May 2008

Sample ballots.

For those of you haven’t voted yet, if you want to get a look at the ballot before you head in to the polls, you can bring up an exact copy of it here.You need to enter your address, and affiliation, and then you will get a PDF document of the ballot you will need to complete when you vote.

http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/PrecinctFinder.aspx

Money talks

Thanks to The Independent Weekly for their recent article uncovering who is funding some of the most contentious local campaigns.

We already knew that statewide realtors and developer interests were funding the opposition to the Land Transfer Tax, including deceptive mailings and robocalls. Now we can see just how much money they are pouring in to fight this modest proposal. Fiona Morgan reports that the realtors had raised $234,239 as of April 28th.

The committee has spent $205,115 on direct mailings, polls and ads. With 95,805 registered voters in Orange County, that amounts to $2.14 spent per voter as of April 18, more than two weeks before the election.
- Independent Weekly: Orange: Sprawl lobby just says no to LTT, 4/30/08

Duke Energy vs. Ellie Kinnaird

I know as a long time observer of campaign finance issues, it is rare that a major corporate political action committee gives to an incumbent’s opponent in a primary. So I noted with interest that Duke Energy’s PAC gave Senator Ellie Kinnaird’s opponent $2000 in this primary. Ellie was the only state senator to vote against Senate Bill 3 which, although sold as renewable energy bill, was hijacked by the utilities so that it shifted most of the financial risk for building new coal and nuclear plants to the ratepayers.

Ellie saw this bill clearly for what it was, spoke out strongly against it, and clearly incurred the wrath of Duke Energy. As Democracy NC found in its research, in the four years ending in 2006, Duke Energy and Progress Energy averaged investments of $10,000 per North Carolina legislator in campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures.

It doesn’t work with our good senator. She represents us instead. Let’s keep it that way.

Land transfer tax

This issue will also be on the 2008 primary ballot. See discussion at: http://orangepolitics.org/tags/transfer-tax

Important dates

From http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/2008elect.asp

In 2008, the Orange County Board of Elections will conduct a Primary Election on May 6, 2008, and a General Election on November 4, 2008, for local, state and federal offices.

Below are timelines and deadlines associated with the 2008 Elections. Note entries are hyperlinked to their underlying statutes.

May Primary Election Timelines and Deadlines:

Residential blue light call boxes

This just hit my email inbox:

I am writing you because of your leadership and involvement in Carolina Open Source Initiative over the past year. On Monday, March 5th at 7:00 p.m. the Chapel Hill Town Council will take a critical vote on the installation of pedestrian-level lighting and blue light call boxes in Chapel Hill residential areas. This vote will allow the installation of these initiatives to begin immediately as proposed by the student body. These safety initiatives will increase safety around our campus in the residential areas that we live. The residents of Rosemary, Mallette, Church, Short, Ransom, and McCauley Streets will be the most effected by this resolution; therefore student support is vital. I understand that during exams times most are not able to come out to the meeting at the town hall, yet it is critical that the council hear your support of this issue.

Community Design Commission meeting re Glen Lennox redevelopment

Following Ruby's April 3 post, and the energetic discussion that followed, here's an opportunity to discuss the prospect of re-developing the Glen Lennox development.

Date:

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 3:00pm

Location:

Chapel Hill Town Hall, Town Council Chambers

Growth & Development

Glen Lennox

Where are Senator Clinton's People?

I like Senator Obama just fine, but one more phone call or doorbell ringing from his people and I'm ready to file a restraining order.

On the other hand, I have no mail, no phone calls and no knock-knock-knocking on my door from Senator Clinton's people. Other than lunch in February with a strong supporter of Senator Clinton, I have seen neither hide nor hair of the campaign.

Is this common throughout Orange County? Or is it just my neighborhood? Or demographic?

The new location of the shelter is...

This weekend I learned there would be a press conference today at 10 am (ie: right now) to reveal the new location of the InterFaith Council's homeless shelter. Of course, this tantalizing e-mail didn't name the location, but based on the particpants I think we have a pretty strong clue.

Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser will be joined by Chris Moran, executive director of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, Rev. Richard Edens, a United Church of Chapel Hill pastor, and other community leaders as they announce a new partnership to benefit the community’s homeless.

So will it be at the UCC? Carolina North? Human Services Building on Homestead? It seems certain to move away from Downtown, which I think is unfortunate

I guess we will all hear shortly.

OP on the radio

Tune to WCOM in at 8:30 on Election night (tomorrow) for a half hour of discussion about the 2008 primary election with me and Carrboro elected officials Mark Chilton and Dan Coleman. Listen on the radio at 103.5 FM if you are in central Carrboro, anywhere else you can catch the Internet stream at http://communityradio.coop.

I will also attempt to stream a live video of us while we're on the air. If that works, you can find the video right here on this page.

Afterward we will either hit the candidate parties (where are they?) or go home and geek out on election data.

Date:

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - 4:30pm

Location:

WCOM, 103.5 FM

Elections

primary
WCOM

Eno Economic Development open house

From Orange County:

The Orange County Planning Department will host a public information session for residents, property owners, businesses and others interested in the Eno Economic Development District (EDD).

The EDD location is in the general area of Highway 70 and Interstate 85 near the Durham County line.

The information session will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at the Planning and Agricultural Building, 306 Revere Road in Hillsborough. The session will be held as an “open house” and those interested may drop by anytime between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.

To learn more or to see a copy of the DRAFT Eno EDD plan, visit the website,

http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/admin_Eno_EDD_SAP.asp

or call Perdita Holtz, Special Projects Planner, (919) 245-2575.

Date:

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

Location:

Planning and Agricultural Building, 306 Revere Road, Hillsborough

Environment

Invisible election

Yesterday's Chapel Hill News is the last edition of that paper before tomorrow's election. Surveying the entire news section of the paper shows that the only mention of this is in the endorsement letters, the political advertisements, and two opinion columns on the presidential race. Apparently the journalists at the News just didn't think there was anything new to say about the local election. However, they did find time to interview folks in the street about the nonexistent hula-hoop "issue."

Election day open thread

Have you been to your poll sites yet? Have the yard signs in your neighborhood multiplied? What's on your mind?
Discuss.

Chapel Hill considers 11% tax rate hike

With the fate of the transfer tax not even decided, CH town manager Roger Stancil is already calling for an 11% tax rate hike for Chapel Hill. He warns that property tax rate increases of 3 to 10 cents (per $100 valuation) will not be uncommon in local jurisdictions. (And my guess is that this is a trend that will continue for the forseeable future. )

http://tinyurl.com/45cqlc

Results

This is a thread for posting results and also for looking at the aggregated totals from our Pundit of the Year contest. (A winner won't be announced until results are final.)

I'll be watching this page for Orange County election results (be sure to page through as it does not show all races on one page).

Here's what our pundits think:

Mike Swaim is the Pundit of the Year

Congratulations to Mike Swaim. I break down the results in this video:

Let me know what size t-shirt you want, Mike!

Will Congressman Price vote for more war funding today?!

North Carolina has offered county commissioners 2 choices in raising taxes: land transfer tax or sales tax. These taxes are, in part, needed as counties and municipalities are struggling to fill in growing gaps that are left after the funding cuts in social services that the Federal government has made as it diverts, the already diminished (due to tax cuts), federal tax revenue -- which is wasted on war.

The House of Representatives will vote as soon as today -- Thursday, May 8 -- on an additional $162.6 billion for the war and occupation in Iraq!

New Chancellor

Today, according to the Chapel Hill Herald, is the day.

An agenda for the UNC Board of Governors' monthly round of meetings includes a mid-day session of the full board Thursday with a closed-session report of the Committee on Personnel and Tenure, followed by an open report and a final item: "Election of a Chancellor."

The BOG typically spends Thursday in committee meetings, gathering in a limited full board session at 5 p.m. before adjourning until the regular meeting on Friday morning.

Details about candidates for chancellor have been carefully guarded since the UNC Chancellor Search committee was formed last September. Nelson Schwab, a UNC Trustee and chair of the search committee, has said repeatedly that only the final choice would be announced publicly.

The BOG must vote to approve the Search Committee's recommendation.

We should know something after 2:30 P.M. Lot's of rumors on the front runners, and especially their connections to UNC and North Carolina.

We shall see.

Alamance fights for right to pollute Lake Jordan

Neighbors Burlington, Graham and Mebane have hired a law firm to fight the "Jordan Lake Rules" that the NC Division of Water Quality presented to the Environmental Management Commission. At issue is the unacceptable levels of nitrogen and phosphorous put into the Haw River, and thus Lake Jordan from upstream waste water and storm water runoff. Not very neighborly of them to want to keep dumping excess nutrients downstream, but as with all things the fight is really over the money that it would cost to retrofit existing infrastructure.

http://tinyurl.com/4hse63

http://tinyurl.com/4eyabw

Anonymous and fabricated-name entries

Hi Ruby,

This may be an old discussion, but it is becoming more important to me. I think we should not allow anonymous posts or posts from people who fabricate names to hide their identifies. I for one will not answer anyone who won't provide his/her identity. Compared to other local blogs, OP is more civil and less insulting, but the attacks that we do have seem to come from people who chose not to identify themselves. Any thoughts?

Selected 2008 Primary Maps: President, NC Senate 23, and the Transfer Tax

With limited time and so many races to choose from, we selected the 3 ballot items that most interested us: the Democratic presidential primary, the Democratic NC Senate district 23 primary, and the land transfer tax referendum. The numbers are based on unofficial results from the Orange County Board of Elections and do not include early, absentee, and provisional votes. A Google Maps view of Orange County voter precincts is available here.

Local governments withhold public access TV funds

It seems like Chapel Hill and Orange County are giving our local public access provider quite the run around, when they should be giving them money! The programming on The Peoples Channel includes a wide variety of creative output and civic endeavors by local residents, plus they also carry the essential Democracy Now! If you don't find what you want on channel 8, you can march right in to the station, get low-cost training, and fill that gap. This nonprofit TV station is a tremendous asset to our community, and it deserves to be fully funded by our local governments.

Both Chapel Hill and Orange County received money for Chapel Hill channel 8, on which The People's Channel broadcasts.

Yet neither government has passed that money on to The People's Channel. The law says local governments must spend the supplemental money on PEG channels, but it doesn't specify which channels.

Public Hearing on Public Financing in Chapel Hill

Press release:

CHAPEL HILL HEARING ON PUBLIC FINANCING
Wednesday, May 14, 7pm, Chapel Hill Town Hall
Last year, the town of Chapel Hill became the first municipality in the state authorized to create a Voter-Owned Elections program for local races
Now, the town of Chapel Hill is introducing such a proposal. It would allow grassroots candidates to run for mayor of town council while raising only $5 and $10, and $20 contributions from local residents
The town has put together draft legislation and will solicit feedback from Chapel Hillians at a public hearing on Wednesday, May 14th at 7pm. The meeting will be held at the Chapel Hill Town Hall located 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (Note: The Voter-Owned Elections section starts right at 7pm, so try and get there by 6:45. We’ll have talking points you can use).
NC Voters for Clean Elections has been working with the town of Chapel Hill for years to make this reform possible. Now that the proposal is being considered, it’s very important that we demonstrate public support.

If you are a resident of Chapel Hill or Orange County, please come to the public hearing and speak out in support of the Voter-Owned Elections initiative.
To read the proposed ordinance click here.

More about Voter Owned Elections: The proposed Chapel Hill program would allow community-supported candidates without access to wealth to competitively run for town office. It would invigorate small dollar participation by encouraging candidates to run solely with contributions between $5 and $20. It would provide a check on the campaign money chase and the escalating cost of elections by allowing candidates to spend more time listening to voters and less time fundraising from big donors. And it would reduce the influence of money and special interest groups, by giving candidates a meaningful way to run without these groups’ support. Finally, it would allow the public to have more ownership of the process, by turning campaigns and campaign financing into a public good.

For more information about the meeting, or if you have comments or suggestions on the proposal, please call Chase Foster at (919)521-4121 or contact him by email at chase@ncvce.org.

Date:

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 3:00pm

Location:

Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

More Information:

http://www.ncvce.org/index.php?page=Chapel_Hill_public_hearing

Elections

An Expensive Democracy?

North Carolina law says that you win in a primary election if you take down more votes than your opponents, but you must have at least 40% in order to avoid a run-off between the top two finishers. Last week the first place finisher in the Orange County Commissioner - District 2 race, Steve Yuhasz came up short of the 40% threshold, so runner-up Leo Allison requested to proceed with a run-off.

The News and Observer reports that Yuhasz feels 37% of the vote ought to be good enough to walk away with the nomination :

"I find it unfortunate that Mr. Allison has chosen to reject the clear result of the largest primary turnout in Orange County history," Steve Yuhasz wrote in a news release. Yuhasz also said the new election would be expensive for the county.

Meanwhile Yuhasz's opponent Allison responded:

"I understand Mr. Yuhasz wants to go ahead and have a free ride, but I don't think it's fair to the voters to have only 37 percent of them pick the candidate for this next seat," Allison said.

Public Hearing on proposed comprehensive plan for Orange County

Do you live, work or own land in Orange County? Are you concerned the increasing cost of housing? Do you want farmland and natural areas to be protected? Would you like the county’s commercial tax base grow? Do you want the soon-to-be-updated comprehensive plan to address climate change?

If so, you may want to attend the Public Hearing next Monday, May 19 (7:30 p.m., Gordon Battle Courtroom, Hillsborough) and express your views. County staff and planning board members will present a proposed update of the 1981 comprehensive land use plan.

The Comprehensive Plan update will direct how Orange County will develop through the year 2030. It guides decisions for a wide range of local issues: housing, economic development, transportation, land use, environment, parks & recreation, and community services & utilities. The draft comprehensive plan is available on line at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/DRAFTCOMPPLAN050608.asp. Hard copies can be viewed at the public libraries in Carrboro, Cedar Grove, and Hillsborough.

While comments are best submitted on or before May 19^th, the county planning board is likely to take written comments until at least its June 4 meeting.

Making public comments is easy and can be done in several ways.
* You can submit written and/or verbal comments at the Public Hearing.
* You can email comments to County staff at CompPlanUpdate@co.orange.nc.us.
* You can call county staff with your comments at (919) 245-2575, or you can mail written comments to the Orange County Department of Planning and Inspections, 306-F Revere Road, PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

For more information on the planning process visit the Orange County Comprehensive Plan website: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/compre_cpupdate.asp.

To learn about the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition, visit http://thevillageproject.com/cpu/

Date:

Monday, May 19, 2008 - 3:30pm

Location:

Gordon Battle Courtroom, Hillsborough

Orange County

Public Hearing on County Plan - May 19

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AT THE PUBLIC HEARING for the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Update

Do you live, work or own land in Orange County? Are you concerned about whether you and your children can find work here and afford a home? Do you want farmland and natural areas to be protected? Then you should have a voice in the future development of Orange County.

What: The Orange County Comprehensive Plan serves to guide the County's growth and development through the year 2030. By setting goals and objectives, County officials can use the document to guide policy decisions that effectively provide a high quality of life for residents. The upcoming public hearing is the last public forum for the County to gather public input on the draft plan prior to adoption.

When: Monday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough

You can have your voice heard in one of the following ways:

Carey in 2010

Did anyone else see the Moses Carey ad in Sunday's Chapel Hill News? (Pictured below.) It says "Please consider supporting me again in 2010."

Yes, he did just say that. By announcing his intent to run in 2 years, I assume that Moses hopes to scare off any other potential challengers. This will certainly put a crimp in Ellie's plans to recruit a woman to run for the seat. Even though Moses only got about a third of the vote this time, I think he would still be a strong candidate against a potential non-incumbent opponent.

Do I detect a Clinton-esque determination?

Tax proposals: Hillsborough up 8%, Carrboro up 4.9%

Hillsborough budget proposal calls for tax rate increase of nearly 8%

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1073114.html

Proposed $18.5 million budget would raise Carrboro tax rate 4.9%

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1073116.html

notable quotes:

"The economy has really made it difficult," said Peterson, who noted that Chapel Hill and Carrboro also are facing local property tax-rate increases.

-- Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson

"I don't recall, at least in recent history, a more dim outlook in terms of revenue projections," -- Carrboro Town Manager Steve Stewart.

the blurry line between Orange and Alamance

Who would have thought that in 2008 there would be any question about where the county lines between Alamance and Orange are? Turns out the exact line is in dispute to the tune of several hundred acres. http://tinyurl.com/56mkc7

Results in the at-large Commissioner race

I still can't get over the race for the at-large seat on the County Commissioners. I'm sure no-one was surprised that Bernadette Pelissier won the primary handily. She was a well-qualified and well-organized candidate, and I think she'll be a great addition to the Board. Neloa Jones had very little name recognition, and even less resources to back up her campaign. I was quite impressed with her 20% showing. It demonstrated some real voter concern about the landfill and the racial justice issues that she raised.

But what really shocked me was the nearly 30% voting for Mary Wolff. This was a candidate that had almost no visible campaign other than the ambigious yard signs that will presumably be recycled in the fall for her husband's Republican run for the same seat. Having never heard of her before, and knowing that the Wolffs just moved to the community 3 years ago, I wrote her candidacy off. My expectations were quite wrong, so I decided to dig deeper into these results...

Hillsborough Literary Association's Short Film Festival

From the Chapel Hill Herald:

For one night only, watch films written by local authors Lee Smith, Allan Gurganus, Michael Malone and Daniel Wallace and adapted by Duke University students for the screen. Enjoy complimentary popcorn as you listen to the authors read short passages from their works and answer questions, together with Duke University film Professor Benfey.The festival will be at the Burwell School Historic Site on May 29th at 7:30 p.m.
For more information and tickets ($12), call (919) 732-7451 or visit http://wwww.burwellschool.org.
Burwell School Historic Site is at 319 N. Churton St. All proceeds benefit the continuing programming and preservation of the Burwell School Historic Site.

Date:

Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 3:30pm

Location:

Burwell School Historic Site, 319 N. Churton St.

Arts & Culture

Bus ridership up trianglewide: CH up 30%

Given the rising cost of gas, it's not surprising that riding the bus has become increasingly popular. Of interest is the idea that in wealthy CH bus riding has increased 30%, whereas in Durham bus riding has only increased just 9.5%.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1073429.html

Is it a case of those who are most able to afford it taking advantage of CH's fare free system? Is it purely different demographics? Or is it different levels of service?

Bike to Work Day Today!

The culmination of Bike to Work Week is Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16th. Read more to find local links.

Local Activities:

7:00am - Raleigh Bikers' Breakfast and Bike to Work Week Celebration (NW corner of Fayetteville & Hargett, Raleigh)
7-9am - Bike to Work Brunch at the Research Triangle Park Headquarters (12 Davis Drive, RTP)
7:30am - Durham Bike to Work Day Gathering (The Mad Hatter at Broad Street & Main Street, Durham)

Hello-Goodbye Internationalist Fundraiser Party

I'm not involved with Internationalist anymore, but they're still doing great work and deserve our support...

Daniel says goodbye, Nick says hello, hello, hello!
7-9pm at Internationalist Books (free, all ages!)
Come welcome in our new manager, Nick Shepard, and say goodbye to our old manager, Daniel Elam. There will be food, music, and good company. Bring friends!
9pm-2am at SOUTHERN RAIL (across from Weaver Street Market, free, all ages!)
Continue the party at Southern Rail, with drinks, dancing, and more fun! We'll pass the hat to support Internationalist Books

Date:

Friday, May 16, 2008 - 3:00pm

Location:

Internationalist Books (405 W Franklin) & Southern Rail (Carrboro)

More Information:

http://internationalistbooks.org/?q=node/229

Arts & Culture

Internationalist Books

Rogers-Eubanks Coalition Springtime Party and Open House

I'm a little frustrated because I just learned about this event yesterday, and I think the word needs to get spread farther for this to be effective. But anyway, here's the deal:

The Historic Rogers Road/Eubanks Community
Invites you to meet the folks
behind the headlines
If you’ve been following the news stories about the Orange County Landfill and the siting of the new Waste Transfer Station for the past year, you’ve heard a lot about the folks that live in the historic Rogers Road/Eubanks Community.
Now, come and meet the folks behind the headlines in this historic and vibrant community. Come spend a Saturday afternoon and hear their stories, meet their kids and absorb first-hand, the 150 years of history in this community. Come share home-cooked food, listen to live gospel and steel-drum reggae music and join hands with others to end environmental racism. Click here for the event flier.

I already have two committments tomorrow afternoon but will try to stop by around 4:30 if at all possible.

Date:

Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 10:00am to 1:00pm

Location:

Faith Tabernacle Oasis of Love International Church, Rogers Road

More Information:

http://rogersroad.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/a-springtime-party-and-open-house/

Environment

Rogers Road

Make Orange County More Sustainable by Equitably Balancing Development and Environmental Protection

This Monday at 7:30 p.m. the county commissioners and planning board will be conducting a public hearing at the courthouse in Hillsborough on the proposed comprehensive plan update. Ideally, the plan will firmly establish the county on a path toward sustainability that balances environmental health, social equity, and economic vitality. The draft plan can be accessed from http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/compre_cpupdate.asp.

In the first chapter many encouraging phrases are found such as: "Mixed-use districts are being actively encouraged, and locations are being identified, providing live-work-shop opportunities that minimize travel needs ... (T)he identification of growth opportunity areas near transit corridors and along major thoroughfares encourages more public transportation use by County residents. ... (P)lacing public water and sewer facilities near areas targeted for dense development can reinforce a more sustainable land use pattern ... (P)ublic investment will be focused to stimulate and accommodate (economic) development in strategic locations that can be served by transportation systems and be convenient to housing opportunities."

Work session on Waste Transfer Station

For those following the Waste Transfer Station siting process, the next work session with the BOCC and Olver Corporation will be this Tuesday May 20 at 5:30 pm at the OC Dept. of Social Services at 2501 Homestead Road,Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

This important work session will be focusing on finalizing the "Exclusionary Criteria" for selecting the Waste Transfer Station site and is open to all.

Background materials may be found at the BOCC web site at: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/080520e.htm

The regular BOCC meeting follows at 7:30.

Date:

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 1:30pm

Location:

Southern Orange Human Services Center

Environment

4th Annual RTP Ride of Silence

Information from the M.S. Fits Cycling Team website

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

What: A 5-mile loop, in silence, no faster than 12 MPH in honor of cyclists and others killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. The ride, which is being held during Bike Safety Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways.

Where: Triangle Life Science Center Parking Lot (on Hwy. 54 just west of T.W. Alexander Dr. - former USEPA building), Research Triangle Park, NC...

MAP

When: We will leave promptly at 7:00 p.m.. Please arrive early enough to air up tires and participate in a moment of silence before the ride.

Registration: No registration, no fee, spread the word!

Helmets are required and lights highly advised.

Host: Team MSFits — Blanche & Larry Dean

More info:National Ride of Silence Website - On Wednesday, May 21st, the Ride of Silence will roll across the country, starting at 7:00 PM. In more than 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas (May 2004) after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is being held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

Date:

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 2:34pm to 6:35pm

Location:

Triangle Life Science Center Parking Lot (on Hwy. 54 just west of T.W. Alexander Dr. - former USEPA building), Research Triangle Park, NC

Events

Endangered pedestrians

View Larger Map

With this weekend's bad news, Chapel Hill's pedestrian death toll rises to THREE in the past month. May 17: Barbara Boone Sims was killed crossing Weaver Dairy Road at Perkins Drive, May 15: Lisa Carolyn Moran was fatally hit by a bus on Manning Drive near UNC Hospital, April 27: Clifton Walker Steed was killed crossing MLK Blvd at Hillsborough Street. All were killed within a block of the NC 86 corridor (South Columbia Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard).

I know the Town has studied the MLK portion of the corridor and proposed some pedestrian improvements (PDF report), but none have been implemented yet as far as I know. We also need to remember that crosswalks don't exist in a vacuum, we need safe sidewalks, well-lit bus shelters, adequate bike lanes, and much more.

Memorial Day Commemoration

Via Peggy Misch:

Memorial Day Commemoration: Orange County Peace Coalition invites the community to its program including speakers Joe Cole, Professor of Ethics and Philosophy, Guilford College, and Wally Myers, organizer, Triangle Area Chapter Veterans for Peace; singer Mary Moffit; the Raging Grannies; readings. Monday, May 26, 2-3:30 PM, Carrboro Town Commons, West Main and Laurel Streets. (929-3316, 419-1261)

Date:

Monday, May 26, 2008 - 10:00am to 11:30am

Location:

Environment

Festifall

Date:

Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 9:00am to 2:00pm

Location:

West Franklin Street

More Information:

http://www.townofchapelhill.org/festifall

Arts & Culture

Walkable Hillsborough Day

Via e-mail and Town of Hillsborough web site:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: May 23, 2008

Contact:

Holly Reid, co-founder of Walkable Hillsborough Coalition, 732-5999

Nancy Espersen, member of Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board and Walkable Hillsborough Coalition, 245-3977

Walk and Bike This Year at Walkable Hillsborough Day

HILLSBOROUGH — Join other pedestrians and cyclists in “Taking Steps to Connect” Hillsborough on June 7 in the 7th Annual Walkable Hillsborough Day, an event to celebrate National Trails Day.

The event, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Old Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough, will include two bike rides this year along with three guided walks of varying lengths and exertion.

One walk will be a 5,000-step walk that will take participants halfway to the touted fitness goal of 10,000 steps a day. That 10,000-step goal is roughly equivalent to the surgeon general’s recommendation of 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.

The guided walks and a family bike ride will leave from the Old Courthouse at 9 a.m. A 20-mile bike ride, coordinated by the Carolina Tarwheels Bicycle Club, will leave from the Visitors Center at 9 a.m. Participants in that bike ride should meet at 8:30 a.m.

After the walks and rides, participants will meet back at the courthouse at 10:30 a.m. for activities, prizes and refreshments. Games for children will include “Help the Pedestrian to the Sidewalk,” “Walkable Wishing Well” and “Eno River Swimming Holes.” Information from various organizations — such as the Eno River Association, Audubon Society and Special Transit Advisory Commission — also will be on display.

“A walkable and bikeable Hillsborough is a friendly, healthy and vital Hillsborough,” said Holly Reid, co-founder of the Walkable Hillsborough Coalition, which is coordinating the event. “Come out for Walkable Hillsborough Day and support the benefits of foot and bicycle traffic for our local businesses, personal and environmental health, and community connections for all Hillsborough residents.”

The Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board is sponsoring the event.

Sunscreen, hats and suitable footgear is suggested for participants. Bringing water bottles also is encouraged, although a watering station will be set up at Turnip Patch Park on Occoneechee Street. Hillsborough police officers will participate in the walks to ensure safety at street crossings.

In the case of rain, the event will take place at Masonic Lodge, 142 W. King St. The Old Courthouse is located at the corner of Churton and King streets. The Visitors Center is at 150 E. King St.

Participants will be able to choose from the following walks and bike rides:

5,000-Step Walk — 2.5 miles. The walk will take participants to Town Hall, through historic Hillsborough and to the future site of Riverwalk. It will end at the Farmers Market.

Short Walk — under 1 mile. The walk will take participants along Margaret Lane to Turnip Patch Park. Representatives from Turnip Patch Park and Margaret Lane Cemetery will be on hand to give an overview of the sites.

Short Walk and Bus Tour — half mile. Participants will walk to Turnip Patch Park and then continue with a bus tour highlighting Hillsborough’s current and future parks: Gold Park and Riverwalk, Murray Street Park, Kings Highway Park, Hillsborough Heights Park, Fairview Park and Mayo Pocket Park.

Twenty-Mile Ride — The route will be the 20-mile route used for BikeFest, which travels up Efland-Cedar Grove Road. The ride will be at C pace, 13 to 15 mph. Helmets are required, and participants will be asked to sign the Tarwheels’ waiver.

Family Bike Ride — The ride will follow the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough’s 6-mile route through historic Hillsborough. Cyclists will follow Margaret Lane, go through the mill village and ride to the Commandant’s House on Barracks Road. Helmets are required.

Date:

Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 4:30am to 8:00am

Location:

Old Courthouse, Hillsborough

More Information:

http://www.ci.hillsborough.nc.us/WalkableHillsboroughDay2008.asp

Mother's Legal Rights Violated

I would like to thank everyone who has visited my website at www.betsyforjudge.com and shared their stories. Here is just one:

Cheryl** is 37 years old. She is the mother of 3 children, ages 14, 7 and 14 months. Cheryl is employed full-time and lives in a 4-bedroom, 2 and 1/2 bath home on 60 acres. Orange County Child Protective Services (CPS) removed Cheryl's 3 children from her custody on January 15, 2008, alleging that her 7-year old son was locked out of the house one day and had to call his father from a neighbor's house. According to the juvenile petition filed by CPS, Cheryl is "jittery" and her behavior raises "suspicions" of a personality disorder or substance abuse. To date, Cheryl has taken 27 drug tests which have all been negative.

Council Committee on Voter Owned Elections

I'm surprised to see our Town Council holding an official meeting at a corporate chain. Why not meet at Owen's or Breadmen's?

Title: Council Committee on Voter Owned Elections

Date: May 28, 2008

Address: 81 South Elliot Rd.
Chapel HIll, NC 27514

Location: Whole Foods

Hours: 8:30 a.m.

Date:

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 4:30am

Location:

Whole Foods

More Information:

http://www.townofchapelhill.org/CurrentEvents.asp?EID=2330

Civil Liberties

Drought winding down

Can I just say YAY.

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority has lifted Stage 1 water restrictions, which limited watering to one day per week, among other measures.
[...]
OWASA customers remain on year-round conservation measures, which limit irrigation to three days per week (even addresses on Wednesday and Friday and Sunday; odd addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).
Watering is restricted to 1 inch per week and must be done before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
- Chapel Hill News: Restrictions evaporate as lake levels climb, 5/25/08

WUNC's General Manager to leave the station

Don't go to your local NPR station for this scoop: the N & O reports that Joan Siefert Rose, the general manager of WUNC, will leave the station in August to become the director of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, a business-oriented nonprofit in RTP. Siefert Rose came to WUNC in 2001 riding the crest of their transformation from something like a quaint, bookish music-lover to a journalist interested in business, health, and science.

HWA - Fly or No Fly?

Graham Allison, in his classic, Essence of Decision, perfectly characterized the Horace Williams Airport situation when he wrote about governmental behavior: "No decision is made just once or for good." He also argued that "where you stand depends on where you sit."

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Hillsborough budget proposal calls for tax rate increase of nearly 8%

Proposed $18.5 million budget would raise Carrboro tax rate 4.9%

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The Historic Rogers Road/Eubanks Community
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