Citizen, Indy Week

More on Randy Voller: Raleigh's Nina Szlosberg-Landis, 1st vice chair, resigns in protest

Bob Geary — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:10:00 -0400

While Randy Voller was elected chairman of the state Democratic Party in February by a narrow margin — just 11 votes out of some 600 — the newly elected first vice chair, Nina Szlosberg-Landis of Raleigh, won by a landslide. The combination of Voller, the grassroots guy, and Szlosberg-Landis, who combines big-time fundraising experience with a progressive resume in women's and environmental politics, was a hopeful sign to those wondering if the two warring wings of the Democratic Party could be brought together.…

Who's the moron? Sen. Thom Goolsby on the protests he calls "Moron Mondays"

Bob Geary — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:07:00 -0400

He's keen to start executing people again in NC, and he sneers at the concept of racial justice. In fact, sneering at black people seems like it's a specialty of state Sen. Thom Goolsby:

Sen. Thom Goolsby, R-New Hanover, on "Moral Mondays."…
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Scenes from Moral Monday at the General Assembly: June 3 should be the biggest yet

Bob Geary — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:21:00 -0400

The General Assembly isn't in session on Memorial Day — next Monday — so no "Moral Monday" protest is planned. The next one, on Monday, June 3, is shaping up as the biggest yet.…

[Kicking can / Update X 2] House not ready to renege on Dix Park lease just yet

Bob Geary — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:00 -0400

[Update x 2, 4 p.m. Wednesday] The House Judiciary Committee approved a substitute bill for Senate Bill 334 and sent it to the House floor.…

[Updated x 2: Another 'Moral Monday' next week: AP] Progressives promising Monday protests while General Assembly's in session

Bob Geary — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:32:00 -0400

[Update x 2, Thursday, May 9: The AP is reporting that next Monday will be another "Moral Monday" at the General Assembly, with non-violent civil disobedience again in the offing.]

[Update, Tuesday, May 7: The NAACP called for a candlelight vigil and protest rally tonight outside the Legislative Building. Because of predicted bad weather, they've moved to Martin St. Baptist Church, 1001 E. Martin St., Raleigh.…

UNC-CH senior arrested at the General Assembly: "I cannot in good conscience stand idly by"

Bob Geary — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:06:00 -0400

Five UNC system students, members of the NC Student Power Union, were arrested at the General Assembly yesterday. They were part of a larger demonstration of about 100 students and others in the front of the General Assembly building, the purpose of which is explained in the statement released this morning by NCSPU.…

Rep. Deborah Ross to TTA, former Rep. Grier Martin on deck

Bob Geary — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:41:00 -0400

It's one good progressive out, another ready to step back in: State Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake, is leaving the General Assembly to be general counsel at Triangle Transit. Former Rep. Grier Martin, D-Wake, who was moved ("double-bunked") into the same Wake County district with Ross by the Republicans and stepped aside to let her stay in office, is willing to return — very willing, according to his Twitter account:

Former 4-term legislator Grier Martin will run for the House District 34 seat being vacated by Rep. Deborah Ross.... fb.me/KObFUbN7
— Grier Martin (@GrierMartin) May 1, 2013

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[Updated] Losing Jamie Hahn: Raleigh and the power of passionate people

Bob Geary — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:53:00 -0400

[Update, Friday, 11 a.m.: Visitation tonight at Pullen Baptist has been extended to accommodate an expected large turnout. The time is now 5-8 p.m.…

Raleigh cyclists, ho! BikeRaleigh's spring events 4 you

Bob Geary — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:36:00 -0400

Nice day to think about fun rides for cyclists — check the link below for a list.

Hey, nice job!…
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Breaking: Raleigh City Manager Allen out on 6-2 City Council vote

Bob Geary — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:07:09 -0400

The City Council just met in special session and voted to end the tenure of City Manager Russell Allen effective July 1. The vote was 6-2.…

Why are they converging on Raleigh ... and when?

Bob Geary — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:38:00 -0400

Answer: Climate Convergence on Raleigh is coming next weekend, April 20-21. It's a major coming-together of the growing network of people and groups working on climate change and related issues (e.g., fracking) in North Carolina.…

Conscience, Raleigh: Protesters highlight Gitmo prisoners still in hell though "cleared"

Bob Geary — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:54:49 -0400

Jule Shanklin, Peggy Misch and Christina Cowger (in the picture below, from right to left) were part of the anti-Gitmo protest contingent at the federal building on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh today. Did you know that 80-some prisoners at Guantanamo have been "cleared for release" — i.e., they've never been charged with anything, because there's no evidence they were ever more than in the wrong place at the wrong time in the "War on Terror" — yet they continue to be held more than a decade later.…

[Updated] Wake County voters are 2-to-1 for Dix Park plan, strongly oppose state reneging: Public Policy Polling

Bob Geary — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:36:00 -0400

[Update, 10:30 a.m. Dix Park supporters are gathering on the site this afternoon at 5. See below for more.]

Wow, if there was any question about whether the Wake County Board of Commissioners — the Republican-led board of commissioners — were representing their constituents or their political party by coming out against the Dix Park plan, it's answered in the poll released today by Public Policy Polling.…

Prognosis good: Raleigh Councilor Crowder being treated for testicular cancer

Bob Geary — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:01:45 -0400

Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane began today's budget preview session with news about District D Councilor Thomas Crowder: He's been diagnosed with testicular cancer and will be enduring chemotherapy treatments over the next few weeks. His prognosis is good for a full recovery.…

A Good Friday note: Resurrection will "Save Our State" (plus two upcoming events in Raleigh)

Bob Geary — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:51:00 -0400

First up, there's a strategy meeting set for 6 p.m. next Tuesday, April 2 at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh — 1801 Hillsborough St. If you are among those outraged by what's going on in the General Assembly these days, and especially with the new voter-suppression legislation — this will be the NAACP and allied social justice groups and individuals coming together to make some plans.

Then, the following Tuesday, April 9, is a day for mass lobbying at the General Assembly.…

Fitzsimon: State Republicans aim to reduce voter turnout — because more voters bad for GOP

Bob Geary — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:32:00 -0400

The bill Chris Fitzsimon is talking about in the tweet below is House Bill 451, introduced yesterday by Rep. Edgar Starnes, a Republican from Hickory. (Democracy NC calls it the "Screw the Voter Act of 2013" — like!)…