“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.
Chapel Hill Has Voted To Go Forward; Let’s Not Stop Now
A perspective from Tai Huynh
(editor’s note: Tai Huynh is a sitting member of the Chapel Hill Town council who is not seeing reelection in 2023)
In 2021, Chapel Hill elected three women who won by very substantial margins.. They all came within 70 votes of each other. Adam Searing came in fourth, trailing by 1004 votes.
All three women are pro: mixed-use developments that balance green space and economic development, affordable housing that makes Chapel Hill more inclusive, supporting local small businesses, and diversifying our tax base while protecting our natural environment.
Now, I know what it’s like to be fourth place in an election. But the point is: the 2021 election showed us that Chapel Hill was ready for forward-thinking policies that would keep the Town’s character while moving it into 21st century economics. Our upcoming election isn’t happening in a vacuum.
We’ve made meaningful and important progress since Camille, Paris, and Karen swept the election two years ago.
We’ve approved more affordable housing units as a council than all the other previous councils combined. We’ve developed the Complete Communities strategy–thanks to Jess’ push to make our processes deliver the development we want, not what developers want to build, while also making theses processes stronger and more transparent. We’ve adopted a comprehensive affordable housing strategy, and have diversified our tax base through meaningful job-creating commercial developments.
We’ve been able to collaboratively solve contentious issues in our Town. For example, we’re building a world-class park AND affordable housing on the Legion Rd property.
We, like Chapel Hill asked in 2021, found a path forward that keeps small businesses going while making room for 21st century, innovative commercial uses in our town. That progress is now at a crucial juncture.
The decisions made by the new Council will shape our Town for decades to come. Will we continue moving toward a more just, vibrant, and inclusive Town or will we recede into an exclusive, gated community for the wealthy and privileged?
I’ve served with both candidates for Mayor. Jess has been a champion for transparency, thoughtful development, and preservation where it’s warranted. Adam has been unable and unwilling to collaborate, and unable to bring productive outcomes for our Town.
Chapel Hill, y’all voted in 2021, and showed overwhelming support of the path we’re on. Y’all voted for the growth our town wants and complete communities that balance housing, small businesses, environmental sustainability, and green space. To continue that progress, Jess is clearly the path forward.
Vote for Jess Anderson to continue the work you asked us to do starting with my election in 2019.
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
