Tolulope O. Omokaiye
Name: Tolulope O. Omokaiye
Which office are you seeking? City Council District C
Campaign website: omokaiyeforoakcity.com
Social media: FB: Omokaiye for Oak City, IG: @omokaiye4oakcity
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.
I will seek to implement affordable housing across the city and not so focused on Southeast Raleigh/ District C. More mixed income housing across the city will help increase housing supply which will help with affordability. I would also look at the requirements for income-restricted / subsidized housing to see if we need to reevaluate the measurements we use to determine who qualifies especially with rising costs of living and inflation. Like encouraging the city utilize Neighborhood Median Income instead of Area Median Income to measure affordability which would measure the average income level of the neighborhood residents and identities outliers to determine affordability.
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?
I think one of the major issues that isn’t getting enough attention is the state of our youth. We are seeing more violent crime, school suspensions or decreased attendance among our youth. The need to invest more resources in the youth and young adults of all ages in our city. Statistically, high literacy rates mean lower incarceration rates; more mentoring program engagement increases graduation rates and workforce involvement while decreasing drug and gang involvement. There are so many brilliant young people in our city who just need the opportunity to be encouraged, supported, directed and protected for them to do amazing things. I know because I was one of them and it been my life’s work and honor to mentor youth. I have watched them evolve. Serving and supporting our youth can help turn our city around and create future leaders. Unfortunately, I don’t think enough attention is placed on them which is like not investing on our future.
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?
I believe that people will largely agree to disagree on decisions that they don’t necessarily like if they are considered enough to be educated on the issue and are make a part of the decision-making process. I would bring the concerns and opinions of my constituents to the council and do my best to make sure our interests are included in the outcome of our votes. I understand that to lead properly means that some people will not agree with your decisions, and they have a right to voice their feelings whether I agree in return. My goal is to make sure we are not causing further harm and marginalization to vulnerable communities or making decisions that will give us short term comfort or approval for without considering the longer-term impact.
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, I am a member of the working group for the former DMV location, I would work with the council and staff to identify city or state-owned property like the DMV site so we can have more control over the development. I would also put more resources into incentivizing home and property-owning residents to build density on their property. This would allow the residents also benefit from the growth in the city and add additional income for their household. I would also push for us to spread the residential development out to ease the strain on District C, increase supply and builds more equity in how we develop the city.
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?
As the former Chair of the Raleigh Transit Authority, I supported the BRT project but pushed back against the BRT on the New Bern Ave corridor as the initial implementation for many reasons. I felt and still do feel that New Bern Ave is being used as a guinea pig corridor to work out the kinks when launched to the other corridors. New Bern Ave and its surrounding communities in Southeast Raleigh houses our highest ridership which largely consist of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our city, it also has the more inexpensive properties due to lack of city investment. Implementing the BRT on New Bern Ave ensures and even assists gentrification where there wasn’t much focus on how to address the increases displacement, strain and high housing cost that was inevitably follow. One of my other concerns is the long-term impact on transit. If we displace our main ridership in favor of people who have moved to the city with their cars what will happen to our transit system in the long run?
Currently, GoRaleigh has a Bus Operator shortage, we have cut and suspended routes and are facing a multimillion-dollar deficit in the coming years once all the COVID era funds run out. How are we to sustain this project that we’ve invested hundreds of millions into in the face of what I’ve just explained? I was for Western being the first corridor with a goal of increased ridership or Southern because Capital Blvd needs the development, but New Bern is causing displacement and discontent among residents.
That being said, the ground has been broken on New Bern Ave being the first corridor and that is pretty much that on where it will be first. However, we do have an opportunity to be more mindful of how we roll it out from a housing and equitable development standpoint. Just because we’ve spent a long time making a bad decision doesn’t mean we should continue investing more time to “see it through”. We have the chance to reconsider and reimagine the implementation of the BRT in the New Bern Avenue corridor taking into consideration its current impact and potential long-term implications for the transit system, the corridor and the city.
What is your vision for how Raleigh’s built environment should evolve over the next 10 years?
I envision a city that have taken time to find and brand itself for who it wants to develop into and makes every decision one that move us in that direction. My vision for the future of Raleigh is a city that put equity and equality as integral elements to any form of growth for the city that includes prioritizing sustainability to develop in a greener way that considers stormwater runoff and environmentally sound practices. I would love to see more mixed income housing and paying a living wage to our city worker to they can live closer to where they work and play. Raleigh can be city that is inviting and has a unique culture.
How would you change the way the City's Office of Community Engagement operates?
I think there should be a Community Engagement Commission with the city like Transit and Planning. This gives a voice of direct feedback from the residents impacted by city decisions. This should not replace outward engagement like listening sessions, community committees, surveying etc. The Community Engagement Commission should be implemented in additional to current efforts.
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?
Yes, Naturally Occurring Affordability should have its own zoning or considered during rezonings to protect it. We could incentivize property owners to add density where NOA already exists and we need housing study the focuses on identify where NOA is, all the causes for homelessness and housing insecurity, resident well-being etc. post COVID, this would allow us to fully understand the issues and causes and make better informed decisions.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you or your campaign? (Optional)
I was raised in District C and graduated from Enloe High School. I care about this area because this community helped shape me into the person I’ve become today. I have spent my life helping youth and families in the Triangle. As the Chair of the Raleigh Transit Authority, I fought to support city workers to make sure their voices were heard and concerns considered. I worked to educate the community on the pros and cons for the development in District C. I am for fairness in growth and equitability in progress.