George C's blog

Do Students Have Such Short Memories...?

Recent article on WRAL.com

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9176022/

UNC students awakened during Chapel Hill break-ins

Police were searching for a man who broke into two homes off Rosemary Street early Friday, awakening the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students who live there.

Both burglaries occurred between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. in the 300 block of Church Street and Pritchard Avenue, police said. In both cases, the man entered through unlocked front doors.

Any Chance of a Reasoned, Civil Dialogue?

I'm a big supporter of the IFC and its mission.  And I support its desire to create a new type of facility, a transitional facility for homeless men and the need to relocate somewhere.  And I'm disappointed that there is opposition to the proposed site for that new facility.  But I also think that the dialogue has gone beyond civility and that the neighborhoods adjoining the proposed site are being unfairly demonized.  In the 12 years I have served on Town advisory boards I have seen many neighborhoods oppose many projects for many different reasons - some good, some bad, some rational, some irrational.

Would You Contribute To The Library?

At last night's Chapel Hill Town Council meeting a decision was put off regarding the Town Manager's recommendation to move forward and issue the voter-approved bond for the Library expansion.  There were two major issues.  First, the anticipated operating expenses for the expanded Library would result in a tax rate increase of $0.0113.  This would add about $34 to the tax bill of a homeowner with an appraised house value of $300,000.  Second, several Council members were concerned about moving forward until Orange County commits to a more equitable funding of the Library since 40% of the users and 40% of the circulation is by Orange County, non-CH residents.

It's Not Political But....

I'd like to remind everyone that Triangle Transit has some new route and schedule changes effective today as well as some fare changes.  In particular I'd like to point out that travel on Triangle Transit is now free for those 65 years or over and for those under 12.  So if you know of someone who might benefit from these free fares please mention it to them.  Also mention the useful trip planner available at    http://www.gotriangle.org/

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

What Would You Be Willing To Do Without?

One of the recent threads raised the issue of the unsustainable increases in taxes that Chapel Hill citizens are faced with.  I'd be interested in knowing what services/benefits citizens (this includes Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Orange County) would be willing do do without in order to minimize tax increases or to even decrease taxes.  Would you be willing to have trash picked up every two weeks instead of weekly?  Would you be willing to have recycling every other week as well?  What about schools?  Would you be willing to have larger class sizes and/or fewer teachers?  How about fire/police protection?  Would you be willing to have fewer police and fire persons or to have fewer stations and longer response times?

Anyone who watched the Chapel Hill budget process last year knows that the Town Manager and his staff worked hard to cut the budget to the bone, in many cases leaving staff positions unfilled to make the Council-requested percentage cuts.  Although I don't believe public safety was jepoardized by these cuts it is hard (for me, at least) to see where any future cuts might come from.

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