By: Ms Jheri Worldwide
Staff Writer
Raleigh City Council member Jonathan Lambert-Melton is embarking on a new chapter in public service, announcing his candidacy for the Wake County Board of Commissioners. With three terms on Raleigh City Council under his belt, Lambert-Melton is ready to bring his comprehensive approach to pressing issues like affordable housing, transit, and public safety to a county-wide level, all while emphasizing greater collaboration between city and county governance.
Lambert-Melton's decision to run for County Commission stems from a familiar sense of purpose that initially drew him to city council in 2019. "I felt really called to serve and I felt like that there was a need and a void that I could help fill," he stated. After the 2024 council election, which added two at-large seats to the Wake County Commission, he felt the same pull, recognizing an opportunity to address county-level challenges with city-level experience.
One of his primary motivations for this transition is the potential for enhanced collaboration, particularly in human services. Lambert-Melton highlighted the critical need for cities and the county to work together on initiatives like assisting the unhoused population and developing alternative 911 response models involving mental health professionals and social workers. As cities and towns lack their own health departments and must rely on the county for essential services like EMT and transport, he believes his city government background, especially from Raleigh – the largest city in Wake County – would be invaluable. "A lot of the issues that affect Wake County are most acute in Raleigh," he noted, underscoring how his experience in the city could directly benefit the county.
Affordable housing remains a cornerstone of Lambert-Melton's platform. He acknowledged that while federal funding, such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds during the pandemic, allowed for significant strides – including purchasing hotels for workforce housing and securing the DMV site on New Bern Avenue for future affordable housing and community resources – sustained solutions require more than crisis-driven funding.
"I don't think it should take a global pandemic for the folks who have more resources to provide them to the folks that can do the most good," he asserted.
He emphasized the challenge of relying solely on property taxes and bond revenue at the city level, as raising taxes can inadvertently make housing less affordable for some. To combat this, he advocates for increased federal, state, and county resources to be directed to where they're most needed.
A key part of his strategy involves leveraging county-owned land. Inspired by Raleigh's successful efforts to convert unused city-owned parcels into affordable housing, Lambert-Melton envisions a similar, bolder approach at the county level. He cited a large county-owned parcel on Capital Boulevard, currently used for parking service vehicles, as a prime example of land that could be transformed to house people and provide essential services.
He also addressed the common resistance to new development, particularly concerns about density. He explained that making it easier to build diverse housing types, including townhomes, duplexes, and quads – often referred to as "Missing Middle Housing" – actually helps stabilize and reduce housing costs by increasing supply to meet demand. Lambert-Melton is a proponent of substantial investment in affordable housing. He noted that while Raleigh's 2020 affordable housing bond was $80 million, a 2022 Parks Bond for $275 million passed by a similar large margin. This suggests a strong voter appetite for more significant housing investments. "I am fine saying let's start at $200 million," he stated, demonstrating his commitment to setting ambitious goals.
The conversation also delved into the perennial challenge of transit in a rapidly growing region. Acknowledging past failures of light rail proposals, Lambert-Melton is focused on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) model, approved in the 2016 Wake County Transit Plan. Raleigh is set to begin construction on North Carolina's first BRT line from Downtown to New Bern Avenue, a project he believes will be "transformational."
He described how BRT, when done correctly, will mimic a train experience with articulated buses, elevated stations, real-time updates, off-board ticketing, and dedicated bus lanes. This system will offer signal priority at intersections, ensuring buses keep moving. Four BRT routes are planned to radiate from downtown Raleigh, connecting to areas like Garner and Cary.
Beyond BRT, Lambert-Melton sees potential in expanding and increasing the frequency of the existing NC By Train (Amtrak) service, which currently offers trains almost every two hours between Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. Increasing this to hourly or even 30-minute intervals would transform it into a highly reliable commuter rail. "If we could get more frequency on the current NC by Train... then it's really functioning like commuter rail. You don't have to necessarily plan your day around the train," he explained. Expansion into other parts of the state, like Winston-Salem and Asheville, would further enhance connectivity.
He also emphasized the importance of filling in missing sidewalk gaps and adding more bike lanes, promoting healthier and more sustainable transportation options. His vision is a comprehensive transit network that reduces car dependency, alleviates traffic, and fosters walkable communities with amenities like grocery stores and pharmacies along transit corridors.
Throughout his tenure on the city council, Lambert-Melton has prioritized transparency and public accessibility. He conducts quarterly office hours and publishes digestible summaries of council meetings to keep residents informed. He plans to continue these practices on the County Commission, aiming to "raise the profile of the county commission," which oversees the largest county in North Carolina and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S. He noted that while city council meetings often see public engagement, County Commission sessions typically do not, a trend he hopes to reverse by being a highly public-facing and accessible commissioner.
He also praised the crucial role of the faith-based community in providing emergency shelter during extreme weather conditions, noting that government often struggles to react quickly enough due to bureaucratic processes. He believes the county can and should be more adaptable in supporting these immediate community needs.
Lambert-Melton embraces growth, acknowledging that people are eager to move to the Raleigh area, bringing with them resources and investment. He cautions against the "we're full" mentality often seen in online groups, reminding residents that cities with no growth face significant challenges. Instead, he advocates for managing growth by investing in transit and housing to prevent displacement and maintain affordability for long-time residents.
"If we can get a handle on the growth challenges, we have limitless potential," he stated, offering an optimistic outlook on Wake County's future. His comprehensive approach, blending strategic development with robust community resources, promises a dynamic and inclusive path forward for the county.
It was truly a pleasure speaking with Jonathan Lambert-Melton and gaining such a clear and insightful perspective on his candidacy and the critical issues facing Wake County. His dedication to leveraging experience for tangible community benefit is genuinely inspiring, while his ability to break down complex government infrastructure is insightful. Looking forward to his continued impact on our area.
