Full name: Terry Bernard McCann
Party affiliation: Republican
Campaign website: https://www.mccannfordurhamcitycouncil.com/
1) In 300 words or less, please give our readers your elevator pitch: Why are you running? Why should voters entrust you with this position? What prior experience will make you an effective member of the Durham City Council?
Our vulnerable communities have seen violent crime increase while the Defund the Police movement was the calling card of the Durham City Council. This led to an exodus of police officers leaving our city creating the current deficit in law enforcement protection. Urban sprawl into the rural areas of the Bull City has destroyed the drinking water and transformed many parts of it into the “tomato soup” that exist today. Seniors that have worked hard to purchase and pay off the mortgages fear being subject to not being able to pay the upcoming higher property taxes that will be levied. I am running because the Bull City is at a crossroads where either she will rise and reach her dreams or continue to perpetuate hopelessness to some and fostered by policy to some. The legacy leadership in Durham that says that rally for the marginalized is instead harming them while allowing outside interests to build recklessly. This must stop. I want to help Durham and her citizens fulfill its potential by applying some common sense solutions.
2) What would your priorities be as a member of the city council? Please identify three of the most pressing issues Durham currently faces and how you believe the city should address them.
1) Strengthen the reputation of the Durham Police Department by refuting the “30 by 30” City of Durham mandate and have the DPD hire the best individuals – male or female. Require state of the art training and best practices to equip of men and women in blue so that they can be held accountable while serving and protecting the citizens of Durham.
2) Eliminate the Guaranteed Income program and replace it with a tuition reimbursement program – Instead of “giving” citizens $700 per month to use as they want, I propose offering a partial tuition reimbursement program from Durham Tech. There are vocational program that are 6, 12, and 18 months that students can get diploma or certifications in HVAC, plumbing and electrical, etc. These trades and more are needed in this community and will provide upper financial mobility to our justice-involved and lower-income citizens.
3) The property taxes rates that went into effect this year need to lowered so that the increase is more linear in growth versus the exponential model that many will face in August. Additionally, to make housing more affordable, I would like to introduce a lower rate on commercial rental properties. Doing so will decrease the rents that renters can charge. Getting the lower rate on property taxes would be contingent on a) making sure the property is up to code and b) that the current rents are lowered. As rents drop, the goal is that this creates competition in Durham as more landlords would have to make sure their properties are in code while decreasing rents and potentially expanding and acquiring more properties. It would also be an incentive for newer construction of rental properties. I would like the rate to be in place for at least 5 years or so as long as the renter is in compliance.
3) What’s the best or most important thing the Durham City Council has done in the past year? Additionally, name a decision you believe the city should have handled differently. Please explain your answers.
I cannot think of positive thing that the Durham City Council has done in the past year. I have not liked the way that they have developed SE Durham without making sure that adequate infrastructure is in place first. Recklessly allowing out of state builders to build and leave our water systems in peril is terrible. The blasting that is done causing harm to homeowners there is also terrible.
4) President Trump is working to ramp up deportations and curtail visas. At the same time, the state legislature has passed laws requiring cooperation with ICE. What do you think Durham officials can or should do to ensure safe, welcoming communities for immigrants in light of these policies?
Federal law supersedes state and local laws – PERIOD. When immigration laws are not enforced over time we unfortunately face the crisis we are at now. Law must be enforced. I am all for legal immigration but illegal immigration must be enforced. Durham officials, as all officials nationwide, should stand with federal law. With the progressive ideology systemic in Durham, the rhetoric often is ramped up to increase fear. Immigrants here legally have nothing to fear as they abided the law. Those that are not here legally but have not committed crimes should be encouraged to follow the Administration’s directives but should not fear. The Administration is mainly targeted illegals that are criminals here in the US but also from their native land. I do regret those that have gotten caught in the middle and had not committed crimes but were in the midst of a raid in pursuit of one that was. As the “rare” Republican in the race, as stated by the IndyWeek on July 18, I would hope that my words here are not twisted or slanted.
5) Federal funding cuts this year have hit the Triangle particularly hard, from canceled grants to layoffs, and local government officials are having to make difficult decisions about what to fund and how. What are your ideas for how the city can prioritize competing funding needs, close funding gaps, and balance the financial burden on residents?
There is a lot of waste and pork in most budgets. This is not a phenomenon of this year. it has always been the case. Departments need to cut the fat and see were duplicity between departments can be streamlined. Organizations that are not productive need to either be eliminated or not allowed additional funding.
6) As climate change leads to more intense rainfall, communities are at greater risk of inland flooding, such as the historic floods in parts of the Triangle caused by Tropical Storm Chantal in July. How would you like Durham to address climate resilience, particularly flooding?
Stormwater drains need to be cleaned out and also they need to be closed off to prevent litter and other debris from entering. The water basins throughout Durham and even upstream and downstream need to cleaned, removing debris from there. Areas that have in the past seen flooding problems need to be accessed first and then remedied. Capital Improvement Funds should be used FIRST to repair these areas more than adding sidewalks and fixing parks. People’s residences and business, at times, are in jeopardy of flood damage from a rain shower. I am concerned with the upcoming hurricane season (August – October) and even more torrential downfalls from larger tropical systems.
7) Describe what sustainable growth and development mean to you. Additionally, what is another municipality you believe has made smart decisions related to growth and development that could be similarly implemented in Durham?
Communities must be planned not just for today but also for tomorrow. Sustainable growth for me would be growing within Durham instead of going to the rural and suburban areas first. Quality infrastructure in these rural areas must be built up first as a buffer to future growth and current needs. Vacant available commercial lands with the city of Durham need to be remodeled to create walkable communities where there is an core residential community flanked or surrounded by already present amenities like grocery stores, resturants and services. There are various places within Durham with vacant properties where this could be achieved. When visiting our child in the Hyde Park community of Chicago this summer, my wife and I were impressed with how walkable it was. We can do even better, in my opinion, in Durham – over time.
8) Downtown Durham continues to see growth, with large commercial developments and hundreds of new housing units, yet businesses say they’re still suffering. How would you reinvigorate this major business district?
People do not go downtown because of parking. Yes there are parking decks & parking decks provide income to the bottom line. However, I think the the downtown district needs scattered free parking areas. That will bring more people there. Having shuttle buses that go from different parking area would also be great much like the shuttles at an amusement park that take you from one part of the park to another. Adding increased lighting is needed, too, to make people feel more safe. On my website I mention the development on an app that all businesses in Durham could be a part of that, based on the user’s location, will show what is around based on service, etc. Even visitors to Durham would be aware of hidden gems that Durham has to offer and this would encourage growth in our small businesses that often have limited advertising budgets. THIS WILL BE GREAT FOR EVERYONE.
9) The City of Durham is realigning its homelessness services. What can or should the city be doing to support this growing population, especially in light of recent changes to state law governing encampments and financial pressures on service providers?
Durham has a great partner here in Durham – The Durham Rescue Mission. I am sure that there are others. I would love for funds to annually be given to great vetted organizations like this so that they can advance their missions while also improving lives. However, organizations like this are afraid to get involved with government because there are strings attached. I e-mailed the VP of Outreach at the Durham Rescue Mission before I filed for office and that was his concern.
10) According to the Triangle Community Foundation, there’s a mismatch between the price point of housing units available in Durham and what Durham renters can afford, amounting to a nearly 25,000-unit deficit for low-income renters. What can the city do to ensure Durham housing is affordable for current and future residents?
Builders must build more pre-fabricated homes that cost about 1/3 the cost over stick built homes. They can be built quicker and leave less of a ecological imprint. Accessory dwellings units should be allowed more often. Additionally, too many of the new apartment complexes are luxury style instead of smaller and less luxurious. Square footages of homes can be lower and spread throughout the city and not congregated in one area.
11) For some residents, gun violence remains a persistent issue even though shootings and other violent crimes are currently down from last year. How would you rate the progress the city has made and what are your ideas for improving public safety?
#1 – The DPD needs to actively recruit the best men and women in blue to fill the almost 100 vacant positions. #2 – High crimes areas need to be patrolled more (it’s not profiling). #3 Restore ShotSpotter and use license plate readers as tools to help law enforcement #4 – Parents must be held accountable for minor gun crimes with a gun they own. #5 Illegal gang must be targeted and dealt with. #6 – We need a stronger District Attorney that will be tough on crime.
The City is still under the guise of Defund the Police while expanding the HEART program instead. The two can work in tandem but preference must be given to the DPD.
12) If there are other issues you want to discuss, please do so here.
• Every department within the City of Durham and Durham Public Schools needs to be audited internally and externally by our State Auditor.
• End the “free” Go-Durham bus service that the City of Durham implemented during the pandemic by carelessly using Covid funds initially to fund but not using city funds to continue it.
• Transform the old Durham Police Department headquarters and old Northern Senior High School into residential communities. The same can be done with Durham School of the Arts once it is vacated.
• End the “free” Go-Durham bus service that the City of Durham implemented during the pandemic by carelessly using Covid funds initially to fund but not using city funds to continue it.
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