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14 <br /> • Prioritize state level advocacy to get support for state bond —work with other commissioners, etc. <br /> 7. Do you support the 1909 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools special district tax? How should it <br /> be used? <br /> Per pupil spending in NC is lower than the national average and does not meet the very real needs of <br /> students across the state and in our district schools. Every funding source is critical to students and I <br /> would support continuing to leverage this funding source to meet local school needs. <br /> 8. What is your vision for how Orange County should grow economically? <br /> • The way Americans work is changing so we must focus on creating infrastructure that enables <br /> workers to participate in the changing economy and which supports potential employers seeking <br /> locations in which to operate. This includes investment in broadband, clearly defined land use <br /> policies and development criteria. <br /> • Identify how the county can support local businesses that hire local residents including jobs that <br /> do not require a college degree <br /> • Increase collaboration with neighboring communities (local counties, municipalities, etc.) <br /> 8. One of the unfortunate outcomes of the pandemic is that the wealth gap has grown even <br /> greater. We anticipate what economists call a K-shaped recovery, in which pre-existing <br /> inequities are exacerbated. This disparity largely falls along lines of race. How can county <br /> commissioners ensure that prosperity in the coming years is more equitably shared? <br /> • Solicit input from community members of color on their needs and potential solutions to issues <br /> • Invest to enable education opportunities,jobs, and housing, with specific focus on community <br /> members who historically have been denied access to resources <br /> • Support the health of women led and black owned and other businesses of color- how do we <br /> use current resources like SBA business centers and current county resources to support and to <br /> grow those businesses <br /> 10. What steps do you think the Board of Commissioners could take to address the chronic lack <br /> of affordable housing in the county? <br /> • Deepen collaboration with neighboring communities (local counties, municipalities, etc.) and other <br /> stakeholders <br /> o Developers <br /> o Non-profits <br /> o Other potential funders (lenders, etc.) <br /> • Create accountability processes and metrics to assess progress and make necessary <br /> interventions. Set clear goals and success measures <br /> 11. What should the county government be doing to address the climate crisis? <br /> • Create specific plans and prioritize actions <br /> • Educate community about the urgency and actions individuals can take as well as systems— <br /> (Establish a public information plan that would encompass businesses, nonprofits, the <br /> municipalities, and schools) <br /> • Create incentives to for residents and businesses to take action <br /> • Invest in mitigation <br /> • Does the county have a sustainability coordinator—learn best practices from other communities <br /> we can implement <br /> • Incentivize and create system of accountability <br /> 12. Orange County is in the process of revising its long-term transit plan in the aftermath of the <br /> failure of the Durham-Orange light rail project. What do you believe a new plan should <br /> emphasize?What potential initiatives would you like to support? <br /> 3. Rani Dasi <br />