Can I tell you about our school?” I was looking at pictures of a small wooden schoolhouse in eastern North Carolina, circa 1919, when Carol Jones Shields came by to share its inspirational lineage. Originally called the Hamilton Colored School, this four-room structure hosted grades 1–12 with three well-equipped classrooms plus a storage room. Big […]
Bob Geary
Posted inNews
Congressman David Price votes no on fast-track trade deals
Congressman David Price got it half-right, I guess. In the dramatic showdown over trade deals in the House of Representatives Friday, the Chapel Hill Democrat was a “no” vote on giving the White House fast-track negotiating authority, a commendable position even if the measure passed anyway. But on the prior, critical vote that served to […]
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Fast-track trade for the TPP: David Price says — No. (With an *) Plus, an afternoon update …
[Update II, 3:30 p.m.: Let me bottom-line this as far as Congressman Price is concerned. TAA is likely to be voted on again. Price, if he’s really opposed to fast-track, should vote no on TAA on any re-vote, given today’s events — unless and until the trade-deal process itself (as he describes it in his […]
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State Rep. Rick Glazier’s pending resignation a big loss (and Justice Center gain).
Folks around here may not know the name Rick Glazier, though we should. He’s from Fayetteville, a lawyer, former Cumberland County school board member, and a seven-term member of the N.C. House of Representatives, where he’s been a leading voice for public schools, environmental quality, voting rights, women’s rights — you name it, he’s been […]
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Meet the N.C. GOP’s latest racket: rigging the state Supreme Court
It should be obvious by now that the Republican Party is completely shamelessas in, whatever they do, however corrupt or self-serving, and no matter that it’s been exposed and if it were you or I, we’d be humiliated, your Republican professional remains unfazed. In fact, heit’s usually a herevels in his role as political racketeer. […]
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Let go of my veto: The Best of Gov. Pat McCrory
Pat McCrory does not want to be a bad governor. On the contrary, I think he has the best intentions. It’s a shame no one has told him that trickle-down economics and punishing the poor are not how to make an economy grow. But just when you’re ready to give up on Pat and say, […]
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Gov. Pat McCrory: Sad, irrelevant
It would be a low blow, in my opinion, if someone chose this week to write about Gov. Pat McCrory’s foolish plan to bring offshore oil drillers to the North Carolina coast. Not with the pictures still fresh in our minds of the oil from a major pipeline rupture coating the beaches in Santa Barbara, […]
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Why I’m supporting Bernie Sanders
Do you like elections? I’ll come back to that question. The 2016 elections are into the backstretchsorry, I just watched the Preaknessand a couple of things are bothering me. One is the near-total media blackout in North Carolina when it comes to a certain Democratic presidential candidate. Another, and it’s related, is that as yet […]
Posted inHousing
Raleigh (finally) getting serious about affordable housing
Do my eyes deceive me? Is the Raleigh City Council actually going to make downtown developers share the wealth when building high-rise towers, putting some of their profits toward affordable housing downtown? Maybe. Maybe it will. Which is a better answer than absolutely not, as past councils have said to any hint of an inclusionary […]
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Sweepstakes gambling on the way out in NC?
photo by Bob GearyPutting a stake in sweepstakes gambling? Looks like the U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker’s office was ready to crack down, at which point the sweepstakes gambling “industry” made a deal to blow town and avoid prosecution. Or at least a big chunk of the industry in North Carolina is going dark. (I’ve copied […]