Durham’s Progressive agenda, once seen as a beacon of hope for social and economic justice for the city, is now a significant contributor to these issues. Progressives proclaim ideals of equality and advancement, but their policies have only amplified hardship and perpetuated exclusion.

Housing costs are on the rise, small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, and the news is filled with articles of violence and crime. It seems safe to say that this is not what Durham residents signed up for as a result of their unwavering support of progressivism. They were promised equality, and they received a widening inequality gap.

Housing is a prime example of how hypocritical progressivism in Durham has become. Progressives market rampant gentrification as urban revitalization when the reality is starkly different. According to a 2023 Point-In-Time Count, 69% of African Americans are experiencing homelessness in Durham versus the 26% of white residents enduring the same struggle. Redlining has historically forced marginalized communities such as African Americans and Latinx individuals into underdeveloped and underfunded neighborhoods; progressivism has now forced them out of neighborhoods entirely. Durham’s equality warriors are the city’s greatest adversary.

The Progressive solution to the issue they created and now tout as transformation is to funnel more money into housing initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Investment Plan. Progressives fail to understand that throwing money at Durham’s problems will not fix what is often caused by the systems writing the checks and worsened by Progressive misjudgment. If Progressives want to address the housing problem, address the issues that have pushed marginalized communities into these underdeveloped neighborhoods. Historical redlining, lack of employment opportunities, educational inequalities and gentrification masked as transformation are a few. By addressing these issues and other socioeconomic factors, Progressives can ethically improve housing conditions without forcing neighborhood communities into homelessness, as the groups that live in these areas are not plagued by systemic factors that prevent them from being able to afford the costs of neighborhood improvement. Unfortunately, Progressives seem to lack the vision and depth to understand this grassroots approach.

Small businesses have also been affected by inadequate Progressive ventures in the name of development. As Durham becomes more attractive, more businesses move into Durham, and the demand for commercial spaces increases, causing landlords to raise rent, leading to a supply-demand imbalance. Chains and large corporations can afford these skyrocketing prices, but the small and minority-owned businesses that significantly contribute to Durham’s culturally rich environment and history cannot. It all goes back to the systemic barriers that restrict access to capital and support, particularly affecting businesses owned by marginalized groups. Progressives rally around ideals of inclusion and justice, but they refuse to address the issues at the heart of exclusion and injustice. Their policies support those who already start at the finish line while punishing those who struggle to even get to the starting line.

So what becomes of historically significant areas such as Black Wall Street as the result of Progressive ideals? Ironically, Black Wall Street represents the struggle it faces. African American financial success in the face of economic struggles. So, it seems possible that the sheer legacy of Black Wall Street may significantly contribute to its preservation in the face of progressivism. Nonetheless, this is an unnecessary and avoidable threat to culture, diversity, and legacy, showcasing yet another disappointing product of progressivism.

Further embracing Progressive politics, Durham residents welcomed the idea of alternative approaches to policing and public safety. In the wake of the tragically violent death of George Floyd, which further exposed the systemic racism that polices our police departments, it is understandable why people would turn to Progressive policies. They champion community-driven solutions, revoking power from those who continue to abuse it and seemingly support uncovering the root cause of what causes crime.

The reality is that these Progressive goals have not been materialized. Progressives achieved a partial defunding of the police through a $1 million budget cut approved by the city but have done nothing to make the community a safer place. According to a release from the Durham County Police Department, violent crimes, aggravated assaults, homicides, rapes, and shootings have all increased. Progressives have sold a dream that has devolved into a nightmare. Overall, the Progressive agenda is a failed social experiment that emboldens criminals at the expense of citizen safety.

Toxic progressivism has contributed greatly to some of Durham’s most pressing issues. Superficial solutions and counterproductive financial pursuits have led to exacerbation rather than resolution. It is time to cut ties.