Chapel Hill Culture War?

I moved to Chapel Hill (from Durham) 7 years ago.  I moved here for all the reasons you mention.  And I try to do my part, in a small way to help preserve these things.  By voting, by being involved, and by the way I choose to live  

John Rees

I came from Wilmington, NC to Chapel Hill in 1976 for college and stayed for graduate school, and afterwards. I may be a good example of what Ruby meant when she mentioned people who come here, and stay here, because they "appreciate living in a community that shares their values." On many issues, Chapel Hill is just as progressive as it ever was, I suppose. So I would not say "those days are gone." But I have seen big changes, some of which I lament. I am not against change, but some of the changes have not been good ones. And there are times when I feel that Chapel Hill's reputation for liberalism is just that, a reputation. On many issues, including gay rights for example, the town is progressive. But on environmental issues I think what we see around here these days is more style than substance. The best way to respond to the problems of air pollution and global warming is staring us in the face, but we don't really embrace it in this community. What I mean is that the automobile is by far the largest contributor of greenhouse gases and air pollution. There is an urgent need for radical transportation reform. Some may think me fixated on this issue, but I have simply noticed that it is the central issue, not only in environmental terms, but in terms of land use and a host of other important urban growth problems. We have probably the best transit system in the State here, and I applaud that and other good things, but we are not taking the steps we could take. In particular, the opportunity to include a car-free zone at Carolina North has been neglected by the University administration. I have a lot more to say about transportation, and about how Chapel Hill has changed, but this post will turn into an essay if I don't stop soon. If I don't try the patience of the readers or the administrator, I may add more posts later to this thread.

James Coley

I moved to the Chapel Hill area 5 years ago in part because of its liberal tradition. I stayed outside the city limits, however, in part because of its progressive reputation.

That said, I've met countless liberals, communists, anarchists, libertarians, conservatives, progressives and nearly everything in between while here. I love the fact that there is a broad diversity of political and social thought represented in this area.

I think few people move or stay in an area due largely to one political ideology or another. People seek to live and stay in areas with strong markets, good educational opportunities, social networks, and healthy environments, among other reasons. Chapel Hill has lots to offer in those categories and that's why the town has been so successful.

I moved here from Mississippi when I was 20 in June 2000, right before Bush was (s)elected, with no prior knowledge of the area's political history. Also, like everyone else I grew up with, I was thoroughly apolitical. I am now thoroughly progressive. Of course, there's no way to tell if I would have ended up that way if I had stayed in MS, but it's safe to say that as I came of age intellectually, I was surrounded by left-leaning viewpoints. It's pretty well-known that politically homogenous geographic spaces tend to encourage "extremism" in those viewpoints. I would say that Carrboro/Chapel Hill is still plenty in that boat with regards to the left. A recent trip back to Mississippi confirms this.

Whether or not this is a community of activists - I'm not sure about that one. I would argue that new electronic forums such as OP may actually have an affect on that perception (i.e. maybe we are more likely to be "online" activists than to engage in more visable, traditional forms of activism/protest. But we're definitely (still) a community of lefties.

I am a newer resident of Chapel Hill, having moved here in 2002.  I immediately went to work to try and make this great town the best that it could be.  I came here respecting the beauty of this town, but not only that, respecting the years and years of professionals' and elected officials' and citizens' work in shaping how our Town looks and functions today.  I have voted in the municipal elections to try and make a difference that way; I served on the Transportation Board for the town and have volunteered in the schools; I then became elected to the Town Council.  My "constituents" are those that have lived here a long time and those that have not, the latter group just like me.   If the liberal reputation means great schools, parks, beautiful trees, quality of life, a great University and hospital, and having voices heard to make them better and protect them, then I'm all for protecting those things and don't want those days to go away. I'll fight tooth and nail for those "halycon" things despite those referenced rumblings of change. 

Transportation reform and walkable communities are two sides of the same coin, and one of the changes I lament is that, while it was at one time a true village, Chapel Hill is no longer. A turning point was when Fowler's Food Store on Franklin Street closed, which must have been around twenty years ago. When it was around, a lot of people lived easily without a car, doing their shopping the way one would in a large city, bringing home the groceries by hand or in a little cart. There was a walk-in beer cooler at Fowler's called Big Bertha. I remember that when the real Top of the Hill (a small convenience store at Franklin and Columbia) was demolished to make way for the big building there now, exposing the side wall of what was then the Carolina Theatre, someone painted in huge letters on that wall the graffito "Big Bertha was the first to go!" I remember that, not out of fondness for beer (I have no such fondness), but as a bellwether. With the only downtown grocery store gone, all the rest of the old Chapel Hill village collapsed. One of the reasons so much of the village way of life survives in Carrboro is that it has three grocery stores downtown. When there are calls for a grocery store in downtown Chapel Hill, some object that it is not feasible without a big parking lot, like the one at the typical Harris-Teeter. But in recent years we have seen that in fact the Latino community can support a number of small urban grocery stores.

James Coley

My fond memories of Fowler's have almost nothing to do with Big Bertha but with what a damn good grocery store it was.  They had the best food!  I wasn't mature enough then to appreciate the socio-economic value of a downtown grocer.  All I knew at the time was that I could count on finding good grub at Fowler's.  Exotic expensive grub worth a payday splurge.

Thirty years later, I wouldn't say Chapel Hill has lost its appeal.  I will say the "magic" is gone, but that's life.  Plus, I've learned how to cook.  

In addition to the loss of the village way of life, there are changes of a more cultural and economic nature I lament. The worst thing that happened to Chapel Hill was when we were “discovered” as the best place to live. People with too much money came from elsewhere in the country to live here, inflating housing prices and introducing at times a “Lexus liberal” superficiality. The yuppies drove the hippies west, to West Franklin Street and to Carrboro. And now the obscene luxury apartment towers are marching westward on Franklin and Rosemary, when one of our greatest problems is the lack of affordable housing. I miss the distinctively Southern feel that is largely gone now, and the tolerance the community had for demonstrations like High Noon, which would not be allowed these days. A number of landmark Franklin Street businesses are gone, including Jeff’s Campus Confectionery, the Zoom Zoom, the Rathskeller, and the Carolina Coffee Shop. (In the latter case, a place by that name is still there, but the installation of televisions destroyed the Bohemian atmosphere that provided a refuge from popular culture.) What is most distressing is that the small-town patterns of local investment and control are being replaced by outsiders who see properties here only as a way to maximize profits. I think this is one reason we see the excessive commercial rents in downtown Chapel Hill. Progressiveness has to some extent given way to a mentality of greed and superficiality. Even in Carrboro, we saw the manager of Carr Mill Mall trying to kick Cindy Sheehan out because of the owner’s precious property rights. The owner does not even live here. Maybe I am lapsing into nostalgia, but I just don’t think that sort of thing would have happened ten or twenty years ago.

James Coley

Without saying the James Coley is wrong, I will just note that Carrboro and Chapel Hill are actually the two most accessible, non-motor vehicle oriented towns in North Carolina.  We also have a lot more that we can do in the future in this regard.

Anyway, all of these issues get back to land use in some way.  The types and arrangment of dwellings that we build in our community have an impact on the transportation needs of the future residents of those dwellings, but land use also plays a role in determining who moves into our towns - whether we mean for it to or not. 

A certain kind of zoning may create housing that is too expensive for lower (or even middle) class buyers.  Other zoning may create housing that is less expensive but not as well suited to large families.  Zoning can also create grassy lawns or eliminate them.  Incidentally, such land-use decisions attract certain kinds of residents and repel others.

One interesting aspect of "culture" (to me at least) has always been the view that sees a culture being passed from generation to generation.  That this is not the case to the same extent that it once was in Chapel Hill or the American South, says a lot about our community.

We are a more transient community.  Many choose Chapel Hill for a variety of reasons, but for those living here and not working here, it's probably the schools that tipped their decision and not the political/social reputation.  To the extent that they are invested in the community, the nature of that investment may significantly differ from residents of the community in years past.

Ruby observed that the article indicated the belief that some "newer residents of Chapel Hill don't share the values of those of us who lived here in the "halcyon days" of outspoken progressive activism."  What's the surprise here if the nature of their investment in the community is significantly different? Just maybe progressive activism is not their thing.

 Laurin says above,

If the liberal reputation means great schools, parks, beautiful trees, quality of life, a great University and hospital, and having voices heard to make them better and protect them, then I'm all for protecting those things and don't want those days to go away. I'll fight tooth and nail for those "halycon" things despite those referenced rumblings of change. 

I don't believe those are the issues/values being referenced in the article.  I think that there is strong support for these things.  I think what is at issue is how these things are decided.  I also think what is at issue is how we deal with differences of opinion and how we deal with the allocation of our tax dollars. Bottom line, there is more outspoken differences about our priorities as a community.  Expect these differences to become more pointed as the pain in the pocketbook increases! An average of under 3% cost of living increase and a 7.76% increase in County, school and Chapel Hill taxes this year, where will it stop?

As there is a lesser degree of homogeneity in the community, differences appear starker.  At some point these differences will translate to different type candidates and more and "different" voters casting ballots.  Remember, in Chapel Hill a Council seat was won with under 3,000 votes; I predict that will change as the community continues to change.

You know , sometimes, I don't know why,
But this old town just seems so hopeless
I ain't really sure, but it seems I remember the good times
Were just a little bit more in focus

 Tom Petty uses these lines to get his arms around his girl. I'm not sure he was serious, but he did tap into something universally felt enough and vaguely expressed so the lines would work almost any place.

That's how it is with nostalgia. I miss Big Bertha only in some senses; when I think about it I know that the 18 year old drinking led to the death of far too many promising young UNC students. The numbers are unavoidable. Bertha was a part of our history but in the end a stupid part to put a point on it that is very specific.

The issues of Weaver Street are not far removed for the issues we all had not being served at various places over time. Resolving issues like this and not ignoring them, not pushing them off as something not the way it was, is what makes Chapel Hill great. 

In the 30+ years I've been here, what has made me proud of Chapel Hill is that we keep coming back to confront and to improve. We don't hide the homeless; we start plans to understand and end cronic homelessness. By in large we aren't hiding in gated communities, contributing only to our own country clubs, or avoiding involvement in our community by blaming others distant or near for our troubles.

 If Chapel Hill has a progressive tradition, it's a tradition of facing up early to problems that others ignore.

Stores retreat and renew; we lose our own youth, but others are in their prime; the worst we could have would be complacency and stagnation. We're not likely to slide backwards for long if at all.

I like that there is more walkability here than any other place I've lived at in North Carolina. I like honking my horn and flashing a peace sign at those people who set up near the whole foods. I like meeting so many people excited about the campaigns and causes I've gotten involved with in a way I never felt in Raleigh or anywhere else. I like that I can hold hands with my soon to be husband downtown and sometimes not be the only gay couple doing so, and not get negative looks. In Raleigh people would swerve their cars at you when crossing the street, or slow down to yell faggot out the window which is still a step of from Mt Airy (aka Mayberry), NC. The "political/social reputation" is a large part of why now that I'm here I don't want to live anywhere else in NC.

I'm sure I don't know everything about Chapel Hill's liberal traditions, but I make an effort to drive across town to buy my RX's from Benny at the family pharmacy as a small business instead of going to wal mart, and directing some of the advetising funds of the busniess I work at (Carrboro Plaza Vet's) to a community based group like WCHL to get to be a part of their food drive project, and to make informed decisions when voting. So even as a relative "new comer" I still feel I'm doing a part in keeping the traditions of this place alive.

- Andrew Jackson

44 years here........that makes me a native.  The 1960's and 70's were a golden age of activism and the feel of community here. Most faculty and students were not obsessed with tenure and graduate school admission. Most new faculty could afford to live in Chapel Hill (my first home in old Ridgefield was $13,200, affordable for a public school teacher making $4,200 per year). Dynamic and creative people (i.e., Gerry,  the Joe's, Marvin, Jimmy, the David's, Howard, J.D., Hilliard) were progressive leaders, with countless volunteers to get them elected if they chose to run. The PARTY was a matchless, organized, block-captain, canvassing machine.

But, like Carrboro now, it's all becoming expensive homes and drive-to-RTP-Lexus culture change.......and luxury retirement communities that can be near Pittsboro but call themselves Chapel Hill.

Sigh....... 

I first moved to Carrboro in 76 for a year of post college regrouping and because the town was pretty cool to someone who grew up in south Georgia. Then I came back in 96 as a new father; because of the schools. We were glad to pay the higher taxes because the schools worked - compared to our previous Alexandria VA community. Work took us to another progressive island in Oregon in 2000, then back here in 2006.

There may be culture wars between the old guard and new settlers here, but that kinda reminds me of the old Confederate-Yankee talk from some kids and grownups in the GA hometown of my youth. It was irrelevant to my worries then about being drafted into VietNam, and well, you know, sex and rock and roll.

The culture wars may be ignored at our peril, but I just can't get interested in them - I'm with Fred in believing that the issue is how we deal with the differences among us. The more we label each other, apply litmus tests, etc the less we'll be able to manage the changes that come.

I don't think a university town can avoid change.

Cam

Roscoe, 44 years here makes you old mostly. 

It might be said to be natural for people who create an attractive community to be resentful of people who move into it because it is attractive and in the process reduce the community's appeal.  

I got bummed out Thursday when I saw a Volvo station wagon (there used to be so many of them in Chapel Hill that it looked like they were made here, like Priuses [Priusii?] now) with a McCain bumper sticker. When I meet someone who can give an intelligent reason to support the Republicans I will rethink my opinion that members of the GOP are all morons or at best/worst greedy. (My opinion of the Democrats is not that high either but they are certainly the lesser evil). Blecch......

The real indication of change in this town is the fact that dook fans feel safe displaying their allegiance here. I remember dropping my daughter off at East Chapel High on her first day in the ninth grade (she is now a sophomore at UNC) and seeing kids in dook tee shirts and no one was chasing them. I was shocked. We have often disagreed on many things in this town but hating dook has always been a core value. (Before everyone goes all PC on me, let me state that my sister teaches at dook, I have friends who work there, blah, blah. I am talking about being a dook fan in Chapel Hill.) My daughter is pulling against the US Olympic basketball team because rat face is their coach and there are no UNC alumni on the team.

I can look past many things and consider someone a welcome addition to Chapel Hill but not if they pull for dook. 

Cam

BTW, my fond memories of Fowlers were mainly that I could charge beer to my mother and father there when I was 16 years old.  

Every time a new Orange County resident walks into my office or calls me about employment----which is more and more frequently these days--I ask them why they moved here.   My poll isn't scientific, but it is interesting. 

 If the person is married, and/or has kids:

1.  Overwhelming answer--schools. 

2.   climate/pretty area/better cost of living.

3.  better job market.

There is a very basic awareness that the community has a liberal/progressive slant but that information did not drive the decision to end up in Orange County versus,  say Alamance or Johnston.  

If the person is single, then I hear

1.  Friends/relatives in the area.

2.  I want to establish residency to go to graduate school.

3.  I like the vibe of the area/the liberal nature/environmental awareness/music scene/other quality of life measures. 

The single people who walk into my office are generally much more clued up on the political scene, the bus system, and the overall social consciousness than their married counterparts.     Or at least they are factoring those in far more heavily into their decision making.  

_________

My question---do people who move here "for the schools"  stay after their need for the schools end?    Does that matter?  

Cam

Joan

Glad to hear it! 

Retired folks move here to be close to their children.  Fearrington and Meadowmont are prime examples.  Fearrington is Chatham County, I know, and Meadowmont nudges the Durham County line, but the proximity of high quality health care probably rivals high quality schools as the main attractor. 

Catherine, I think you are right.  My  parents--dad and stepmother-- moved here two years ago,  the health care being one of the factors in their decision making.  They live in Chatham--Bynum to be exact---they wanted land and a rural landscape, but they are probably in CH/Carrboro 3-4 times a week. 

They also, interestingly enough, left Pickens County SC because they were sick and tired of how the county had degraded its schools and social services through its incessant pandering to those who want to cut taxes.   My dad said the county had cut taxes so badly that they could not fund essential programs/services and that the community's housing and land values were suffering as a result.   So Dad sold our Christmas tree farm, retired from teaching at Clemson,  my stepmother retired from the local high school, and they moved here.  They LOVE it.

I had a really interesting conversation on Friday with someone who I will not mention by name. But this person is a CH native and said that this town is no longer progressive. In other words, the "yuppies are taking over with their Southern Villages and higher taxes for good schools, protecting their own."

I

“Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained.” Helen Keller

I think a major change is from a university town to a university town/bedroom community.

Because of UNC the town had become transient, but people often came here to study or work at the university and the hospital and that created a common understanding. Students who loved the town found ways to stay (or come back). Other people moved here because of the culture that an education-oriented town creates.

Now we have a much larger population that has never had anything to do with UNC. They are working in other towns (or this town) and chose to live in Chapel Hill or Carrboro because of the schools or a neighborhood. 

What these two groups of people find appealing aboyt the town may have some overlap, but their understanding of what is central to the town may be different.