Sunday, October 31, 2010

Thank you NC Justice Center


For encouraging all your liberal friends to prop up their feet in a bar and ply themselves with alchohol the Saturday before an election.


Wake County conservatives thank you for your valuable assistance.


NOW REPLACING PEDER ZANE....

Several years back we had Peder Zane of the N&O Lifestyles section viewing downtown Raleigh in overtly sexual overtones. And now?

Meet David Menconi.

Earlier this year, he
wrote of the Michael Buble concert:

"A couple of songs in, Bublé did a comedic monologue that was surprisingly salty, with a couple of F-bombs and flip-offs (although they were so good-natured, it was hard to imagine anybody taking offense)."

Yes, what parent would take offense at some F-bombs?


And now?

Menconi writes about the Lady Gaga concert:

"Over-the-top show borders on brilliant."
"The show drew a packed house of people dressed for the occasion in remarkably elaborate gender-bending costumes..."
"Like lady M, Gaga espouses self-empowerment and sexuality as sacrament, in a cultural context of gay-friendly androgyny."
"During the latter song, flames began shooting from her naughty bits. It was brilliant"

Seems like all that's missing is a few good natured f-bombs. I guess flames "shooting from her naughty bits" is good natured as well beyond being brilliant.

Oh yeah and calling the Wake County Board of Education racists as well.

Class Act Menconi.

Read the article here.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

SO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS A RACIST TOO?



2:00 minute mark.

Randi Weingarten:

"What parents need is a great neighborhood school for all of their kids and our union is there trying to get that for every single parent."

BIPOLITICAL






Compare Charlotte to Wake and Wake to Charlotte unless it doesn't serve your political spin ends. Courtesy of the NC Justice Center (a 54.2 coalition member).

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

THANK GOODNESS IT WASN'T DOWNTOWN

Or this might actually be a problem.

RALEIGH WIDE OPEN:

RALEIGH -- One person is dead after a shooting near the intersection of Capital and Crabtree Boulevards. It happened Monday around 9 p.m.


Police say the victim has been identified as 18-year-old Francisco Aurelio Kelly of Rocky Mount. Three other juveniles, including a 15-year-old male, a 15-year-old female and a 14-year-old female, were transported to WakeMed with gunshot wounds that are not life-threatening. If you have information into this shooting, you are asked to call Raleigh police at (919) 996-3555.

Related link

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

CHUCK'S CHAIN OF TOOLS


With apologies to one of Atlantic Records' best.

For nine long years Chuck, I thought you had the plan.
But I've found out now, I'm just a link in your chain.
You bused me where you want me, I ain't nothin' but your tool.
Treating me as a 54.2 statistic in your diversity school.
Chain, chain, chain, .... chain, chain, chain.....
Chuck's chain of tools.

For some Lady Soul click here.

DEFENDERS OF DE FACTO ECONOMIC SEGREGATION AWARDS

Buy your tickets now to congratulate the 54.2 Coalition for defending de facto economic segregation through a system that relegated African American children to future low wage jobs.

Of course, I guess that keeps Fitzsimon and Schofield in work so they can tell people how much they care about them.

The NC Justice Center's
2010 Defenders of Justice Honorees

RECEPTION AND AWARDS DINNER
Thursday, September 30, 6 pm - 9 pm
American Tobacco Campus, Bay 7, Durham, NC


State Senator Joe Sam Queen of Waynesville for his commitment to increasing the availability of affordable housing and providing assistance to working families

State Representative Garland E. Pierce of Scotland County for his continuing efforts to ensure the needs and interests of North Carolina’s poor families are represented in the state legislature

Kay Zwan of Wilmington for her passionate advocacy for increased access to health care and her efforts to increase public support for national health reform

Jane Wettach of Duke University’s Children’s Education Law Clinic for her work to ensure students at risk of failing or being excluded from school get the quality education to which they have a right

Great Schools in Wake for being a strong voice in opposition to the resegregation of Wake County schools and for quality education for all Wake students

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE.
Join us in honoring the work of these great individuals
by becoming a sponsor of the awards night.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

INSERT jESUS/gOD PROP

Greetings!
Immediate Release
20 AUGUST 2010

Clergy to Hold Day of Prayer, Clergy Summit and Prayer Meeting in Raleigh, NC to Promote Schools Excellence and Stop Resegregation.

Rev. Dr. Nancy Petty of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church and Rev. Dr. Earl Johnson of Martin Street Baptist Church will lead a steering committee of clergy which include: Rev. Portia Rochelle, President, Raleigh/Apex NAACP Branch; Rev. Anthony Davis, AME Zion Church; Rev. Lorraine Ljunggren, Pastor, St. Mark's Episcopal Church; Father Michael Hunn, Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina; Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, Pastor, Clinton Tabernacle AME Zion Church Hickory, NC and Religious Chair of the NC NAACP; Rev. Paul Anderson, Pastor, Fountain of Life Church; and David LaMotte, Program Associate for Peace, NC Council of Churches. Our purpose is to open our churches for prayer, hold a Clergy Summit and a Mass Public Prayer Meeting on August 30, 2010. The Clergy summitt will be held at Martin Street Baptist Church at 3:00 p.m. and the Mass Public Prayer Meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. August 30th is a historic day in Wake County. While there had been modest steps towards desegregation, on August 30, 1971, following the supreme court decision in Swann vs Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Raleigh students began more intentional and broader steps towards desgregation of public schools 17 years after Brown vs Board of Education.

Rev. Dr. Nancy Petty notes that the reason for calling this Day of Prayer and Clergy Summit is to be clear that the issues we are dealing with around public education have enormous moral, ethical, and spiritual implications. For people of faith, prayer has always been crucial to the work of social justice. Now, more than ever, we must be faithful in not only working for justice but praying for justice. And so we gather on August 30 to pray that our community and our elected leaders will stand up and speak out for ALL our children.
###

Monday, August 9, 2010

DOWNTOWN RALEIGH WIDE OPEN

Raleigh, N.C. — A Monday morning shooting at a downtown Raleigh barbershop left one man dead, police said.

Officers responded to the shooting at Total Styles and Cuts, 203 E. Cabarrus St., at about 9:15 a.m. and found a man dead inside the shop, police said.

His identity was withheld, pending notification of relatives.

A week ago, a store owner was stabbed during a robbery of his men's clothing outlet on South Wilmington Street, about three blocks from the site of Monday's shooting.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8105836/

WRAL - Monday, August 9, 2010

Still not close enough to King Charles "I care about minorities, I really do" Meeker the Resegregationist's downtown Fayetteville Street Mecca for him to do anything about it.

Now if the criminals would shoot someone on Fayetteville Street, then that would be a different story....

King Charles, we don't need to hear your rhetoric about caring for the other downtown community made up of Raleigh's poor and minorities, we can see it in your investments for your "Livable Streets" and the rest of downtown Raleigh which because of the lack of your support remains "Unlivable."

Thursday, August 5, 2010

APPLE TO APPLE: GRADUATION RATE

Post courtesy of Terry Stoops at the John Locke Foundation.

Visit the blog: http://www.johnlocke.org/lockerroom/


Graduation rates in Wake and Mecklenburg
Posted by Dr. Terry Stoops at 10:14 AM

Both districts graduate the same percentage of low-income students and are below the state average graduation rate.

Low-income Wake County: 59.7 percent
Low-income Charlotte-Mecklenburg: 59.8 percent
Low-income Statewide: 66.3 percent

Sunday, August 1, 2010

BOBBY "WHO ARE YOU" ETHERIDGE IS A WEALTHY MAN

Or how else can one explain all the personal checks he hands out to folks in the district. You can check out the links below to see his charity in action. It's been a longstanding practice of Etheridge to print up checks with his name as the payee on them.

Bobby, I am so glad to know that you care so deeply about citizens in the district that you would take funds from your personal account to hand out to law enforcement, fire departments, etc.

I assume that since your name is on the check, it's not taxpayer dollars. Otherwise it would be awfully arrogant of you. Of course, well.....


Related link (1)
Related link (2)

Thursday, July 29, 2010

CHEERING ON MEDIOCRITY

"Teaching and learning is evident when we look at the scores," said Calla Wright, president of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children, which backs the diversity policy. "How can these people dispute that fact? The state is confirming that."


http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/15/581976/test-gains-renew-diversity-flap.html#ixzz0v6Y3UwEv

2010 AYP results for urban counties
Posted by Dr. Terry Stoops at 08:38 AM

AYP Status – A federal measure that determines how subgroups (e.g., race/ethnicity, sex, disability, and socioeconomic status) performed on state tests. For a school to make Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP), all subgroups in the school must score proficient on state tests.

Guilford: 69 schools out of 116 (59.5%)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg: 97 schools out of 168 (57.7%)
Winston-Salem/Forsyth: 44 schools out of 81 (54.3%)
Wake: 61 schools out of 159 (38.4%)
Durham: 13 schools out of 52 (25.0%)

Related Link

New ABCs results rebut claims of academic benefits from forced busing

By CJ Staff
July 29, 2010

RALEIGH — Wake County public schools lagged behind other urban districts this year, when it came to meeting goals set in North Carolina's ABCs of Public Education accountability program. That's the assessment of the John Locke Foundation's top education expert.

"The preliminary data clearly show that test score gains in Wake County are consistently smaller than those in North Carolina's other large school districts," said Terry Stoops, JLF Director of Education Studies. "These numbers rebut the claims that Wake County's unique system of forcibly busing students for socioeconomic diversity generated some kind of special benefit for student performance. If you think test score growth is linked at all to student assignment policy, the latest numbers suggest Wake should look at other large school districts for examples. None of those districts uses forced busing for student assignment."

The state ABC report set for release Aug. 5 shows that 61 of Wake's 159 schools met state standards of adequate yearly progress for student performance. That's 38 percent of Wake schools. Nearly 60 percent of Guilford schools (69 of 116) met the state's standards. In Mecklenburg, the number was 58 percent (97 of 168), while 54 percent (44 of 81) of Winston-Salem/Forsyth public schools met state goals. Among the largest school systems, only Durham trailed Wake's percentage, with 25 percent (13 of 52) of its schools meeting state targets.

Of these districts, Wake County has a significantly lower percentage of low-income students as measured by the federal school lunch program, Stoops said.

"While three other large urban districts saw at least half of their schools meet state ABC performance goals, barely more than one-third of Wake's schools met that benchmark," he said. "No one should look at those numbers and determine that anything special is happening in Wake County that sets it ahead of other urban districts in improving student performance."

Stoops takes away another lesson from the new ABC numbers. "During the tight state budget conditions we've seen in recent years, public education cheerleaders have complained constantly that cuts in funding would hurt the North Carolina public school classroom," he said. "These new numbers don't fit that template. Test scores didn't go down as the state tightened its budget belt. In fact, test scores went up in many schools."

"I suspect state education officials will trumpet these scores when they release them officially next week," Stoops added. "But I wonder if they will feel inclined to mention that test scores climbed despite the fact that North Carolina legislators slowed the river of taxpayer dollars flowing toward public education.”

Wake lagged behind other urban districts this year in more than just the percentage of its schools meeting state student performance goals, Stoops said. In composite math and reading scores for grades 3 through 8, Wake's growth trailed growth in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Guilford, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth schools.

The same was true for composite high school end-of-course test results. "The end-of-course results were particularly interesting," Stoops said. "Wake's composite score grew by 4.8 points, while Charlotte-Mecklenburg's score grew by 8.3 points, Winston-Salem/Forsyth's grew by 9.2 points, and Guilford's score grew by 10.3 points. Wake also registered the smallest gain among the four large systems on six of eight individual end-of-course tests."

Those numbers do not make a great case for Wake County's efforts to improve student performance, Stoops said. "Wake County's test scores are improving, but no one could look at these numbers and say that Wake is exceeding other large North Carolina school systems in speeding improvement. People who argue that Wake's recently discarded forced busing policy produced benefits for students might want to rethink their arguments after studying these numbers."

Related Link

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

MICHAEL ALVES PRESENTATION - WAKE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

ORWELL AT HIS FINEST

And Ron's to blame for the NAACP and Great Schools' (not students) temper tantrums at each meeting and the increased security costs.

If you think Ron & Co. have kept you from allowing your voice to be heard, get all social justiced up at the General Assembly and the upcoming court trials and see how it goes. Do the same exact things and see how far it gets you on the freedom of expression front. DON'T CHANGE A THING.

I wonder if Keith Sutton and Kevin Hill would encourage abandonment of the character education policy in the schools just as they've encouraged abandonment of any sense of decorum at Board of Education meetings.

Orwell would be proud.

Monday, July 26, 2010

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER COMING

If you would like to receive a newsletter covering all the daily news and calendars concerning Wake County schools, let us know. It's an easy way to keep track of all the local coverage of news surrounding Wake County schools.

Just send an email to wakecommunity@bellsouth.net with Subscribe School News in the subject line.

We'll add you to the list.

Friday, July 23, 2010

CHICKEN LITTLE KEVIN HILL

Last time I checked Kevin, the sky had not fallen, but don't let that keep you from "stirring the pot" or working with your buddies on more crisis creation and racheting up the security costs for meetings:


But in making changes several obstacles await, including:

♦The logistical complexity of revamping such a large operation, without the expertise of Burns and Assistant Superintendent Chuck Dulaney, who is retiring.

"If the superintendent is not there, we are going to have some real issues," Hill said.

News & Observer, 2-21-10

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/21/350104/wake-schools-face-change-challenge.html#ixzz0uXDcszFQ

Thursday, July 22, 2010

RALEIGH'S FINEST ARE THANKED


Margiotta Letter -

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

CHARLOTTE SCHOOLS AND THE 54.2 COALITION

Related Link for original post by Terry Stoops.


Down the road at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Posted by Terry Stoops at 09:23 AM

Great Schools in Wake Coalition press release (May 4, 2010):

One need only look down the road at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to understand how, with a new assignment model, creating higher poverty schools directly impacts student achievement,’ said Kathleen Brown, an associate professor and chair of the Educational Leadership Area in the UNC School of Education. ‘By eliminating socioeconomic diversity and student achievement as factors in its new student assignment policy,’ continued Brown, ‘the School Board majority is failing to acknowledge the inextricable ties between the way students are assigned and their academic achievement.'"

Charlotte Observer editorial (July 21, 2010):

The results also show CMS's improvements by all groups of students, with noteworthy gains made by black, Hispanic and low-income students. Those students now outperform their peers in Wake County schools, the state's largest school system, which has fewer minority and poor students.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

MASSIVE TAX INCREASES FOR A SYSTEM LARGE MAJORITIES NEVER USE?

Most Triangle voters are willing to pay higher taxes to beef up public transportation service in the region - even though most don't ride buses now and don't expect to ride buses and trains in the future, according to a three-county poll released Wednesday.

Of 901 Wake, Durham and Orange county registered voters surveyed by phone in early March, 58 percent said they would vote for a proposed half-cent increase in the local sales tax to pay for a network of rail transit and more buses. Thirty-nine percent said they would vote against it.

Triangle elected officials are developing long-range plans for an improved transit system. In 2011 or 2012 officials are expected to call for a local referendum on whether to levy a half-cent sales tax to help pay for transit.

The survey was conducted by Fallon Research, based in Columbus, Ohio, for the Regional Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit Triangle business group that lobbies for transportation improvements. Fallon said the poll had a margin of error of 3.26 percentage points.

Other findings in the poll:

♦Nine percent use public transportation frequently or very frequently, and 69 percent do not use it at all.


Read more:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/25/405588/voters-willing-to-pay-for-transit.html

Saturday, July 17, 2010

SEGREGATED CHURCH TO FIGHT "SEGREGATION"

RALEIGH -- The A.M.E. Zion Church has joined a growing chorus of religious groups opposed to dismantling the Wake County school board's diversity policy, becoming the first national denomination to do so.

The decision by the denomination's 12 bishops is one indication that the school board's rollback of a policy that buses students to achieve diversity is gaining national attention.

The bishops also agreed this week to cancel their winter meeting in Arizona to protest the state's newly passed immigration law.

A historic, mostly African-American denomination of more than 1 million members, the A.M.E. Zion Church has long advanced civil rights causes. The church is also a stalwart supporter of the NAACP, which is leading the Wake protest.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/17/585437/bishops-dont-end-diversity.html#ixzz0txE7w66D

Friday, July 16, 2010

WHEN YOU LOSE AN ELECTION....

Just bypass the voters:

PART XXXIV. LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Dannelly, Michaux)

SECTION 34.1. There is created the Legislative Commission on Diversity in the Public Schools.

SECTION 34.2. The Commission shall consist of 15 members as follows:
(1) Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2) Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3) Five public members appointed by the Governor.

SECTION 34.3. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one
Representative as cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment. A quorum of the Commission shall be a majority of its members.

SECTION 34.4. The Commission shall study the effects of student diversity in
public school enrollment. As part of this study, the Commission shall:
(1) Consider whether schools in which students of various racial, ethnic, and
socioeconomic characteristics are balanced improve the quality of the learning experience and the academic achievement of all students as compared to schools with more homogeneous student enrollments.
(2) Examine whether diverse public schools are successful in closing the achievement gap.
(3) Explore the level of parental involvement in schools with a diverse student
population.
(4) Examine best practices for creating and maintaining student diversity in schools and school systems in other states.
(5) Consider whether diverse public schools improve student discipline.
(6) Consider the fiscal impact and efficiency of State funding streams given the data accumulated in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this section.
(7) Study any other issue the Commission considers relevant.

SECTION 34.5. The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may
exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4. The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. With approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02. If the Commission hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services.
All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions
shall furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.

SECTION 34.6. The Commission shall submit a final report of the results of its
study and its recommendations to the 2011 General Assembly. The Commission shall
terminate on March 1, 2011, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first.

OKAY, BARBER, PETTY, TYSON AND WILLIAMS

Rev. Barber,

So your rebuttal on the trespass letter is:

"The lawyers will work out our individual cases We have received no word from the courts about being banned."

Now I know the language might be confusing, but perhaps your lawyers can explain it to me:

§ 143‑318.17. Disruptions of official meetings.

A person who willfully interrupts, disturbs, or disrupts an official meeting and who, upon being directed to leave the meeting by the presiding officer, willfully refuses to leave the meeting is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1979, c. 655, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 1028; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

Your rebuttal also noted:

"No matter how he and the other five ideologues..."

Which one of your buddies has jumped ship in recent days? I'll ready the welcome wagon.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

SUPPORT THE WAKE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

For those of you in Wake County, you don’t need a long-winded discussion of the issues facing our Wake County Board of Education.

For those of you outside of Wake County, I suspect you have heard of the challenges facing our current Wake County Board of Education. Amidst ongoing attacks by groups such as the NAACP, local organizations such as Great Schools in Wake County and statewide groups such as the NC Justice Center, they have remained loyal, steadfast and true to the promises they made to Wake County families during last fall’s elections. Sadly these groups defend a status quo policy that has resulted in a tragic 54.2% graduation rate for our socio-economically disadvantaged students in Wake County – the students they feign concern over. These failed status quo policies have and will reconcile many to a life of de-facto economic segregation.

The post-December Wake County School Board of Education has heard the concerns of Wake County residents and responded. They have pledged to end a finally unveiled “Emperor has no clothes” forced busing policy by connecting families and communities with their schools. They are working to address the critical educational shortcomings facing Wake County’s socio-economically disadvantaged students – rather than pay lip service to them.

It is not often we see elected officials, in the face of tremendous attacks, remain true to the promises they made before an election. These individuals truly have.

A local Wake County resident and friend has crafted a petition to say thanks to the Wake County School Board of Education for their work since December. It is a petition I eagerly signed.

I hope you will do so as well.

Please take a minute to go to the link below and add your name to the list. I know the members of the Wake County Board of Education will appreciate it.

You need not live in Wake County to sign the petition.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/in-support-of-wake-county-school-board.html

Monday, July 12, 2010

BUBLE DROPS F-BOMBS AND FLIP OFFS BUT N&O SAYS IT WAS GOOD NATURED SO ALL IS WELL

Neglecting my commentary on this guy’s musical ability (he mostly does covers it appears), I’ve always felt that his music catered to more of a family friendly audience. He was in Raleigh on Friday.

I found the N&O's commentary of note:

A couple of songs in, Bublé did a comedic monologue that was surprisingly salty, with a couple of F-bombs and flip-offs (although they were so good-natured, it was hard to imagine anybody taking offense). He made the obligatory local references, including Crabtree Valley Mall and Clay Aiken, and he also poked fun at his own non-masculine image.

Read the story here.

“…hard to imagine anyone taking offense).” Yes, it’s hard for me to imagine that Mom and Dad with child in tow would take offense at a few f-bombs and the flip offs. I’m sure when that nice child goes home and starts repeating the good-natured gestures no one would take offense at their school, church, social gathering, etc.

Why not use the f bomb word and quote in the N&O? It was in good nature. Would the local tv news outlet run that good nature spot as well?

Friday, June 25, 2010

AND MITCH SILVER, KING CHARLES?

So Meeker, want to play the carpetbagger card? Mitch's been on a tear to change every square inch of Raleigh, dump millions into downtown Raleigh wasteful projects and put trains all over the place.

How long has he lived here? Does he really know Raleigh? Did he go to school here?

Did you?

One other thing King Charles, in your quest to dump millions into downtown Raleigh the African American community seems to have missed out. Seems like all the money has been spent on Fayetteville Street where white intellectuals like yourself can sit around and drink expensive coffees and talk about how much you care about black folks and have black friends and maybe even a favorite professional black basketball player.


Mitch Silver Bio
Mitchell J. Silver, AICP

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Director,

Raleigh, NC, Department of City Planning, July 2005 to present

Hired as Raleigh’s fourth planning director in 2005 to create a vibrant 21st century city. Led the effort to transition Raleigh from a mid-size city to a central city in a fast growing metropolitan region. Responsible for guiding current and long range planning, neighborhood and strategic planning, historic preservation, and the City’s data and urban design center. Within the first year, introduced a new planning and development philosophy, spearheaded zoning changes to allow more residential density downtown, acquainted the city to public realm and streamlined the planning review process to provide greater predictability. Helped reach consensus on key projects including the new Downtown Marriott Hotel, the Hillsborough Street Revitalization plan and the RBC Plaza tower. Led the comprehensive plan update with an emphasis on regional cooperation, innovation and creativity, environmental stewardship and mass transit. Serves as the department’s spokesperson and media contact. In 2007, named one of the 24 most influential people in Downtown Raleigh. In 2008, named “Distinguished Leader of the Year” by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Class.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

WILL THEY DISCLOSE THE FUNDING FOR THIS?


calling-high-schools-studentsapp

Perhaps these folks would like to disclose the financing for this? I doubt it. Nor will the media ask them either. They get a pass while publicly disclosed campaign funds by the likes of people like Bob Luddy get put through the grinder.

Friday, June 18, 2010

HEY BARBER, THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED



Okay Rev., want to get all righteous with the singing? As the title suggest, the revolution of fixing the 54.2% graduation level of our most vulnerable children will not be televised. It will come through the tireless work of dedicated teachers, a school board that will not accept a failed status quo which you embrace and a silent group of community volunteers who will work without notice in our schools - not your self-righteous drama to try to legitimize yourself and build your group.

Why don't you find out What's Going On and What's Happening Brother to Save Our Children from a world of Inner City Blues. Now that would be Right On. Mercy Mercy Me.

And please stop the grandstanding theatrics. You could do something constructive to actually help the children you say you care about. But it's not really about them is it?

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

TIM TYSON AND MARY WILLIAMS CIRCA 2006

http://www.wakegov.com/news/archive/2006/72437.htm

Wake Reads Together 2006 Selects Local Author

1/3/2006

All of the votes have been counted and the personal recollection of Tim Tyson in his Blood Done Sign My Name will be the book all of Wake County will be reading and discussing in the upcoming months.

Blood Done Sign My Name is the story of a real 1970 murder in Oxford, N.C. In many ways, it is also the story of an evolving South and the accompanying taint of racism. The story is relayed from various perspectives – the author’s own, both as a 10-year-old and as an adult historian; the perspective of his minister father and the parishioners of the local church; the Black veterans and activists in the town; and the family members of the murderer. It is a painful look at the demons that haunt us from a masterful storyteller and a chilling realist.

The kickoff program for Wake Reads Together will feature the author speaking about his book on January 22, at 2 p.m., in the new Cameron Village Regional Library (1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh). Accompanying the author will be vocalist Mary Williams, who will be performing the spiritual from which the book takes its name. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

ANARCHISTS (OOPS I MEAN PARENTS) ORGANIZING FOR WAKE SCHOOLS

A few weeks back we had the "good government" lawsuit by the "citizens" in Wake County.

It did not take long for that ruse to come forth as a NC Justice Center driven pr opportunity.

"The message also mentions that the Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, wants to meet with Shaw and Chris Fitzsimon and Rob Schofield of N.C. Policy Watch "to talk about media going forward." The NAACP is one of the groups providing legal assistance on the lawsuit while N.C. Policy Watch has been regularly criticizing the school board majority."

Related Link

N&O Wake Ed Blog, 5-7-10

This comes on the heels of the chaos creation by socialist groups (oops I mean parents) such as Raleigh Fist and the arrest of leader Dante Strobino at a recent school board meeting.

Whole lot of parental involvement going on here.

Not to be outdone, now the anarchists (oops I mean parents again) have thrown their hat in the ring. You can join them to "Save Our Schools, End Racism, and Stop Resegregation" and get paid $600 for completing the "Institute."

Though the contact is Elena Everett who works for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, the sponsoring organization is ACRe – Action for Community in Raleigh. Many might remember their connection with the Mayview Collective. Wake Community would love to know how they reached out to this socio-economically disadvantaged community while there and lifted them up.

Some might better know them from these recent news reports:

From the News & Observer – April 30, 2009:

Three Mayview activists and three from Orange County were arrested eight days after Tancredo's visit on charges of disorderly conduct, accused of "loud and boisterous talking and yelling" during a talk by former Virginia congressman Virgil Goode.

"When you see that disconnect, your two options are to either fight against it or to accept it," said Ben Pearlstine, 22, who lives at Mayview, a six-member commune attached to the ACRe headquarters near Cameron Village in Raleigh. "Acceptance ... just isn't something that I'm OK with doing."

From the News & Observer – August 8, 2007:

Louise Fisher, 72 understands how young people would be attracted to a back-to-basics lifestyle. Still, "I wish they did a better job of keeping up their front yard," she says.

"I know it obviously doesn't bother them, but it does bother the neighborhood."

And:

… ACRe aims to be a center for progressive and radical activity in Raleigh.

… members of this group identify themselves as anarchists.

And in speaking with Emily Tokarski of the Mayview Collective:

"The basic idea is that people know what they need better than the white males in power."

Tokarski, who studied photography and philosophy, wanted to live in a home committed to social and environmental justice. In broad terms, that means "working against oppression of all forms – sexism, racism, classism."

She describes herself as an anarchist …

And in speaking with one of ACRe's founders, Attila Nemecz:

For Nemecz, his anarchist beliefs are put to work via ACRe.

Looks like we might be in store for another round of arrests.

ACRe – yet another "parents" organization working to preserve a system and individuals that have phenomenally failed the socio-economically disadvantaged community in Wake County.

Care to join them? Get the application here.

Kevin Hill must be silently pleased that his efforts to "stir up the pot against the majority" are working so well.

N&O Wake Ed Blog, 1-14-10

NEVER KNEW BOB LUDDY WAS MORE POWERFUL THAN...

Dear Friend:

As you know, the new members of the Wake County School Board are feverishly dismantling the diversity policy that made Wake's schools a model for the rest of the nation.

But, in their zeal to deny every student the opportunity to achieve the American dream, the right wing interests on the Wake School Board have glossed over the true cost of destroying the diversity policy. They're trying to keep working families in the dark and hoping they won't notice the millions of dollars in federal aid that could be sucked out of our schools, possibly resulting in higher property tax.

But we can do something about it. That's why we're launching "You fight, we'll fight" - a volunteer pledge bank, modeled after a similar program sponsored by Organizing for America, where you can commit your time to educating your friends, family, and community about the true cost of this disastrous policy.

I invite you to attend one of two community forums sponsored by Great Schools of Wake County being held on April 15th in Wake Forest or April 22nd in North Raleigh, respectively to learn more about how you can help.

In addition to pledging volunteer hours and attending a community session, you can also hold the school board accountable by phone banking and canvassing to elect county and state officials who will hold true to diversity policies. We'd like to get volunteers across Wake County to join us in pledging 10,000 volunteer hours to spread the word to fellow voters.

Help us show that we can hold the school board accountable, save taxpayers, and preserving the American dream for generations to come.

Can you pledge a few hours today?

Sincerely,

David Young

Chairman

North Carolina Democratic Party

AND THE LEFT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT BOB LUDDY...

From: Lindsay Siler, NC.BarackObama.com [info@barackobama.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Subject: Vote TODAY for Board of Education

Friend --

Today, we all have a very important choice to make about our children's future in Wake County.

The election to choose our next county Board of Education is today -- and your vote could make a crucial difference.

Polls are open across the county until 7:30 p.m. To look up your polling location, just go to:

http://nc.barackobama.com/WakeCounty

The Board of Education makes vital decisions about how to preserve and enhance the quality education we know our children deserve.

The Wake County school system is recognized as one of the top large systems in the United States. It's something for us to be proud of, but not something to take for granted. Your participation in today's election is a major contribution you can make toward ensuring our schools continue to thrive.

Thank you,

Lindsay

Lindsay Siler
North Carolina State Director
Organizing for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Monday, April 19, 2010

GREAT SCHOOLS (NOT STUDENTS) PUTS THE FIRST AMENDMENT ON ICE




Hey Great Schools (not students) in Wake County. I'll let you in on another real secret policy. It's called the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Guess there are different standards for Mr. Tedesco as opposed to Mrs. Clark, a former school board member, who referred to the new majority as "jackasses" at your recent McKimmon Center forum. She was met with loud cheers from those attending.

Thank goodness she's not on the school board now or you might have to say bad things about her.

Well, then again, probably not.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

SO MAYOR "JOE FRIDAY" MEEKER


Sent out a nice glossy campaign mailer for his election talking about public safety. Problem? This is from 2003. Six years later and he manages to talk about a new public safety center.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

SO KEITH SUTTON IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS?

Shame he wasn't so engaged this past winter to get people out to his in Southeast Raleigh. The meeting could have almost been held in a telephone booth.

But it's not really about community engagement meetings is it? More like another chance for folks like Beverely Clark to call our board members jackasses and "Ministers" like Curtis Gatewood and Tom Rhodes to berate board members. Maybe Tom Rhodes can upgrade his beratement from "You would put God in a box if you could" to telling board members to go to Hell as well.

And let's not forget Kevin Hill's motives as he's promised to "stir up the pot" against the majority. (N&O - January 14, 2010)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

MEEKER FINALLY GETS AROUND TO PAYING ATTENTION TO THE UNWASHED AREA OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH

More parks?

Nope.

More community services?

Nope.

Greater support for law enforcement?

Nope.

Lo and Behold, he's .......


PLANTING TREES (and probably hugging them).

According to NBC-17:

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker will speak at 9:30 while doughnuts and juice are served. Break-dancers, a graffiti wall, and SPCA animals will also take part in the festivities. After the tree planting, 42nd Street Oyster Bar in Raleigh will provide barbecue sandwiches and side dishes.

Link here

It took planting trees to get him down there.

Should we bring down some Peter Paul and Mary? Or Joan Baez?

Wow.

Monday, March 8, 2010

SURELY, MR. MCSURELY AND HIS NAACP ILKS DIDN'T MEAN TO RIDICULE MARC BASNIGHT?

Surely, Mr. McSurely and the NAACP didn't mean to say that Senator Marc Basnight is unfit to lead the NC Senate? As many folks know, Senator Basnight only holds a high school degree. I would say he's done well for himself.

Hate to think what they think about the 45.8% of Wake County students that don't even get a high school diploma. Of course, they don't dare talk about the naked diversity emperor.



Dallas Woodhouse
March 8, 2010


Americans For Prosperity questions NAACP assertion that a college degree is needed to serve on local school boards

Did statement by NAACP Attorney represent a policy position by NAACP?

Does the NAACP think 74% of North Carolina citizens are not qualified for serving on their local school board?

Raleigh, March 8, 2010—Members of the NAACP hurled charges of racism on Friday, reported the Raleigh News & Observer, and likened the new Wake School board majority to clowns, Communists, dictators and the Mafia.

School board chairman Ron Margiotta's educational background was questioned and he was called "unfit" to keep his post.

"[Margiotta] doesn't even have a college degree," said NAACP attorney Al McSurely. "They've got clowns running this school board."

According to Jane S. Shaw, president of the John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, 74 percent of adults in North Carolina do not have a college degree.

"Does this represent a policy statement from the NAACP that 74 percent of North Carolina citizens are not qualified to run and serve on their local school board?” asks Dallas Woodhouse, North Carolina State Director of Americans for Prosperity. "From the statement by NAACP Attorney Al McSurely, it appears the organization believes that no non-degree holders should offer their service to local school boards. Will the NAACP ask the General Assembly to make this the new law of the land? This would represent an enormous step backwards for millions of citizens across North Carolina of all backgrounds."

According to the News and Observer, Wake School Board Chairman Ron Margiotta, enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard after graduating from Weehawken High School in the 1950s. Afterward, he started his own business to support his family. He took some labor relations courses at St. Peter's College.

According to his official bio, a longtime businessman, Ron Margiotta retired in 2000 with 40 years of experience in business. Mr. Margiotta is the founding owner and operator of Reliable Service Company, a warehouse and installation service business. Prior to moving to Wake County, Mr. Margiotta was elected to a school board in the Northeast where he also served as board president for six years.

"Is Mr. McSurely serious?” asks Jane S. Shaw. “Most of the adults in North Carolina do not have college degrees. If they were not allowed to serve on school boards, think about all the talented people whose skills and talents could not be used by their local school systems. Think about all the business owners, parents and talented North Carolina citizens who would be kept off the ballot. I urge the NAACP to consider dropping this complaint."

"I hope the NAACP will clarify their position on whether a college degree should be required for service to local school boards. The organization should encourage more participation in the civic process, and not send the message that people who did not obtain a college degree are not worthy of consideration by the voters," said Woodhouse. "Perhaps more respect from people from different backgrounds and experiences is in order."

The 2010 US Census Bureau statistical abstract says that for 2008, roughly 19.6 percent of African Americans had earned college degrees.

“Does the NAACP really think that eight out of ten African Americans are unqualified to serve the people of this state?” said Woodhouse.

Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina (AFP-NC) is the North Carolina chapter of the nation’s premier grassroots organization of citizen leaders working at the state and local level and committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit
www.afpnc.org

Sunday, March 7, 2010

ODE TO KEVIN HILL

Here's one going out to Kevin Hill who, along with diversity agitators at Wake County School Board meetings, has promised to "stir up the pot" against the majority.

One question Kevin - in your wildest dreams did you believe this would work so well so as to necessitate the need for law enforcemnet officers at your meetings?

Saturday, March 6, 2010

RON, MY CAT TAKES OFFENSE TO YOUR REMARKS



To being compared to the folks at the school board meeting.

She's much more behaved than they are.

STATEMENT - RON MARGIOTTA AND NAACP


Statement - Ron Margiotta and NAACP -

MEEKER WANTS YOU TO BE COUNTED....

Just not when it comes to voting on a public safety center.

March 5, 2010

OFFICIALS KICK OFF 2010 CENSUS

‘We Can’t Move Forward Until You Mail it Back’

If Raleigh is to continue to grow healthy, it must stand up and be counted as part of the 2010 U.S. Census.

That was the message delivered March 1 as officials from the City of Raleigh, Wake County, the Wake County Complete Count Committee and the U.S. Census Bureau kicked-off the 2010 U.S. Census at a mid morning event at Moore Square Transit Station on Hargett Street.

Octavia Rainey, chair of Outreach for the Wake County Complete Count Committee, led the event. Other participants were Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem James West, Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown and Bill Baiocchi, manager of the Raleigh Local Census Office.

Ms. Rainey showed car cards promoting Census participation that have been placed in the City’s CAT buses. She also introduced student-volunteers from St. Augustine ’s College and Shaw University , and southeast Raleigh ministers that were in attendance. Ms. Rainey said that, while all minority Americans tend to be under counted, the most egregiously under represented are black males ages 18 to 35.

The 10-question Census form will be mailed to American residents March 15. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wake County had a 71 percent response rate in 2000. The national average is 67 percent. Mr. Baiocchi said that every 1 percent that responds by mail saves the U.S. Treasury $90 million. That is because the Census Bureau has to hire persons to physically go to addresses that have not responded by mail.

The Census Bureau will hire 1,000 persons to conduct the non-response follow-up in Wake County , Mr. Baiocchi said. There will be 92 questionnaire assistance centers that will be staffed 15 hours each week and 18 “Be Counted” centers located throughout the county.

The Census figures will be the basis on which $487 billion in federal funds are distributed annually for essentials such as hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, transportation and public utility infrastructure and emergency services.

Reminder postcards will be sent to every American household on March 22. April 1 is National Census Day, when everyone who has yet to do so is asked to answer the 10 questions and mail the form in the postage-paid envelop provided. Any personal data that is provided is protected under federal law.

The Raleigh Local Census Office is located at 2605 Atlantic Ave. The telephone number is 866-3700. The U.S. Census website is www.2010.census.gov

Thursday, February 25, 2010

CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS ON HYPOCRISY?

So Schofield/Fitzsimon and their enlightened masses over at NC Policy Watch are hosting a Crucial Conversation Luncheon: The Supreme Court's corporate speech decision.

More like crucial conversations on hypocrisy.

In their nifty little email they bemoan the right of:

"..... corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on politics."

".... tilting it decisively in favor of corporate interests."

How about your bread and butter buddy Mr. Goodmon? Yes the one who now is using a corporate entity to fight against the political wishes of the majority of Wake County citizens. Talk to your friends at Public Policy Polling - they have the data (including the polls they refused to release).

Goodmon, via Capitol Broadcasting, is running television ads promoting diversity.

Luddy and Pope's involvement in school board elections was transparent - found right on campaign finance reports that the N&O and others like yourself gladly publicized. And that was their personal cash.

In the spirit of transparency, will the costs of production of the ads and the buy schedule be made public? I would suggest that someone pay for these ads, but what's the point? Frankly that's just the tip of the iceberg but we'll keep it focused.

Sounds like a case of wrong for thee, right for me.

I'm looking forward to hearing your denouncement of CBC's corporate money in politics at your luncheon.

Birds chirping.....

(WRAL sure has come a long way since my days marching around with Uncle Paul.)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

BARBER: SAVING THE BABIES?

We'll give the Rev. Barber and the NAACP some credit - they can round up a lot of organizational names to throw on a website for their shindig on Saturday. And I'm sure he'll be working to polarize folks even more.

One thing did strike me as peculiar on his list of folks. While clearly many of the groups on his Partners List would feverishly support abortion choice, I see no listing of Planned Parenthood anywhere. I'm just wondering if the Reverend and NAACP have tired of palling around with a group founded on Margaret Sanger's eugenics push and the racial undertones it held. She was all about breeding out the underprivileged in society.

If that's the case, then we'll tip our hat to you on this one.

In the immortal words of Marvin Gaye - "Save the Children."

Here's one of our favorite Marvin clips from coincidentally an NAACP Operation Push Concert:

Enjoy.

COALITION FOR HEALTHY SPORTS TEAMS CONGRATULATES ROY WILLIAMS ON A SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Parody
For Immediate Release
February 23, 2010

UNC CAMPUS Y STUDENTS FOR HEALTHY SPORTS TEAMS CONGRATULATES ROY WILLIAMS ON A SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Members of UNC's Campus Y group - Students for Healthy Sports Teams - congratulated Roy Williams on the health of his team.

"Notwithstanding the team's current 14-13 record and ongoing player injuries, one can see from the team's photo the health/success of Roy William's current season. We congratulate him."

Sound absurd? Well dadgummit it is.

Want to see the photo of this year's team? Click here.

Yes, the team is pretty diverse. I count 10 of one ethnic persuasion and 6 of another.

One little problem with the above statement. The team's graduation, oops I mean won/loss record. After 27 games, they've won 14 games and lost 13.

Let's go to the stats.

Percent not graduating, oops I meant not won is at 48%.
Percent graduating, oops I meant won is at 52%.

Gosh those numbers look familiar. Let's look at the graduation rates for FNR students in Wake County.

Not graduating: 45.8%
Graduating: 54.2%

Source document here.

On the count of three, ONE BIG CHEER!!!

Get Wake Education Partnership, the Raleigh Chamber, CCCAAC, Great Schools (not students) in Wake County and every other status quo failure group some pom poms.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

JUST THE FACTS M'AM


Wake Schools Graduation Figures 08-09 -

I guess the families of the 45.8% of FNR students not graduating are happy as well with the Wake School System. Do Wake Education Partnerhsip, NC Policy Watch or any other highly paid political organization care to tell us how happy these folks are?

Saturday, February 20, 2010

KEEP UP WITH THE CARY WATCHMEN

The Cary Watchmen - http://www.carywatch.com/ - track issues in the Cary area. We encourage you to join their newsletter list.

Sign up at:

http://www.carywatch.com/signupfornews.html

ATTEND: STOP NC ANNEXATION CONFERENCE


SNCA Conference -

WE AGREE NANCY ....

"Then McFarlane, reacting to Gaylord's assessment that using the city-owned site on Nash Square downtown would squander prime real estate, said, "How the city treats its public safety workers says a lot."

Nancy McFarlane
Raleigh News & Observer
February 20, 2010

Nancy, we agree with you. Couldn't agree with you more. Now how have you personally addressed the shortage of public safety workers in Raleigh the past few years? Where are the soundbites from you lamenting this shortage? How about those pay raises you gave public safety workers last year?

Oh wait, you didn't give any. You neglected Raleigh's public safety workers.

There's one thing you didn't neglect. A $50,000 appropriation for a 32 hour a week job for a
Public Art Coordinator.

How a city treats its public safety workers does say a lot. We'll see what you have to say in relation to this year's budget in June.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

RALEIGH PD TO USE SOUP CANS TIED TOGETHER WITH STRING AND SIT ON THE FLOOR

It appears that our illustrious Mayor "I really care about law enforcement but instead funded new public art coordinators but not police raises" Meeker has cut over $65 million in costs from the proposed Clarence Lightner Public Safety Center Building.

Don't believe me? Just read this from the Meeker's PR department with the City of Raleigh:

"Now is the time to lead, he said, not stagnate in the sluggish wake of this recession. Now is the time to move on the $140 million Clarence Lightner Public Safety Center ..."

Related Link

Sadly it appears Meeker has cut all but the costs of building the Taj Mahal - once again depriving law enforcement of the resources they need.

If that's not the case, Meeker's PR machine at town hall might want to be more truthful in their write-ups.

CHICKEN LITTLE


INSERT YOUR OWN STATEMENT FROM
GREAT 54.2% SCHOOLS IN WAKE COUNTY
CCCAAC
WAKE ED PARTNERSHIP
RALEIGH CHAMBER
ETC.
APPARENTLY NOW WAKE COUNTY IS IN CRISIS.
FOR 45.8% OF ED STUDENTS IN WAKE, IT'S BEEN IN CRISIS FOR MANY YEARS.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

ENLOE HIGH SCHOOL



Technically, on a statistical level, it's half and half.

Don't you feell all warm and fuzzy about all the social justice in this?

Saturday, February 6, 2010

ATTEND: ALAN KEYES FOR LIFECARE

Join The Movement to Change Hearts and Minds.

Maybe Even Yours.

LifeCare presents "Rally for Life" with special guest-speaker Alan Keyes.

February 19, 2010 - 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Crossroads Fellowship Church
2721 Millbrook. Rd., Raleigh, NC 27604

Coffee and dessert provided

Free childcare provided for ages 5 and under.
Register for childcare by February 15th.
liz@lifecarenc.org 919-873-2440

A lot of movements start off small - with a mission and a group of passionate, committed people.

For 25 years, we've made it possible to fight for the lives of the unborn. Now we've expanded our focus to increase the impact.

We make it possible for people to make good choices about sex and life by providing a safe place where they can talk and get answers and support. A place where someone listens instead of judges.

We may not be able to change the laws about abortion. But we can change hearts and minds - one at a time. With your support we can make abortion unthinkable. How? Find out now.

Join us for this awareness and support event, featuring Dr. Alan Keyes - a prominent pro-life advocate, former UN Ambassador, Presidential and Senatorial candidate and radio/TV personality. Dr. Keyes will share how you can become part of the movement to overcome the barriers to change.

BLOOD MONEY: 400,000 LEGACIES