Ruby Sinreich's blog
Today's Chapel Hill Herald has an article about the impact of UNC development on the Town Council race. It's great to see the neighborhoods banding together - again - to protect themselves from UNC (over)growth. But it's disappointing to see that those activists still seem to see themselves as struggling in a vacuum. Many others have been working for years to try to make UNC a better corporate citizen of our town and would welcome collaboration with the growing number of neighbors who feel threatened by UNC.
This new group, "the Coalition of Neighbors near Campus," endorsed Sally Greene, Cam Hill, and Bill Strom for Chapel Hill Town Council. And I sure can't argue with that.
(I'm out of town so I won't be posting much this week. I'm still writing up my review of the NAACP candidates forum last Thursday.)
Although I was at the Chapel Hill Town Council meeting in person tonight to present the Horace Williams Commitee's report, I dashed home to watch the exciting conclusion from the comfort of my sofa rather than wait it out in the Council Chamber which was filling up with hard-drinkin' lovers of civil liberties. And a TV camera! Did anyone see channel 17?
I think at least a dozen local residents spoke to the Council against this proposal to require expensive sprinkler systems in just three bars in town... which are not coincidentally in the same building downtown on East Rosemary Street. This proposal was made in the name of safety after the tragic fire at a club in Rhode Island. What the requirements fail to do is protect us from pyrotechnics and blocked fire exits, which were two of the main causes of the fatal fire.
(From a Sierra Club statement.)
(From 'Friends of Affordable Housing' press release.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2003
Affordable Housing Group Endorses Strom, Ward and Greene
The affordable housing advocacy group Friends of Affordable Housing announced their endorsement of three candidates for the Chapel Hill Town Council Tuesday morning. The group based its decisions on voting records, questionnaires and responses to questions at the Northside neighborhood forum. Incumbent Council Members Bill Strom and Jim Ward were endorsed, as well as challenger Sally Greene.
The organization's spokesperson Rich Leber said, "Bill Strom has been one of North Carolina's leading lights in the realm of affordable housing." The group recognized his leadership on requiring affordable housing in new real estate developments in Chapel Hill and held his work out as a model for other elected officials in North Carolina.
I just got this in the mail today, the forum is Thursday. I know you candidates are getting run ragged, but at least people want to hear from you! People who are going to vote, and possibly even make endorsements. When I ran four years ago, it was hard to tell if anyone was paying attention at all. Plus campaigning is just as much work as serving on the Council (but without the stipend) so like it or lump it...
Here's the schedule:NAACP Candidates Forum: October 9, 2003, 6 pm
St. Joseph CME Church, 510 W. Rosemary Street
Carrboro Mayor6:05 - 6:15
Carrboro Board of Aldermen6:15 - 7:00
Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board7:00 - 7:50
Chapel Hill Mayor7:50 - 8:00
Chapel Hill Town Council8:00 - 9:30
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