Raleigh

Gas prices are rising again and gas tax revenues to the state are soaring but it appears some local officials – including Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker – are supporting toll roads in Wake County. The tolls would cost drivers $600 million to complete parts of the Triangle Parkway and I-540. So now in Wake County…

A few days ago one of Gary’s friends, who supports Mayor Meeker, took the time to write Talking About Politics about a blog I did criticizing the mayor’s runaway spending. (See Gary’s blog 06/05/06.) Gary’s friend didn’t exactly defend the mayor’s spending (except for his Lite-Rail boondoggle). Instead he said politically it didn’t matter because…

The School Board wants to pass a billion dollar bond and raise taxes, the City Manager wants to raise taxes, county officials say the county may have to raise taxes. So it’s puzzling the County Commissioners just voted not to award the contract to run a new landfill in Holly Springs to the lowest bidder.…

Raleigh’s Appearance Ayatollahs are at it again. Three companies that plan downtown office towers want to put their logos on the buildings. And, since the buildings are bigger, they want the city to allow bigger signs – 2.5 times the size allowed today. Sounds reasonable to me. After all, the city moved heaven and earth…

My despair deepens over the Wake County school bonds. I see no sign that county leaders understand the public-opinion mountain they have to climb to pass a $1 billion bond issue this fall. In fact, the signs are bad. Starting with the big announcement that two big names will head the campaign: Bill Atkinson, president…

When an issue is popular just try to get between a politician and the limelight and you take your life in your hands. But when politicians start appointing task forces and committees to promote issues look out – it’s a sure sign the issue is unpopular. Otherwise, the politicians would be leading the charge themselves,…

N.C. State University is going to spend $3.5 million to build a 12,300 square foot ‘house’ for its chancellor (News and Observer, 5/21/06). Similar ‘McMansions’ have been built at UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Charlotte and Appalachian State University. There’s a lot to be proud of about NCSU but it’s a shame they’re trying to match other colleges by…

The TTA can’t get the first dollar out of Washington to build its lite-rail boondoggle. But Mayor Meeker and the Raleigh City Council have voted to approve a TTA station on five acres at the State Fairgrounds. There’s no lite-rail. There’s no funding coming from Washington for lite-rail. But taxpayers are buying land for the…

Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) officials have finally admitted they cannot meet the federal standards to get money from Washington to build their lite-rail project. But are they going to pitch their tent and save the taxpayers the millions they are pouring into the TTA each year? Well, no. According to the News and Observer (News…