September 2008

Foy or Chilton qualified to be President?

Given the GOP's pick for VP, I am asking if there are those who think being mayor of Chapel Hill or Carboro, both with larger populations than Wasilla, Alaska make them qualified to be a heart beat away from the presidency?  Interesting and frightening.

 

Orange County Dems HQ Opening Party

Via e-mail:

Announcing: the Grand Opening of the new OCDP office, Tuesday, September 2, 5:00 - 7:30 pm, at 121 South Estes Drive, Suite 102 A (just 50 feet from our old office, Suite 103 A), in Chapel Hill. Come socialize with fellow Democrats, sign up for Obama/Biden yard signs (expected by Sept 8), pick up campaign paraphernalia and registration forms, purchase Legislative Breakfast tickets, sign up to be a volunteer, donate to the cause, and enjoy light refreshments.

Coming out of a terrific National Convention, we are unified and have a great ticket, a strong and clear message, and tremendous energy. But the polls show a very tight race, and the choice of a very conservative VP candidate by McCain appears to have re-invigorated the Republican base. We are in for a fight, and North Carolina is in the thick of it. With hard work, Orange County can help carry the state for Obama/Biden, Kay Hagan, Bev Perdue, and other Democratic candidates down the ballot.

This election is crucial: are we as a nation going to continue with the failed policies and status-quo politics of the rich and powerful as usual? Or seize this historic opportunity for Change so that our government actually works, and works for all of us?

Let's get started at our Grand Opening. I hope to see you there!

Jack Sanders, Chair
Orange County Democratic Party 

Date: 

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Location: 

121 South Estes Drive, Suite 102 A, Chapel Hill

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Is the 300 East Main proposal worth supporting?

I thought this was a good article in the Chapel Hill News on Sunday about the 300 East Main proposal. It seems there is a surprisingly low amount of public focus on a project that will undoubtedly reshape Carrboro and something the people have much more control over than Carolina North. So I'd like to ramp up the discussion.

Community Book Forum: Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights

The Carrboro Cybrary and Carrboro Recreation and Parks invite the community to read the UNC Summer Reading selection, Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights by Kenji Yoshino, and join us for a discussion with a panel of local experts.

Panelists:

Lydia Lavelle, Carrboro Alderman and NCCU Professor of "Sexual Identity and the Law"

Ian Palmquist, Director, Equality NC

Yuri Yamamoto, NCSU Professor

 

“In Covering, Yoshino deftly blends autobiography and legal reasoning to make a case for the profound importance of individualism, autonomy, and self-expression in our conceptualization of civil and political rights. By introducing sociologist Erving Goffman's notion of "covering" — how people are formally or informally coerced into toning down stigmatized identities, even when such identities are known — into the legal lexicon, Yoshino has both broadened and calibrated more finely the way we think and talk about identity politics and civil rights.

Yoshino, who is Japanese-American and gay, draws much on his own identity markers in Covering, but the overall thesis is applicable to any and all people whose identities, for one reason or another, are subject to stigma and who, as a result, are prone to "covering" behaviors. In Yoshino's view, such behaviors — based on differences in race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, etc. — are not only harmful psychologically to those forced to cover, but also morally impoverishing to socially-dominant groups, and threatening to the civil rights of us all. In calling for broad social acceptance of individuality and self-expression, Yoshino challenges us to think more clearly about who we are and about what constitutes true equality, social justice, and human dignity.”

— Peter A. Coclanis
Chair, Carolina Summer Reading Program Committee

Contact:

918-7387, cybrary@co.orange.nc.us

Date: 

Monday, September 22, 2008 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Location: 

Century Hall, Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St.

DCHCMPO public workshop on alternative transportation

George C: The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is currently evaluating transportation Alternatives for the region that list future highway, bus transit, light rail, bicycle, pedestrian and other transportation projects to be implemented through the year 2035. Citizens are encouraged to review the Alternatives and provide feedback.

A Hands: The workshops consist of DCHCMPO planners meeting with the public to answer questions and discuss the plans--i.e. you don't need to be there for the full three hours, and you won't be asked to "do" anything (except that that they'll give you a simple one page feedback form with five questions about investment priorities, funding and policies.)

Date: 

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: 

Chapel Hill Public Library

Courtyard owner's mouth writing checks his bank can't cash

I hope none of you were surprised to hear about this development. (If so, it's because you apparently didn't read my recent rant about "the problem with downtown." Hint: It has something to do with negligent landlords.)

The bank filed a request late last month for a foreclosure hearing in Orange County Superior Court, saying Spencer C. Young Investments wasn't making payments on $2.63 million it had borrowed in 2005 to buy the property.

[...] 

In June, a collection agency sued Young, saying he had defaulted on a $15,000 credit line from Citibank. Earlier, Wright Co. Electrical and Maintenance Services sued Young in Orange County small claims court, claiming almost $3,000 in unpaid services there and at a shopping center he owns in Durham.

This summer, Raleigh-based Benjamin Construction Inc. sued Young for more than $550,000, saying he did not pay for construction of Baba Ghannouj, a Middle Eastern restaurant, and various general improvements to the property.

Chancellor puts investment into blind trust

I'm not even sure if this is a story, but it seemed interesting to me. It seems that UNC's new chancellor Holden Thorp was a partner with an RTP-based venture capital business that supports biotech start-ups.  The chancellor had planned to continue his role there, but his brother Clay Thorp (who went to UNC with me) is the general partner there and felt it would be best to cut official ties.

Thorp is no longer a venture partner at Durham’s Hatteras Venture Partners, says his brother, Hatteras general partner Clay Thorp. And Holden Thorp’s equity stake in Hatteras has been put into a blind trust.

Clay Thorp says the decision was made as Holden Thorp took over the top spot at UNC on July 1.

“We decided mutually that it was best for him to have no formal role,” Clay Thorp says, “and to avoid any confusion.”

Holden and Clay Thorp still have informal discussions about science and business, Clay Thorp says. But that’s as far as Holden Thorp’s relationship with Hatteras goes.

Klecka Naturals Featured on WCOM's West End Report TODAY

Check out today's West End Report featuring Richard Klecka of Kleck Naturals. Tune in right now! 6pm or stream live at www.communityradio.coop

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