WCDP Election Central – Candidate Information

Sana Siddiqui
City of Raleigh City Council At-Large

Candidate Statement:

I've lived in Raleigh for 26 years, and seen how much the city has grown. That growth has brought opportunity, but it has also made it harder for everyday people, small business owners, and even city staff to afford to live here. I'm running for City Council because I want Raleigh to grow responsibly, with affordability at the center and infrastructure and environmental impacts taken seriously.

I'm a small business owner, an NC State alum, and I have experience in both large institutions and grassroots community spaces. I've held leadership roles in global organizations, built a small business, sold at local markets, and served on city advisory boards, including the Human Relations Commission, Environmental Advisory Board, and Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board. I also host a free community event series, First Friday Market and Movie Night at Moore Square, in partnership with the City, which brings thousands of families together and supports local vendors.

Through my work, I've seen how city decisions affect daily life and how disconnected many residents feel from the process. I want to bring more people into that process and make city government more accessible.

Direct Quote:

Raleigh is growing, and that growth should work for everyone. Housing should be affordable across the city, small businesses should be able to stay and grow, and every community should have a real voice in the decisions that shape their neighborhoods.

Issues:

Affordability and Responsible Growth

Raleigh is growing fast, and that growth has outpaced residents' incomes, city staffing, and available resources, making it harder to keep up with infrastructure, transportation, and essential services. We need more housing in the right locations, with affordable options and investment in transit, roads, and stormwater so growth is coordinated and sustainable while preserving naturally occurring affordable housing. The city has already approved significant housing that has not been built, we should remove permitting and infrastructure barriers, so those projects can move forward.

Supporting Small Businesses

Small businesses face rising costs and complex city processes that delay openings and expansions. We need clearer permitting timelines and faster approvals for common, low-risk permits, along with a review of current processes to identify bottlenecks. Existing grant programs should be better communicated and easier to access. We should also explore tools that help small businesses stay in their storefronts as operating costs increase and stabilize our commercial corridors.

Community Engagement and Access

Many residents do not know how city decisions are made or how to get involved. We should use CACs as a consistent platform to connect with trusted points of contact in different communities, including faith-based groups, immigrant communities, advocacy organizations, and business networks. Multilingual outreach and clearer communication about city programs will help residents and small businesses access what already exists. Engagement also needs to happen early so more voices shape decisions.

Affordability and Responsible Growth

Raleigh is growing fast, and that growth has outpaced residents' incomes, city staffing, and available resources, making it harder to keep up with infrastructure, transportation, and essential services. We need more housing in the right locations, with affordable options and investment in transit, roads, and stormwater so growth is coordinated and sustainable while preserving naturally occurring affordable housing. The city has already approved significant housing that has not been built, we should remove permitting and infrastructure barriers, so those projects can move forward.

Supporting Small Businesses

Small businesses face rising costs and complex city processes that delay openings and expansions. We need clearer permitting timelines and faster approvals for common, low-risk permits, along with a review of current processes to identify bottlenecks. Existing grant programs should be better communicated and easier to access. We should also explore tools that help small businesses stay in their storefronts as operating costs increase and stabilize our commercial corridors.

Community Engagement and Access

Many residents do not know how city decisions are made or how to get involved. We should use CACs as a consistent platform to connect with trusted points of contact in different communities, including faith-based groups, immigrant communities, advocacy organizations, and business networks. Multilingual outreach and clearer communication about city programs will help residents and small businesses access what already exists. Engagement also needs to happen early so more voices shape decisions.

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