Gene Nichol moderates this social justice
focused candidate forum on Wednesday, Oct 21 from 7-9 p.m. Hear
candidate ideas and positions on issues like affordable housing,
democracy reform and civil rights, welcoming Chapel Hill's immigrant
and refugee communities, and environmental justice.
Candidate
forum sponsors include: NC Common Cause, Democracy North Carolina,
League of Women Voters, NAACP (UNC Chapter), Justice and Peace
Commission of The Church of Reconciliation. Individual sponsors
include: Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams (Chapel of the Cross), Rev. Bob
Dunham (University Presbyterian Church), Richard andJill Edens (United
Church of Chapel Hill), and Rev. Peter JB Carman (Binkley Baptist
Church).
Due to other church business that evening, THERE IS NO PARKING AT UUMC. Please plan to use street or other available parking.
Contact Josh Glasser, JGlasser@CommonCause.org or 919-260-1364 for more information
Date:
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Location:
University United Methodist Church, 150 E Franklin St.
We need YOUR input! Orange County is working with the NC Department of
Transportation, the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization, the
Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the
Orange Unified Transportation Board to create a Comprehensive
Transportation Plan (CTP) for the County. It will recommend
improvements for highways, public transportation, and bicycle and
pedestrian facilities over the next 25 to 30 years. Although the CTP
does not schedule or fund improvements, it is an essential tool in
guiding the safe and effective use of the County's transportation
system. The purpose of this survey is to obtain your opinions and
identify transportation issues that are important to the citizens,
businesses, and officials of Orange County.
WCHL has sold minority ownership in the company to Barry Leffler, currently the General Manager of NBC-17 (WNCN-TV).
More details are available on the WCHL site, including "Leffler will assume the roles of CEO and Managing Partner with Heavner continuing as Chairman." Leffler is leaving NBC17 and plans to buyout all of WCHL.
What does it mean for the community? More or less resources for WCHL? What about local coverage, Air America shows, and CBS headlines? (And do we care about all of those things?)
There are 9 Orange County new homes listed in the Parade of Homes insert of today's Herald.
Only one house is listed at barely under $400,000. The other 8 are all over $500,000 with 3 listed above a million. Does this say something about affordability in Orange County? Combine those prices with the tax rates and what demographics are being invited to live in the OC?
We thought turnout for the municipal elections in Carrboro was low, but word on the street is that the turnout for the board elections at Weaver Street Market is abyssmal. Apparently
even though many folks in Carrboro are members of the Weaver Street
Market cooperative, only a couple of hundred members actually vote in a
given election for the board. Considering there are probably 10,000+
members (educated guess based on the membership numbers i'm hearing people give at the register these days), that's a 1-2% turnout rate. Considering that the market is
arguably the soul and conscience of Carrboro, it's surprising
that so few people take a moment to learn about the candidates and take
the important step of voting.
This year we're hoping that changes. So
in an effort to promote voting of "consumer-owners", both candidates
for the board have written this piece to get the word out about the
voting, to tell you a little about ourselves, and to encourage each of
you to reach out to your friends and neighbors and encourage them to
vote as well.
A parent asked me about a comment I made at a forum regarding how our children will change careers often and need to be able to learn, relearn, unlearn and relearn. Jobs of the future will demand our children be life-long learners and critical thinkers. As a follow up to that question, I want to share with you this video called "what does this all mean".
I just received an email announcing the organizational meeting for the Durham Orange Friends of Transit and it got me to thinking... As a resident of Carrboro, I continue to hear a lot of excitement at the neighborhood and town level about the idea of some type of fixed rail service with a stop in downtown that takes folks to the university and beyond to Durham. Despite this, everyone that I've heard that is "in the know" about transit issues seems to be dismissive of the idea that a station in Carrboro is a viable idea. I believe this is partially due to the perception that the Carrboro population is not large enough to sustain such a station. The types of statistics I've seen that justify transit and transit stops tend to only use population and density numbers, but don't take into account the percentage of the population likely to use such a service.
In July, the University’s Chapel Hill Foundation
Real Estate Holdings Inc. purchased the 12-acre University Square and Granville
Tower property in downtown Chapel Hill.Cousins Properties Incorporated, a developer that
specializes in mixed use projects, is partnering with the Foundation to
redevelop the property.On Thursday, October 15, the University
and Cousins Properties will host two public meetings to discuss the
redevelopment.
The meetings will be
at 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Suite 133-G of University Square, next to Ken’s
Quickie Mart.Although the first meeting is primarily for
tenants of University Square, you are invited to attend either
meeting.The same material will be
presented at both.
Parking is available on site. Chapel
Hill Transit service is available via most routes.
Cousins Properties recently
selected Elkus Manfredi Architects of Boston to help plan and design the
project.At the meeting, the development teams from Cousins and
Elkus Manfredi will share their process and initial analysis of the property and
ask for your input on the redevelopment. Public input will guide the architects
as they develop a concept plan to be submitted to the Town next spring.
Date:
Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 11:30am to 1:00pm
Location:
133-G University Square (next to Ken's Quickie Mart)
First to be clear I am supporting Mark Kleinschmidt for mayor. Below is a link to a letter I wrote to the Chapel Hill News supporting Mark is you wish to read it.
In my last blog I challenged the assertion made by councilman Czajowski that rising taxes were impacting the demographics of Chapel Hill in a manner which was reducing diversity in town. I also thought, given that property taxes are being raised by several candidates in the race, that it would be good to review them. Please check me if I am in error, but I believe the current tax rate for someone living in Chapel Hill (as I do) is:
I remember the disappointing results in key elections in 1993, when Democrats, fresh off a tremendous Presidential victory in 1992 became complacent and Republican activists got upset and activated. New Jersey’s incumbent Democratic Governor, Jim Florio was knocked out of office. That same year, Republicans seized control of the Virginia Governor’s Mansion, bringing us George “Macaca” Allen.
History. For some, the mere suggestion of the topic instantly glazes over the eyes and makes the lids heavy. It's a fact that most of us have been taught history the wrong way. But the past can be a very interesting tool if you know how to use it. Through peering backwards one can discover who we are and it can be an important tool measure the future.
My job is to try and save Chapel Hill's historic places, which is no easy task. There are special buildings, homes, fields, and rocks in this town that embody a past that makes this town unique and downright cool. They are the physical manifestations of our history. But trying to appeal to the "better angels of our nature" about the importance of preserving history often falls on deaf ears. Chapel Hill is certainly progressive but it is not progressive about saving its past.
I submit for discussion an ordinance the Preservation Society is trying to persuade the Town of Chapel Hill to adopt.
My husband and I take turns running with our dogs in the woods on Seawell School Road, either on the Bolin Creek side or the Carolina North side. Yesterday we noticed that NO TRESPASSING signs have appeard on the Bolin Creek side. We requested more information via the contact information on the signs, and here is what we found out:
On Thursday October 15, the Town Hall and Hogan Farms precincts of the Orange County Democratic Party joins will host a Carrboro mayoral and alderman forum. The forum will be held at the Lake Hogan Farms Clubhouse, located at 101 Commons Way in Carrboro, and will begin at 7PM. The forum will begin with a brief meet-and-greet with the candidates (all eight of whom will be there!) and then at 730PM a Q&A session moderated by Orange County Democratic Party chair Jim White will begin.
Location:
Lake Hogan Farms Clubhouse: 101 Commons Way; Carrboro, NC
On Thursday October 15, the Town Hall and Hogan Farms precincts of the Orange County Democratic Party will host a Carrboro mayoral and alderman forum. The forum will be held at the Lake Hogan Farms Clubhouse, located at 101 Commons Way in Carrboro, and will begin at 7PM. The forum will begin with a brief meet-and-greet with the candidates (all eight of whom will be there!) and then at 730PM a Q&A session moderated by Orange County Democratic Party chair Jim White will begin.
We need a strong grass roots effort for planning, education, and to get out the vote. To get the ball rolling, we are holding an organizational meeting of the Durham Orange Friends of Transit on November 4, 2009 from 7:00 – 10:00 PM at the Fellowship Hall at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 4907 Garrett Road in Durham. http://www.eruuf.org/contact-us/directions-and-parking
At this meeting we will get a briefing on all that has happened recently, appoint a steering committee, decide on our strategic approach, set up subcommittees and get ready for the campaign to bring transit to the Triangle.
Date:
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - 1:45pm to 4:15pm
Location:
Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 4907 Garrett Road in Durham. http://www.eruuf.org/contact-us/directions-and-parking
I saw at the Herald website that at last week’s forum at Town Hall Mayor
Chilton “…suggested telling developers what type of development the town wants
in its commercial districts to make it less risky for developers to spend
time and money on proposals to present to the town.” Hurray for that. The
Board has the ability to put in place street plans. The most recent I’m
aware of is the Roberson St. Plan. This plan addresses widths of sidewalks,
on-street parking, and street trees and landscaping. All of these
components of the plan are intended to improve the general streetscape, to
make our town better for all of us. The plan serves the town, meaning us,
by making pleasant sidewalks, more general parking, and by increasing the
width of the right of way. New buildings are pushed back, making sure that
we’re not too shadowed or leaned upon as pedestrians.
It's happening right now. Today is also national coming out day. And
President Obama gave a speech yesterday on the eve of this event. A
busy weekend for gay rights.
National coming out day "is an internationally-observed civil
awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues" (wikipedia). And today is also
the day of the National Equality March which comes just as the Hate
Crimes law (Matthew Sheppard Act) is about to be signed into law, and
just before Congressional hearings on repealing DADT are going to take
place.
Last night President Obama gave a speech on the eve of the march at an
HRC event (the largest US lgbt rights org) and discussed many things.
The whole speech was about 25 minutes, but this 6 minute clip of the middle
section of the speech is where he mentions Hate Crimes, inclusive ENDA,
DADT, DOMA, & Immigration/Aids:
I went back to find the research that supported the video I posted and saw this version. This is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHhVWCXmuzE&NR=1. The supporting research is on http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/. As you mention, not all may come true and it may be a scare tactic. But even if only 50% comes true, it is still important to think about the global economy and what the workplace will be like for our children. I feel strongly that we need to focus on creating life long learners and critical thinkers.
Last Friday morning, Suepinda and I joined Lori Hoyt on WCOM 103.5FM, Carrboro's low powered community radio, on her weekly radio program WILPF Wake Up Call. We were discussing the beginnings of PACT! as an organization and the need for parent and child advocacy in the CHCCS district.
When we first arrived, scurrying through the doorway just minutes before going on air, Suepinda dropped the bomb that I was to be the sole speaker. Boy! was I surprised.
I asked how long was the segment. Lori told me we were on for the full 30 mins. I thought, "OMG, what can I talk about for 30 minutes? We tested mic's, started a bit of conversation and then went on the air.
Well, in the real world, 30 minutes is NOTHING. Part of the reason were were scurring in the doorway at 7:20am was the fact that we had just got the four little children out the door for school to make the bus. To say that our mornings are busy and 30 minutes is nothing is an understatement.
I am a graduate student in the UNC Planning Department (and the School of Law). My Site Planning class tonight had guest lecturer Bruce Ballentine to talk about Glen Lennox. About an hour into the lecture, a classmate of mine asked if Glen Lennox is an issue in the current municipal election. In the discourse about his take on the municipal election that followed, Mr. Ballentine called several of the candidates "anti-growth, anti-business, anti-University, and anti-downtown." He spared "three of the mayoral candidates" and DeHart, Pease, and Pohlman by name. He portrayed the muncipal elections in a biased manner, one that I felt was purposefully misleading. Regardless, it was an inapprorpriate forum for his stump speech.
I attended the well-run, PTA Council School Board Forum last night. Many thanks to all of the candidates putting time, effort, and emotional energy into putting forth their vision on how to continue to improve our school system. As advertised by my neighbors Ms. Brownstein knows policy, has a history of school involvement, and communcates her commitment to schools and children clearly and passionately. My expectation is that she will receive the most votes, including mine, and will be an excellent school board member.
I read the Town Council candidates' responses to the League of Women Voters' questionnaire in the Chapel Hill News this morning. (A valuable service, but shouldn't the CHN actually publish reporting on the front page?) I noticed that the candidates were unanimous in their support for putting increased density (if it happens) in transit corridors, but not a single one of them named an appropriate area or an example of how this should be done.
It's easy to be reactionary and rail against tall buildings and vague notions of density or against East 54 in particular. Where are the courageous candidates that can hammer out policies, make the hard decisions, and stand up to the inevitable complaints about change? Evolution of this community's landscape is not optional. We must put on our thinking caps and establish some direction for doing this in the best way for our collective future.
An event for parents and high school youth to share stories about our schools with a professional organizer. This will inform our education agenda for Orange County Justice United going forward.
Bring your concerns about Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools
Bring your ideas for change
Bring your commitment to organize for change
Bring your friends!
For more information and transportation needs, please call Tish Galu • 919.960.4437 • galu@bellsouth.net
Date:
Sunday, November 8, 2009 - 10:30am to 12:00pm
Location:
HARGRAVES CENTER, 216 N. ROBERSON STREET, CHAPEL HILL
First, a bit of background: I did not support Barack Obama in the Democratic primary last year, because I didn't think he had the strength to bring real change to our country. Many would agree I've been proven right about that. I also think that change is needed in our local politics this year. If you like exactly how things are today, stop reading now. I've moved into Chapel Hill 4 times in my life, lving here almost all of the last 32 years, so I can certainly say there's a lot I like about this town. But there are also some disturbing trends I think we need to change. Amongst them: 1) Taxes are too high 2) Lack of commercial diversity in town forces consumers to drive out of town for most shopping (huge environmental issue in my mind), including the issue of decreasing downtown vitality. 3) Schools that are not educating every child.
The ability and willingness to bring change in these areas is my biggest criteria for voting.
Haven't seen much buzz on this topic, and don't know who's behind Orange County Voice, but there's a group in rural Orange passing out information that Orange county is considering what could be some pretty radical changes in the way trash is handled for non-incorporated residents. If this is true, rural residents really need to voice their opinions and concerns.
Part of the "silly season" (thanks to Fred Black for that great term) is the bloom of letters to local papers supporting certain candidates. In some cases, individual expressions seem quite heartfelt, regardless of any larger party or issue contexts. In some cases, the letters seem pretty much obligatory, as if someone feels the endorsement musn't fail to appear among the other letters -- for example, regarding the Sierra Club endorsements.
Often it seems, however, that there might be a somewhat more coordinated effort to flood the letters pages with statements endorsing a given candidate -- suggesting he or she may be an underdog but with a significant groundswell of public support.
As the county still scrambles to try to find a solution to the impending loss of all landfill space in Orange County, I was happily surprised by an article about mainstreaming the zero waste concept that appeared in today's New York Times. I recognize that the solid waste folks here in the county are way ahead of the game compared to other municipalities in North Carolina, but I wonder if we should be pushing them harder as a community to approach zero waste. I'll admit to being a bit ignorant about the current philosophy of the solid waste authority, so perhaps they are already pushing this. But I have been dismayed by the fact that we do not yet have a small business and residential composting program that can handle organic wastes for those who don't have the option of composting on site. At the very least, it seems like such a program is necessary for capturing food waste from cafeterias, restaurants, and businesses with more than 10 or so employees. I've set up a worm composting bin at work, but I don't believe most workplaces would be willing to go to that length to create a smaller waste st
(3 min 15 sec) CUE CREEPY MUSIC and Watch Mayor KEVIN FOY DISAPPEAR INTO A MISTY FOG CLOUD. REALLY? Really Chapel Hill? You can't make this Homegrown Halloween initiative "cool" with special effects or rationalization. Limiting the growth of events like Halloween hurts the "Brand" of our Town and ultimately has a negative effect on our Local Economy.
Sunday, October 25 at the Carrboro Century Center 6:30 pm Local Food Tasting Meeting 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Annual Meeting is an opportunity to share your thoughts, find
out what your fellow-owners are thinking, and have an effect on our
future together.
• Engage in lively dinner conversation about the Co-op of the future!
• Hear the "State of the Co-op" reports from the General Manager and the Board of Directors!
• Hear Michael Shuman Speak on "Building a Local Food System" - Get your ticket now!
• 4th Annual Cooperative Community Fund Awards!
• Meet the candidates for Board of Directors!
• Vote for a candidate for the Board of Directors!
• Raffle prizes!
Many of you know that local civil rights activist and historian Yonni Chapman has been struggling with cancer. Last night he peacefully ended that battle. Here's part of the touching e-mail that his daughters Sandi and Joyce sent out last night:
Yonni lived his life for The Struggle but has spent the last 29
years with his own intense struggle to live with cancer. His struggle
is over, but our struggle continues and what he would want from all of
us is to use his passing to renew our commitment to justice, equality
and to each other as sisters and brothers. We'd like a few days just to
be on our own so we probably won't be answering the phone right away.
We'll be organizing a celebration of his life and will contact you all
as soon as that plan is made. For now, please just send him your best wishes to speed him on his way home.
Yonni gave so much of himself to this community, and I have no doubt
that we are a more just and equitable place because of it. I also think
I'm a better person for having been poked, prodded, enlightened, and
inspired by his work.
Whether it is by accident or amounts to a local tradition, the Chapel Hill Town Council has had African-American representation continuously ever since the election of Hubert Robinson in 1953. Since that time, R. D. Smith, Bill Thorpe, Roosevelt Wilkerson, Barbara Booth Powell, Edith Wiggins and Jim Merritt have maintained a continuous presence on the Council.
I watched Monday night's public hearing on the IFC's proposed new shelter on Homestead Road with dismay. Every time the IFC identifies an affordable parcel of land appropriate for a new Homestart shelter, the neighbors object. Although the Town Council does a good job of responding to the concerns of neighborhoods, this time we have a pickle. The shelter has to move. It cannot stay downtown and achieve the type of service the town and the IFC want to provide to our homeless male population. To help promote a more positive dialogue, I'd like to propose that we stop talking about "the shelter" and begin discussing the various services currently offered by the IFC and the new proposed services.
The current shelter offers three primary services: overnight beds, job and life counseling, and meals. Those who wish to spend the night at the shelter must be clean and sober, and they have to be inside by 8:00 pm and gone by early morning. Counseling is obviously used by those who desire the service. Meals are available to men, women, and children, whether they stay in the shelter or not. Many of those who use the meal service are the underemployed.
Since the Chapel Hill News regularly posts FIVE pro-Czajowski letters to every ONE pro-Kleinschmidt letter, I thought maybe they just weren't getting enough, so I submitted one this week. I guess lack of Kleinschmidt letters isn't the issue, as this wasn't published and the ratio was 9 to 2 for Czajowski. I post here because there's no editorial board to stop me!!
I went to the Justice United meeting last night - it was energizing. Congregations and citizens from all over Chapel Hill and Carrboro attended. All were focused on the betterment of our community. Those of us in attendance who are running for public office committed to meeting for two hours with Justice United within 90 days of being elected, at their request. Here is a link to a write-up on the meeting: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/159876.html.
I believe the decision should be made by the new council. If you believe that as well, please sign this online petition today before 5 PM. It will be presented at tonight's Town Council meeting.
On the surface, it is perfectly reasonable to agree with the IFC’s decision to take the University up on its offer to lease the land at a rate of $1 per year. However, there continue to be many unanswered questions that when addressed will shed an entirely different light onto the issue. I’ve listed some, but not all of those questions below.
1. Why is UNC being so generous? 2. What is UNC getting out of this extremely philanthropic act? 3. What are the criteria Chris Moran states the IFC used to select this area? 4. What criteria were used to select the previous sites that were ultimately rejected and where is the evidence the criteria were used before the previous sites were rejected? 5. What is to happen to the men who are turned away from using one of the planned 20 emergency beds?
Speaking of signs, does anyone know what is up with the Vote No! signs with the 'Yes' box ticked? There aren't any referenda that I know of on the ballot, so what is it, a surrealism campaign?
It's funny, at least.
Sorry I don't have any pictures - it's hard to get the bus to stop so I can take a pic.
A pamphlet from 2009 town council candidate Will Raymond showed up on my door today so I took a look, and read a nice quote on the very front about Will attributed to "Independent Weekly, 2009 Endorsement Issue". I checked out that issue and was surprised to see that he hadn't actually been endorsed for the town council. The way the quote is listed makes it seem like he'd been endorsed without actually stating it. Does anyone else find this misleading?
33 farmers and land owners, living in the Carrboro ETJ, have petitioned Orange County and the town of Carrboro to return jurisdiction for ETJ farms to Orange County.
PETITION TO REMAND DEVELOPMENT JURISDICTION FOR
CARRBORO ETJ LAND TO ORANGE COUNTY CONTROL
Mayor Kevin Foy endorsed Mark Kleinschmidt this morning. Here is his statement:
I hope the voters in Chapel Hill will join me in voting for Mark
Kleinschmidt for Mayor. I’ve served as mayor for the past eight years,
and I’m proud of our town – we’ve adhered to our values as a place that
protects the natural environment, works closely with our university,
and respects all our neighbors without regard for their economic
status. Over the past eight years, with Mark Kleinschmidt helping to
lead the way, Chapel Hill has invested in a safe, vibrant downtown, new
greenways, the arts, a major new park, a transit center, a new public
works facility, and an aquatics center. We’ve done all this with an eye
to prudent money management (we have the highest bond rating) and
diversifying our tax base.
And it has paid off – just this year Chapel Hill was named both
America’s Most Livable City and Best Place in the Country to Start a
Business. We’re doing a lot of things right!
We have a bright future. A vote for Mark for Mayor will keep Chapel Hill on the right track.
Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 Reception at 5 p.m. | Program at 5:45 p.m. Wilson Special Collections Library, UNC-Chapel Hill Free and open to the public Information: liza_terll (at) unc.edu or (919) 962-4207
In his book, Liberalism, Black Power, and the Making of American Politics, 1965-1980, author Devin Fegus returns to the era of Johnson, Nixon, Carter, and Helms and challenges us to see familiar political developments through a new lens. He will speak about his book and research Monday, Nov. 2 at 5:45 p.m. at UNC's Wilson Library. The program is free and open to the public. A reception will begin at 5 pm.
Fergus is assistant professor of modern United States and African American history at Vanderbilt University. He was a 2007 Fellow of the Southern Historical Collection at UNC's Wilson Special Collections Library and his book draws upon research conducted there.
His talk is part of the Southern Historical Collection Book Series and is presented in conjunction with the exhibit We Shall Not Be Moved: African Americans in the South, 18th Century to the Present, on view in Wilson Library thorugh Feb. 5, 2010.
It's about that time, y'all. LIke it or not, the election is a few days away. It's time for our annual contest to see who is the biggest political nerd in Orange County. Click here to take the 2009 Pundit of the Year survey.
Submissions are open until 7:30 pm on Tuesday. Results will be announced by Thursday night. The grand prize - in addition to the obvious fame and adulation - will be a free OP t-shirt or hat in the size and color of your choosing.
Anyone who predicts the winners correctly will be announced here
(unless requested otherwise) and whoever comes closest to predicting
the ORDER of the winners will be named the Pundit of the Year.
Most of you know Mark
Chilton as Mayor; some of you know him as the owner of Community
Realty; and others know him as an enthusiastic old mill buff. Mayor
Chilton's contributions to the community and to the Friends of Bolin
Creek result from this unique blend of skills, experience and passion!
Let me give you an
example. The foundation of an old mill is located a few hundred yards
upstream of Spring Valley. Years ago friends told me that it had been
built by Buck Taylor, who was the first steward of the University in
1795. Buck Taylor was a colorful rascal said to have been buried
standing upright with a jug of whiskey in each hand. I enjoyed telling
the legend of Buck Taylor, but was frustrated that we could not
document the story.
Last Wednesday, Oct 28, Henry Lister did a commentary on WCHL about the upcoming election for Chapel Hill mayor and council. He named no candidates; rather he described the election as a choice. The choice is between our legacy, i.e., two centures of conscious decisions that have resulted in our becoming a world-class center of education and health care, versus those who are primarily concerned with lowering property taxes. I think Henry did a great job. Here is his commentary:
The upcoming election in Chapel Hill is NOT about money. We face a dangerous election next week. Several vocal and well-funded candidates are running platforms promising to reduce homeowner taxes by developing more commercial taxes, some just because they think that’s what voters want to hear. But framing this election about money does us all a dis-service and shifts the focus from our real goal, which is to continue Chapel Hill’s legacy.
Matt Czajkowski criticized the OCDP in the October 31, 2009 News & Observer:
Czajkowski lamented ... an Orange County
Democratic Party voter drive when Kleinschmidt is the only Democrat in
the nonpartisan mayor's race. "How do you put a value on the resources
of the Orange County Democratic Party?" said Czajkowski, an
unaffiliated voter. "This is all supposed to be how Chapel Hill leads
when it comes to democracy?"
The rules for this post are none-say whatever you like (leave Ruby alone).Why I am NOT voting for Matt C.:Fred Black has said we shouldn’t be talking about values in this election, but I think we should. For example, let’s take a look at Mr. Czajkowski’s values:He says he loves downtown Chapel Hill,But he has promised not to move the homeless shelter out of downtown.“unless there is a complete level of comfort that crime isn't an issue” – M Czajkowski, CH News 10/18/2009“which I don't think can be achieved." – M Czajkowski CHN 10/18/2009He wants to expand Chapel Hill’s commercial taxbase,But he opposes East54. CHN 2/18/2009He wants to make development easier,But he is critical of high-density developments like Greenbridge,Except that he supports Zinn’s high density development in a wildlife protection area.I am NOT voting forDeHart because I heard him say that he thought his children should be able to play in the road. This has been a pet peeve of mine since I was on the counciland I heard countless people justify some concern or the other based on their children playing in the road. I raised three kids on Cameron Ave. and RosemarySt.
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