Month: October 2007

  • Halloween Treat: Chapel Hill News Endorsement

    I knew my best chance for an endorsement this year was from the Chapel Hill News. These folks have watched my passionate activism on behalf of the environment, social justice, fiscal responsibility, public accountability, transparent and open governance, community engagement, planning policy and on and on for these last 6+ years. Will Raymond brings a […]

  • Joe Herzenberg

    From the Carrboro Citizen Joe Herzenberg, longtime Chapel Hill Town Council member, Democratic Party stalwart, Greenways champion and an astute historian of local politics died today from complications of diabetes. He left this world, we are told, surrounded by friends. Details of memorials to follow. I met Joe way back in ’81 when my brother […]

  • Indy Endorsement: Letter to Editor Strom

    I called Jennifer Strom last week to see if the Indy would provide me the courtesy of a response to their endorsement comments. She said they would. Here’s my response: I’m baffled by the Indy’s comments on my and Mike Kelley’s candidacies. I’m mystified by your endorsement of Indy editor Jennifer Strom’s husband Bill Strom, […]

  • Election 2007: IndyWeek Endorsement,Booker Creek and the Incumbents

    X-posted from my campaign website. The Indy found fault with my style of dissent. I’m a big guy, have a deep voice and am passionate about my well-researched issues. I believe I’m respectful in my appearances before Council (example). Folks have told me that I’m tough but fair. The Indy’s criticism, no matter how emotionally […]

  • Election 2007: Money on the Street

    X-posted from my campaign website. “Eyes on the street” in one of the key mantras the incumbents substitute for a solid financial analysis of the economic benefits of their publicly underwritten million dollar Downtown condos. Supposedly the $8.5 million tax dollars (so far) and land worth $5-8 million ($13.5-16.5 million) will help increase Downtown’s minuscule […]

  • Golf and Politics

    I play golf. Yes, I once regularly played – pretty darn well – a game once generally synonymous with elitism, bigotry and wealth. My father is a great golfer. Coming from a blue collar family,his opportunity to hone his skills came when he picked up a second job caddying clubs for the Akron country club […]

  • Election 2007: Friends of Affordable Housing Questionnaire

    X-Posted from my campaign website. I hadn’t heard of this organization prior to this election but they appear to have been active for the last 10 years. Friends of Affordable Housing is a non-partisan Political Action Committee that has been active in selective elections within Orange County during the last 10 year. The organization was […]

  • Chapel Hill News: My Mistake, Not Theirs

    Hey folks. I’ve had a number of supporters contact me about the omission of my comments on Downtown in Sunday’s Chapel Hill News. It was completely my fault. Even though I was prepared, I submitted my answers too late for inclusion in the print edition. I did post the answers several days ago here (Chapel […]

  • Election 2007: Chapel Hill News Candidate Questionnaire

    Here’s my answers to the Chapel Hill News candidate questionnaire. If the answers seem a bit terse, it’s because brevity was required. POLITICAL PARTY AND EXPERIENCE: 2005 Candidate for Town Council Town Advisory Boards: Horace-William’s Citizen Comm., Downtown Parking Task Force, Technology Board Other: Community Independent Expansion Comm. , Friends of Lincoln Arts Center While […]

  • Election 2007: Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth

    This year the NRG decided to vet the candidates via email. In 2005 they held interviews and presented the audio responses. Trying to be thorough, I went a bit overboard this year. Figuring no one would want to wade through 10 pages of answers, I tried to boil down this final response to the NRG. […]

  • Election 2007: Chapel Hill’s Diminished Environmental Credibility

    I’ve been clear – our Town’s ability to negotiate with UNC and other developers on environmental standards (or pretty much any other issue) is directly related to how well we practice what we preach. Southern Park is a great example. The Mayor and the incumbents (sans Jim Ward) thought the difficult decision was to authorize […]

  • Election 2007: Chapel Hill Sierra Club Forum

    Here’s the Chapel Hill Sierra Club forum. I’ll be adding some commentary about clear contrasts in environmental policy between the incumbents and the non-incumbents, how we should “walk the talk” on environmental protections – making both large and incremental improvements in our Town’s commitment, and how current policy sets goals the Council never plans to […]

  • Tracey Coleman on Rogers Road: Most Popular Video To Date

    At 1460 hits, this video is by and far the most popular one I’ve posted on youTube. No surprise to me as Tracey did an incredibly eloquent presentation on the flawed Solid Waste Advisory Board’s search for a new trash transfer site.

  • Election 2007: On Environment, Early to the Carolina North Party

    I’m a longtime watchdog of the UNC development process. UNC, with Carolina North, started off as they had with many of their main campus projects – discounting our community’s concerns and dispensing with residents input. I knew there had to be a better way to work towards a satisfactory conclusion for both our University and […]