Filling the Debate Vacuum in Raleigh

My dictionary defines “vacuous” as “empty, stupid, senseless.” By that definition, Raleigh’s city elections this year were pretty vacuous. And politics abhors a vacuum.



Events in the month since the election make me think we’re about to get a real debate for the next two years – and into the next election.


One debate will be over who decides the shape of the city: government or the market?


As a proud liberal Democrat, I once would have said government. But not now.


I like the vision Sanjay Mundra and Dicky Walia have for the new Soleil Center at Crabtree Valley. I like what John Kane has done at North Hills.


That’s what the market is doing.


But I’m not sure I like what city government. Especially using my tax money to subsidize the Marriott hotels and the light-rail boondoggle instead of better schools and better roads.


Raleigh didn’t have a debate on that issue this year. But I’ll bet we do now.


Sanjay Mundra answered his 42-story tower’s critics this way in the N&O’s front-page article Sunday: “If we’re wrong, there’s no need to punish us. The market will punish us.”


If the politicians and bureaucrats are wrong, the political market will punish them.

Posted in ,
Avatar photo

Gary Pearce

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

Filling the Debate Vacuum in Raleigh

My dictionary defines “vacuous” as “empty, stupid, senseless.” By that definition, Raleigh’s city elections this year were pretty vacuous. And politics abhors a vacuum.



Events in the month since the election make me think we’re about to get a real debate for the next two years – and into the next election.


One debate will be over who decides the shape of the city: government or the market?


As a proud liberal Democrat, I once would have said government. But not now.


I like the vision Sanjay Mundra and Dicky Walia have for the new Soleil Center at Crabtree Valley. I like what John Kane has done at North Hills.


That’s what the market is doing.


But I’m not sure I like what city government. Especially using my tax money to subsidize the Marriott hotels and the light-rail boondoggle instead of better schools and better roads.


Raleigh didn’t have a debate on that issue this year. But I’ll bet we do now.


Sanjay Mundra answered his 42-story tower’s critics this way in the N&O’s front-page article Sunday: “If we’re wrong, there’s no need to punish us. The market will punish us.”


If the politicians and bureaucrats are wrong, the political market will punish them.

Posted in ,
Avatar photo

Gary Pearce

Categories

Archives