campaign website: pattonforraleigh.com
Current occupation: Customer service associate
Education: BA of Education, UNC-Chapel Hill
Offices Held/Sought: Incumbent District B City Council member
Please list any notable government or civic involvement.
During my first term, I was able to: restore Citizens Advisory Councils (CACs), fund development of the Alternate Crisis Response Unit and improve pay for city workers and workers whose pay is regulated by the city, pass a clean transportation ordinance, secure funding for a master plan for a park in the district, add Wi-Fi in all fire stations and Initiate a Fire Master Plan to ensure adequate coverage and response times as our city grows.
Which city council district do you live in? B
What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it?
The top issues facing Raleigh remain affordable housing and climate action. Plain and simple: every decision we make on the City Council must ensure that Raleigh remains a place where everyone can thrive — no matter their income — now and for generations to come.
Climate change isn’t just a future threat, it’s happening right now. The choices we make today will directly shape the world our children inherit.
Raleigh’s Community Climate Action Plan sets an ambitious goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, but we need to move faster. In my first term, I was proud to support meaningful climate initiatives. On the Growth and Natural Resources Committee, we adopted principles from the Green Growth Toolbox, which bans invasive species and increases the use of native trees. We also launched a citizen tree-planning task force, and I backed legislation requiring EV-ready parking, limiting new drive-thrus, and expanding pedestrian infrastructure.
If re-elected, I will continue to champion innovative projects like “poo-powered buses” that convert wastewater into natural gas for public transit (no, they don’t smell!). I’ll also explore policies to combat urban heat islands and fight to speed up the Northern Bus Rapid Transit line. Climate action can’t wait, and neither can we.
What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh?
Housing is a human right and it’s a foundation of healthy communities. Raleigh is projected to grow to 600,000 people over the next decade, requiring housing expansion to meet the needs of new and existing residents across the income spectrum. I think about this work in three words: supply, subsidy and stabilization.
Throughout the past term, I’ve worked hard to have affordable units come through rezoning conditions and incentives in the city code. We’ve also funded millions of dollars worth of designated affordable projects from senior rental housing to ownership opportunities to housing for youth aging out of foster care.
We’ll see roughly 1,000 new affordable units for the New Bern corridor in the next five years, and I’m eager to get our new Direct Voucher program into the hands of our most vulnerable neighbors. Our next frontier is eviction prevention. We know that the most humane and cheapest way to end homelessness is to prevent it in the first place.
I remain committed to fighting for land acquisitions to build affordable housing, continued investment in homebuyer assistance, and evolutions of voucher programs that help folks successfully find and remain in rental units. We deserve a Raleigh where nobody is burdened by the cost of their housing, and I will continue to fight for the tools to help us get there.
Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affordable units from developers or partner with nonprofits?
We should absolutely do both! We need to be aggressive in requesting affordable units during rezonings, incentivizing them in by-right development and partnering with nonprofits to meet our housing goals. If we want more affordable units and we want them all across the city, private developers have a part to play in that. At the same time, nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity have a proven track record of building meaningful local relationships and reaching the most vulnerable folks in our community.
If we’re serious about making Raleigh affordable for everyone, we need to use every tool in the toolbox.
Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park?
The Red Had Amphitheater and Dix Park remain two of Raleigh’s greatest assets when it comes to generating income across our city — for small businesses and the hospitality industry alike — and bring local, national, and global acts that make our city a more fun place to live!
Regarding the proposed amphitheater at Dix Park, it’s important to clarify that, while it’s mentioned in the master plan, it’s not yet programmed, funded, or scheduled. From its proposal, this venue would serve a different purpose than the Red Hat Amphitheater, catering to events like theater in the park, summer movies, etc. Red Hat, on the other hand, would continue to primarily be for touring concerts and similar events.
Given our city’s growth and the participation we’ve seen in concerts at Red Hat, events in Dix Park, and city-wide festivals like Hopscotch, I think it’s safe to say that Raleigh could support two different venues — especially with two different purposes.
Would you describe Raleigh’s growth as too fast, too slow or just right?
I hear and understand the concerns of folks who feel that Raleigh is growing too fast. Rapid growth like we’re seeing across our city can lead to challenges like rising housing costs, increased traffic, and strain on our infrastructure if not managed properly.
Since being elected to City Council, I’ve focused on sustainable development. I continue to prioritize smart investment in infrastructure, affordable housing and public transportation to keep Raleigh livable (and accessible) for everyone as our city continues to expand.
On the other hand, Raleigh’s growth has also brought good jobs, exciting events, and widespread camaraderie. Our city regularly makes “Top 10 Best Places to Live in the US” lists and I’m proud to live in a place that so many people admire. Raleigh is great, and we should celebrate that!
At the end of the day, I’m committed to ensuring that growth benefits all residents while preserving our sense of community and vibrant, historic neighborhoods as we move forward.
Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed?
Preserving Raleigh’s beloved landmarks has become too difficult. Iconic places like Char-Grill and Seaboard Station are pillars of our city’s identity. Yet, without official historic designation, these landmarks remain vulnerable to redevelopment pressures.
We need to simplify the historic designation process and provide support to property owners seeking that status. By doing this, we can genuinely preserve the cultural treasures that make Raleigh special. We also have to recognize, though, that neighborhoods evolve. I support NCODs and the public process used to create them; while also acknowledging that the priorities of residents shift over time. One generation may care deeply about the pitch of roofs, while the next is more focused on setbacks or other aspects of a neighborhood’s character. I would love to see a process that re-engages residents on their NCODs on a regular schedule (say every 10 years) to ensure the attributes of the NCOD continue to reflect the desires of the neighborhood.
This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 10:07 AM with the headline "Megan Patton, candidate for Raleigh City Council, District B, answers our questions."