February 2004
It doesn't inspire much confidence for me to see Orange County government holding yet another forum about our affordable housing problem. In addition to forums like this, a "summit" a few years ago, and a lengthy report from a well-qualified task force you'd think they'd be up to doing something about affordable housing by now.
In my experience, the County's not even particularly good at the one thing they do, which is disperse the voter-approved bond funds to support the building and acquisition of affordable housing.
Big thanks to Linda Convissor who passed on this information from Victoria Hackler who passed this on from the Town of Chapel Hill:
FYI- The town web site has been down a week now because our vendor has been having major technical problems. The agenda information is still accessible. Direct citizens, council members and anyone who inquires to our internal site http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/agendas2004.htm for agenda information. Feel free to pass this address along until the site is back up. The vendor told me that they hoped to get it back up today but no guarantee.
I've been to it before, it's a very energizing experience! Check it out:
2004 SURGE Conference:
"It takes a lot of little people to make a BIG DIFFERENCE"
on February 6-8th at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill!!
We now have a list of the confirmed speakers and workshop leaders on our website at www.surgenetwork.org .
These times call for unprecedented cooperation from all organizations dedicated to justice and peace! Join over 100 student activists already registered for this February weekend hosted by SURGE, Students United for a Responsible Global Environment, and scores of other groups, so that we can build a strong movement! We will have educational and training workshops, great speakers, music, delicious meals, and networking sessions to make sure that we stay linked after the weekend is over.
Registration Fee only $10*
(*includes housing and food, negotiable based on need)
register online at www.surgenetwork.org
Guest post by Will Raymond
Here's a last bit of business from the 2003 Council campaign.
A little background. Before attending Daily Tarheel forum, I went to the Board of Elections to check out all the candidates' campaign reports. I was looking for one thing, but was completely surprised to find another.
The surprise? The pattern of contributions to Candidate Bachman was unlike any other of the candidates. She was receiving most of her money via large contributions from a few in the development community. This was unlike her fellow candidates whose contributions varied across the spectrum and came from a broad range of residents.
Based on this anomalous pattern, I decided to ask Candidate Bachman two questions at that night's forum.
One, given that she was seeking to correct an image problem - that she was unduly influenced by outside interests � how could taking 60% of her funds from this group of contributors possibly help her rework that image? Two, was this very unusual pattern of contributions continuing?
She ducked the first question. On the second question, she told me I could wait until January to take a look.
I haven't been keeping up with Carrboro's supposedly-controversial Pacifica development, but it seems to be making headlines a lot.
The planners of Pacifica say they will move ahead with the housing project, despite town officials' refusal to cap the developers' share of the financial burden.
Pacifica, a controversial subdivision approved by the Board of Aldermen last June, will add 46 units to an 8.3-acre lot at the end of Hanna Street and Watters Road.
Touted by some developers and aldermen as a tool for integrated affordable housing, Pacifica sparked criticism from those who argued the subdivision would increase traffic and noise in the surrounding community.
-Chapel Hill Herald, 2/5/04
It always seemed to me to be a good proposal, and I've assumed that opposition came from the anti-infill NIMBYs in the area. Am I right or am I missing something? Pardon the bad analogy, but is this Carrboro's Meadowmont? What's this "cap" business?
"Something stinks south of Mebane"
Late last month, community members, a few farmers and Orange County health officials met to air out concerns that the byproduct of municipal wastewater treatment - sewer sludge - being applied to farmland is contaminating water wells and causing sickness in the community. Though there is no evidence yet that the fertilizer is a health risk, one Oak Grove resident believes there is reason for fear.
-The News of Orange County, 2/4/04
It was my understanding that OWASA does something similar with recycling their waste as fertilizer at local farms. It sounds like these farmers are patronizing Synagrow Industries of Texas and Burlington's treated wastewwater instead of OWASA's crap. Does our shit stink?
Does a picture say a thousand words? Anita Wolfenden took this one near her home on Mason Farm Road. Will the final product "aid the University?s desire to enhance the setting of the entire community"? (Carolina North planning document). I enlarged this photo but still could not find the buffer.
click to enlarge
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