Archive for October 2007
A Word to Republicans
Republicans, a few years ago, were a force in City politics. But no more. Today, Democrats hold six City Council seats, one is held by an Independent who might as well be a Democrat and only one seat is held by a Republican. What happened? In the 1990’s Republicans were elected Mayor and to the…
Read MorePolitical Drought
Governor Easley emerges from the Mansion to tell municipal officials we’re facing a drought emergency, but he doesn’t declare a state of emergency. City officials say they’re already taking action. Raleigh’s City Council waits until after the elections to take up a ban on all outdoor watering. Meanwhile, the sprinklers and hoses keep running. And…
Read MoreAl Gore’s Revenge
Al Gore won’t run for President. He doesn’t need to step down from the heights. No one has ever won an Academy Award and a Nobel Peace Prize the same year. His net worth is estimated at more than $100 million. And he doesn’t have to put up with the indignity of politics. Most of…
Read MoreA Word to Developers
There’s been a debate raging in Raleigh for over three years about developers: Are they responsible citizens or greedy villains? But, so far, only one side has been debating: Mayor Meeker and his allies who say developers are villains. The developers have a story to tell: They build shops, offices, homes, provide jobs and have…
Read MoreRecycling Raleigh Politics
Raleigh’s election this year recycles the results from 30 years ago. In 1977, a pro-neighborhood, anti-developer grassroots rebellion elected little-old-lady-in-tennis-shoes Isabella Cannon over the incumbent mayor, Jyles Coggins, a builder known as “bomber Jack.” Two years later, Smedes York rode to the rescue of the real estate industry. He ran against Cannon and won. Then,…
Read MoreThe Mayor and Developers
The Mayor or, rather, his allies second theme this election was that their opponents, Tommy Craven and Jessie Taliaferro, were pawns of developers. Because they voted against higher Impact Fees. Last year, Craven and Taliaferro voted to raise Impact Fees 72%. But the Mayor said at the time he wanted more and during the election…
Read MoreFour Amigos and a Senorita
Congratulations are due to Mayor Meeker and his political brain-trust-strategist Perry Woods. The Mayor or, more precisely, his allies Nancy McFarlane and Rodger Koopman won big on Election Day. Mayor Meeker was on the right side of a powerful issue: developer John Kane’s proposal that the City give North Hills a $75 million tax subsidy.…
Read MoreDunkirk for Developers
The Wake County real estate industry got handed its head in Tuesdayâs elections. The executioners were Mayor Charles Meeker, his political strategist Perry Woods and their allies. The real estate folks may be brilliant business people. But theyâre dumb politicians. If they got organized â and used their money wisely â they would have had…
Read MoreThe Mark of Kane
An anti-developer fire was smoldering in the Wake County political underbrush this year. Then North Hills developer John Kane threw on gasoline and lit a match. The N&O’s analysis this morning is right: slow-growth candidates won or led in Raleigh and Cary. But the real flashpoint was Kane’s request for a $75 million subsidy for…
Read MoreMike Easley Dancing the Two-Step
There is nothing quite like a newspaper headline to get a political reaction from Governor Easley. Via his minions at the Department of Transportation, the Governor hired a $2.5 million consultant to do a study of DOT, then didn’t require a written report (that way there’s no messy list of DOT foibles for the press…
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