Raleigh News and Observer

Dix Campus Action Plan: Why was it killed?

The Raleigh News and Observer and WRAL TV and WRAL.com have repeatedly quoted those who claim the Dix Property lease that was signed in December was the direct culmination of eight or more years work. But WRAL reported on another proposal that would have involved NC State University in a joint venture for future use of the Dix Campus. The N&O then also wrote in December 2012 about the Dix Campus Action Plan. WRAL’s Laura Leslie obtained the Plan from the Governor’s office according to emails I have just obtained from NCSU--after requesting them 12/12/2012.

Letter to the Editor, Raleigh News and Observer
March 16. 2013

While I acknowledge that HB319 is an unusual piece of legislation and not a good precedent in some ways, I support the Dix Lease bills and the sponsors who introduced them. Theirs is a far more fair and balanced approach to dealing with the Dix Campus than that of the Democrats in the legislature and on the Council of State in recent years.The elected members of the Council of State rushed to approve the lease and ignored anyone who gave any argument against the proposal that came from the Raleigh group, the so-called "Dix Visionaries."

1 John 3:17-18

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

___________________________________________

So, after the deplorable acts of recklessness of this week, do "our" demonstratively heartless Governor and his rich, freedom-fried buddies in the NC House and Senate claim to be Christian? Can they do something in the interests of the people of North Carolina they are supposedly "serving?" All I've seen them do for their fellow man is to limit and deny care to the sick and the poor.

Republican lawmakers say the bills reflect a desire to assert states’ rights and tell the federal government to “stay out of our business,” said Rep. Mike Hager, a top-ranking House Republican from Rutherfordton.

“I think at some point we’ve got to draw the line,” he said. “The 10th Amendment is in the Constitution, and we need to exercise our rights under the Constitution.”

Critics said the GOP is hurting working-class people, people without jobs, and the economy, all for the sake of ideology.

“The best I can read it, it’s an ideological play to their base,” said Sen. Josh Stein, a Raleigh Democrat.

Refusing to implement provisions of the Affordable Care Act places North Carolina within the sphere of states that have gone as far as they can to reject the law.

from the Raleigh N&O Thursday:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/01/30/2644718/gop-lawmakers-assert-stat...

From the IndyWeek: News & Observer prepares pay wall to charge users for online access. Looks like we'll soon have yet another reason to avoid linking to N&O articles.

I've been trying to keep my eye on editorials lately, but this one from a few days ago slipped by me:

When individuals make political contributions, at least they are making a personal sacrifice of sorts. But a CEO initiating an ad campaign for or against a candidate will simply be making a business decision as to how his company's funds should be invested in light of the potential payback. If the payback is favorable legislative treatment that could mean big savings in, say, avoidance of pollution controls, then the decision in the boardroom is likely to be, "Go for it!"

It may be only 20 positions eliminated, but I wonder who those twenty are?

The News & Observer Publishing Co. plans to eliminate about 20 positions, the latest cuts as the media company rides out a sharp decline in revenue.

Affected employees will be provided severance payments and other transition assistance. The N&O now has 524 full-time positions, down from 704 a year ago. The newspaper last year also cut wages, suspended contributions to retirement plans and required unpaid furloughs for its staff.

Interesting to see this kind of opinionating leak into the opening paragraph of a front-page story in the Charlotte News and Observer this morning:

North Carolina lawmakers are approving bills that push liberal ideals such as more comprehensive sex education in public schools and so-called "green bills" to protect the state's beaches from plastic bags.

If this is what passes for "liberal" in the Old North State, we are surely on the road to hell. Imagine the horrors of giving young people proper information about sex. And even worse, keeping beaches from becoming trash cans. Too bad Senator Basnight, the man behind the beach plastic bag ban, doesn't extend that same philosophy to prohibiting hardened structures on the coast.

Last month I resubscribed to the Raleigh News and Observer after nearly three years of protest. Though I still consider the editorial pages the weakest link in their value chain, Zabouti helped me understand that having a subscription was part of my civic duty. Today, as a full-price paying customer, I recognize I have another duty as well - to call out the good, the bad and the ugly when I see it. This weekend's editorial pages offer an excellent case in point.