Tuesday, October 25, 2011

HOLLY SPRINGS BONDS

Wake Community Network friend and former Holly Springs Councilman Vinnie Debenedetto has shared these thougths with us on Holly Springs upcoming bond:

What’s wrong with this picture?

The Federal Government gets its bond rating lowered,  interest rates for state and municipal borrowing will be going up, taxpayers are losing their jobs, homeowners are having a difficult time meeting their current tax obligations and the Town of Holly Springs wants to issue a $20 mil bond for  park and recreational wants.  What’s wrong with this picture?

Councilman Sack, who is running for reelection, is quoted as saying ..”bonds would allow the town to make investments”….and “the longer we wait”….”the more expensive it will be”.  What does Sack mean about return on investment?  In this economic environment it would seem the priority should be to reduce expenses and invest in projects that create jobs.  Regarding the waiting comment, the Town missed the boat on financing of the Hunt Center.  They jumped the gun and as a result of that decision we have a renovation that cost $6.5 million and with the interest it brings the total cost to the taxpayers at over $10 mil.  The Council, including Councilman Sack, approved a financing plan, recommended by town staff, to borrow at a 5.2% interest rate without the ability to refinance for 10 years.  Why would anyone agree to these terms?

Councilwoman Williams recently stated  “she doesn’t think it will be necessary to raise taxes”.  How does she expect to raise this amount of money?  The town is already maxed out on its credit card by having cost of debt at $3.7 million on $23.6 total general fund expenditures.  As a result the town has a 16% debt ratio the highest of any town in Wake County.  And to balance the budget, the town is borrowing $250,000 in installment financing and another $277,000 from fund balance.  With this bleak of a financial borrowing potential, Williams seems to imply that the funds will come from cost reductions. 

In addition, Councilman VanFossen also made a recent statement …”we have the borrowing capacity”.  To many of us it is quite obvious there is no more leverage the town can use to borrow other than raising taxes.  And if VanFossen was so concerned about the Hunt Community Center not having enough space, why didn’t he support land purchase of adjacent land that was put forth by Councilman Womble? 

What’s wrong with this picture?

NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 25, 2011


WAKE COMMUNITY NETWORK 
The assignment plan includes achievement as a small element of the equation, which could help prevent the concentration of too many low-performing students in some schools. Hill wants to make achievement a bigger part of the formula, equal to proximity.

Hill presents CUBE Award


They say a picture is worth 1000 words. In this case a picture is worth thousands of reaassigned children. In this photo, Kevin Hill presents the National School Boards Association Council of Urban Boards of Education's Award to the Wake County Board of Education.

And why did Wake County receive the award?

"The judges felt the (Wake} school board's commitment to diversity should be really recognized," said Katrina Kelley, director of the CUBE program.

N&O

And what did Kevin Hill have to say?

Mr. Hill addressed all of the Board members as he presented an award. Mr. Hill stated that,

“On Saturday, October 10th, the Wake County Board of Education was recognized by the National School Board’s Association’s Council of Urban Board’s of Education at their annual conference in Austin, Texas. It was one of the proudest moments in my long career with the Wake County Public School System, and now serving as a member of this Board to boot, to accept this recognition on behalf of the Board of Education.

The Wake County Board of Education received recognition for Outstanding Commitment and Service to Diversity. When receiving this plaque, I credited Ms. Rosa Gill for her leadership and initiative as chair of the past two previous years, along with the teachers and staff that make this happen daily for all of our children in Wake County.

The other school system that was recognized in this category was Jefferson County Public School System in Kentucky. They recently adopted a student assignment plan based on choice; it took 12 to 13 months to put their plan together. They contacted us last week because they wanted to talk because they didn’t feel it was working.

(emphasis added)


"... one of the proudest moments ..."

Maybe Mr. Hill can tell us about the conversation with Jefferson County and why "choice" wasn't "working".

Have a news tip or something you feel needs coverage? Let us know. Send an email to wakeactive@gmail.com.

This newsletter and archived editions are available here.


In today's Daily Journal:

  • Hill: Diversity equal to proximity
  • Downtown spending = 84 crashes 

Visit Wake Community Network to read the stories and more at:


Want your voice heard? Send the N&O a letter to the editor. Click here.


Calendar

Governmental:

Left:

Right:

Run for Life (RESCHEDULED DUE TO IRENE)
Saturday, November 12, 9 am
Wake Med Soccer Park
Cary, NC

40 Days for Life Raleigh Prayer Vigil Campaign
September 28 - November 6, 7 am - 7 pm
A Woman's Choice
3305 Drake Circle, Raleigh

Have a local event to publicize? Send the details to wakeactive@gmail.com.


Subscribe to the newsletter here.

DAILY JOURNAL - OCTOBER 25, 2011


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

AFP CUT SPENDING NOW TOUR FRIDAY

Join Americans for Prosperity

at the

Cut Spending Now Tour
in Raleigh

Help us get out the message that Washington, DC
needs to tighten its belt!


(All registrants will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a trip to DC for our Defending the American Dream Summit November 4-5! Winner will be notified Tuesday, October 25.)

October 21-22 (Friday and Saturday)
North Carolina State Fair

All Day

Across Trinity Road from GATE 9
4200 Trinity Road
Raleigh, NC 27607

POLITICS ON THE CITY DIME

MAYORS, COUNCIL INVITE PUBLIC TO RALLY ROUND RALEIGH’S BONDS, TUESDAY IN NASH SQUARE



The public is invited to rally with Raleigh mayors past and present, and Raleigh City Council members in support of transportation and housing bonds.



Raleigh’s mayor for the past 10 years, Charles Meeker will be joined by former mayor Tom Bradshaw, who served as mayor from 1971 to 1973, and Smedes York who led the City from 1979 to 1983. Sig Hutchinson, chair of the bond support committee, will join the mayors in leading the event.



The rally to approve the City of Raleigh transportation and housing bond proposals will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. in Nash Square


DAILY JOURNAL - OCTOBER 19, 2011








Sunday, October 9, 2011

VOTE NO ON BONDS

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Oct 9, 2011

Contact: Dallas Woodhouse (919) 671-1050


LOCAL LEADERS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST RALEIGH BOND PROPOSAL
 

Raleigh, NC – Representatives from Americans for Prosperity, the Wake County Taxpayers Association and other Raleigh citizens will join together Monday morning to speak against Raleigh’s proposed $56 million housing and transportation bond proposal.



The bond’s approval would add .91 cents per $100 valuation to the City of Raleigh property tax rate. In layman’s terms, the median priced Raleigh home ($188,139) would see a $17.11 property tax increase. While Raleigh’s website only references housing, “property” includes both real property (land and buildings, etc.) and personal property (vehicles, boats, mobile homes, aircraft, etc.)



Details:



Monday, October 10, 2011

10:00 am

Water Fountain – Raleigh City Hall, 222 West Hargett Street



See attachment for more information





Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens to support restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP is more than 1.5 million activists strong, with activists in all 50 states.  AFP has 31 state chapters and affiliates. More than 70,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial contribution to AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

Americans for Prosperity does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

###

Friday, October 7, 2011

SUSAN EVANS SINGING WITH CHAOS CREATION CHOIR

Susan Evans should be honest about who she is and what she's about.

She's been part of a core group of forced busing antagonist who have, for the past two years, sought to disrupt school board meetings and stop any efforts to bring choice and neighborhood schools to Wake County families. Now she is running from her record. (Evans pictured by cameras at right.) View the video here.

SUSAN EVANS SINGING WITH THE CHAOS CREATION CHOIR (VIDEO - 2:21 MARK)

LATEST JOHN 2:16 EVENT

Nothing like using a 501(c)(3) entity to hold a campaign rally.....

Start:  Oct 9 2011 - 2:00pm

Oct 9 2011 - 3:00pm

Etc/GMT-5

Congressman David Price and County Commissioner Betty Lou Ward invite you to the District 3 Board of Education and House District 40 Campaign Rally.

Wake Chapel 4509 Bland Road, Raleigh, NC 27609

Congressman Price is a confirmed speaker and Commissioner Ward is tentatively scheduled to speak. We are working on additional special guests.

For more info contact Rita Roberts at 919-802-3511.

JOHN 2:16

People have asked what John 2:16 is and its relation to the NAACP/leftist church events.

Here's the passage from the Bible:

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

Pimping out Jesus better the last two years than I ever saw it done with Sheriff Baker, etc.

DAILY JOURNAL - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

JON KANE: STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT





Thursday, October 6, 2011

DAILY JOURNAL - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2011

SUSAN EVANS - PAST ACTIONS SPEAK LOUNDER THAN CURRENT WORDS



SUSAN EVANS - PAST ACTIONS SPEAK LOUNDER THAN CURRENT WORDS

Susan Evans now:

Ultimately, the role of an effective board member is to put the children first above all else and to serve a legitimate purpose, one that is not political or partisan.

Susan Evans on June 15, 2010. Now she is running from her record. Watch her singing and clapping and joining the front line as the "Rev." William Barber and company are arrested. You can watch the full video here.

SUSAN "END THE BICKERING" EVANS IN ACTION

Susan Evans has tried to run from her "chaos creation" record. She needs to be honest with voters in District 8 about who she is what she's about. The video speaks for itself. Watch her at the 21:07 mark singing, dancing and praying. If you want this moved from the audience to the member's seats, then vote for her....

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

DAILY JOURNAL - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011

BOARD PLEASED WITH ASSIGNMENT PLAN











KEVIN HILL'S CONCERN OVER MARGIOTTA CAMPAIGN MAILER WITH TATA - HOW ABOUT THIS ALSO KEVIN? (SEE PAGE 6 LETTER FROM HUGHES)

Morrison

RON SWANSON ON THE OPENING OF PULLEN PARK

Does Ron Swanson of Parks and Recreation have some ideas on the opening of Pullen Park.
Some humor for your morning.