Racial & Economic Justice

The Hank Anderson Breakfast Club's endorsements were published in the Chapel Hill Herald on Monday.

The Breakfast Club endorsed Joal Broun, Alex Zaffron, and Mark Chilton in Carrboro; Elizabeth Carter, Gloria Faley, and Ed Sechrest for School Board; Thatcher Freund, Sally Greene, Bill Strom, and Jim Ward in Chapel Hill. They also endorsed both incumbent Mayors.

The Breakfast Club pretty much contains the leadership of the local NAACP, so this tell us where they stand. Sadly, they don't pull many votes in local elections. But they do know how to get things done. I wonder why didn't do a "South Orange Black Caucus" endorsement as they have in the past?

The only surprise for me was that they endorsed Thatcher Freund instead of Cam Hill. Thatcher's pretty progressive, but I think Cam's got a much better understanding of Northside's issues since he lives near it, and has a working-class background. I guess they were more impressed by Thacher's politics than by Cam's residency.

Yesterday's Chapel Hill Herald gave us a preview of the "Friends of Sunrise" forum. Excuse me, but who the hell holds their candidate forum on the same night as a Town Council meeting? Doesn't that sort of indicate that you are more interested in making your own points than hearing other people's?

They also gave the candidates questions in advance:

One of the submitted questions reads in part, "Do you think that the town should continue its current policy of ignoring I-40 noise?" Another question asks, "Do you think nonprofits should be allowed to build large-scale, low-income housing projects with public funds and with no public accountability?"

The question on the bonds reads, "Keeping in mind that property taxes have increased steadily over the past 15 years and many Chapel Hill residents have lost their jobs in the economic downturn, how would you justify that this is the time to initiate the largest bond package in Chapel Hill history? Are there other ways to accomplish the intended goals?"

(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.