December 2005
Kudos to the Daily Tarheel for running an article today in both English and Spanish. Unfortunately the Spanish version is online-only which is probably not the best way to reach all those Latino workers on campus, who might actually be interested in the subject matter: one woman's story how she became an immigrant and eventually a citizen.
Attending Carrboro's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday reminded me how important John Herrerra's (re)election is to the Latino community. The event was attended by visible state-wide leaders like Matty Lazo-Chadderton (Director of Hispanic/Latino Affairs in the N.C. Senate's Office of the President Pro Tempore) and I spent at least a third of my evening practicing my rusty Spanish. It was a great feeling to know what a good example a small town like Carrboro can be to the rest of the state. And also a reminder that yo necesito practicar hablando español!
It's just a name and not such a big deal… or is it?
This coming Thursday the city school board will discuss the naming of the third high school. The naming committee has narrowed the choices down to three: Carrboro High School, South Chapel Hill High School, and Howard and Lillian Lee High School. These names seem all rather boring, given that there were 69 other names that could have generated lots more controversy.
Community members suggested such names as: Charles Darwin High School, Cesar Chavez High School, Robert E. Lee High School, Edith Wiggins High School, Rockin' Ravens High School, and on and on. I personally got a laugh out of 'The Insufferable Chapel Hill High School of the South". What name would you choose and why?
Hillsborough has a new mayor! It's nice to see the incumbent wasn't bitter about being ousted. Ooops:
Stevens, in his first run for public office, defeated Joe Phelps, the two-term incumbent, in the November election.
Phelps, in remarks to the board, said he thought the issue of adding more sidewalks to town was a "deciding factor" in this year's election.
"Mr. Stevens promoted this idea of having sidewalks all over town time and again," Phelps said. "Everyone wants sidewalks, but how to pay for them has always been the real issue."
Phelps said he'd be paying attention at budget time to see how the issue of sidewalks is addressed, "to make sure that campaign promises don't turn into campaign rhetoric."
- heraldsun.com: Mayor sworn in, leads 1st meeting, 12/13/05
I know sometimes things that sound the same mean different things in different parts of Orange County. Could this "strategic growth plan" be an effort to slow and manage growth, which by most accounts has been pretty out of control in and around Hillsborough? It certainly has potential to be a good thing. Maybe some of you north of I-40 readers could help out.
The [Hillsborough Town] Board authorized Town Manager Eric Peterson to negotiate a contract with Chapel Hill-based Clarion Associates to develop a strategic growth plan. The town and Orange County are jointly creating the plan. The town will be recruiting town residents to serve on the steering committee, which will start meeting Jan. 22.
- newsobserver.com | Orange County, 12/15/05
...And former Chapel Hill Planning Director Roger Waldon continues to do well in his second career as a consultant with Clarion.
I don't know how many of you read the News of Orange. I drop into their web site about once a week, which how often it's updated. They have reader polls to which I am strangely addicted. If they are at all accurate, then it certainly validates what folks say about the northern part of the county being way more convervative than Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
For example, this week's questions is "Do you favor the death penalty?" and the response so far is pretty much YES:
Yes 51.9%
Sometimes 11.5%
No 32.7%
Unsure 3.8%
Total Votes: 52
Do you think this is an accurate reflection of the county? If not, perhaps you should take the poll.
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Progressive (or almost local) NC blogs:
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Here is a listing of local blogs (and other web sites with RSS feeds). They are sorted by the most recently updated. Please contact us to add or remove a listing.
Progressive (or almost local) NC blogs:
Disclaimer: These links do not constitute support or endorsement by OrangePolitics in any way.
On January 19, 2006 the Carrboro Board of Aldermen will host a public forum and interview applicants for the vacated Board of Aldermen seat.
As a group, I think the Board will be looking for two specific attributes in the appointee: 1) the motivation to make positive contributions to the community and solve community problems, and 2) the necessary conviction and capability to do the job well--- but what other qualities will the Board look for?
What other qualities should the Board look for? a community builder?, a peacemaker?, a hard worker?, a visionary?, someone measured and balanced?, someone inspirational?, a relative unknown?, someone experienced and well-versed?, someone with superior analytical skills?, someone non-controversial?, integrity?, wisdom?, social lubrication?, fresh ideas?...
What do people think?
Chapel Hill Herald, Saturday December 17, 2005
The second biggest item of national news coming from UNC this year
was the return of John Edwards to direct the Law School's Program on
Poverty, Work and Opportunity. Edwards is also a new resident of Orange
County, one whom I hoped might offer some insight into our local
efforts to address the problems of poverty. This past week I had a
conversation with him on that question.
A significant issue for us over the years has revolved around
efforts to site facilities to serve the poor. Edwards believes it is
possible for neighborhoods and communities to become more welcoming.
"It's similar to the way I talk about this in general," he said.
"[Helping] people who are struggling in poverty, it's not something we
do for them, it's something we do for us. It's not them and us, it's
all of us, people who are struggling want to be part of our community
and we want to give them a chance to do better."
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