WAKE CITIZENS COALITION: October 2008

Please find below a list of relevant grassroots, public policy and political meetings for the week. Have an item you want considered for inclusion? Email wakecommunity@bellsouth.net with the group name, nature of meeting, speaker (if applicable) and time, date and location. Please put “event” in the subject line.

Thanks.

Wake Community Network

Christian Action League Regional Meeting
November 20, 2008
Coats Baptist Church – Coats, NC

October 13 – 19

Monday:

Wake County Human Services Board Executive Committee Meeting
8:00 am
Human Services, Room 5032 – 220 Swinburne Street, Raleigh

John Locke Foundation Shaftesbury Society Meeting with Jon Ham
12:00 pm
John Locke Foundation

Raleigh Board of Adjustment Meeting
1:00 pm
Raleigh City Council Chambers – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Wake County Board of Commissioners Meeting to Consider Bond Financing
2:00 pm
Wake County Public Safety Center, C-170 Conference Center – 330 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh

Apex Planning Board Meeting
4:30 pm
Apex Town Hall, Board Room – 73 Hunter Street, Apex

East Wake Partnership Network
5:00 pm
Faith Baptist Church – 2728 Marks Creek Road, Knightdale

Wake County School System District 8 Advisory Council Meeting
5:30 pm
Baucom Elementary School – 400 Hunter Street, Apex

Knightdale Planning and Engineering Committee Meeting
6:00 pm
Knightdale Town Hall – 950 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale

Wendell Board of Commissioners Meeting
7:00 pm
Wendell Town Hall, Courtroom – 15 East Fourth Street, Wendell

Southwest Citizen Advisory Council Meeting
7:00 pm
Carolina Pines Park – 2305 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh

South Citizen Advisory Council Meeting
7:00 pm
Biltmore Hills Community Center – 2615 Fitzgerald Drive, Raleigh

Wake Forest Urban Forestry Advisory Board Meeting
7:00 pm
Wake Forest Planning Office Annex – 205 S. Brooks Street, Wake Forest

Garner Planning Commission Meeting
7:30 pm
Garner Town Hall – 900 7th Avenue, Garner

Tuesday:

Wake County Board of Adjustment Meeting
9:00 am
Wake County Courthouse, Room 700 - 7th Floor – 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh

Raleigh Planning Commission Meeting
9:00 am
Raleigh City Council Chambers – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Wake County School System Facilities and Operations Committee Meeting
9:30 am
Schools Administration Building, Board Conference Room – 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

Wake County Transportation Advisory Board Meeting
10:30 am
Human Services, Room 2132 – 220 Swinburne Street, Raleigh

Raleigh Budget and Economic Development Meeting
11:00 am
Raleigh City Hall, Room 305 – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Wake County Board of Elections Meeting
12:00 pm
Wake County Board of Elections, Board’s Conference Room – 337 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh

Raleigh Convention Center Commission Meeting
12:00 pm
Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts

Wake County School System Student Achievement Committee Meeting
12:30 pm
Schools Administration Building, Board Conference Room – 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

Wake County Historic Preservation Commission Designation Committee Meeting
2:30 pm
Wake County Courthouse, Room 700 – 7th Floor – 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh

Raleigh Law and Public Safety Committee Meeting
4:30 pm
Raleigh City Council Chambers – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

East Wake Partnership Network
5:00 pm
Faith Baptist Church – 2728 Marks Creek Road, Knightdale

Southeast Raleigh Assembly Meeting
5:30 pm
Raleigh Urban Design Center – 133 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh

Wake County School System Elected Officials Meeting – Town of Cary and Town of Garner
5:30 pm
Crossroads II, Room 1320 – 110 Corning Road, Cary

Morrisville Youth Advisory Committee Meeting
6:00 pm
Cedar Fork Community Center – 1050B Town Hall Drive, Morrisville

Apex Board of Adjustment Meeting
6:00 pm
Apex Town Hall, Board Room – 73 Hunter Street, Apex

Morrisville Town Council Briefing Session Meeting
6:30 pm
Morrisville Town Hall, Council Chambers – 100 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville

Garner Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors Meeting
7:00 pm
Station #1 – 503 W. Main Street, Garner

Isabella Cannon Park Master Plan Committee Meeting
7:00 pm
2405 Wade Avenue, Raleigh

Raleigh Arts Commission Meeting
7:00 pm
Raleigh City Hall, Room 305 – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

North Central Citizen Advisory Council Meeting
7:00 pm
Tarboro Road Park – 121 Tarboro Road, Raleigh

Northwest Citizen Advisory Council Meeting
7:00 pm
Police District 21 Building – 8016 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh

Mordecai Citizen Advisory Council Meeting
7:30 pm
Trinity United Methodist Church – 824 Bloodworth Street, Raleigh

Wednesday:

Raleigh Comprehensive Planning Committee Meeting
9:00 am
Raleigh City Council Chambers – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Wake County Library Commission Meeting
12:00 pm
Library Administration Building, Wake County Office Park – 4020 Carya Drive, Raleigh

Wake County School System Finance Committee Meeting
12:30 pm
Schools Administration Building, Board Conference Room – 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

CAMPO TAC Meeting
4:00 pm
Wake County Commons Conference Center, Room 100-A – 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh

Wake County Human Services Affordable Housing Committee Meeting
4:00 pm
Human Services, Room 5032 – 220 Swinburne Street, Raleigh

East Wake Partnership Meeting
5:00 pm
Faith Baptist Church, 2728 Marks Creek Road, Knightdale

Knightdale Budget Committee Meeting
6:00 pm
Knightdale Town Hall – 950 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale

Cary Public Art Advisory Board Meeting
6:15 pm
Cary Town Hall, Conference Room 11130 – 316 N. Academy Street, Cary

Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council Meeting
7:00 pm
Raleigh City Council Chambers – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Thursday:

Raleigh Public Works Committee Meeting
8:00 am
Raleigh City Council Chambers – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Wake County Capital Area Workforce Development Board
8:30 am
Commons Building, Wake County Office Park – 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh

Wake County Information Technology Advisory Committee Meeting
9:00 am
Mezzanine Wake County Office Building, Information Services Conference Room – 337 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh

Raleigh Civil Service Commission Meeting
9:30 am
Room 809 – One Exchange Plaza, Raleigh

John Locke Foundation Headliner Luncheon with Regina Herzlinger
12:00 pm
North Raleigh Hilton – 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

Raleigh Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities
12:00 pm
Raleigh City Hall, Room 305 – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Wake County Child Fatality Prevention Team Meeting
12:00 pm
Human Services, Board Room – 220 Swinburne Street, Raleigh

Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Meeting
12:00 pm
Human Services Sunnybrook, Room 344 – 10 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh

Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting
1:30 pm
Agricultural Services Building – Room 107, Wake County Office Park – 4001 Carya Drive, Raleigh

East Wake Partnership Network Meeting
5:00 pm
Faith Baptist Church – 2728 Marks Creek Road, Knightdale

Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Meeting
5:30 pm
Jaycee Park – 2405 Wade Avenue, Raleigh

Raleigh Appearance Commission Meeting
5:30 pm
Raleigh City Hall, Room 305 – 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh

Wake County Growth Issues Task Force
6:00 pm
NC Rural Center, Wake County Office Park – 4021 Carya Drive, Raleigh

Wake County Friends of Black Children Adoption Council
6:00 pm
Tupper Memorial Baptist Church – 501 S. Blount Street, Raleigh

Cary Town Council Meeting
6:30 pm
Cary Town Hall, Council Chambers – 316 N. Academy Street, Cary

Raleigh Hillsborough Citizen Advisory Council Meeting
7:00 pm
Pullen Art Center – 105 Pullen Road, Raleigh

Apex EMS Board of Directors Meeting
7:30 pm
315 West Williams Street, Apex

Friday:

Wake County Human Services Environmental Services Committee Meeting
11:30 am
Human Services Sunnybrook, Boardroom – 10 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh

Wake County Human Services Community and Public Health Committee Meeting
12:00 pm
Rex Family Birth Center, Room 100A – 4420 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh

East Wake Partnership Network Meeting
5:00 pm
Faith Baptist Church – 2728 Marks Creek Road, Knightdale

Saturday:

Wake Forest Youth Advisory Board Meeting
9:00 am
Flaherty Park Community Center – 1226 N. White Street, Wake Forest

ACORN REARS ITS UGLY HEAD IN RALEIGH

According to the Wake County Board of Elections which has turned over suspicious voter registration forms tied to ACORN to the State Board of Elections.

Related Story

Saturday, October 11, 2008

SATURDAY'S JOURNAL - OCTOBER 11, 2008

Today’s overview:

RALEIGH MONUMET TO WASTE GROUNDBREAKING ON OCTOBER 20

KOOPMAN AGAIN: HE JUST CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE IT TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

Friday, October 10, 2008

ATTEND

Hopefully, you have already heard about the incredible Pro-Life event "Justice For All" (www.jfaweb.org) coming to the campuses of UNC and NC State Oct. 20 - 23rd. A crucial element of this ministry is the pre-event training which teaches both seasoned and baby Christians alike how to live out I Peter 3:15 "always be prepared to give an answer for the hope you have...with gentleness & respect."

This training is essential for all high school and college students, plus adults...please forward and ask them to do the following:

Please take 2 minutes to view this clip:

http://called2action.org/download/2008/jfa.wmv

May God use this clip to motivate you to read on... AND pass this on !

PLEASE SIGN UP for the TRAINING below....offered at 3 locations/ times !!
*** More compelling information is found in the "links" of the attached C2A email. Below is an actual presentation by JFA's Director, David Lee. David Lee is an ordained minister on staff with Dr. Dobson's Focus on the Family Institute where he conducts the SAME training he is bringing to North Carolina.

David Lee's 28 min. presentation:

http://www.jfaweb.org/presentations/ADD.html

Get JFA's critically acclaimed training!
Training at UNC on October 12th
Sunday, 12:00-4:30pm (pizza lunch from 12-1). Click here for the flyer.
Location: UNC Campus, Graham Student Union, 2nd Floor, Great Hall
Email Toni@jfaweb.or g to pre-register

Training at TCC on October 12th
Sunday, 6:00-9:00pm. Click here for the flyer.
Location: Triangle Community Church, Apex, North Carolina. 4216 Kildaire Farm Rd. 27539 (map)
Email Toni@jfaweb.or g to pre-register

Training at NCSU on October 19th
Sunday, 12:00-4:30pm (pizza lunch from 12-1). Click here for the flyer.
Location: NCSU Campus, Talley Student Center, Grand Ballroom, 2nd Floor (map)
Email Toni@jfaweb.or g to pre-register

WANT THE DAILY NEWSLETTER?

Wake Community puts out a daily newsletter of Wake County related news and information. To be added, send an email to wakecommunity@bellsouth.net with the words subscribe wake in the subject line.

PROFOUND QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Maybe the market will boomerang, and we'll have smiles on our faces," Gill said.

(Rosa Gill - Chair of the Wake County School Board)

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1248396.html

If not, I guess it's no big deal. You, the WakeEd Partnership and the Raleigh "support business" Chamber can tax property at 67%.

This is demonstrative of the ongoing cavalier/non-serious approach school bureaucrats have had with finances.

They would never think of taking a hard look at busing policies, potential fraud in school lunch programs, or more economical ways of building schools.

Just recently, Betty Parker, with the Wake County School System, would have cost taxpayers over $400,000 if Wake Commissioners had not initially rejected the land purchase.

Of course, its just $400,000.

WAKE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM POLICY ON DISTRIBUTION OF POLITICAL MATERIALS

Here's the policy.

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLICATIONS BY NONSTUDENTS

2420

2420.1
Review of materials to be distributed by students is governed by Policy 6810. This policy applies only to distribution of materials by non-students.

2420.2
Except as provided in this policy, non-students shall not be permitted to distribute publications on school grounds during the school day or at school activities if the materials are unrelated to instruction or a school-sponsored activity. Materials directly related to the subject of a school-sponsored activity may be distributed at the time of the event.

2420.3
The Superintendent may develop rules and procedures that allow the limited distribution to students of materials that address activities or events primarily for school-age students or which directly and substantially support the school program. These procedures shall ensure that class interruptions and administrative burdens are kept to a minimum.

2420.4
Commercial advertisements or other promotional materials shall not be distributed on campus by any person unless they relate to properly approved school or school system promotions or are contained in school-sponsored publications or productions.

2420.5
At schools used as polling places, on election days candidates may place posters on school property and campaign workers may offer prospective voters printed campaign material in accordance with the restrictions imposed on those activities by law and the respective boards of elections.

2420.6
Nothing in this policy shall be construed to create an open forum that would allow non-students access to school property for the purpose of distributing materials.

Thanks to the Wake School System for its quick response to this question on policy.

However, this policy, in our view is phenomenally weak and does not address a concern that our schools and students will be used as political vehicles.

It is our hope that Superintendent Burns would develop a memorandum for immediate distribution to school administrators outlining the prohibition and inappropriate nature of using the schools as political vehicles.

It is our hope that anyone using our school system for political purposes or tacitly condoning the use would be appropriately reported and penalized accordingly.

ELECTIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS?

Do you have children in the Wake County Public School System? Have you witnessed the distribution of political materials to your children or the use of public resources to distribute political materials?

Please let us know. We would welcome obtaining a copy of any of the materials as well.

We will keep your name and other personal information confidential.

You can contact us at wakecommunity@bellsouth.net

Thanks.

Wake Community Network

Thursday, October 9, 2008

ATTEND

The Christian Action League has their upcoming annual meetings and have split them into three regions.

Hope you will consider attending the regional meeting for Wake County on November 20.

THURSDAY'S JOURNAL - OCTOBER 9, 2008

Today’s overview:

SLOW GROWTH HURTING WAKE TAX REVENUES: ISN'T THIS WHAT STAN NORWALK AND WAKEUP WAKE COUNTY WANTED?

CHARLOTTE FREEZES HIRING, EXPENSES WHILE RALEIGH POURS MILLIONS INTO DOWNTOWN LUXURIES

WAKE COUNTY PUTS LIBRARY ON HOLD DUE TO CASH CRUNCH OF BOND MARKET

WAKE COUNTY MANAGER WANTS TO BORROW $300 MILLON FROM BANK OF AMERICA.

WAKE SCHOOLS SUFFERING FROM CASH SHORTFALL

Yet ……

WAKE SCHOOL BOARD SPENDS $9 MILLION JUST FOR LAND, JUST FOR ONE SCHOOL

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

LETTER TO JOHN DRESCHER AT THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (PART 3)

John,

Here’s yet another example straight from this morning’s front page of Triangle and Co. (Page 2B)

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/story/1245640.html

Your article lists about 200 people. Less than the 250 from the Life Chain rally on Sunday I referenced in a previous email to you. Much less than the 1000 people who march in downtown Raleigh every year for NC Right to Life that does not receive this type of coverage from your paper.

This story features a color photo and extensive story. I could not read the print edition version as the News and Observer failed to print the remainder of the story on Page 2B. Nothing was there.

As I mentioned, I am seeking to understand the standards for political/issue oriented news coverage.

Does Linda Williams, Senior Editor for News, make decisions on which stories receive coverage in the News and Observer?

I welcome a response and greater clarification.

Thanks.

Joey Stansbury

Monday, October 6, 2008

LETTER TO JOHN DRESCHER AT THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (PART 2)

John,

Here’s another good example. This is an event from the left with only about 60 people. Fairly large story.

Can you explain why this merited some pretty good coverage yet a large protest with 250 people on Six Forks Road merits none?

Just curious as to the standards.

Thanks.

Joey Stansbury

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1148447.html

Coals glow at global warming rally
Sabine Vollmer, Staff Writer Comment on this story
Leave it to Greenpeace to make grilling environmentally friendly.
The advocacy group cooked some red meat over an open fire to rally troops in the Triangle at a grass-roots election campaign Sunday.
But true to its cause, Greenpeace advertised the Pullen Park cookout on fliers printed on 100 percent recycled paper and encouraged participants to walk or bike to the event. Half of the hamburger patties and hot dogs were vegetarian, and everything was grilled over charcoal without chemical additives.
More than 60 people came, the majority of them under 30. They wrote letters, planned events and made calls designed to goose Brad Miller, a Democratic Congressman from Raleigh running for re-election, and his Republican opponent Hugh Webster into taking a stance against global warming.
In advance of the cookout, which was the first local event of Greenpeace's national Project Hot Seat, volunteers had talked to hundreds of people in the Triangle about global warming, said Kelly Miller, Greenpeace's field organizer in Raleigh.
"There's a lot of concern in the area," Miller said. "And we're not only going to vegan potlucks."
Richard Blackmon, a 24-year-old electrical engineering student, walked about a quarter of a mile to Pullen Park to participate in his first grass-roots campaign about global warming.
He said several of his family members disagree with him that melting polar ice, droughts and floods are signs of manmade climate change. Though he has tried to use less energy -- he car pools, buys long-lasting light bulbs and turns the water off while he shaves -- he had never been active politically before the Greenpeace event.
"It's about time," Blackmon said.
Ricardo Calderon, 22, who studies renewable energy sources, agreed.
"It's our generation and our children's generation that are being affected," Calderon said.
The Greenpeace event also attracted about a dozen old hands who've been green for years. The cookout was the first collaboration between Greenpeace and N.C. Interfaith Power and Light, an initiative by the N.C. Council of Churches.
"Honey, I've been doing this since the '60s," said Bonnie Reiter, 60, an environmental advocate who is active in several local groups, including the green team at the Unity Church of the Triangle in Raleigh.
Webster has yet to announce a position on global warming. And Reiter wasn't too impressed by Brad Miller's environmental record.
"He accepts global warming," she said. "But he hasn't done a darn thing about it."
sabine.vollmer@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-8992

LETTER TO JOHN DRESCHER AT THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (PART 1)

John,

I met a photographer for the News and Observer who covered the Respect Life “Life Chain” on Sunday, October 5, 2008 on Six Forks Road in Raleigh. We were pleasantly surprised and pleased that the News and Observer would cover the event. From our count over 250 participated in this protest against abortion.

I did not see any coverage of the event in the paper this morning and am perplexed. What I did notice was another protest that featured a full story on the front page of the Triangle and Co. section. The story was accompanied by two prominent photos – one of which was in full color. I also noticed that the photo featured only about 8 protesters. Your writer notes “about a dozen.”

I am just curious to know what the standards are and how this decision is made.

Year after year I see about a thousand people marching through downtown Raleigh with NC Right to Life and never is coverage displayed like this.

I will from now on be keeping a documented tab of events, the number of people attending, your coverage and provide that to you on a regular basis.

This event just fuels people’s ongoing disillusionment with the News and Observer and the well documented bigoted nature of high placed staffers such as Linda Williams. I’ve seen no public commentary on her to allay any concerns.

Also, with all her biased talk about Kenn Gardner, I’ve not seen the N and O addressing Stan Norwalk’s very sketchy ethical past. When you don’t address it, it will fuel even further speculation about Ms. Williams bigoted nature.

If a photo did appear in the N and O then I would welcome being proven wrong.

Joey Stansbury
Subscriber since 1991.