Only We Can Save North Durham
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Annexations – Durham’s tumors need early detection
Until now the Joint City County Planning Committee – JCCPC – was provided with lists of all filed annexation cases. This was done before the applications were considered by the Planning Commission and gave the public an opportunity for very early notice of developers’ plans to build on currently county land by having it annexed…
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Is Durham Dope?
A Citizen’s Response on the State of Durham Is Durham “Dope?” That’s what Mayor Leo Williams told us in his State of the City speech, eight months ago. Was Williams’ characterization of Durham as “dope” accurate? For developers? Yes, Durham is dope which they buy, repackage, and sell at huge profit. Influential, wealthy, developers literally…
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Durham metastasizing
Comprehensive Plan means nothing. The city electeds have started their summer break (all of July) and the county electeds are off July 9 to August 5. In this summer break from our civic leaders’ mischief we have time for thought about the future of Durham County’s growth, especially our dwindling rural and forested areas. In…
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Developers in Conservationist Clothing
Greetings Officers of National Wildlife Federation, I want to bring to the attention of the National Wildlife Federation the recent approval of a huge subdivision, Virgil Road Assemblage, in which NWF certifications, and partnership with NWF, was touted by the developer, Taylor Morrison, to gain approval for this massive subdivision which will decimate habitat as well as further compromise streams which cross the property. Seemingly…
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Big Development Crushing Small Business
Greetings. I am writing a citizens’ response to Mayor Williams’ State of the City address. My orientation is to address the appalling degradation of the environment Durham’s short sighted sell out to developers has fostered, and I will do that. However, the Indy, 5/1/24, confirms that the environment is not the only casualty of Durham’s…
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Keep The Public in Public Hearings
Open letter to INDY Date: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 11:25 PMSubject: Lockouts at Durham City HallTo: <jlaidlaw@indyweek.com>, <backtalk@indyweek.com> Mr. Laidlaw: Thank you for your April 5th piece on newly restricted access to City Hall. One thing you may not realize is that the recent practice of locking out citizens seeking to express their views at…
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Fake Housing Need
There is actually a glut of rental units 4-2-2024 Open Letter to Mayor Williams and Councilmembers: Last night, again, the council approved major residential construction in the beleaguered southeast Durham area. A current resident pointed out that existing apartment buildings had low occupancy refuting any need for even more large rental projects. VM Middleton…
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Hope but no cigar
Our March 5th election of Durham County commissioners resulted in the two incumbents (Jacobs and Allam) with Durham power (money) support were re-elected. The two incumbents who sometimes bucked the development steamroll, Burns and Howerton, were defeated. On the bright side, the first candidate I recommended, the one with a proven record of putting Durham…
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Save Durham by voting March 5th
VOTE Tuesday or accept North Durham will be Southeast Durham very soon. This is about the county commissioners as they are county residents’ ONLY elected officials. I have already shared that I am voting for Stephen Valentine, Nimasheena Burns and Brenda Howerton. And I’ve recommended against incumbants Jacobs and Allam because both have a consistent…
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VOTE like Durham depends on it!
VOTE and save North Durham. My incomplete sample ballot. I believe the three candidates I’ve circled (or rectangled) are the most likely to stand up to development sharks coming for North Durham. I will be voting for Stephen VALENTINE because he has already proven he values our environment and open spaces by his several years…
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