Carrboro
The Town of Carrboro Planning Board held a series of three Affordable
Housing Dialogues in October 2012 to educate and engage the public in
planning for affordable housing. A report of their findings
is now available. The chair of the Carrboro Planning Board will be
presenting on this report and the Carrboro Board of Alderfolks will be
discussing it at their meeting tonight (Tuesday, February 19th).
The
recommendations of the report are:
1. Make the
Affordable Housing Task Force a standing committee of the Board of
Aldermen, and expand it to include other public and private
stakeholders, such as advisory boards, affordable housing developers,
and advocates.
2. In that comprehensive policy, consider a
staggered approach to income targeting and goals, such that people along
the income continuum of very low (less than 50% of median income), to
low (50% - 80%) to moderate income (80% - 115%) can benefit in some way
from Carrboro’s policy efforts and investments.
Previously on CityBeautiful21 I talked about Informal Markets -- events
that are marked by an agreed-upon time and place to sell and buy goods,
but may lack features of a permanent retail establishment. When I think
about the things that the town of Carrboro has going for it, our talent
for finding room for Informal Markets is near the top of the list.
When I began researching this post, I was not surprised to find that
Carrboro has been finding a place for Informal Markets in the community
for over 35 years.
Like Krakow, Carrboro has nurtured an informal
market into a formal one in the heart of the community- the Carrboro
Farmers' Market. On their website, the Farmers' Market even refers to
itself as a previously informal market!
We have an amazing opportunity in Carrboro over the next 18 months. When as many as six positions on the Board of Aldermen could be up for grabs. Beginning with the Special Election on March 19.
If anyone, including your preferences, truly wants to serve, they will have more than ample opportunity. So, let’s use these series of Elections to do more than just engage in Carrboro politics as usual.
Let’s use these next 18 months to encourage the widest, broadest and deepest conversation possible about the state of our town, and the direction in which it is heading.
In that regard, I have a challenge to all those who make up the political establishment in Carrboro. Stand back. Let the people have that conversation. Without imposition by you. Let them make their own choices. Without direction from you.
Do not nominate, do not endorse, do not lobby, do not campaign. Do not close ranks to anoint an heir. Rather, step back. And encourage as many different people as possible, with as many different views as possible, to nominate themselves as candidates. And then campaign, only for themselves.
Orange County has posted the detailed schedule for the Carrboro special election on March 19, looks like 13 days of early voting in Hillsborough and none in Carrboro.
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/includes/ElectionCalendar.asp
March 19th Special Election for Carrboro to fill an unexpired term ending 2015 for Board of Aldermen
February 1, Noon - Filing Begins - $10 filing fee
February 15, Noon - Filing Ends
February 22 - Registration Books Close for Special Election.
February 28 - March 16 - Early Voting for Special Election
Location
Orange County Bd of Elections
Carrboro's decision to call a special election for Tuesday, March 19 will be a challenge for campaigns, what with UNC on Spring Break starting March 8 and classes resuming March 18. Important media like the DTH will suspend publication the prior week, and while the Town Board has recognized that it will have early voting, March 8-March 16 early voting dates will also be during break when many students, faculty and staff take vacation.
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