February 2006

Here's a new thread for contintuing discussion of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen's attempt to make themselves whole. The meeting begins at 7pm tonight at Carrboro Town Hall, and I understand it will also be on cable.

Background:
Last night's deliberation
Candidate interviews
Candidate discussion
Actual applications (PDF)

Here's Carrboro's chance to show they know how to compromise...

The Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission is opening an exhibit today at Town Hall that will include "photos, yearbooks, prom invitations, church bulletins, signs, etc., in order to highlight the people, churches, businesses, and recreational activities that have defined the African American community in Chapel Hill for decades." (CHPAC says it starts at 5:30, but I can't even find a mention on the town web site!)

Wednesday was the anniversary of the Greensboro Four's courageous action at a Woolworth lunch counter that sparked a national sit-in movement.

The Independent Weekly has a great profile on the man who thoroughly rocked us First Baptist on Martin Luther King Day: The Rev. William Barber, president of the NC Conference of the NAACP.

In addition to being the newest member of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, OP's own Dan Coleman is also the winner of today's Village Pride Award from WCHL! Click here to hear the MP3. (There is no archive so the link works today only.)

I encourage you all to nominate your own friends and colleagues for this award. It's a great way to recognize all kinds of leadership.

While I'm here, congrats to WCHL on the recent re-design of their web site, including two new ways to get local news: text archives* and audio podcasts. Thanks, WCHL! (* If the archives had a syndicated feed they'd be even better and I could add them to our local blogroll.)

I'm a little stunned. I knew that the University was working on designing and opening a model school for 3 and 4 year olds. What I didn't know is that city schools officials and UNC have proposed a plan to remove pre-K through second grades from Seawell Elementary School and site Seawell's youngest students at “First School”--- a model FPG Child Development Institute program designed to “assure a successful school entry experience for all children.” The pressure is on to review and accept this surprising proposal quickly and to turn Seawell Elementary School into a grades 3-5 school.

Please join hosts Mark Chilton, Mayor of Carrboro; Jefferson Holt; Lex and Ann Alexander; and Katie Early on Wednesday, February 15th from 7:00 to 9:00PM at 3 Cups (431 West Franklin Street) in Chapel Hill for an evening of food, drink and conversation to benefit the Common Sense Foundation.

Those in attendance will be the first to receive copies of Common Sense's newest publication on a woman's right to emergency contraception. Admission is free; donations are encouraged. To RSVP, contact me by e-mail at brian@common-sense.org or by phone at 919-821-9270.

Last year WCHL was "Building Bridges," so tell us, have we successfully crossed those troubled waters, or is there still work to be done?

My fingers are still numb from typing up summaries of last year's Community Forum, but it's time to start looking forward to that big talk once again. Because the community should not just be on the receiving end of a discussion, I want to get all of you involved now.

Please, state in no uncertain terms what you think the issues for this year's talk should be.

Right now we're leaning toward traffic patterns/pedestrian safety… workforce housing versus affordable housing… crime and public safety. What's the new wrinkle in the Town/Gown debate?

Are we off base? What's more important to you? Who should be the people talking about what matters the most to this area? (And since we want at least 7 people on each panel, don't be shy about nominating folks)

Thanks, Daniel.

After much discussion, the County Commissioners have settled on a proposal that we the voters will get to decide on this fall. They suggest leaving the board at 5 members, with 2 elected at-large (as all five are right now), 2 elected from the Chapel Hill "Township" (which includes Carrboro), and 1 elcted from the rest of the county.

The Board of Commissioners tentatively agreed Thursday on an election map that would require three of the five commissioners to live in newly created districts. Although the board is adding this residential requirement, all county residents will vote on all seats in the primaries and general election.

Voters will decide yea or nay on the plan in a referendum in November...

Internationalist Books and Community Center will commemorate the life and legacy of its founder Bob Sheldon on the date of his murder 15 years ago. On Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 PM, friends will gather to reflect on memories of the late political activist, to dedicate a public memorial in his honor, and to share their vision for the store as it begins its 25th Anniversary Celebration, which is ongoing throughout the year.

The event will take place at Internationalist Books located at 405 W. Franklin St.

For more information, call 942-1740 or go to: http://www.ibooks25.blogspot.com/

Fun, fun! The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is searching for a marketing slogan to attract business to Franklin Street. According to the N&O today businessman Lex Alexander likes “Left of Center, Right at Home”. Other members aren't so sure about this slogan. They want Alexander to go back to his Durham marketing firm and try again.

I think the Partnership needs some local input. Surely, we can help them out. Any suggestions for a catchy slogan?

Businessman Lex Alexander introduced the motto to fellow board members Wednesday after a recent brainstorming session with a Durham marketing firm.

They stared at him, wide-eyed and silent. Developer Tom Tucker managed a short "Uh... ." Other board members laughed nervously.

Alexander said the slogan meets at least one of the board's goals: It gets attention. "To me it says that we're eccentric, but it's a friendly place," he said.

Guest Post by Alan McSurely

Since the press reported the massive unconstitutional domestic spying program of President Bush and Vice President Cheney 2 months ago, a spontaneous grass roots impeachment movement has taken off. One poll showed over 53% of the American people favored an impeachment investigation, over 90% of African Americans were for such an investigation, and over 24% Republicans. This belief that our two leaders have committed crimes is well grounded. The men lied to Congress to give them authority to invade a sovereign nation. Their intentional lies, mixed with their massive ignorance of the Iraqi nation and stumblebum incompetence in handling basic governmental functions has led to the murderous mayhem in Iraq that has destroyed the Nation's leaders, its culture, and tens of thousands of its children. This is a high crime.

Candidate filing for 2006 races closes tomorow. Two more candidates are announced in the Herald. There seems to be a dearth of Commissioner candidates, even if Barry Jacobs announces a re-election campaign.

I am still waiting for someone to challenge the Register of Deeds on a platform of allowing gay marriages. Mark Dorosin, where are you...?

Here's an update that I just got from the town on the Leadership Advisory Committee's first meeting this Thursday. Contrary to what you may have read in the paper, I am not a member of this committee. And now that it's going to be broadcast live, I don't even have to drive down to The Friday Center to stay in the loop.

I don't do this often, but here's UNC's press release in it's entirety:

New Carolina North Leadership Advisory Committee to meet March 2

CHAPEL HILL – A new Leadership Advisory Committee for Carolina North will meet for the first time Thursday (March 2) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in the Redbud Room – a change from the previously announced Dogwood Room – of the William and Ida Friday Continuing Education Center.