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 making these public pronouncements about what the city should or should not do?

He did it to John Kane’s parking-bonds project.  Now he’s done it to this art brainchild of Larry Wheeler, the Art Museum Director, and Jim Goodmon, CEO of Capital Broadcasting (WRAL-TV).

Allen may be right.  But don’t Kane, Wheeler and Goodmon deserve a chance to make their case before the City Council – before Allen knifes them in the media?

I’ve seen many an unelected bureaucrat start thinking he’s the Big Shot.  Usually, some elected officer sets him or her straight. 

Will the Mayor and City Council do it here?

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