Posts by Gary Pearce
Who Elected Russell Allen?
I’m sure Carter will be fulminating here soon about the proposed public art in downtown Raleigh. After all, he got Tom Fetzer elected mayor in 1993 partly by attacking the Time+Light Tower on Capital Boulevard. Think what he could do with this. But I have a different question: Why is City Manager Russell Allen suddenly…
Read MoreHad Enough?
Three reasons to say yes: President Bush on Tuesday, July 25: “Obviously, the violence in Baghdad is still terrible, and therefore there needs to be more troops.” The stem cell veto. Nothing here but a know-nothing sop to the Christian Right, about all the base Bush has left. Parental notification bill. How many underage girls…
Read MoreYou Can Always Go Downtown
One of our readers emailed today that Mayor Meeker apparently believes he is Mayor of Downtown Raleigh only. I can feel his pain. I sometimes feel that the only news out of the City Council revolves around downtown. (This week, the two architects on the City Council expressed their dislike for the “vocabulary” of the…
Read MoreDole-drums
National Republicans are learning what North Carolina Democrats have long known about Liddy Dole: empty suit. Senator Dole was the target of front-page griping from Republicans in The New York Times Sunday. They say her performance as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee has been lackluster at best, disastrous at worst. Sounds just like…
Read MoreEasley for President?
How long will it take for the rumors to start? Last week, Governor Easley was in Washington for two appearances: A speech to the Center for American Progress, a group trying to redefine and reposition the national Democratic Party; A press conference with Senator Hillary Clinton and the Governor of Iowa (get it – Iowa?)…
Read MoreMore on “A Blue Ribbon Punt”
Two members of the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of Wake County have weighed in on my comments. First, a businessman I know well who served on the commission says: “The N&O take on the BRC was misleading. I know that’s a surprise to both of you.” He added this from his perspective as…
Read MoreNervous in Raleigh
Downtown Raleigh is a nervous place this week. Especially the Legislative Building. Rumors abound: FBI agents are interviewing legislators. Legislators are secretly testifying before the federal grand jury investigating Speaker Black. Indictments are coming down. Stay tuned. Click to Read & Post Comments
Read MoreA Blue Ribbon Punt Reaction
Was my blog about the Blue Ribbon Committee on the Future of Wake County (“A Blue Ribbon Punt”) too harsh? One reader says no: “What a laugh. The “Blue Ribbon” panel was designed to deflect blame from the big spenders. The scandal in this whole charade is the failure of anyone to mention or factor…
Read MoreRaising Kane
One of our readers offered an interesting perspective on the issue of whether the city should agree to help finance a new North Hills parking deck with developer John Kane: “Downtown they have taken real tax dollars and spent it on a hotel plus committing a future source of revenue to pay for the Convention…
Read MoreA Blue Ribbon Punt
When I hear the words “Blue Ribbon Study Commission,” I automatically think: Another politician is punting. That’s exactly what happened in Wake County this month. Problem is, the “Blue-Ribbon Committee on the Future of Wake County” punted the ball right back to the politicians. The News & Observer summed it up this way in a…
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