I got a hint of the complexity of the relationship between town and county governing bodies after watching Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt address the Orange County Board of Commissioners not long ago about the matter of Chapel Hill becoming the official first-responder to fires in the extra-territorial jurisdiction. At its Feb. 11 meeting, Town Council discussed [...]
All posts in category Politics
Heated exchange over fire district
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 11, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/03/11/heated-exchange-over-fire-district/
And the answer is …
After last Wednesday’s marathon student-bashing that pushed a couple concept reviews off the agenda, tonight’s meeting portends to be something of a sleeper. Nothing nefarious slipped into the Consent Agenda – even the resolution to amend the town manager’s authority to enter into contracts turns out to extend the authority to department heads, not concentrate [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 28, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/28/greene-piece/
Greene-lash
Laurin Easthom announced last night that she will not run for re-election in the fall. Oddly, she used her announcement as a twisted rationale for voting against a new voice on council. Her logic: A new voice on council would be good, just not now, and not until you’ve gone through the hazing process of [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 24, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/24/greene-lash/
Outgoing to be incoming?
Must you be an extrovert to lead? Experts at Kenan-Flagler Business School I’ve buttonholed say no. Some leaders excel at relationship building and charisma. Others lead with their analytical abilities and strategic thinking. Still others attract a following through their insights, innovation and entrepreneurship. You’ll find introverts in all three groups. Politicians, on the other [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 21, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/21/outgoing-to-be-incoming/
Peace on the dais
Talk about your lions lying down with your lambs. Council members at Monday night’s meeting demonstrated a collegiality I haven’t seen, even going back to those councils that rubber-stamped every vote, 9-0. Jim Ward and Ed Harrison backed Matt Czajkowski more than once. Lee Storrow softened his position to avoid a deadlock on the controversial [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 5, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/12/05/peace-on-the-dais/
Talk and ride
If Church of Reconciliation didn’t know it before, it knows it now: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Last month, the Presbyterian church that formed in support of the civil rights movement and since has taken controversial stands on a number of issues in the name of peace and unity put up [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on September 4, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/09/04/talk-and-ride/
Call it a night
Time was Ed Harrison would joke about the council meeting he presided over that spilled into the next day. The meeting was memorable not only because it ended on his birthday but because of the rarity of a council meeting lasting past midnight. These days, it’s noteworthy if council ends before 11 p.m. Laurin Easthom [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on July 30, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/07/30/call-it-a-night/
Elections bought and paid for
Tonight’s Town Council meeting includes several interesting nuggets, not the least of which is a proposal to extend the taxpayer-financed elections program, known as Voter Owned Elections, set to expire on July 1, 2012. VOE, which the General Assembly signed into law in 2007, authorizes the town to give taxpayer-generated revenue to candidates running for [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 30, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/04/30/elections-bought-and-paid-for/
Save all of us from ourselves
The town has confidence in us to use our handguns responsibly in public parks, and perhaps to use our cell phones responsibly on public roads (unless we are single or in a marriage not recognized by the state or are childless or orphaned), but not to make decisions in the best interest of health regarding [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 26, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/03/26/save-all-of-us-from-ourselves/
Two-faced
The hypocrisy can pile up only so far before it starts impeding progress. Take this In-the-Pockets-of-Developers misdirection on Tuesday at the election forum co-sponsored by Neighbors for Responsible Growth: The moderator ominously asked Matt Czajkowski, Jon DeHart and Laney Dale whether they had taken campaign contributions from developers. As if this were the McCarthy hearings [...]
Posted by Don Evans on October 14, 2011
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2011/10/14/two-faced/