I wish our state lawmakers would do something useful like pass legislation to quell the sex life of trees. My allergies tell me pollen season has started with a vengeance. Instead, the N.C. General Assembly that wants to see a driver’s license before you vote, now wants to see a birth certificate before you use […]
All posts in category Politics
HB-2 & You & Me & Us & Them
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 28, 2016
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2016/03/28/hb-2-you-me-us-them/
Money, money, money
How to spend money wreaks havoc on many a marriage. As Town Council, with its four new members, begins the budgeting process this year, I wonder how our new council relationships will fare. The town’s financial director, Ken Pennoyer, will give a presentation at Monday night’s meeting that involves shifting some unexpected leftover money to […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on February 8, 2016
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2016/02/08/money-money-money-2/
Council retreat
I suppose I’d be opening up fresh wounds if I proposed that before people weigh in on the icy sidewalk problem they first go see The Martian. The movie captures one of my core philosophies of life: the notion of chipping away. In the face of futility, continue to live your life. Stay true to […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on February 1, 2016
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2016/02/01/council-retreat/
We have to talk
Jim Ward set the bar high during the Dec. 2 organizational meeting when it came to thanking his family for their support during the 16 years he served on Town Council. It was pointed out to me, archly, that I did not single out any family members in my generic thanks. So, here’s what I […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 14, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/12/14/we-have-to-talk/
Council leads whole community
Usually it’s the victors who write the histories, but in Chapel Hill politics lately the losers are busy scribbling and publishing and mischaracterizing the outcome of the most recent election, as does a column in The Chapel Hill News Nov. 29, “New council must lead divided community.” Molly De Marco and Travis Crayton wrote that […]
Posted by Don Evans on December 7, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/12/07/council-leads-whole-community/
The Council Show
At the election night party I attended last week, the wife of a supporter mentioned that she’d gotten so caught up in the excitement of the campaign that she might even tune into what she called “The Council Show.” Certainly campaign and post-election coverage in the popular press loads expectation that episodes of The Council […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 9, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/11/09/the-council-show/
The big money at stake
This election boils down to economic theory. One theory, held by the incumbents and a challenger who as an advisory board member voted in lockstep with them, aims to add enough luxury housing filled with high-wealth individuals that national chain stores will open branches in town. This group is banking on sales tax revenue and […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 2, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/11/02/the-big-money-at-stake/
A not-as-long goodbye
On 60 Minutes last night, President Obama talked about how he felt coming to the end of his legally allotted two terms and whether he wished he could serve a third. He said, as all incumbents do, that he was proud of what he had accomplished so far in office and that there was more […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on October 12, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/10/12/a-not-as-long-goodbye/
New faces in town races
Last week I put my money where my mouth is — $5, to be exact. I filed to run for a seat on Town Council. For the six years I’ve been writing Chapel Hill Watch, I’ve tuned in every Monday night during Town Council season and sat on my couch cheering on various council and […]
Posted by NancyDon on July 13, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/07/13/new-faces-in-town-races/
Getting to No*
Town Council doesn’t have the option of remaining silent in uncomfortable situations. Sometimes saying “no” can be extraordinarily difficult, far harder than not saying “yes.” Saying “no” can be more difficult still when you have a relationship or connection with the other party. What are the expectations? The personal responsibility? The implied agreement? What are […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on June 29, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/06/29/getting-to-no/