Joshua Bradley is running for Raleigh City Council At-Large in 2024 because he believes that working class people should have a seat at the table. He believes in the power of a city government that is focused on meeting the needs of all of its residents, particularly working people who deserve access to well paying jobs, affordable housing, and a voice in their city government. Join our campaign as we strive for a Raleigh for all, one that is community driven and committed to its workers!Early Voting: October 17th - November 2nd
Election Day: November 5th
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Joshua Bradley grew up in Brevard, NC and moved to Raleigh in 1992. He has worked in the hospitality industry for over twenty years. Joshua has been happily married to his wife, Caren, for 22 years. He is a proud cat dad to Karl, Lisa, and Wendy.Joshua was an activist with Occupy Raleigh, formed to resist the burden of excessive debt, the spread of widening financial inequality, and the planned indifference of government to public well-being. Joshua served on the Political Education Working Group of the Triangle People’s Assembly, investigating how these problems might be addressed from the perspective of workers. He is a current co-chair of the Northern Piedmont Local and a member of the Ecosocialist working group of the Socialist Party-USA, as well as a member of the NC Green Party.
The Campaign Collective
We believe that every member of our collective is an essential part of our campaign. Our platform, campaign goals, and outreach are all decided on collectively. If you are interested in learning more and potentially becoming a member of our campaign collective, check out our Get Involved page.
Paid for by Bradley for Raleigh Workers
Our platform and campaign is built on five fundamental policy goals and commitments that we will make to the people of Raleigh:
To view each of the five points in detail, visit our comprehensive platform.
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Housing Justice
Housing is a human right. This is an international principle, agreed upon by the US in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights treaty of 1966. Fifty-five years later, this right is not recognized in much of the US, and remains unfulfilled in Raleigh, NC.Like much of the nation, an increasing number of Raleigh workers are employed in service jobs that pay minimum wage or slightly higher. If housing is to be affordable, it must be affordable by people who make minimum income. For people making $7.25/hour, this would be $377.00/month, including utilities. We know from community activists in public housing that Section 8 vouchers and previous funding has been woefully inadequate to cover the housing needs of workers. We follow the guidance of housing justice advocates and recognize the work they have done to educate residents, amplify impacted communities’ voices, and create recommendations for policies that are equitable.Knowing this, our campaign is committed to going beyond blanket “missing middle” housing policies that fail to address residents’ need for equitable, environmentally conscious, accessible, dense, and low-income housing. The City of Raleigh is prepared for extreme growth in population in the next several decades, and our housing policies must reflect the housing demand while also protecting low-income and working class residents and protecting the naturally occurring affordable housing that exists here. We do not believe in an “either” “or” approach to housing, and instead commit to taking a multifaceted approach to the housing crisis.
To view Josh's plan to address the housing crisis, visit our comprehensive platform.
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Racial Justice and Equity
Racial injustice and economic inequality are real. Gentrification, economic conditions, and policing practices have disproportionately impacted Black, brown and Indigenous communities. Housing, transportation, public health, access to food, and economic opportunity continue to be less accessible to communities of color, and the lack of these services continues generational harm and wealth inequality that has yet to be addressed.We want to acknowledge the work of local anti-racist activists who have put their safety at risk to fight against policies that continue to discriminate against people of color. Many of you have reached out to us directly about your lived experiences, and we want to honor the work that you do.It is time for the City of Raleigh to address the historical inequities it has sustained. At a time when we are prepared for exceptional growth and change, we must first enact policies that create a safe and sustainable infrastructure and environment for all of its residents, with a focus on Black, brown, and Indigenous communities that have historically been ignored. We believe a city that invests in communities of color creates an environment that is beneficial to all of its residents, and our policies are written with equity and justice at the core of our vision for Raleigh.
To view Josh's plan to foster racial justice and equity, visit our comprehensive platform.
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Worker's Rights
We are absolutely committed to the idea that the power of the city is rooted in the people who make it run: the workers. Without sanitation workers, retail workers, teachers, bus drivers, and so on, this city would not function. The working and living conditions of our workers should reflect their incredible contributions to the city of Raleigh, and we believe our policies should improve these conditions in any way possible. We want to acknowledge the powerful organizing and bargaining efforts of AFL-CIO and UE-150 as they have been instrumental in gaining concessions to ensure worker safety and better working conditions.We believe in the power of labor unions, and we want to acknowledge the work that union members have invested in writing demands and organizing to improve their conditions. For this reason, we feel that the City of Raleigh should implement policies that improve our relationship with workers and we should be held accountable to their demands to ensure that they are treated fairly.
To view Josh's plan to build worker power, visit our comprehensive platform.
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Environmental Justice
Man-made global climate change is real, and no longer a topic of reasonable debate. In the face of global warming, history shows that its impacts will fall disproportionately on the working class and the poor. The federal and state governments have relegated response to climate change to preparedness planning instead of mitigation. Our campaign believes that Raleigh, along with other municipalities, should lead in mitigation of the city’s impact on carbon and greenhouse gas production, and on the reduction of harm to already marginalized communities.This means that the city must prioritize environmental impacts in all decision making. While environmentally responsible development moving forward requires that city councilors account for environmental impacts before a development is built, it also necessitates that after a development has been built irresponsibly, that the city is willing to act to address the issue and prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of its residents. Our campaign is committed not only to addressing the impacts of climate change that are to come, but also to repairing environmental damage and destruction that has taken place in the city up until this point.Our city government must be held responsible to the demands of climate activists who understand the serious impacts our communities will face if we do not act now. Our solutions should be led and informed by the knowledge and experience of organizers, activists, and scientists, as they are best educated on community needs and the steps that must be taken to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
To view Josh's plan to combat the climate crisis, visit our comprehensive platform.
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Non-Discrimination & Community Inclusion
Discrimination among people due to race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and religious preference has not been eliminated. The City of Raleigh cannot be a partner, even by omission, in contributing to the continuation of bias and bigotry.This is of the utmost importance following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which previously protected the right of a person to receive an abortion. We fully believe that bodily autonomy is a must, and for so long as Roe is not codified and the right to receive an abortion is not protected, we must do all that we can at the municipal level to protect every resident’s right to healthcare. We also recognize the intersection between abortion rights, reproductive justice, and the bodily autonomy struggles of LGBTQIA+ residents. It is the responsibility of the city to ensure the safety of all of its residents, and non-discrimination policies are a must.We want to acknowledge and honor the work of clinic escorts, reproductive justice activists, LGBTQIA+ community members, and all of those who believe in bodily autonomy and have fought to ensure equitable access to healthcare.Furthermore, the residents of Raleigh have rightfully been pushing for greater community involvement in decisions made in municipal government. Since Citizens Advisory Councils were disbanded in 2020, there has not yet been adequate implementation of a community engagement process that involves people throughout Raleigh. Our campaign holds that not only should the city work against discrimination in all circumstances, it should have a vested interest in increasing community involvement in the local government process.
To view Josh's plan to foster community inclusion and combat discrimination, visit our comprehensive platform.
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We believe that grassroots campaigns are powered by the people. Do you have a special skill that you want to share with us? Do you need a way to fill some free time? We want to work with you! All skill levels are welcome, and we will provide training for any new volunteers.We are looking for the following volunteer roles in particular:
Canvassers
Phone Bankers
Poll Greeters
Hosts for Meet & Greets
If you want to support our campaign by volunteering, send us a contact form here:
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We know that for many people, donating to campaigns is not always feasible. Still, we believe in the power of grassroots campaigns and believe that any amount of effort makes a big impact. Can you pitch in an hour's wage or volunteer with our campaign for a similar amount of time?
Donor Information Requirements:
State law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the full name, mailing address, job title or profession, and employer's name or employer's specified field of business activity of individuals whose contributions exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) in an election cycle.This information is included in our financial reports, which is public record.
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We are currently endorsed by the following groups:
We are currently applying for endorsements and are excited to share them with you! If you are a member of an organization or group that is accepting applications for endorsement, please reach out to us via email, phone, or our social media:
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We believe that working as a collective strengthens our campaign. Are you interested in volunteering? Do you want to schedule a meeting with our campaign? Have some policy ideas? Submit a contact form below and a member of our collective will get in touch with you:
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Campaign Statement After the Failure of Raleigh to Pass a Ceasefire Resolution“The Raleigh City Council failed to pass a resolution to call for a ceasefire in Gaza this evening.
We are disappointed that Mayor Baldwin and Councilmembers Melton, Forte, and Branch have
stood on the side of oppression and genocide, here and abroad. They claim that their priorities
lie in local issues, but these four have also been derelict in their responsibilities to the people in
Raleigh. Doing nothing in a time of grave injustice and unspeakable violence is a silent
endorsement of the actions of the oppressor.
We would like to thank Councilors Black, Jones, Patton, and Harrison for their support of a
resolution.
In this time of mass displacement and inconceivable brutality, from gentrification to genocide, all
of our struggles are connected. We will always stand on the side of workers, the poor, and
oppressed, regardless of political expediency. No matter the cost, we must stand on the side of
the people even if that puts us at odds with the political establishment.”
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