Triangulator

politics / Carrboro Herrera Resigns Carrboro Alderman Post

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 1:46 PM

Another one bites the dust. Carrboro Alderman John Herrera is leaving office early, following neighbor and former Chapel Hill Town Councilman Bill Strom out of the area.

Herrera, who opted against running for a third election, is stepping down five months before the end of his term.

A native of Costa Rica, he was the first Hispanic immigrant elected to a N.C. municipal office in 2001. He is the chairman and co-founder of the Latino Community Credit Union in Durham.

It's not immediately clear how Carrboro will proceed. Mayor Mark Chilton is on vacation, and the Board of Alderman hasn't met since June 16. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

Herrera sent the following message to colleagues:

Dear Mayor, Colleagues and staff:

It is with mixed feelings that I am writing this short note to notify you that I am submitting my resignation to the Board of Alderman of Carrboro. Due to my new change of residence outside of the city limits. I just bought a house in Holly Springs, NC and I am in the process of moving.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to have work with you and served this beautiful town a an Alderman and Mayor Pro-Term. The appreciation for community diversity and the progressive community values that Carrboro has, it is what makes us unique from most towns in North Carolina and in the United States. I am very proud and grateful for the opportunity that Carrboro granted me to be a public servant. I will continue following the new developments of Carrboro and will continue to pray that the Creator always grant you wisdom and knowledge to continue to lead and serve this great community of Carrboro.

My most sincere greetings to all of you. If I can be of help in any capacity and I am able to help, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please let me know if there is an official protocol that I need to follow to do this. I will like to have had the chance to thank in a public meeting all the people of Carrboro for this unique opportunity.

Sincerely,

John A. Herrera

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politics / Raleigh Goldberg loses residency challenge in Raleigh Council race

Posted by Lisa Sorg on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 7:26 PM

Jerome Goldberg, candidate for Raleigh City Council, did not meet the residency requirements to run for office from District D, the Wake County Board of Elections ruled today. A voter had challenged Goldberg’s residency; the Elections Board upheld the challenge.

Goldberg, a Democrat, can appeal the Wake County Election Board ruling to the N.C. Board of Elections; Goldberg could not be reached immediately for comment.

Had the Elections Board ruled in favor of Goldberg, he would have faced incumbent Thomas Crowder and fellow challenger Ted Van Dyk for the Oct. 6 election.

According to the Elections Board, when Goldberg filed, he listed his address as a home on Avent Ferry Road, one of many properties Goldberg, a city inspector, owns. However, the official Election Board document shows Goldberg as living at 8901 O’Neal Road.

Wake County online maps show that address, bordered by Leesville Road and Ray Road to the west and east and Strickland Road to the south, as lying outside of any council district, although just blocks away from District is E. That district is represented by Philip Isley, who is not running for re-election. Bonner Gaylord and Waheed Haq are running for that seat.

This is the latest ballot quandary for the Wake County Elections Board, which has already printed the ballots. 2009octobersampleballots

Earlier this week, at-large council candidate Bill Shakespeare and school board candidate Chris Augustine withdrew from the race.

Ballots will be sent to Wake County's overseas military personnel Monday, Aug. 17.

An Elections Board spokesperson said it is seeking advice from state election officials on how to count ballots cast for Goldberg, Shakespeare and Augustine.

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Tags: Jerome Goldberg, Waheed Haq, Ted Van Dyk, N.C. Board of Elections, residency requirement ruling, Thomas Crowder, Philip Isley, Wake County Board of Elections, Bonner Gaylord

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North Carolina Perdue signs Racial Justice Act into law

Posted by Matt Saldaña on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 5:19 PM

Today, Gov. Beverly Perdue signed into law the Racial Justice Act, saying the bill's passage "ensures that when North Carolina hands down our state’s harshest punishment to our most heinous criminals – the decision is based on the facts and the law, not racial prejudice.”

Perdue's signature, which follows a dramatic 25-18 N.C. Senate vote, makes North Carolina only the second U.S. state to pass legislation that allows capital defendants to present evidence--including statistical data--arguing that race was an underlying factor in the decision to seek, or impose, the death penalty at the time of their trial. Previously, defendants could only make a claim of racial discrimination based on explicit evidence of racism in the courtroom.

The law gives current death-row inmates one year to file a claim, and allows all other capital defendants to present such a claim during pre-trial hearings, or following the sentencing phase. If a judge is satisfied that the defendant has proven race was an underlying factor, despite counter-evidence presented by the prosecution, he or she can reduce the sentence or the charge to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Press releases from the Governor's office, Amnesty International, and the N.C. NAACP, after the jump:

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Tags: NC General Assembly, racial justice act, Earline Parmon, Floyd McKissick, Paul Luebke, Bev Perdue, Larry Womble, Pricey Harrison, NAACP

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Orange County An Orange County Emergency, 911 in Limbo

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 3:59 PM

Update: 4:14 p.m. - All systems are go. 911 is back up and operating. Call that number for all of your emergency needs.

Someone call 911. Oh, wait. You can't. It's down in Orange County. If you have an emergency, hang up and dial 919-732-5658.

County information officer Doug David Hunt said specialists are trying to determine the cause of the outage and are working to correct it. He wasn't sure when 911 would be back up.

He did say that the problem appears to be limited to Embarq customers and that a CodeRED alert was sent to all affected parties.

Check back for more details as they develop.

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Durham County / environment / Chatham County Environmental group seeks to intervene in Jordan Lake lawsuit; DWQ gives mixed messages

Posted by Matt Saldaña on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 1:55 PM

Update (4:23 p.m.): Head over to indyweek.com for an updated version of this story, and check back here for further updates on tonight's hearing. Also, see below for a PDF of Southern Environmental Law Center's motion.

One day before the Durham Planning Commission meets to discuss a contested boundary that protects Jordan Lake, two environmental advocacy groups have filed a motion to intervene (PDF, 160 KB) in a lawsuit that would force the county to re-draw the lake's protected area without a public hearing. The motion, filed on August 10 by the Southern Environmental Law Center, seeks to allow the Haw River Assembly, a non-profit environmental group, to "participate fully as a party in defense of Durham County's decision to commence a formal process for the proposed changes to the watershed boundary."

Last June, Southern Durham Development, the would-be developer of a massive, mixed-use project that falls within a half-mile one-mile protected area of Jordan Lake, sued the county after commissioners voted to conduct a public hearing before implementing a survey, commissioned by company shareholder Neal Hunter, that would move the entire 164-acre project outside the lake's protected area. Later that month, the Haw River Assembly released its own survey and hydrologist's report that found the project was closer to the lake than on current maps, and within the half-mile one-mile boundary.

In an interview, HRA executive director Elaine Chiosso said the motion to intervene "is more about the process than the actual merits of a survey, but this step has to be taken first.”

“We would be supporting the Durham County Commissioners, and the action they took to say, 'You can’t treat this like a simple map change. It’s affecting the entire boundary,'" she said.

The motion claims HRA has standing in the lawsuit, because its members "live, work, and recreate in the Jordan Lake watershed," and, for at least 100 members, rely on it for drinking water. It also claims HRA's interests "are not adequately represented by existing parties." The suit states:

At the outset, Durham County may consider settlement with the developer out of Court because of liability concerns, rather than vigorously defend the rights of HRA and its members to participate in a public process for consideration of zoning changes that will promote development in a rural area of Durham County and the Jordan Lake watershed.

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Tags: Southern Environmental Law Center, Neal Hunter, Southern Durham Development, 751 Assemblage, haw river assembly, jordan lake

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politics / Wake County / Raleigh Another two bite the dust: Augustine and Shakespeare out

Posted by Lisa Sorg on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 4:11 PM

Raleigh City Council candidate Bill Shakespeare is withdrawing from the race for the at-large seat, he told the Indy today. That leaves Lee Sartain, Champ Claris and incumbents Mary-Ann Baldwin and Russ Stephenson competing for two seats.

And a hat tip to The News & Observer, which reported that Chris Augustine is leaving the District 2 Wake School Board race. It sounds like Augustine didn't have the political appetite for the job. Here's his statement, as reported by The N&O:

"The task to implement the cuts imposed by the State will be onerous to whoever is elected to the Wake County Board of Education district #2. Even to a person with an MBA like me, he or she would have to be insane to want this herculean task, especially this year. The position has no revenue authority but it has mandates from the County, the State and the Federal government to cut costs in a draconian fashion. I can only imagine what will be cut: foreign languages, art, and/or music. The sizes of classes will undoubtedly be increased and programs for the gifted as well as challenged will be sliced. And I wouldn't be surprised if magnet schools were cut. I for one would have liked to have questioned some of the Federal unfunded mandates. I would have liked to have increased competition between the schools by allowing parents to choose their own schools. And I would have liked to have fought to get the social policy agendas out of our school system. But alas any new ideas will probably be drown out by the upcoming pain. My name will remain on the ballot, but I am not going to actively campaign. I wish the best for whoever wins; they will surely need it."

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Tags: Raleigh City Council, Wake School Board, Bill Shakespeare, Add new tag, Chris Augustine

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Friday, August 7, 2009

Chapel Hill / economy / Orange County / business Federal Regulators Order Harrington Bank to Meet Strict Requirements

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 2:32 PM

Chapel Hill-based Harrington Bank ads tell customers, "You deserve banking like this." In a 28-page report issued July 21, federal regulators disagreed.

They notified the bank that it must stop issuing land and construction loans, develop more stringent loan requirements and bolster its capital. Under the supervisory agreement reached with the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), the primary regulator of thrift organizations including savings banks and loan associations, the bank will face federal takeover unless it does just that by the end of the calendar year.

Harrington, which was named the large business of the year by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce for 2008, faces a far different plight now.

OTS found that the bank "failed to comply with the requirements of laws and regulations to which the Association is subject, failed to adopt and implement appropriate and comprehensive operational and risk management practices and strategies, and failed to identify and correct other deficiencies and weaknesses in its operations."

The agreement outlines that Harrington must:

• achieve a risk-based capital ratio of 8 to 12 percent and prepare and maintain a written plan to keep that level;

• reduce operating expenses, adopt a liquidity plan and create more scrupulous loan requirements;

• stop originating or purchasing loans for new construction, nonresidential real estate and land;

• OK all executive pay changes with OTS.

Bank President and CEO Larry Loeser is on vacation until Monday. Harrington officials are directing media inquiries to him when he returns.

Harrington Bank has a main office on N.C. Hwy 54 and Farrington Road and has two branches in Chapel Hill and one in Raleigh.

You can find the full agreement here.

Triangle Business Journal, which broke this story Friday morning, originally reported that Harrington was issued a "cease and desist order." TBJ has since amended that to a "supervisory agreement."

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Thursday, August 6, 2009

politics / News / North Carolina North Carolina General Assembly passes Racial Justice Act

Posted by Matt Saldaña on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 6:00 PM

After approving versions of roughly three-dozen bills, hammering out a state budget, and deliberating for more than three hours, the N.C. Senate had one bill left on its agenda Wednesday night: the Racial Justice Act. The Senate had previously passed a version of the landmark bill, which would prevent the execution of defendants on the basis of race, but not before tacking on a controversial amendment—introduced by Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham)—that would simultaneously ensure the resumption of capital punishment in North Carolina.

When it came time for the Senate to concur with a “clean” House version that abandoned the controversial clauses, Sen. Floyd McKissick (D-Durham), the bill’s sponsor, stood up, pointed his finger to the chamber’s door, and left in a hurry. Later, the chamber recessed for nearly an hour while the Democrats held a private caucus on the bill.

At roughly 7:45 p.m., the Democrats emerged, and McKissick—who had delayed the vote twice in the past week to garner enough supporters—said, “I would simply ask my colleagues to concur.”

After Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand (D-Cumberland), and two other senators, “paired” their votes with legislators who were absent—essentially dodging a vote on the issue—Democrats voted nearly in unison for the bill, 25-18, ensuring its passage and ratification. In an interview, Chrissy Pearson, press secretary for Gov. Beverly Perdue, said the governor was expected to sign the bill into law.

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Tags: Doug Berger, racial justice act, Floyd McKissick, Charles Albertson, Beverly Perdue, Add new tag, Tony Rand, Phil Berger

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Chapel Hill / Orange County / Carrboro Chapel Hill, Carrboro Schools Master Their ABCs

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 4:56 PM

Students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district passed the test during the 2008-2009 academic year. All 17 schools in the achieved "Expected Growth" status with all but two earning "High Growth" marks, based on End-of-Grade and End-of-Course exams.

High growth means 60 percent or more of the students met growth targets. Culbreth Middle School and Frank Porter Graham Elementary were the sole institutions to not reach that mark in this latest ABCs of Public Instruction analysis.

Glenwood and Seawell Elementary and Phillips Middle School each were dubbed as a "Honor School of Excellence" with 90 percent of more pupils performing at or above grade level. FPG was a "School of Progress" with 70 percent. The 14 others are named as a "School of Distinction" at 80 percent.

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Orange County / Uncategorized / Carrboro No Arrests in Carrboro on Wednesday

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 11:58 AM

All's quiet on the Carrboro front. Officers in the Paris of the Piedmont filed 12 incident reports and responded to two traffic accidents Wednesday. No arrests were made.

Among the incidents (police narratives in parentheses):

• an animal call (Complainant states that there is a black snake in front of her front door. On arrival the snake had moved to the bushes in front of the house. I was unable to locate the animal. I advised her to call if it came back.)

• three men attempting to smoke a blunt at the Carrboro-based Chapel Hill Tennis Club (Mr. Powell disposed of the marijuana by opening the piece of bag and emptying it in a large trash can along with the cigar paraphernalia. No charges were filed in the incident. All parties involved were advised they should not return to the business unless during business hours.--no further)

• a parking space dispute (I responded to 310 N Greensboro St in reference to communicating threats. The complainant, Charlotte Livingston, advised that she and a black male, identified as Anthony Paige, had gotten into a verbal altercation over a parking spot. She stated that she pulled into a parking spot in that Paige had been waiting for. She advised that once she pulled in he yelled at her "that`s fucked up." She stated that she then yelled back "kiss my ass." She advised that once inside Harris Teeter, Paige approached her and told her "you don`t know who you're fucking with." She stated that Paige also threatened to hit her in the face. Paige advised that Livingston had cut him off pulling into a parking spot. He advised that he did yell at her and used profanity. He stated that he told her "you don`t know who you`re fucking with." He stated that he did not make any threats to Livingston's safety.

Livingston was referred to the magistrate in reference to the threats. She advised that she did not wish to pursue charges. Both parties left the area. No further assistance needed.)

Indy Week

Triangulator

Thursday, August 20, 2009

politics / Carrboro Herrera Resigns Carrboro Alderman Post

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 1:46 PM

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

politics / Raleigh Goldberg loses residency challenge in Raleigh Council race

Posted by Lisa Sorg on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 7:26 PM

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

North Carolina Perdue signs Racial Justice Act into law

Posted by Matt Saldaña on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 5:19 PM

Orange County An Orange County Emergency, 911 in Limbo

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 3:59 PM

Durham County / environment / Chatham County Environmental group seeks to intervene in Jordan Lake lawsuit; DWQ gives mixed messages

Posted by Matt Saldaña on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 1:55 PM

Monday, August 10, 2009

politics / Wake County / Raleigh Another two bite the dust: Augustine and Shakespeare out

Posted by Lisa Sorg on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 4:11 PM

Friday, August 7, 2009

Chapel Hill / economy / Orange County / business Federal Regulators Order Harrington Bank to Meet Strict Requirements

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 2:32 PM

Thursday, August 6, 2009

politics / News / North Carolina North Carolina General Assembly passes Racial Justice Act

Posted by Matt Saldaña on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Chapel Hill / Orange County / Carrboro Chapel Hill, Carrboro Schools Master Their ABCs

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 4:56 PM

Orange County / Uncategorized / Carrboro No Arrests in Carrboro on Wednesday

Posted by Joe Schwartz on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 11:58 AM

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