Government
Date:
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 2:00pm
I wanted to take advantage of this forum to submit an idea someone shared with me this past week. My friend noted the fact that people have recently been speaking out in favor of locating new libraries in both downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro. We came up with the suggestion that Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County should come together to build one library on or near the border shared by the two towns in the area of Rosemary Street.
This way, Chapel Hill would get the library close to downtown that has been desired and Carrboro would get the same. In theory this library could be funded from four entities if the fed chipped in. Compared to the current plan of two towns and two libraries, which proposes that Carrboro's library would be funded by Orange County and Chapel Hill's library would be funded by Chapel Hill, this would be a more efficient use of all of our tax dollars.
Progressives,
Let us count the tipping points that we face next year: political,
economic, social, climate - just for starters. The questions are: Which
way will they tip and who will do the tipping?
There is nothing mechanical about these critical tipping points.
They are mostly contests of vision, combined with sheer energy and
will, that determine who will make policy decisions, and what those
decisions will be.
As the Progressives Democrats of NC (PDNC), we have tried to be the
link between the issues and advocacy groups that matter to real people,
and the political process that can enact real reforms.
To be effective, we need to be charged up, diverse and united, and have a smart plan.
The Orange County Chapter is the host of the 2007 Annual Meeting of
the Progressive Democrats of NC and invites all to come to the concert
on Friday evening and the meeting and Democratic Lt. Governor
Candidates forum on Saturday. Membership is NOT required; however,
non-members cannot vote.
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF NC -- MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!
My husband Brian Russell and I are hosting an informal reception for Congressman Brad Miller to meet local bloggers and talk politics. Although he doesn't represent our congressional district, I feel like Brad often represents us in spirit by supporting many of the causes near and dear to Orange County's heart.
I think he's a very smart guy, and the fact that he wants to do an event like this speaks volumes about his values. You don't have to be a blogger and you don't have to give a contribution to come. Hope to see some of you there.
Please Join Congressman Brad Miller for a discussion hosted by Ruby Sinreich of OrangePolitics.org and Brian Russell of Yesh.com about the impact of blogging on today's political environment.
When: Thursday, November 29, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Mill Town Restaurant, 307 E Main St, Carrboro
Suggested Donation: $10
Cash Bar
On Monday evening, 11/5, NCDOT held a "Citizens Informational Workshop" on the Smith Level Road "improvement" project. Turnout was, to be kind, sparse. Now we enter the "public comment and public hearing" phase, the last stop before the asphalt meets the roadbed. The current DOT project plan for Smith Level (the section between Rock Haven Road and the Morgan Creek bridge) could best be described as resembling MLK Blvd.
Does the Town of Carrboro really want a multi-lane monstrosity within the town limits? Aristotle had a phrase for DOTs proclivity to seek to relieve congestion by adding travel lanes: reductio ad absurdum. At a moment of fatigue (discussion on this issue began back in 1986) the Board of Aldermen gave DOT the green light to continue planning based on the current project plan. Now here we are.
Two actions seem to be required to turn this project from boondoggle to actual improvement:
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