July 2015

Mapping the New Work on the Bolin Creek Greenway

Improvements and extensions to Bolin Creek Greenway have been in the works for years, and as Phase III of the project gets underway, the Town of Chapel Hill has released an interactive story map that will allow folks to track the project's progress. 

I've embedded the map below, and you can check out a larger version of it on the town's website.

I'm Running for Chapel Hill Town Council

Yesterday was a memorable day.  My wife Linda and I went to Hillsborough and I formally filed for the Chapel Hill Town Council. I’m in the race!

I am truly excited about the campaign ahead.  I intend to use it as an opportunity to meet and speak with as many Chapel Hill residents as I can. I want to learn firsthand what my fellow Chapel Hillians’ visions for our Town are. What they see as the opportunities we can take advantage of and what they see as the challenges that we need to address.  And what they expect from those who serve them on the Council.

I am also looking forward to the various public forums -- including OP's -- at which I and the other candidates can share our views for our Town’s future and have full and frank discussions about why each of us should have voters support.

Please go to my web site (www.parker4ch.com) and share your thoughts with me.  Let me know what’s on your mind. Thank you.

2016 Orange County Bond Referendum - For Schools Only?

This week's Indy Week features this article, documenting how affordable housing, parks, and senior services have so far been left out of the proposed 2016 Orange County bond referendum. 

When Orange County commissioners approved plans this year for a $125 million school bond vote in 2016, it passed with little public input, scant public outreach and one absent county commissioner. Now some county residents are calling for commissioners to reconsider their priorities, particularly their decision to exclude public-housing funding from the deal.

At this point, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, in a 4 to 2 votes, voted to only include funds for schools that will go before the voters in 2016.

Hillsborough's "Confederate Memorial"

Next Monday, the words "Confederate Memorial" on the façade of the Orange County Historical Museum may move one step closer to being removed.

The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners next meets at 7 p.m. July 13 in the Whitted Human Services Center.

The agenda is available now on the town website and includes various items, including a discussion and possible action on the “Confederate Memorial” lettering on the exterior of the building located at 201 N. Churton St.

It seems likely that the, should the town decide to act on town manager Eric Peterson's recommended, a Certificate of Appropriateness may first need to be obtained from the Historic District Commission.

For background, see these articles from last month:

What We're Reading: July 10

Happy Friday! Here are a few articles from the OP Editors that we found interesting this week:

Share Your Bike/Ped Concerns on Chapel Hill's New WikiMap

In case you haven't seen it yet, Chapel Hill has launched a new mapping tool to report bike and pedestrian issues across town. So far, there are plenty of issues that users have already reported, including unsafe biking conditions on Estes Dr Ext and MLK Blvd, inadequate pedestrian crossing lights on East Franklin St, and a laundry list of concerns around UNC's campus.

I'm glad to see the town proactively gathering this information, especially with the 2015 bond referendum including $16.2 million for streets and sidewalks, including bicycle and pedestrian safety. I hope the data they collect here will directly inform the priorities that can be funded if the bond passes.

Have you used this tool yet? What are your biggest bike/ped concerns around town, and what would you like to see done about them?

Elections 2015

Elections will be held on November 3, 2015, for Carrboro Board of Aldermen, Chapel Hill Town Council, Hillsborough Town Board, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education.

Candidates

Jim Ward files for reelection to Town Council

I was at the Board of Election to file my mid term report. (I decided to forgive the last $800 of my personal loan to my 2013 campaign since I have decided not to run this year for Town Council.) I said hi to Jim Ward who was also at the Board of Election completing his paper work for his run for reelection for Chapel Hill Town Council.

What We're Reading: July 17

Happy Friday! We hope to see you tonight at 5:30pm at DSI Comedy for our Candidate Coming Out Party. Before you join us then, here are some things we found interesting on the web this week:

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