Terri Buckner's blog

Candidate Forums

Here's a list of public candidate forums. Anyone know of others?

Pa'lante (Hispanic Youth & Journalism group)
Friday, Sept 9, 6:30pm, Club Neon, Carrboro and Chapel Hill (very small space)

Sierra Club

  • Monday, Sept. 19, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Carrboro Town Hall, Carrboro Mayor and BOA
  • Thursday, Sept. 22, 7 - 9 p.m., Battle Court Room, Hillsborough Mayor and Commissioners
  • Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7 - 9 p.m., Chapel Hill Town Hall, Chapel Hill Mayor and Council

Morgan Creek Neighborhood Event
Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.

Coker Hills/Colonial Heights/Booker Creek Neighborhood Event
Saturday, Sept. 24, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Chamber/Empowerment/WCHL

  • Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6:00-8:00 pm, Carrboro Town Hall, Carrboro Mayor & BOA (broadcast live on WCHL)
  • Tuesday, Oct. 11, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Hargraves Community Center, Chapel Hill Mayor and Council

Orange County Democratic Women
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7:30 pm, TBA, Carrboro and School Board

Green County?

Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County have engaged in a program to study greenhouse gas emissions in and around their respective facilities. The first step has been to hire Toronto-based contractor ICLEI Energy Services, the technical services branch of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. According to their website, after conducting an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, the consultants typically provide clients with software and access to an extensive set of best practices from local governments around the world. "From technical software support to advice regarding the selection of an emissions reduction target, quantification questions, emissions inventory and Local Action Planning assistance, and protocol issues, IES has gained a great deal of insight into the issues faced by local governments in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions."

Up Against the Wal

From Mark Barroso:

I would like to remind everyone of the citizen-organized meeting about a possible Wal-Mart in north Chatham on Thursday, 7/28 at 7 pm at the Dockside Restaurant in Cole Park Plaza. Former Chatham Commission Chair Gary Phillips will moderate the discussion. The Chatham County Planning Director and at least one commissioner will attend and answer questions.

Several presenters will explain the process and issues, we will organize our opposition and begin the fight to keep the godzilla of retail from stomping on our community.

Please come early and buy dinner at Dockside, in support of the owner who has opened his doors to us without charge.

For those who don't know, Lee-Moore Oil Co is planning a retail center with a Walmart, two restaurants and yet another gas station on the land between ALR and the new UNC park and ride. Here's a map of the area (cool new Google map feature learned at yesterday's Blogging Teach-In)

Protect local control of our environment

H671/S631 grants the NC Department of Agriculture sole authority for banning plants and seeds within North Carolina. The intent of this law appears to be preventing cities and counties from using their zoning authority to restrict the use of genetically modified plants and seeds within their jurisdiction. However, there may be equally unattractive unintended consequences. For example, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County (possibly Hillsborough too), currently restrict the types of plants used in landscaping new development. By using their zoning authority in this way, they protect our native species from the most egregious invasives such as bamboo, english ivy, etc. Native species are of critical importance in protecting our riparian systems as well as our local wildlife.

Citizen Journalism?

OrangePolitics is a great place to discuss local politics, but should we also be able to discuss/react to our local newspaper articles? Steve Outing at Poynter Online has an interesting article on Citizen Journalism, that identifies 11 ways in which conventional newspapers can open themselves up to interaction with the public. The Daily Tarheel has allowed comments all year and the feature is almost never used. Should the Chapel Hill Newspaper and the Herald-Sun open themselves up? Would we know more about our community if citizens had the opportunity to add to articles, correct errors, or simply comment?

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