Larger Raleigh council, raises for members among recommendations in city report

The Political Agitator’s response: Damn they will be making more money as a council member than some working folk that works everyday. So will the council start meeting daily and for 8 hours? If these recommendations are put in place, it would be worth running for election because that would be some good money to get elected to a council and not meet but once a month and/or as needed.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The faces and issues change with the times and politics, but how Raleigh City Council are elected has remained the same since 1973. That could soon change, however, if recommendations in a city report are adopted.

A 10-member study group looked at ways to bring city elections up to speed with the growth Raleigh has seen in recent years, and the City Council will consider the 1 on Tuesday.

1. Council members should have four-year terms of office instead of two-year terms.
The report says it gives more time for voters to judge the effectiveness of their representatives, as it often takes more than a year for proposed ordinances to make it through the city’s drafting and review process.

2. Elections should be staggered, with district representatives elected at once and the mayor and the two at-large council members elected in another election.

3. Give the mayor and council members raises.
The report recommends a 66 percent raise for the mayor, from $27,550 in annual compensation to $45,911, and an 88 percent raise for council members, from $19,725 to $37,248. The compensation includes allowances for expenses, vehicle use and technology. (Read more)

‘Very dangerous’ spitting zebra cobra is on the loose in North Carolina capital

The Political Agitator’s response: Damn shame! This should not be! But this is good ole NC where some folk care more for snakes and animals than they do folk.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Officials in North Carolina are warning people to be on the lookout for a venomous snake on the loose.

The Raleigh Police Department sent out a notice early Tuesday urging anyone who sees the missing zebra cobra to stay away and 911. They say the venomous snake could spit and bite if cornered.

An animal control officer was called to a home in northwest Raleigh on Monday evening for a report of a live snake that was spotted on a resident’s porch, police said. But when the officer arrived, the snake had already slithered away. It wasn’t until after the call that police learned that a zebra cobra was missing from a home in the area.

Venomous snakes are legal to own in North Carolina, but they must be kept in an escape-proof, bite-proof enclosure and owners must notify law enforcement if one escapes. (Read more)

Raleigh NC – ‘People are angry;’ protesters vandalize downtown Raleigh businesses, 12 arrested

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Raleigh NC – ‘Keep this area upscale’ warns letter to interracial Raleigh family

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Residents of a north Raleigh neighborhood expressed outrage Monday after learning that a family received an unsigned letter last week warning them against posting any Black Lives Matter signs in their yard.

“[P]lease remember that the rest of us live in an upscale neighborhood and have spent the extra money to stay out of mixed neighborhoods and/or the ghetto,” the letter states. “No one wants trouble or any circumstance arising which could turn our neighborhood into a ‘semi-ghetto.'”

“I couldn’t believe that someone in my neighborhood – that close to me – would have written something so mean,” said Marianna Morin, a neighbor of an interracial couple in the Wakefield Plantation community.

“I was horrified, appalled, disappointed, sad,” said Kate Pirrung, another neighbor and friend of the family that received the letter. (Read more)

#Fearoftheshiftabsodamnlutely
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#Blacklivesmatter #Iwatchedvideo
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#Coronavirusstayfocused #Stayhome

Curmilus Butch Dancy II 2020

Raleigh Mask Requirement

Homegoing Celebration For Rev. Dr. Frank Weaver Raleigh NC

My condolences goes out to the family of the late Rev. Dr. Frank B. Weaver Raleigh, NC.

Script.: Read Eccles. 3 and know, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”

Song: I Don’t Feel Noways Tired – Rev. James Cleveland

The Obituary

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Wake County sounds alarm on teacher shortage – ABC

The Political Agitator response: But what tickles the hell out of me is some folks still don’t see the mess that our new Governor has created. They are still stuck on our first black President being elected and re-elected and can not see what is going on on the local level in Raleigh. Moral Mondays have educated folks about what is going on but still these Republican supporters either don’t care or in denial. Hell how many more situations like this is it going to take for them to wake the hell up? A white friend said to me what has the President done that was good and very good and the same when it comes to Governor McCrory and I said to him you tell me. He said the President nothing. He said McCrory cut unemployment. SMDH!

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — School leaders in Wake County say they’re seeing a disturbing trend among teachers.

It’s a dramatic increase in the number of educators resigning and a dwindling supply of qualified teachers to fill empty positions.

For example, at Raleigh’s Underwood Elementary, two teachers have already left this year and two more plan to leave before the end of the school year. That’s 25 percent of the school’s teachers lost.

The school district says it’s a growing trend at schools across Wake County. More and more teachers are quitting and finding qualified teachers to take their place is becoming extremely difficult.

The news comes as the debate escalates over teacher pay in North Carolina. Teachers have seen just one salary increase since 2008 and now rank among the lowest paid in the country.

Republicans have proposed raising starting salaries for new talent – but offer no boost for veteran educators. (Source: Read more)

Knight acquitted of charges stemming from legislative protest – Rocky Mount Telegram

Rocky Mount Councilman Andre Knight was one of seven Moral Monday protestors found not guilty of trespassing charges Wednesday in N.C. District Court in Raleigh.

The charges stemmed from a June 12 “Witness Wednesday” protest at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, named in honor of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

“The state never offered any evidence on who the owner of the property is that the defendants were allegedly trespassing on,” said John McWilliam, attorney for the defendants. “I think we, the people, own the legislative building and therefore cannot be considered trespassers.” (Source: Read more)

See related:

More NC General Assembly Moral Monday protesters not guilty – News & Observer

Rocky Mount NC – ANDRE KNIGHT FOUND NOT GUILTY IN STATE TRESPASSING CHARGES

Raleigh NC: Whistle-blower at state agency finds himself fired – News & Observer

RALEIGH — Joe Vincoli has made a name for himself as a whistle-blower, saving the state millions of dollars by pointing out examples of wasteful spending and lax oversight. Two years ago, a law strengthening whistle-blower protections was enacted because of his efforts.

But now Vincoli might have whistled himself out of a job.

Vincoli is fighting to keep his position with the state Department of Public Safety, petitioning an administrative law judge to put him back on the state’s payroll. He contends the agency fired him in December as retaliation for his persistent efforts to report theft, embezzlement or misuse of state property. (Source: Read more)

Photos/Video: HKonJ NAACP NC & Partners United For A Moral March On Raleigh

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HKonJ: Thousands march in downtown Raleigh – Thomasi McDonald was a former reporter with the Tarboro Daily Southerner. My friend always have done a great job of reporting the news.

Raleigh NC: It Is Going Down Today, HKonJ

• For more information, go to hkonj.com On February 8, 2014, we will gather on Wilmington St. between South St. and MLK Jr. Blvd at 9:00 AM in downtown Raleigh. From 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM there will be music and welcoming followed by an hour long program with speakers and more music. We will march to Fayetteville Street at 10:30 AM after which we will begin the mass people’s assembly on the doorstep of the State Capitol. If you arrive early, feel free to join the prayer service at 8:00 AM at the State Capitol, led by pastors or the prayer service at 8:30 AM at Shaw University, led by rabbis. Reminder: there will not be civil disobedience at this event. For the past seven years, a fusion movement has been growing in North Carolina. In 2006, the Historic Thousands on Jones St. (HKonJ) People’s Assembly Coalition was formed under the leadership of Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II and the North Carolina NAACP. It has grown to include over 150 coalition partners. Each year this fusion movement comes together on the second Saturday in February to hold a mass people’s assembly to reaffirm its commitment to the 14 Point People’s Agenda and to hold lawmakers accountable to the people of North Carolina. This year’s annual people’s assembly will be held in the wake of a powerful push back to the immoral and unconstitutional policies supported and passed by Governor Pat McCrory, Speaker Thom Tillis, Senate Leader Phil Berger, Budget Director Art Pope and other extremists in the NC General Assembly during the 2013 Session. After 13 Moral Mondays in Raleigh leading to almost 1,000 arrests for civil disobedience and 23 local Moral Mondays spanning the entire state, the Forward Together Moral Movement and the HKonJ coalition will join together once again for the Moral March on Raleigh HKonJ People’s Assembly. We are calling on all people of conscience and concern to join us as we stand against the extreme and regressive agenda being pushed in North Carolina. This agenda is a reflection of what is happening across the United States. If you believe that an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, if you understand that what happens in North Carolina has implications for the future of the nation, if you believe that we can build a moral movement together to save the soul of our state and country, then join us as we tell Governor McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly, "Forward Together, Not One Step Back!"

Shaw University

118 East South Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

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Raleigh NC – Important Meeting March 17 City Council

We just received information that the School Board is trying to push the re-zoning agenda through at an accelerated pace and the Planning Commission has turned their recommendations back to the City Council instead of the six to eight weeks that was originally scheduled for. It went back in six days. The meeting is set for March 17 at 1:00 PM at 222 Hargett St. (the same place as last time). We have been told that we need to send as many emails to the City Council members as possible and to show up to this meeting in droves in opposition. They schedule these things so most working people cannot attend, and they do that for a reason! The City Council members, that we may have a chance in convincing is ‘Koopman, Crowder, Stevens and West.’ If we can concentrate on them, and the others as well, we possibly can sway their votes. I know that West is sympathetic towards racial issues and Koopman, leans towards preservation issues, I have not heard of what the others lean towards, but, we need to write to them all and make it as brief as possible, but as many emails as possible. We also need to show up. Hopefully, these people on the City Council will lend a sympathetic ear to our pleas. We have been ‘unheard’ for sometime’ Please call them as well, if you can, but we need a joint effort to make an impact. I have enclosed their link so you can have their emails accessible. Please feel free to contact me if you need to, I will try and help with anything you need as best as I can. Thanks, J Ronald White, President South Central Wake Co NAACP Mayor Charles Meeker charles.meeker@ci.raleigh.nc.us Council Member, At-Large Mary-Ann Baldwin mary-ann.baldwin@ci.raleigh.nc.us Council Member, At-Large Russ Stephenson russ.stephenson@ci.raleigh.nc.us Email the Entire City Council Citycouncilor@ci.raleigh.nc.us District Council Members District A Nancy McFarlane, Council Member nancy…mcfarlane@ci.raleigh.nc.us District B Rodger Koopman, Council Member rodger.koopman@ci.raleigh.nc.us District C James West, Council Member Mayor Pro Tempore james.west@ci.raleigh.nc.us District D Thomas Crowder, Council Member thomas.crowder@ci.raleigh.nc.us District E Philip Isley, Council Member pisley