Economy & Downtown
Chapel Hill's downtown has long benefited from its proximity to a captive audience of University students without cars. While downtowns around the country have been failing, ours has survived fairly well. However, we have seen an increase in the number of chain stores locating downtown, and instability in the Downtown Economic Development Corporation. In the near future, we will see new Town-directed development on two major parking lots have a big impact.
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Carrboro's downtown has also done better than many towns of comparable size, thanks largely to the presence of Weaver Street Market and progressive shoppers from the rest of the county. The Board of Aldermen has been addressing the evolution of the downtown, and have established a number of community resources in the downtown area including free wireless Internet access, and a low-power radio station.
Anyone else going to this tonight?
Annual Meeting: September 9, 2013
Owners: if you didn't RSVP you can still come to tonight's meeting. It might be standing room only. (We'll find seats for those who need them.)
We are excited to have Gar Alperovitz speak at this year’s Annual Meeting. Gar is a leading thinker about developing a new economy based on community enterprise. In his latest book, What Then Must We Do?, Gar speaks directly to the reader about where we find ourselves in history, why the time is right for a new-economy movement to coalesce, what it means to build a new system to replace the crumbling one, and how we might begin. He proposes a possible next system that is not corporate capitalism, not state socialism, but something else entirely—and something entirely American.
Date:
Monday, September 9, 2013 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
From the Town of Chapel Hill's press release:
Are you feeling both social and persuasive? Do you have a creative vision for the future of Rosemary Street that others should embrace? We want to hear it! Join community members, Town and University leaders, and downtown business and property owners for the:
Rosemary Imagined Social Event
Tuesday, September 10
6:30 to 8 p.m.
TRU Deli + Wine
114 Henderson Street, Chapel Hill
www.trudeli.com
Rosemary Imagined is an innovative community-led planning initiative that will refine our thinking of how Rosemary Street fits into the development and growth of downtown Chapel Hill. Come for information, conversation, and imagination about Rosemary Street and share your thoughts!
But this is not your ordinary information session. Everyone will have the opportunity to share their most vibrant desire for the future of Rosemary Street and then use their powers of persuasion to gather votes from the crowd! This is one public meeting where working the room is encouraged! Light refreshments will be provided for all to enjoy.
This event is part of a 10 month process of engagement with the Town of Chapel Hill and community members to bring together several recent initiatives into a complete vision for the future of the Rosemary Street corridor.
www.rosemaryimagined.com
For more information contact:
Dwight Bassett at 919-969-5015
and Meg McGurk at 919-967-9440 or email them at info@rosemaryimagined.com.
Date:
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Location:
TRU, 114 Henderson Street, Chapel Hill
Last week, Chapelboro's Elizabeth Friend took a look into how Orange County agencies are (not) enforcing the countywide smoking ban (PDF) enacted by the Orange County Board of Health last October. I think this piece raises a few concerns worth discussion. For context, the ban officially took effect on January 1, 2013, but enforcement measures were not scheduled to begin until a few weeks ago on July 1.
I was happy to see the county enact a smoking ban back in October. This policy decision to promote better public health for all of Orange County's citizens is one that should be applauded -- I just wish the enforcement efforts were worthy of applause, too.
Just one more thing, I know, but this hits close to home for me from my past Justice United work and the great cooperation we received from governments in OC.
PROHIBIT CERTAIN CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
SECTION 5.(a) G.S. 153A‑449 reads as rewritten:
"§ 153A‑449. Contracts with private entities.
A county may contract with and appropriate money to any person, association, or corporation, in order to carry out any public purpose that the county is authorized by law to engage in. A county may not require a private contractor under this section to abide by any restriction that the county could not impose on all employers in the county, such as paying minimum wage or providing paid sick leave to its employees, as a condition of bidding on a contract."
SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 160A‑20.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑20.1. Contracts with private entities.
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