Robert Steele
Name: Robert Steele
Which office are you seeking? City Council At-Large District
Campaign website: www.rob4raleigh.com
The income of many households in Raleigh is too high to qualify for income-restricted/subsidized housing, yet these residents are cost-burdened by climbing prices and rents across market-rate housing. Explain at least 2 policies you will seek to implement to address the rising costs of market-rate housing in Raleigh.
A standard set of rules regarding how much of any new development proposal must be affordable housing, or City staff will recommend denial of the request, and City Council will vote accordingly.
Changes to the text change rules based on feedback from individual neighborhoods, so that it isn't a blanket set of rules for places that don't want the changes, or are even hurt by them.
What is an issue in Raleigh that deserves critical attention, but isn't talked about much in the media or the community because it's not sensational or obviously apparent?
Underfunding of critical city workers, such as fire fighters, sanitation workers, police, and others.
How will you balance the interests of individuals with those of the general public? Especially when voting on an issue that will negatively impact a small, but vocal group of residents, but which offers significant benefits to the general public?
Generally speaking the interests of the majority will win out, but we should be listening to the minority groups, as well. It is possible to exempt certain groups/locations from some policies and rules, if it will mean benefits for all.
Should Council allow more Missing Middle housing (duplex, triplex, townhomes and small apartment buildings) to be built in the City? If yes, how would you accomplish this? If not, why not?
Yes, but I believe that neighborhoods, through their CACs, have a right to hear the proposal for the builds, and to vote on them, as they did before the City defunded them.
Should the City continue investing in Bus Rapid Transit? If so, what additional investments and/or land use regulatory changes should the City make to support the successful implementation of the Western and Southern corridors? If no, why?
Yes, they should, but they should do so with as little regulatory changes as possible. Displacing people from their homes for the purpose of increasing density isn't always the right answer.
What is your vision for how Raleigh’s built environment should evolve over the next 10 years?
Carefully. Any new build comes with costs, almost all of which are paid by the residents of the City. I don't mean money, but things like increased commute times. If we aren't managing the growth of our infrastructure to support the rest of the growth, we are failing our residents.
How would you change the way the City's Office of Community Engagement operates?
Their number one focus should be in supporting CACs. That would be the biggest change I would implement.
Should the City preserve existing moderately priced housing (Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing) to help slow the rate of resident displacement? If yes, please provide 2-3 specific policies that you would ask your fellow Councilors to support. If no, what other policies do you support to address resident displacement?
1. Stop upzoning if it doesn't include a net gain to affordable housing.
2. A standard set of rules regarding how much of any new development proposal must be affordable housing, or City staff will recommend denial of the request, and City Council will vote accordingly.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you or your campaign? (Optional)
I committed from day one to keep my campaign funded purely by people. I will not accept money from developers and their special interests. As such, I will be outspent, but my integrity will remain intact, and that's worth more to me. I hope it is to you as well.