December 2011

The Orange County Democratic Party Moving Forward

Two weeks ago, I had the honor and good fortune of being elected the new chair of the Orange County Democratic Party. This is an extremely humbling experience, as I became the youngest county chair in the North Carolina Democratic Party. However, it is my pleasure to serve my party in Orange County with the tasks ahead. With that comes the responsibility of communicating with our community and promoting greater inclusion.

What I want to do is simple: broadcast our message out to the voters of Orange County and get people talking about the issues affecting them. We have the fortune of living in one of the most Democratic and progressive counties in North Carolina. With that comes the responsibility of being one of the most active parties in the state. Additionally, this means taking a pro-active role in our community, especially when it comes to issue advocacy, as we are the very definition of grassroots.

Chapel Hill and Carrboro - Call the Superintendent's Office Today

If you care about education in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools I urge you to take action TODAY. We are not opposed to parents and students having more options for their education but the financial impact that this charter would make on the district would be devastating. The following text is directly from an email I sent this morning to Dr. Forcella and all school board members.

Dr. Forcella,

Whose Streets? Good question: Pedestrians and Chapel Hill

After what seems to have been a heated month of politics on OP, I thought I'd start December with a few questions about crosswalks, speeding, sidewalks, road design, and other issues that impact the walkability of Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

First, I've noticed that when I'm stopped at a crossswalk (particularly on Rosemary Street), cars rarely stop to let me cross, even if they see me patiently waiting. My understanding is that they are required to stop for pedestrians. What recourse do I have when they don't? How does one go about getting additional crosswalks put in?

CH-C School Board members swearing in

Date:

Thursday, December 1, 2011 - 7:00pm

Location:

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

More Information:

http://chccs.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=8

Education

"If we can occupy a building, what else might we seize"?

http://www.crimethinc.com/blog/2011/11/27/breaking-and-entering-a-new-world/

"Underground Reverie" proporting to be involved in the Yates building seizure have published a slideshow telling their side of the story. Its interesting that they seem to equate property rights and repression, and view this as just one battle in a larger war. The question "If we can occupy a building, what else might we seize" implies they're wanting to come back and try this again. Personally, I hope they don't "start taking over" as vast majority of Chapel Hill/Carborro residents really don't want to have their democracy overthrown by anarchists, thank you very much for not asking.

And then there's the signs that say "Off the pigs", "pigs gonna pay", and "all cops are bastards".

Abbey Court HOA Showdown

Tonight I went to the Abbey Court HOA meeting about the Human Rights Center. Here's the short version of what happened…

I suppose you've all heard about how the Abbey Court Homeowners' Association (HOA) is giving the Abbey Court Human Rights Center (HRC) the boot. The Human Rights Center is a great community center providing many critical human services within Abbey Court, including mentoring, after school care, tutoring etc. In short, the HOA is arguing that the HRC is in violation of the HOA rules by using their unit for non-residential purposes and kicking them out, under threat of a $300/day fine.

The HOA meeting was tonight at 6pm in Raleigh and was closed to the public, however this afternoon it occurred to me that the non-profit organization I work for owns one of the units at Abbey Court, so I went to the meeting to represent our organization's miniscule rights—and to record the meeting.

March to defend the Human Rights Center

There will be a march from Carrboro Town Commons (where the Really Really Free Market will be going on) to Abbey Court to protest the management's attempt to evict and fine the Human Rights Center which has done great work to support and organize residents.

Date:

Saturday, December 3, 2011 - 3:30am

Location:

Carrboro Town Commons, West Main Street at Laurel Street

More Information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/326104347415397/

Civil Liberties

Dying Breed or Ripe for Innovation? New Weekly Print Newspaper Coming to Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is getting a new weekly newspaper. Dan Shannon, the publisher of Chapel Hill Magazine will debut Chapel Hill Magazine’s The Weekly in February 2012. The paper will start with a six-month beta period, during which 2,000 randomly selected Chapel Hill households will receive it for free. Those who do not receive a copy will be able to purchase one at newsstands.

Occupy the Ballot Box: taking back our democracy from corporate rule from the grassroots up

9:00 am Registration -- visitors are free, membership is $10, pre-order lunch

9:30 am Welcome and Introductions

9:40 am Workshop/Teach-in by Pittsboro Mayor Randy Voller:

“How to Elect Progressive Candidates from the Grassroots Up”

11:40 am short break

11:45 am Move to Amend: Challenging the Myth of Corporate Personhood

presentation and vote on resolution facilitated by Sally Goerner, MTA Triangle

12:15 pm Lunch and informal Discussion

1:00 pm The future of voter-owned elections, transparency and accountability after Citizens United

- Jake Gellar-Goad from Democracy NC

1:30 pm Mobilizing for Campaigns without candidates:

Defeating the marriage discrimination amendment - Sam Parker from Protect NC Families

Protecting voter rights and ballot access for all -- Jake Gellar-Goad from Democracy NC

Creating an independent redistricting commission -- Jesse Goslen, Wake Progressive Democrats

2:30 pm break

2:40 pm The future of progressive politics in a rapidly changing world - roundtable discussion

4:30 pm adjourn

Date:

Saturday, December 3, 2011 - 9:30am to 4:30pm

Location:

Orange County Campus of Durham Tech, Room 201; 525 College Park Road, Hillsborough

More Information:

http://www.progressivedemocratsnc.org

Elections

Kay Hagan is a Democrat?

I'm appalled with our 'D' senator in 2 distinctly dismal ways this afternoon.

First, Hagan votes to legalize the military to snatch and indefinitely detain anyone accused of being a scary 'terrorist.' Specifically, no lawyer will be allowed for anyone so accused. Also, this authorizes military actions within the US (um, posse comitatus? anyone?) This includes US citizens like me and you, dear reader. (Note this bill will extend to the military this unconstitutional priviledge currently only enjoyed by the president.)

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00210

More info here:

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/01/congress_endorsing_military_detention_a_new_aumf/singleton/

former Carrboro Alderman Nancy White died last week

former Carrboro Alderman Nancy White died last Monday at age 89. She served on the Carrboro town board in the '70s, from her obit:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=nancy-i-white&pid=154864927

"She became active in local politics as a member of the Carrboro Community Coalition, and was a lifelong Yellow Dog Democrat. In the mid to late '70s Nancy served on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen.

Chapel Hill Carrboro YMCA set to vote on first steps in merger with Y of the Triangle Dec. 14th

The Chapel Hill Carrboro YMCA (CHCYMCA) is set to vote on beginning to negotiate a management services agreement with the YMCA of the Triangle Association (YOTA), which is the first step in a merger between the two entities - on Wednesday December 14th.

What is at stake is the ability of the CHCYMCA to set it's own policies once a merger is in place. Of particular concern are the policies governing non-discrimination in employment. YOTA does not include sexual orientation in its list of protected categories in its employment policies. In other words, an LGBT person could be discriminated against in both hiring and/or during employment.

More information is included in this previous post.

CHCYMCA Board members can be contacted here.

For those who missed it, last month's inaugural Kidical Mass in Carrboro was a huge success. Thanks to all the organizers!

CH Town Council 20 somethings Cohen - Chilton - Storrow meet at the 12/5 council meeting

I attended last night's Chapel Hill Town Council meeting, my first since 1983. Mayor Mark K was kind enought to recognize the former council members in attendance -- me, Mark Chilton, Joe Capowski (and by the end of the meeting, Sally Greene)

Chapelboro had a great writer-up of the assemblage of 20 something council members at

http://www.chapelboro.com/Storrow-Swears-In-With-a-Little-Help-From-His-Frie/11655162 I won't repeat it.

Mark Chilton administered Lee's oath of office, and it was nice to meet old and new friends.

I did go back last week and check my 1973-75 campaign finance reports and Lee Storrow's 2011 report to see if any of the same people gave to both -- and I found 3: Jane Brown, Jane Stein, and Catherine DeVine.

Commissioners to discuss transit at work session Thursday

Hope some folks will join me in observing the Orange Commissioners' work session on transit, Thursday, 7 PM, at the Southern Human Services Center on Homestead Road.

The title of the agenda item: Triangle Regional Transit Program – Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan; Alternatives Analysis and the Locally Preferred Alternative. There are two attachments. The first was compiled by County staff and is interesting, in many ways.

Ruby (with Izzy) were the bulk of the citizens in the room for the Commissioners' discussion of transit last last month. Because Izzy declared that he had other priorities, Ruby left me to let the Commissioners know that the grassroots organization was out there waiting for a signal from the Commissioners to get going on a transit referendum. It will most likely happen in the November 2012 election

Public Art in the Yates Motor Co. Building: Same Message, Different Methods

When the former Yates Motor Co. Building was taken over on November 13th it was in the process of becoming the temporary home of an art installation for the holiday season - an effort led by the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. Those events derailed the art installation, but did not curtail it. The art installation will be unveiled this Friday, December 9th, 2011. The road has not been an easy one as described in this blog post by Meg McGurk of the Downtown Partnership.

Article: Women's representation in Chapel Hill town government

Bill of Rights Day

Celebrate Annual Bill of Rights Day: Thu, Dec 15, noon: community is invited to join in reading one of first 10 Amendments to the US Constitution and hear proclamations by Orange County Commissioners, mayors of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Listen to remarks byNC Representative Verla Insko; Stephen Dear, executive director of People of Faith Against the Death Penalty; Rafael Gallegos, member of Board of Directors of Chapel Hill/Carrboro Human Rights Center; and Steve Peterson, member of Occupy Chapel Hill. Steps of Court House, Peace & Justice Plaza, Henderson St & E Franklin St.. Orange County Bill of Rights Defense Committee, 942-2535.

Date:

Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Location:

Steps of Court House, Peace & Justice Plaza, Chapel Hill

Civil Liberties

Bill of Rights

Stepping away from 2020 Outreach so I can do 2020 outreach

A few days ago I sent the following message to my fellow members of the Outreach Committee for Chapel Hill 2020. Apparently having and stating strong opinions is incompatible with leadership in that process. Rather than spending time struggling to lead the internal outreach process, I think I will be a more effective and way more authentic advocate from the outside. It's a pity the Town can't make room for vocally opinionated comunity members to be leaders in creating our new comprehensive plan. We all have opinions. Some people are just more blunt about them than others. There are precious few "neutral" leaders who are qualified and motivated enough to serve.

The town has posted 2020 theme survey results, but the formatting is terrible. Can anyone help me get this into readable text?

2012: My View; Marlowe Foster, Candidate for Labor Commissioner in North Carolina

Every election cycle we hear the familiar refrain that this is the most important election of our life. For the first time in my life, I believe it. 2012 IS the most important election we have faced. Anger and frustration toward elected officials reigns. We face extreme budgetary challenges as a state and nation. Anytime you express policy differences you are immediately charged with being anti-American. There is no focus on finding solutions to problems. 2012 is pivotal in determining whether the state we leave our children is better or worse than in the past.

Downtown Partnership Shares Its Views on Chapel Hill 2020

On Monday, the Downtown Partnership posted its vision for Chapel Hill on 2020 Buzz, the official blog of the Chapel Hill 2020 process. The vision apparently stems from a meeting that the Chapel Hill 2020 Outreach Committee had with members of the Chamber of Commerce and the business community before Thanksgiving.

The vision isn’t so much a vision as it as wish list. It calls on the town to expedite the review process for development downtown and provide for a whole host of a uses-by-right in the area so that new development downtown wouldn’t need any approval on top of building permits, zoning complains and certificates of occupancy. It also talks about building some new streets (especially in the north-south direction) downtown, making some changes to the way Chapel Hill does it zoning and ensuring regional transit is centered in the area.

Don't forget! Tomorrow will mark the second theme group reporting out! Be there at East Chapel HS, 7-9 p.m.

Chapel Hill 2020- "Changes in the Nation's Healthcare System" Presentation by Bill Roper

A presentation as part of the Chapel Hill 2020 Process by Bill Roper, Dean of the UNC School Medicine, Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and CEO of the UNC Health Care System. Brad Wilson, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina will also speak.

Date:

Thursday, January 5, 2012 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Location:

Town Hall, Council Chamber

Government

Chapel Hill 2020- "Retail, Housing and Economic Development in Chapel Hill" Presentation

Presentation by Dwight Bassett, Chapel Hill's Director of Economic Development

Date:

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Location:

Council Chamber, Town Hall

Government

Chapel Hill 2020- Demographics, Land Use, & Transportation Presentation by David Bonk

Date:

Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm

Location:

Council Chamber, Chapel Hill Town Hall

Planning & Transportation

Chapel Hill 2020

Chapel Hill 2020- Presentation on Carolina North Development Agreement

Date:

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm

Location:

Council Chamber, Chapel Hill Town Hall

Planning & Transportation

Chapel Hill 2020

Second Theme Group Report Out Gives Me Cause For Optimism

OP Happy Hour & Candidate Coming Out Party

Come meet the newly filed candidates for Orange County school board and Board of Commissioners!

Date:

Friday, March 9, 2012 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location:

Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe, 431 W Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

More Information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/317397161642334/

Elections

OP Editors Monthly Open Meeting

Agenda

I. Review of previous month’s content
II. Upcoming topics
III. Policy issues
IV. Technical issues
V. Upcoming events

Date:

Sunday, January 15, 2012 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location:

Breadmen's, 324 W Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill

About This Web Site

OP Posse

Fun with substitutions

This is an interesting art. As I read it, I subbed CH in for Chicago, neighboring counties for states, and current drains to those proposed here. It fell into place rather effectively for me.
Sunday morning coffee reading....
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204012004577072790106769870.html

DCHC MPO sets public hearing on rail transit alternatives analysis January 11

from an email:

DCHC MPO Public Hearing on Transit Alternatives Analysis

Blogged about here on OP:

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) will conduct a public hearing on the rail transit Alternatives Analysis at its board meeting on January 11, 2012. The meeting will be in the Committee Room on the second floor of Durham City Hall (101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC) at 9AM. Citizens can sign in to request time to speak to the board, called the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC).

Citizens can also email their comments to Comments@dchcmpo.org , or post mail them to Andy Henry, Transportation Dept., 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701. Comments will be accepted up to the time of the public hearing (January 11, 2012).

The TAC will likely vote on a Locally Preferred Alternative for the Durham-Orange county and the Durham-Wake county rail corridors at their subsequent meeting on February 8, 2012.

For additional information, see the DCHC MPO Web page at the following link, or contact Andy Henry, (919) 560-4366, x-36419, or andrew.henry@durhamnc.gov.

Date:

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 9:00am

Location:

Committee Room (2nd Floor), Durham City Hall- 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC

More Information:

http://www.dchcmpo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=35

Planning & Transportation

Community Opposition to Potential YMCA Merger

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA (CHCYMCA) is still considering entering a management services agreement (or merger) with the YMCA of the Triangle Area (YOTA), as evidenced by its recent passage of a motion to allow the chair of the board of directors to form a small committee to define how the CHCYMCA will work with YOTA. This is very concerning considering YOTA's lack of inclusive nondiscrimination policies, not to mention the lack of transparency being shown by the CHCYMCA board of directors, which was set to vote on a motion to begin negotiating the management services agreement before things got too hot and they opted for this motion instead.

Positive changes go hand in hand in east Chapel Hill

A few days ago we heard that the Ram's Plaza strip mall has been sold to a real estate development/management company, The Kalkow Group. This is can't be unrelated to the Town's recent completion of the draft Ephesus Church Road/Fordham Boulevard Small Area Plan. (In fact, it may even have been anticipated by the Town, I admit I didn't follow the process very closely.) A recent Chapel Hill News article shows how closely they are tied together...

Good news: the Human Rights Center at Abbey Court has a nearby home under contract.

Follow-Up to "Open Letter to Kevin Wolff"

While I have this semester break, I thought I'd take the time to follow-up on the last blog entry I wrote addressing mayoral candidate Kevin Wolff and his...allegations. I sent a copy of what I had written directly to the campaign of Kevin Wolff and was promptly told by him (or his staff) in so many words that "with age and understanding", I would one day learn not to be judgmental and that if he becomes elected, he will implement a 2 year plan to get Chapel Hill's homeless of the streets by meeting with each and every individual to address their personal issues (in which he invited me to get involved).

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