Government
Well, the go-go-growth crowd is not as monolithic as I recently suggested. Sometimes competition can split even the most steadfast of allies. The Herald today reported that a
113-6 vote in the House endorsed an amendment to the state Umstead Act to allow the UNC system's 16 campuses to sell goods and services in competition with the private sector when doing so would further the teaching, research and service mission of the university.
Hackney and Insko voted in favor. Bill Faison voted against thereby joining the "anti-university" crowd that for the moment also includes Aaron Nelson. From the Herald report:
Chapel Hill Herald, Saturday May 21, 2005
Like the three-headed dog of Greek mythology, town, gown and scrubs
have put their heads together to move forward on a common initiative.
Last week, Mayor Foy, Chancellor Moeser and UNC Healthcare CEO Roper
all signed a letter to the N.C. Department of Transportation conveying
their "agreement on a solution acceptable to all parties" on the
long-delayed improvements to Chapel Hill's South Columbia Street.
Perhaps now, the turn lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks agreed to by
the town and Chancellor Michael Hooker in 1998 will at last be built.
This was quite a turnaround from recent weeks when it was learned
that the improvements were held up by the DOT and questions were raised
as to the university's involvement.
Those who follow the issue are well aware that not long after
Moeser's arrival, the university reneged on Hooker's agreement and the
planned improvements were stalled.
Chapel Hill Herald, Saturday May 14, 2005
It is certainly reasonable for parents, community leaders and officials to want to work to curtail underage drinking. But red flags go up when self-styled "vigilante mom" Dale Pratt-Wilson, organizer of the Committee for Drug and Alcohol Free Teens, makes wholesale charges of communitywide complacency and rails against our misguided "norms." That sounds a lot like the culture war rhetoric of Pat Buchanan and the moral values posturing of George W. Bush and company.
Consider the Kinahans, who were recently charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The incident occurred when police, responding to a noise complaint, discovered some teenagers drinking in their back yard during their son's birthday party. Before the party, these parents had talked with their child and his friends about rules and expectations. They stayed home to be available as an adult presence. They greeted guests at the door.
I'm having trouble getting excited about the fact that Chapel Hill won an "extreme web makeover" from a company in Kansas called Civic Plus. Just because it's free doesn't make it a good deal. Would you take a free makeover from Tammy Faye?
Based on their own website and on their portfolio, I don't really think Civic Plus has much to brag about in the design area. What's worse, this "prize" locks the town into a proprietary hosting and content management system. Will we be able to export this information in the future when we inevitably want to change change platforms?
I think a better long-term solution will be to host and manage the site with local expertise. There are only dozens of companies in the city limits (not to mention the Triangle area) that would be willing and able to do this work. So will we be able to move from Kansas to Chapel Hill gracefully, inexpensively, and on our own volition?
This weekend the Town will be christening Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. I am very excited to see this name change finally hapenning, and the Town has put together quite a celebration to commemorate the event. The fun starts Sunday at 2:30 at the intersection of Stephens Street and MLK Boulevard (near Town Hall) and winds up at the Hargarves Center with performances by an interracial choir and Liquid Pleasure - who are probably Chapel Hill's longest continuously gigging party band. There'll be something for everyone.
Y'all come!
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