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, GOOD EVENING, I'M JOHN MARTIN
THE PAST PRESIDENT OF
INTERNEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF
DURHAM.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
BOTH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
AND INTERNEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF
DURHAM ARE NONPARTISAN AND DON'
ENDORSE CANDIDATES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DURHAM'S
TELEVISION FOR PRODUCING AND
BROADCASTING THIS EVENT.
CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED
SECURITY SEE OF THE DURHAM
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AT THIS TIME, PLEASE TURN OFF
YOUR CELL PHONES AND REFRAIN
FROM TAKING PICTURES OR VIDEOS
OF THIS FORUM.
PLEASE HOLD ALL APPLAUSE UNTIL
THE END OF THE FORUM TO SAVE
TIME FOR MORE QUESTIONS.
THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE FORUM
TONIGHT ARE CANDIDATES IN THE
NOVEMBER 5 GENERAL ELECTION FOR
DURHAM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
WARD 2 AND WARD 3.
WHILE COUNCIL MEMBERS MUST
RESIDE IN THE WARD FROM WHICH
THEY ARE ELECTED, ALL DURHAM
VOTERS VOTE FOR CANDIDATES FROM
ALL THREE WARDS.
THE WARD 1 CANDIDATE, COUNCIL
WOMAN CORA COLE-McFADDEN IS
RUNNING UNOPPOSED AND THEREFORE
WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN
TONIGHT'S FORUM.
IF SHE'S HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE HER FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THOSE WATCHING.
THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR ARE IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WILL
APPEAR ON THE BALLOT.
WILLIAM V. BILL BELL, SYLVESTER
WILLIAMS.
THE CANDIDATES FOR WARD 2 ARE
OMAR BEASLEY, EDDIE DAVIS.
THE CANDIDATES FOR WARD 3 ARE
PACK KARRIKER AND DON MOFFITT.
ALL QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED BY
THE MODERATOR AND ALL CANDIDATE
WILL ANSWER THE SAME QUESTION.
EACH CANDIDATE IS ALLOWED ONE
MINUTE TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION
AND THE BUZZER WILL SOUND WHEN
THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CANDIDATES ARE ASKED TO
OBSERVE THE TIME LIMITS.
THE FIRST QUESTION WILL START
WITH MR. BELL, THE SECOND
QUESTION WILL START WITH
MR. WILLIAMS AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ROTATE THE QUESTION
SO EACH CANDIDATE HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER FIRST.
IF AUDIENCE MEMBERS HAVE
QUESTIONS YOU WISH TO SUBMIT,
PLEASE SEE THE REPRESENTATIVE
OVER THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE ROOM, *** THORNTON.
FIRST QUESTION FOR MR. BELL.
HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT FROM YOUR
OPPONENT?
WHY SHOULD WE VOTE FOR YOU
RATHER THAN THE OTHER CANDIDATE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO DIFFERENTIAT
MYSELF FROM MY OPPONENT, I HAVE
A TRACK RECORD, HAVING SERVED
ALMOST 40 YEARS, 26 YEARS AS
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, 12 AS MAYO
OF THE CITY OF DURHAM, I SERVED
IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AS CHAI
ON THE DURHAM BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS AND LEADERSHIP
POSITION AS THE MAYOR OF DURHAM
I THINK MY RECORD SPEAKS FOR
ITSELF.
I ENJOY THE POSITION.
I WORK HARD AT IT AND I
CERTAINLY WANT TO SUPPORT -- AN
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE
VOTE
VOTERS AS WE GO TO THE POLLS IN
NOVEMBER.
>> MR. WILLIAMS.
>> I AM A PASTOR.
I BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST.
ONE THING THAT SEPARATES ME FRO
THE OTHER CANDIDATE IS THAT I
HAVE 38 YEARS BACKGROUND FINAL
ANALYST.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A FINANCIAL
ANALYST, IT FORCES ME TO STAY
ABREAST OF THE FINANCIAL ARENA,
THE ECONOMY AND KNOW WHAT IS
GOING ON.
RIGHT CURRENTLY IN THIS COUNTRY
ONE-THIRD OF THE JOBS -- I MEAN,
JOBS AS FAR AS JOBS BEING LOST
IN THIS COUNTRY ARE BEING LOST
IN AREAS THAT COULD BE
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTING THE CITY
OF DURHAM.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINANCIAL
READING IS, HOW THE ECONOMY IS
AFFECTING OTHERS WE WILL BE
SUFFERING GOING FORWARD.
MY DIFFERENCE IS MY FINANCIAL
BACKGROUND, MY FAITH IN THE LOR
YES AND MY CARE AND CONCERN FOR
ALL PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF
DURHAM, NOT JUST A SPECIAL
GROUP.
>> MR. BEASLEY?
>> GOOD EVENING.
UM, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY
OPPONENT AND MYSELF, I WILL
START WITH MY STRENGTHS.
MY OPPONENT WAS AN EDUCATOR
LONG-TERM EDUCATOR HERE IN
DURHAM, WELL RESPECTED AND
ADMIRED FOR BEING A SUCCESSFUL
EDUCATOR.
I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH WORKFORC
DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING, AS WELL A
PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND IN PARKS AND RECREATION.
THOSE SKILLS DIRECTLY HAVE
SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT CITY
COUNCIL HAS TO DO AS A JOB.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN M
OPPONENT AND MYSELF.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THAN
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND
THE INTERNEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF
DURHAM FOR SPONSORING THIS
EVENT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
CANDIDATES FOR BEING HERE AND
GIVING OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR
TIMES AND I WANT TO THANK THE
CANDIDATES WHO WENT THROUGH THE
PRIMARY.
PARTICULARLY FRANKLIN HAYNES AND
DALE MALLIOTY, BOTH OF WHOM HAV
ENDORSED MY CANDIDACY.
I SPENT 37 YEARS IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
I WORKED 21 YEARS AT HILLSIDE
HIGH SCHOOL AND WORKED ON
STUDENT COUNCIL AND WORKED ON
ISSUES THAT FOCUS IN ON ISSUES
OF EQUITY.
I WORKED WITH A GROUP OF
STUDENTS THAT ENDED UP LOBBYING
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GETTIN
THEM TO MAKE A SMALL CHANGE IN
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
I ALSO SERVED ON THE STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION WHERE I HELPED TO
DEVELOP A BUDGET EVERY YEAR FOR
THE K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM IN TH
STATE.
[BEEP]
>> MS. KARRIKER.
>> I, TOO, APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME TONIGHT.
I HAVE TO SAY FOR ALL THE
CANDIDATES HERE, THE WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE SPEAKS HIGH OF THOSE
THAT RAN IN THE PRIMARY AND HER
ON THE PODIUM WITH ME TONIGHT.
I WOULD HAPPY TO SAY WHAT
SEPARATES AND DIFFERENTIATES US
IS I'M BORN IN DURHAM.
THIRD-GENERATION DURHAM GIRL,
WHICH GIVES ME A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE IN THE CITY.
I SERVED FOR 15 MONTHS AS A
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
I WAS APPOINTED TO TAKE
COMMISSIONER'S HARRIS'S PLACE
WHEN SHE STEPPED DOWN.
I HAVE 20 YEARS OF SERVICE
VOLUNTEERING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND EDUCATIONAL, CIVIC,
FAITH-BASED ENDEAVORS.
I WAS A FOSTER MOM.
I HAVE 16 YEARS' EXPERIENCE
[BEEP] AS A MORTGAGE PROCESSOR.
>> MR. MOFFITT?
>> THANK YOU, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
UP HERE, I WANT TO ECHO THE
THANKS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT OR
ORGANIZED THE EVENT AND THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING.
SOME OF THE THINGS PEOPLE WANT
TO KNOW ABOUT ME IS I HAVE
EXPERIENCE.
I SERVE NOW ON COUNCIL AND WANT
TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM.
I WORKED ON THE PLANNING
COMMISSION.
I HAVE A MASTERS OF BUSINESS AND
ARCHITECTURE.
I RAN A DIVISION OF A MAJOR
CORPORATION, WHOLE FOODS MARKET.
I SPENT 18 YEARS BUILDING IT
FROM ONE STORE TO 85.
NOW I AM HELPING BUILD A
COMMUNITY-OWNED GROCERY STORE
WITH OVER 1,250 PEOPLE THAT OWN
IT AND LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER IN 3RD GRADE
AT EK POE.
I WORK WITH BOARDS LIKE HABITAT
FOR HUMANITY AND THE POLLY
MURRAY PLACE.
I SUPPORT SMATH GROWTH AND
EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN
WITH MR. WILLIAMS.
MR. WILLIAMS, IS THERE A SERIOUS
PROBLEM IN THE DURHAM POLICE
DEPARTMENT?
IF SO, WHAT IS IT?
WHAT SHOULD THE COUNCIL DO ABOU
IT?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A
DURHAM REVIEW BOARD.
DERRICK DOLL CORE WAS A FRIEND
OF MINE ON FACEBOOK.
WHEN I SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON
DOWNTOWN, IT BOTHERED ME.
THERE SHOULD BE A CITIZEN REVIEW
BOARD WHEN DEADLY ACTION IS
BEING USED AND THE CITIZENS NEE
MORE SAY IN THE MATTERS THAN
THEY HAVE.
THE CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE GREATE
IMPACT.
NUMBER ONE, WHAT IT DOES, IT
SHOWS OK, THERE IS NO GROUP
BEING SINGLED OUT BY A POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WHEN THE CITIZENS OF DURHAM DO
NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THEIR OWN
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS A
PROBLEM.
I THINK BY HAVING A CITIZEN
REVIEW BOARD, THEY WILL HAVE
GREATER INPUT AS FAR AS WHAT
GOES ON, I THINK ALSO, TOO,
CITIZENS WILL FEEL BETTER
ASSURED THAT THEY'RE GETTING TH
BEST PROTECTION THEY CAN
POSSIBLY HAVE.
I THINK, TOO, WITH CHIEF OF
POLICE, I THINK [BEEP]
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> YES, SIR.
I'M NOT GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND
SAY THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE
WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE
IN DURHAM.
THE ISSUE THAT WE SEE HERE IN
DURHAM ARE PRETTY MUCH NATION
WIDE.
THEY'RE NATION WIDE ISSUES.
LIKE MR. WILLIAMS SAID I WOULD
LIKE A CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD, BU
I THINK IT SHOULD BE COMPRISED
OF CITY WORKERS FROM DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE ABLE
TO COME TO SOME KIND OF
SOLUTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
COMPLAINTS THAT ARE LODGED
AGAINST DIFFERENT OFFICERS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THEN THAT CAN BE PRESENTED TO
THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CHIEF OR
EVEN TO THE COUNCIL.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> YES, I THINK THERE IS A
PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THE BIGGES
PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM OF
EXPLANATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS AT A PAC MEETING ON
SATURDAY.
THERE WAS AN EXCELLENT
EXPLANATION GIVEN BY ONE OF THE
TOP OFFICIALS OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
SHE EXPLAINED THROUGH LOTS OF
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE
RECENT SHOOTING ON THE PLAZA.
AND SHE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SHOTS MADE BY RUBBER BULLETS OR
SHOTS TO ANOTHER PART OF THE
BODY, RATHER THAN A SHOT THAT
MANY KILL SHOOTING TO KILL.
SHE REFERRED TO IT AS SHOOTING
TO NEUTRALIZE THE CRISIS.
SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE COULD B
MORE EXPLANATION LIKE THAT TO
THE CITIZENS OF DURHAM SO THEY
WOULD UNDERSTAND THE PROTOCOLS
THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT USE.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER.
>> I THINK OVERALL, WE ARE NOT
HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS,
HOWEVER.
WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT POLICE
FORCE.
THEY CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE SOME STATISTICS THAT
ARE TROUBLING, AS FAR AS THE
PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS
THAT ARE BEING PULLED OVER AND
SEARCHED AS OPPOSED TO OTHER
PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED.
BUT -- AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
TRAGEDIES THIS SUMMER AS FAR AS
MR. WALKER'S SHOOTING AND
MR. CAMPO.
BUT ALL OF THOSE, THAT'S UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
I THINK A CITIZENS REVIEW PANEL
COULD BE STRENGTHENED, BUT I
THINK, AGAIN, COMMUNICATION IS
PROBABLY THE FIRST AND BEST
STEP.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT?
>> FIRST, I WANT TO AGREE WITH
MR. KARRIKER IN THAT WE HAVE, I
THINK, A LOT OF REALLY FINE
PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE
DEPARTMENT, BUT DISPARITIES DO
EXIST.
AT LEAST STATISTICALLY ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND LOCALLY.
I THINK THAT DESERVES
CONSIDERATION AND THAT
CONSIDERATION IS UNDERWAY NOW.
THE F.B.I.'S INVESTIGATING THE
DEPARTMENT SHOOTING AND THE
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION IS
WORKING ON THE ISSUE OF
DISPARITIES.
SO IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME T
TAKE A STAND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
UNTIL THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO DO
THEIR WORK AND THEN PRESENT IT
TO COUNCIL.
SO THANK YOU.
>> MR. BELL?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WITH ANY
DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE CHALLENGES
AND CERTAINLY CHALLENGES WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD ALSO, IN THE CASE OF IN
TERMS OF THE EVALUATION OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE
CHIEF TOLD US AT THE LAST CITY
COUNCIL MEETING THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WAS UNDERGOING
CERTIFICATION AND EXPECTED TO
RECEIVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
CERTIFICATION AWARDED FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM AN
OUTSIDE REVIEWING AGENCY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE
ISSUES RAISED BY THE COMMUNITY.
THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN THE
APPROPRIATE STEP TO STEP OUTSIDE
ASK HUMAN RELATIONS TO LOOK AT
THE CONCERNS RAISED.
I THINK AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME
ONCE THE HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION MAKES ITS REPORT,
THEN I AS A MAYOR WILL BE IN A
BETTER POSITION TO EVALUATE THE
RESULTS OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION STUDY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION, WE WILL BEGIN
WITH MR. BEASLEY.
THIS ALSO INVOLVES THE POLICE.
DOES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEED
TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES AND
MORE OFFICERS TO ENFORCEMENT OF
TRAFFIC LAWS, INCLUDING
SPEEDING, YIELDING TO
PEDESTRIANS AND SHARING THE ROA
WITH BICYCLISTS?
IF SO, WHERE WILL THE RESOURCES
AND OFFICERS COME FROM?
>> TO ANSWER THE QUESTION,
ABSOLUTELY YES.
I HAD A PROBLEM IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO
WHERE CARS WERE PASSING A SCHOOL
BUS.
AND KIDS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WERE GETTING ON THE SCHOOL BUS
AND THEY WERE JUST FLYING BY.
SO WE CONTACTED SOME OFFICERS
AND THEY BEGAN TO SIT AND WATCH
THAT AREA.
I THINK THE RESOURCES ARE THERE
BECAUSE THE POLICE OFFICERS DO
HAVE DISTRICTS THAT THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO ... SURVEY, YOU
KNOW, SET SURVEILLANCE AND
EVERYTHING.
SO WHEN THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE
CAN EASILY IN THE MORNING TIME
WATCH THE AREAS WITH THE SCHOOL
BUSES, THE BICYCLE LANES AND
MAKE SURE AND ENSURE THE
CITIZENS OF DURHAM ARE SAFE.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> YES, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE
MUCH MORE DISCUSSION IN THE CITY
OF DURHAM ABOUT THE ROADWAYS,
THE TRAFFIC, INCLUDING THE
BICYCLES.
TWO TERRIBLE INCIDENTS HAVE
OCCURRED RECENTLY WITH THE DEATH
OF BIKERS.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE CITIZENS IN DURHAM
UNDERSTAND SHARING THE ROAD.
THE BICYCLISTS ARE JUST LIKE
PEOPLE OPERATING OTHER MOTOR
VEHICLES AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT
TO THAT ROAD.
I'M HOPING THAT THERE CAN BE
MUCH MORE DIALOGUE ABOUT THAT.
ALSO, THERE SHOULD BE MUCH MORE
DISCUSSION ABOUT TRAFFIC LAWS
BECAUSE WE END UP LOSING TOO
MANY LIVES THROUGH TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS.
PARTICULARLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
AND SOMETIMES WITH THE ABUSE OF
ALCOHOL AND OTHER KINDS OF
ISSUES LIKE THAT.
>> MS. KARRIKER?
>> I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM IN
DURHAM.
I THINK IT IS MORE THAN JUST A
LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE, THOUGH.
WE DEFINITELY NEED TO EMPHASIZE
THAT WITH THE OFFICERS AND MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO ENFORCE THE LAWS
THAT ARE OUT THERE.
I THINK IT IS ALSO A COMMUNITY
ENDEAVOR THAT WE NEED TO, AT TH
PAC MEETINGS, THAT COMMUNITIES
NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CALL
THE POLICE AND ADDRESS ISSUES
THAT ARE HAPPENING.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO TALK
ABOUT THIS SO AS A CITY AS FAR
AS MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE BIKE
LANES, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THE LAWS.
AND ALSO ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE IS
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
THAT THERE ARE CROSSWALKS AND
SIDEWALKS BECAUSE THERE ARE A
LOT OF MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT
HAVE NO SIDEWALKS WHATSOEVER.
>> MR. MOFFITT?
>> THANK YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUDIES
HAVE SHOWN IS THAT PEOPLE DRIVE
WHAT THE ROAD ALLOWS RATHER THA
THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT.
THERE ARE RESOURCES THERE THE
PLEASE HAVE COME OUT AND RUN
INVESTIGATIONS ON CROSSWALKS.
THERE IS ALSO INFRASTRUCTURE.
SUNDAY WALKS MENTIONED.
BUT ALSO MAKING THE ROADS SO
THEY'RE LESS FRIENDLY TO
SPEEDING.
SPEED HUMPS, ROAD DIETS, TRAFFI
CIRCLES, CREATING BIKE LANES,
THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
COMMISSION IS UPSTAIRS MEETING.
I'M ON THAT COMMISSION, BUT I'M
HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE WORK ON,
THEY WORK ON MONTH IN, MONTH
OUT.
THE OTHER THING IS INFORMATION.
THINGS LIKE THE FACT THAT CARS
ARE TO YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS IN
CROSSWALKS, GETTING THAT
INFORMATION OUT, HELPING PEOPLE
BE MORE NEIGHBORLY IN THE WAY
THAT THEY SHARE THE ROAD.
THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD SUPPORT THE COMMENTS
MADE BY COUNCILMAN MOFFITT.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT AT
RESOURCES, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS STAFFED AT THE LEVEL THEY AR
ASKED FOR.
IT MAY BE HOW THEY'RE DEPLOYED.
I WOULD BE OPEN TO LISTENING TO
THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR
SUGGESTIONS TO MINIMIZE THE
ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.
>> MR. WILLIAMS?
>> DOES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEED TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES
AND MORE OFFICERS TO ENFORCEMEN
OF TRAFFIC LAWS, INCLUDING
SPEEDING, YIELDING TO
PEDESTRIANS AND SHARING THE ROA
WITH BICYCLISTS?
IF SO, WHERE WILL THE RESOURCES
AND OFFICERS COME FROM?
>> MY RESPONSE IS YES.
WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE BEING
SLAIN, BEING KILLED.
WHEN WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHOSE SALARY DOES NOT MATCH WHAT
SALARIES ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUSE
ARE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BICYCL
LANES -- ARE WE BEING SERIOUS?
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES HERE
IN THE CITY OF DURHAM?
DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE IN DURHAM?
I THINK OFTENTIMES WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REAL
PROBLEMS ARE.
YOU CAN'T THROW SWEET WATER ON
IT AND THINK IT WILL BE BETTER.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
ADDRESS THE ISSUES FOR WHAT THE
ARE.
RESOURCES TO GIVE OUT BETTER
TRAINING FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER
INCIDENT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED ON
THE PLAZA.
GIVE THEM BETTER SALARIES AND
KNOW THE PEOPLE IN DURHAM CARE
ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS BUT THAT
THE POLICE OFFICERS CARE FOR TH
CITIZENS OF DURHAM.
THIS IS WHAT I THINK SHOULD BE
DONE.
[BEEP].
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH
MR. DAVIS.
RECENTLY, THERE WAS CRITICISM OF
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION.
ARE THEY DOING SOMETHING WRONG?
IF SO, WHAT, AND WHAT WOULD YOU
PROPOSE THEY DO DIFFERENTLY?
>> I DON'T THINK THE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION COMMISSION IS DOING
ANYTHING WRONG.
THEY'RE DOING WHAT WE WANT THEM
TO DO AND THAT IS TO TALK ABOUT
THE HISTORY, THE LEGACY, THE
HERITAGE OF THE BUILDING AND TH
PEOPLE OF DURHAM.
I NOTED THAT THERE WAS A BIG
ISSUE ABOUT THE LIBERTY
WAREHOUSE.
THERE WERE ISSUES ABOUT -- OTHE
ISSUES IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE
BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
PROPOSED AND APPROVED.
HOWEVER, THAT COMMISSION, LIKE
ALL OF THE COMMISSIONS ARE
ADVISORY.
THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO
ADVOCATE THE POSITIONS THEY SEE
FIT, BUT THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS
ON THOSE ISSUES DO COME DOWN TO
THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND SOME CASES THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.
BUT I THINK THAT THE
PRESERVATION COMMISSION IS DOING
A GOOD JOB AND SHOULD CONTINUE
TO STAND UP OAR THE OUTSTANDING
HERITAGE OF DURHAM.
[BEEP].
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER?
>> I WOULD AGREE THEY'RE DOING
GOOD JOB.
THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS -
WE HAVE LOST SOME BEAUTIFUL
BUILDINGS IN THE LAST, RECENT
YEARS.
SO I THINK IT IS GOOD TO
ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO
NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO INDIVIDUAL
HOMEOWNERS OR INDIVIDUAL
PROPERTY OWNERS AND MAKE SURE W
ARE MAKING THE BEST DECISIONS
FOR EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT?
>> THANK YOU.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION, A LOT OF THE WORK
THEY DO IS REVIEW WHAT ARE
CALLED CERTIFICATES OF
APPROPRIATENESS, THOSE APPLY TO
THE LOCAL DISTRICTS AND MORE AN
MORE LOCAL DISTRICTS.
THE COMMISSION IS DEALING WITH
AN AVALANCHE OF CERTIFICATES OF
APPROPRIATENESS.
THERE IS A LACK OF GUIDELINES,
PARTICULARLY FOR WHAT ARE CALLE
NONCONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES,
WHICH ARE STRUCTURES WITHIN THE
DISTRICTS BUT ARE NOT ACTUALLY
CONSIDERED HISTORIC THEMSELVES.
SECOND PROBLEM THEY HAVE IS NOT
EVERYBODY THAT LIVES WITHIN ALL
OF THE DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE
CITY ACTUALLY KNOW THEY'RE IN
SUCH A DISTRICT.
THERE IS A LOT OF CATCHUP WORK
THAT GOES ON.
WITHIN THE STRUCTURE THEY HAVE.
THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
THE FACT THAT THERE IS
CONTROVERSY FROM TIME TO TIME
INDICATES THEY'RE DOING
SOMETHING RIGHT AND SOMETHING WE
CAN DO NOW TO HELP THEM DO A
BETTER JOB.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I DON'T WANT TO CHARACTERIZE
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS WRONG.
BUT SOME AREAS THEY MOVE A BIT
BEYOND THEIR BOUNDS.
I THINK CERTAINLY YOU HAVE TO
BALANCE THE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION OF BUILDINGS,
RESTORATION WITH ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, I THINK THEY HAVE
GONE A BIT FURTHER THAN THEY
SHOULD BE, IN NOT BALANCING THE
ECONOMIC REALITIES AND THE
IMPACTS THAT SHOULD OF THE
STRUCTURES COULD HAVE ON THE
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. WILLIAMS?
>> I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A
GREATER BUY-IN WITH THE
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
I WAS IN A LONG CONVERSATION
APPROXIMATE A PERSON THAT IS NOT
HERE IN DURHAM.
THEY DID NOT KNOW THE HISTORY O
DURHAM, DID NOT KNOW THE FACTS
SURROUNDING DURHAM.
BEING HERE IN DURHAM I HAVE
LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.
I KNOW SOME OF ISSUES AND THE
HISTORICAL PLACES HERE IN
DURHAM.
HERE IS A PERSON NOT AWARE OF
THAT.
A GREATER BUY-IN I THINK ANYTIM
A PERSON IS PAYING TAXES FOR
DECADES IN THE CITY OF DURHAM,
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER, YOU KNOW
VERY HIGH -- YOU TALK ABOUT
DISPLACING OR REMOVING THOSE
PEOPLE FOR BIGGER OR GREATER
DEVELOPMENT AS THEY SAY.
SOMEONE HAS TO SPEAK UP FOR THE
SMALL PERSON.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT A VOLUNTEER
ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AND THEY'RE DESIGNED TO RESERVE
THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF
DURHAM, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.
I THINK A LOT MORE PEOPLE WANT
TO SEE THAT HELD TO IN HERE IN
DURHAM.
THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
DIRECTLY IMPACTED ABOUT SOME OF
THE DECISIONS SHOULD BE ABLE TO
WEIGH-IN ON THE DECISIONS BEFORE
THEY'RE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL OR
EVEN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BEFORE A DECISION IS RENDERED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN
WITH MS. KARRIKER.
THE PERIODIC RENTAL INSPECTION
PROGRAM OR PRIP WAS ESTABLISHED
TO INSPECT RENTAL HOUSING IN
SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE CITY WHIC
HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF
SUBSTANDARD UNITS.
IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE
P.R.I.P. WHICH BE REVISED.
SHOULD THE COUNCIL REVISE IT?
IT SO, HOW AND WHY?
>> WELL, I HAVE BEEN IN THE NEW
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS
RECENTLY.
I DID SAY THAT I THOUGHT THAT
THE P.R.I.P. SHOULD BE REVISEWE
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT ALL HOUSING
TO BE UP TO CODE.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT WHAT THE
P.R.I.P. IS TRYING TO DO.
MY CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE AT
SUCH I DEFICIT RIGHT NOW THAT I
WANT TO BRING IN LANDLORDS,
DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS, PLUS THE
COMMUNITY AND FIND OUT WAYS TO
MAKE THIS SO IT WORKS AND WILL
NOT DISCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS
FROM WANTING TO RUN.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE PROGRAM,
ESPECIALLY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
IN DURHAM HAS SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT?
>> FIRST, IT IS THE PROACTIVE
RENTAL AND PROTECTION PROGRAM.
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
DISTINCTION.
BECAUSE MOST OF WHAT THE CITY
DOES IS COMPLAINT DRIVEN.
THAT PRICKS A -- PUTS THE TENAN
IN THE SPOT OF HAVING TO
COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LANDLORD TO
THE CITY.
BECAUSE IT IS A PROACTIVE
PROGRAM, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
GO OUT, LOOK AT RENTAL HOUSING
THROUGHOUT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
CITY, AND ZONES.
65% OF THOSE UNITS HAVE PROBLEM
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED,
THINGS LIKE MISSING SMOKE
DETECTORS.
THESE ARE BASIC SAFETY ITEMS
THAT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED.
THE P.R.I.P. DOES NOT ADD A
SINGLE REGULATION TO A LANDLORD
IT SIMPLY MAKES SURE THEY ARE
DOING WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY
REQUIRED TO DO.
IT DOES HELP PROVIDE SAFE AND
DECENT, FORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT NO
MATTER WHAT THEIR INCOME OR
HOUSING, IT SHOULD BE SAFE AND
DECENT.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE
P.R.I.P.
I THINK IT IS DOING WHAT IT WAS
SET OUT TO DO.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHEN IT WAS FIRST
ESTABLISHED, IT WAS ESTABLISHED
ALMOST CITYWIDE.
THROUGH FEEDBACK FROM REALTORS,
PROPERTY OWNERS THE CITY COUNCI
DECIDED TO REDUCE THE SCOPE OF
AREAS TO LOOK AT SO WE COULD
DETERMINE HOW IT IS DOING.
IT COULD ALWAYS BE OPEN FOR
REVIEW AND CHANGES.
BY AND LARGE, I THINK THE GOALS
IT SET OUT TO DO, IT IS DOING
THOSE GOALS AND DOING IT
EFFECTIVELY.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. WILLIAMS?
>> I WORK WITH THE SOUTH SIDE
RESIDENTS, AND ONE OF THE THING
THAT WOULD COME UP IS THAT CODE
ENFORCEMENT PUT PEOPLE OUT OF
THEIR HOMES.
>> WHEN WE LOOK AT SAVE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHY WOULD
THEY USE CODE ENFORCEMENT TO PU
THAT PERSON OUT WHEN THEY CAN'T
AFFORD TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE
PROGRAM, LOOK AT THOSE INVOLVED
IN IT TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT
USED TO PUT THEM OUT OF THEIR
HOMES.
WHERE ELSE CAN THEY GO?
THERE ARE SOME THAT BELIEVE IT
IS INTENTIONAL, THAT CODE
ENFORCEMENT IS SELECTIVE, THAT
THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT ALL THE
HOUSES IN DURHAM BUT CERTAIN
AREAS THEY WANT DEVELOPERS TO
COME IN AND DEVELOP THE AREAS.
THIS IS WHAT I AM OPPOSED TO.
IF YOU USE IT, USE IT
EVENHANDEDLY ACROSS ALL OF CITY
OF DURHAM, AND NOT BE SELECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> YEAH, I SUPPORT THE EFFORTS
OF THE P.R.I.P. AND SUPPORT THE
EFFORTS OF BRINGING ALL RENTAL
HOMES UP TO CODE FOR THE
RENTERS.
IF THERE ARE VIOLATIONS THAT IS
DEEMED TO BE ADDRESSED, THEY
NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
BUT LIKE MR. WILLIAMS SAID, THE
VIOLATIONS SHOULD NOT PUT THE
RENTERS OUT OF THEIR HOME.
YOU KNOW, THE OWNERS OF THE HOM
SHOULD HAVE TIME TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES, FIX THEM UP, ALLOW THE
TENANTS TO STAY.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> I SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE PUT A LITTLE MORE TEETH INTO
IT, ACTUALLY.
>> THERE SHOULD BE MORE
ENFORCEMENT TO DEAL WITH CODE
AND ALSO TO DEAL WITH MAKING
SURE THAT THE RENTER AND THE
RENTEES ARE DOING THE KINDS OF
THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO
PROTECT THE PROPERTY.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE.
WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
RENTERS WHO MAY NOT ALWAYS DO
THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY
NEED TO DO TO PROTECT THE
PROPERTY THAT PEOPLE ARE RENTIN
TO THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION IS RELATED TO BOTH
OF THE LAST TWO.
DOES DURHAM HAVE A
GENTRIFICATION PROBLEM?
AND IF SO, WHERE IS IT A
PROBLEM?
AND HOW IS IT A PROBLEM?
>> GENTRIFICATION, OF COURSE, IS
WHEN PEOPLE START MOVING IN --
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN
A COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME AND
THEN OTHER PEOPLE SEE THE
PROPERTY VALUES THERE AS BEING
SOMETHING THEY CAN CAPITALIZE
ON, MOVE IN, FIX UP, PROPERTY
TAXES BEGIN TO RISE AND PEOPLE
NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.
I THINK THIS DOES HAPPEN IN
AREAS ACROSS THE SEA.
THERE IS ONE ORGANIZATION, THE
DURHAM COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS
WORKING ON SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE
THAT OWN STRUCTURES BUT DON'T
KNOW THE REAL ESTATE ITSELF, BU
IT IS PROTECTED BY A NONPROFIT
SO THEY'RE PROTECTED FROM THE
TAX INCREASES CAN STILL BUILD
WEALTH.
I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT WE
SEE THAT ON VEHICLEVILLE, THE
PROPERTY VALUES HAVE RISEN
SUBSTANTIALLY THERE OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
WE'LL SEE MORE AND MORE
COMMUNITIES ADJACENT TO
DOWNTOWN.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DESERVES
CAREFUL CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE A
GENTRIFICATION PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REVITALIZE
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE STATE HAS THE LEAGUE IN
OTHER CASES.
SAME TOKEN, WE'RE MINDFUL OF TH
FACT THERE IS A NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THE CITY IS TAKING THE
APPROPRIATE STEPS, PROBABLY THE
ONLY CITY IN THE STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA THAT HAS DEDICATED ONE
CENT OF THE PROPERTY TAX TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INSPECT
DURHAM THAT IS $2.2 MILLION THAT
GOES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I DON'T SAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE HAVE AN ACCOMMODATION OF
PRIVATE SECTOR AND THERE IS
WHERE THE CITY HAS STEPPED IN
WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
EFFORT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MR. WILLIAMS?
>> I ATTENDED A DURHAM COMMUNIT
OF BLACK PEOPLE MEETING AND WE
HAD A DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIAL COME IN
ONE THING HE SAID THEY WANTED T
SEE DONE IN DURHAM IS LIKE IN
CHARLOTTE.
IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE
TRANSFORMATION THERE, YOU SEE IT
IS DOMINANT BLACK DOWNTOWN TO
DOMINANT WHITE.
THEY WANT THE SAME THING DONE IN
DURHAM.
IS THAT BY DESIGN?
ARE SOME PEOPLE EXPENDABLE THAT
DON'T HAVE A GROUP HERE IN
DURHAM?
THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN DURHAM?
I HEARD IT REPORTED TO ME, WE'LL
GIVE YOU $20,000 TO BUILD ONE O
THE HOUSES IN THE SOUTH SIDE
AREA.
THESE HOUSES ARE $160,000.
WHAT WILL $20,000 DO TO HELP
THEM LIVE IN THE AREAS.
IF THEY ARE BLIND, CAN'T SEE,
CAN'T SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE CITY OF DURHAM.
WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TH
CITY OF DURHAM.
THIS IS WHY EVERY COMMUNITY I GO
INTO I FIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS O
THE COMMUNITY BOEP BEEP BECAUSE
THERE IS A VESTED INTEREST, NO
ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME IN
AND PUSH YOU OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> YES, I FEEL THERE IS AN ISSUE
OF GENTRIFICATION GOING ON HERE
IN DURHAM.
MY FRIENDS THAT GREW UP AND
FAMILY MEMBERS THAT STAY IN
NORTHEAST CENTRAL DURHAM, A LOT
OF PEOPLE ARE BUYING HOMES,
FIXING THEM UP, PEOPLE MOVING
OUT.
LOOK AT THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
WE HAD HERE IN DURHAM,
FAYETTEVILLE STREET HOUSING
PROJECTS, YOU LOOK AT SOUTH
SIDE.
THE CITY HASSICEN THE LEAD OF
PUTTING IN FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THE
PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING.
PERCEPTION.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> AS OMAR SAID, PERCEPTION IN
MANY WAYS IS REALITY FOR A LOT
OF PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE
SUFFERING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT
THAT WE HAVE HAD HERE IN DURHAM
PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING WHEN
PEOPLE COME IN AND REVITALIZE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE ABLE TO
START AND RESTORE BUSINESSES.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS FOR
THAT MODEL TO BE REPLICATED IN
LOTS OF THE DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES IN DURHAM.
THERE OUGHT TO BE WAYS THAT WE
CAN LOOK AT THE FAYETTEVILLE
STREET CORRIDOR, OLD HAYTI AND
LOOK AT THE WEST END AND EAST
END AND OTHER PARTS OF DURHAM T
MAKE SURE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES
ARE PUT TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT
MIGHT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE
SKILLS THAT COME FROM NORTH
CENTRAL, DUKE UNIVERSITY AND DO
WHAT PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT IN
SOME CASES.
THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT
THEMSELVES.
WE CAN DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER.
>> WE ALL WANT TO SEE
NEIGHBORHOODS REVITALIZED.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
WHEN YOUNG FAMILIES MOVE IN,
PEOPLE ARE FIXING UP THEIR
HOUSES, CLEANING UP THEIR YARDS,
THAT'S ALL A GOOD THING.
HOWEVER, WE -- I THINK WE ARE
BEGINNING TO SEE A PROBLEM WITH
GENTRIFICATION AS FAR AS PEOPLE
NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE
HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
THEY'VE GROWN-UP WITH.
BECAUSE OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP IS
HISTORICALLY LOW, THAT IS A
PROBLEM.
THERE ARE PEOPLE RENTING THAT
HAVE BEEN RENTING FOR YEARS AND
YEARS PUSHED OUT OF THEIR
HOUSES.
THE STUDY THAT SAYS THE
SHORTAGE, WE NEED AT LEAST 450
HOUSES AFFORDABLE IN OUR RANGE
BELOW $150,000 TO MEET THE NEED
WE NEED 3,500 APARTMENTS IN THAT
RANGE.
AND WHILE I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT THE CITY HAS A PENNY FOR
HOUSING TAX AND I THINK THAT IS
A REALLY GOOD START, IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN
ACCOMPLISH BY THEMSELVES.
[BEEP] IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM
THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH
MR. BELL.
HOW WILL YOU WEIGH THE RIGHTS
AND INTERESTS OF DEVELOPERS AND
EXISTING HOMEOWNERS WHEN
CONSIDERING INFILL DEVELOPMENT
IN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE NEAR DOWNTOWN
UNDERGOING REVITALIZATION?
>> I GUESS I REFER TO THE
COMMENTS MADE EARLIER.
I ON THE CITY OF DURHAM AND THE
COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND THE NEED FOR THE
REVITALIZATION OF CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHAT I WOULD SEE IS DEPENDING ON
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY A
DEVELOPER AND HOW THAT WILL FIT
INTO THE OVERALL PLAN THAT
DURHAM HAS FOR PROVIDING MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDING
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE MIXED
INCOME.
I THINK AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, I
DON'T SAY -- I WON'T SAY WHAT WE
THINK, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT WE
ARE DOING.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS
WHAT WE DID ON FLORENCE AVENUE
IN EAST WICK VILLAGE.
HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITED, YOU WILL
SEE THAT IN THE SOUTH SIDE AND
ROLLING HILLS.
MIXED INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IT APPROXIMATE FITS INTO THE
STRUCTURE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DO TO REVITALIZE THE
NEIGHBORHOODS, SAME TOKEN,
MINDFUL OF OPPORTUNITIES OF
PEOPLE TO OWN AND ALSO TO RENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MR. WILLIAMS?
>> REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> YES, HOW WILL YOU WEIGH THE
RIGHTS AND INTERESTING OF
DEVELOPERS AND EXISTING
HOMEOWNERS WHEN CONSIDERING
INFILL DEVELOPMENT IN
ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE NEAR DOWNTOWN
UNDERGOING REVITALIZATION.
>> I WILL TELL YOU WHAT MY
RESPONSE WAS WHEN I WAS SPEAKIN
TO CONINGTON HEIGHTS REGARDING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR
PROPERTIES.
I THINK IT IS SHAMEFUL THE WAY
SOMETIMES DEVELOPERS COME IN
TRYING TO OFFER HAVES DEBTS
PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR FOR THEIR
HOME.
I THINK IF A HOUSE IS TAX VALUE
AT $40,000, $50,000, YOU WILL
SAY TO THE PURPOSE I WILL TAKE
YOUR HOUSE AND LET YOU MOVE
SOMEPLACE ELSE.
GIVE THEM THE MONEY, THE
RESOURCES WHERE THEY CAN GO AND
BE MORTGAGE-FREE.
TO ADD TO THE VALUE OF THE HOMES
IN CITY OF DURHAM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOULD GET,
RATHER THAN GIVING AN ELDERLY
PERSON PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR TO
GO AND START ALL OVER AGAIN WITH
SO LITTLE.
I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE
SOMETHING BETTER.
WE WANT DEVELOPMENT HERE IN THE
CITY OF DURHAM BUT WE MUST
CONSIDER THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT
DURHAM.
THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FO
DECADES PAYING THE TAXES IN
DURHAM.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> YES, WELL, WITH THE
DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING IN,
YOU KNOW, TO DO THE INFILL
DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE NOT DISTURBING THE
INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY THAT
IS ALREADY THERE.
I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEW
DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING IN,
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
A LIVE AND WORK VETERAN.
EVERYTHING WE PUT IN IS
ACCESSIBLE.
YOU WANT A HOUSING THAT IS
CLOSE, THAT INCLUDES COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT.
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO REALLY
DESTROY THE INTEGRITY OF CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES BUT YOU ALSO WANT T
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE PLACES
TO WORK WHERE PEOPLE ARE PUTTIN
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. DAVIS?
>> I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A
THOROUGH SET OF DIALOGUES THAT
OCCUR IN THE COMMUNITIES.
THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE WAYS THAT
PEOPLE CAN RECOGNIZE WHERE WE
MAY BE GOING, WHAT MIGHT BE THE
POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT,
AND HOW CAN PEOPLE WHO ARE THER
NOW, WHO HAVE BEEN THERE, WHO
HAVE ROOTS THERE, WILL BE ABLE
TO BE SUSTAINED OR IF THERE ARE
GOING TO BE WAYS FOR THEM TO
MOVE INTO OTHER COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THAT WE MUST REALLY BE
ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE MIXTURE O
DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE MODERATE INCOMES CAN
MAINTAIN THE LIVING ABILITY THAT
THEY HAVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES
WHILE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE MIGHT BE
IMPROVED.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS AN
EASY ANSWER FOR THIS.
WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT VERY
CAREFULLY.
WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE SLOWLY AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE
OF EVERYONE.
DURHAM SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO
THIS.
I MEAN, OUR HISTORY IS THAT WE
HAVE ALWAYS HAD DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS OF DIFFERENT
SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS
SIDE-BY-SI
SIDE-BY-SIDE.
SO I THINK OUR COMMUNITY IS
PROBABLY BETTER EQUIPPED TO DO
THIS THAN A LOT OF CITIES.
HOWEVER, AS DURHAM BECOMES --
BECAUSE DURHAM IS SUCH A
WONDERFUL PLACE AND THERE ARE
GREAT THINGS HAPPENING HERE, AS
PEOPLE COME IN AND WE SEE THE
NEW DEVELOPMENTS, CLOSER INTO
DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY THE
HIGH-DENSITY ONES, WE HAVE TO
WATCH CAREFULLY THAT THEY REMAIN
MIXED.
IF THEY BECOME VERY POPULAR,
THEY MAY BE KIND OF GENTRIFIED
SO IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE FOR
LOWER INCOME PEOPLE TO MOVE IN.
OR PEOPLE WITH HIGHER INCOMES
WILL AVOID THEM AND THEY BECOME
PROJECTS.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT?
>> THE DEVELOPERS OF
REDEVELOPMENT VERSUS RESIDENTS.
THIS COMES INTO PLAY WITH
REZONING CASES IN PARTICULAR.
I SPENT SIX YEARS ON THE
PLANNING COMMISSION, I CHAIRED
IT FOR THREE.
I HEARD HUNDREDS OF CASES.
THE ISSUE IS THE SAME WHETHER IT
IS NEAR DOWNTOWN OR IN THE
SUBURBS.
IT IS AN EMOTIONAL DECISION AND
BALANCE OF THE NEED OF THE
WHOLE.
IT IS BALANCING THE NEEDS,
THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE THE
COMMUNITY IS LIVEABLE, IT IS
WALKABLE AND WE ARE EXPANDING
OUR TAX BASE BECAUSE THAT
IMPACTS EVERYBODY IN THE CITY.
WE ARE USING PRINCIPLES OF SMART
GROWTH.
EACH CASE IS UNIQUE.
THAT IS PART OF THE WORK OF CIT
COUNCIL.
THE WORK I'M DOING NOW AND WORK
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH
MR. WILLIAMS.
RECENTLY, THE PLANNING
COMMISSION VOTED NOT TO REZONE
LAND FOR AN OFFICE BUILDING AND
THEN THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY TO REVERSE THAT
DECISION.
IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE
PLANNING COMMISSION?
>> SOME WOULD SAY THERE IS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WITH THE
PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU KNOW,
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THERE, I
MEAN, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT
THEY'RE CONCERNED FOR THE
CITIZENS OF DURHAM.
ANYONE THAT TAKES THE TIME TO DO
WHAT THEY DO, YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING
FROM.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS ASKING,
WHERE ARE YOUR VESTED INTERESTS?
WHAT IS YOUR REASONING FOR
OVERTURNING WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS
HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU?
AND I KNOW I FELT THIS OUT.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE
THAT CAME UP WITH SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE HERE IN THE CITY OF
DURHAM.
CITY COUNCIL SAID WE WON'T HAVE
DISCUSSION FROM THE CITY OF
DURHAM THAT WILL VOTE 7-0.
HOW CAN YOU SAY THE CITY COUNCIL
REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS WHEN
THEY DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO
INPUT FROM THE CITIZENS.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO
THEM.
WE SHOULD HAVE GREATER INPUT
FROM OUR CITIZENS [BEEP] AND
SHOULDN'T SUCH AN ATTITUDE
TOWARD THE RECOMMENDATIONS BEIN
MADE.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> YES, SIR, LIKE I SAID
EARLIER, THE PLANNING COMMISSION
IS A VOLUNTEER ADVISORY BOARD.
ALTHOUGH THEY THOROUGHLY REVIEW
EVERY PROPOSAL BEFORE THEM.
WHAT THEY DO IS RECOMMEND TO TH
COUNCIL WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
I'M SURE THE COUNCIL TOOK
SERIOUSLY INTO CONSIDERATION
WHAT THEY RECOMMENDED, BUT THEY
PROBABLY SAW BETTER BENEFIT IN
APPROVE LITTLE THE PLAN THAN
WHAT THEY RECOMMENDED.
I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL DID THEIR
HOMEWORK AS WELL.
AND I WOULD HOPE MADE A GREAT
DECISION.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. DAVIS?
>> YES.
LIKE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION THAT YOU TALKED ABOU
EARLIER, THE PLANNING
COMMISSION, EVEN THOUGH IT DOES
A GREAT DEAL OF WORK AND DEALS
WITH A LOT OF SO-CALLED IN THE
WEEDS KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS, THE
COUNCIL IS ULTIMATELY MAKING TH
DECISION AND ITS COUNTERPART,
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAKE
THE DECISION BECAUSE THEY'RE THE
LAKEDD -- ELECTED BODY FOR THE
COUNTY AND THE CITY.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS A
MUCH LARGER GROUP.
THE IDEAS MAY BE MORE DIVERSE,
BUT I THINK WE RESPECT THE WORK
THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION
GOES FORTH -- PUTS FORTH, AND
THAT THEY DO GOOD WORK.
THEY MAKE GOOD DECISIONS BUT TH
ULTIMATE DECISION COMES DOWN TO
THE CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE I
A PROBLEM WITH THE PLANNING
COMMISSION, NO.
IN OUR RECENT HISTORY THERE WERE
SITUATIONS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN
AN ADVERSARIAL SITUATION BETWEE
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AS FAR
AS THE LEADERS ARE CONCERNED.
THIS IS UNFORTUNATE, AND I THINK
WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE THAT WILL
WORK TOGETHER.
SINCE I'VE HAD THE EXPERIENCE A
A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND I
CAME -- I WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE
AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER CURING
A VERY CONTENTIOUS TIME.
I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A VERY
CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP AND GOOD
WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL O
THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS SERVING
WITH.
I ALSO HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE,
SIX YEARS WITH THE CITIZENS
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PANEL WITH
THE CITY.
SO I WOULD WORK REALLY HARD TO
BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP SO THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND
MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOOD FO
EVERYONE.
[BEEP].
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT?
>> THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
THERE IS NO DISSENSION BETWEEN
COUNTY AND CITY APPOINTEES IN
THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THEY WORK WELL TOGETHER.
NOW, MR. DAVIS IS CORRECT THAT
THE DECISIONS -- ALMOST ALL OF
THE DECISIONS OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION ARE ADVISORY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I EXPERIENCED
WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING
COMMISSION IS THAT FREQUENTLY,
THE CASE, WHEN IT ARRIVED TO TH
CITY COUNCIL WAS DIFFERENT THAN
THE CASE WHEN IT LEFT THE
PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE
DEVELOPERS ARE REVISING THEIR
PROPOSALS, MAKING ADDITIONAL
PROFFERS AND THE COUNCIL LISTEN
VERY CAREFULLY TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION.
IN THE END, THOUGH, THE BUCK
DOES STOP WITH THE COUNCIL TO
MAKE SURE IT IS LIVEABLE,
WALKABLE, HELPING BUILD THE TAX
BASE AND IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR
THE FABRIC OF THE CITY.
SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT
FROM TIME TO TIME THERE IS A
DISAGREEMENT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING WRONG.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS
ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE PLANNING
COMMISSION.
I THINK THERE IS A SYSTEM IN
PLACE FOR CHECKS AND BALANCES.
THE CITY COUNCIL DOES ITS JOB.
THE FINAL DECISION CAN BE MADE
BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN, THE
QUESTIONS BEING ASKED, 10, 15
YEARS AGO, NOBODY WANTED TO COME
TO DURHAM.
NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH INFILL
DEVELOPMENT.
NOBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT
REVITALIZING DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES.
I WILL SAY IN ALL THE
PRACTICALS, NO HOMEOWNERS WERE
FORCED TO LEAVE.
ROLLING HILLS NO ONE WAS FORCED
TO LEAVE.
SAME THING ON BARNES AVENUE.
I DON'T SEE WHERE HOMEOWNERS AR
BEING FORCED OUT OF THE AREA.
IN KENNEDY HEIGHTS, PEOPLE WERE
BEGGING TO BE BOUGHT OUT.
I DIFFER WITH THE COMMENTS THAT
PEOPLE WERE FORCED OUT OF THEIR
HOUSES AND THE IMPLICATION OF
HAVING THAT TYPE OF IMPACT
[BEEP] I WOULD SAY WE UNDERSTAND
THAT AND WE WILL HAVE A VISION
PLANNING COMMISSION LOOKING AT
DOWNTOWN DURHAM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH
MR. BEASLEY.
RECENTLY, THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO CUT
$85,000 FROM THE CITY-COUNTY
PLANNING BUDGET IN RETALIATION
FOR THE CITY COUNCIL CUTTING A
SIMILAR AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM
ANOTHER PROGRAM.
WILL THIS BE A PROBLEM FOR THE
PLANNING DEPARTMENT?
WHAT IF ANYTHING SHOULD THE
COUNCIL DO ABOUT IT?
>> WELL, I'M A BAILS BONDSMAN,
LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT.
THE MONEY THE CITY COUNCIL CUT
FROM THE WATER PATROL SYSTEM.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD DECISION
BECAUSE THE WORKLOAD THEY HAD
TOOK ON, IT REDUCED THE WORKLOA
OF THEIR OFFICERS.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD
DECISION TO REMOVE THOSE FUNDS
FROM THE BUDGET AND WATER
CONTROL.
AS FAR AS MONEY FOR THE PLANNIN
DEPARTMENT, I'M HOPING THAT THE
CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE
THEY CAN PUT BACK THE MONEY AND
THE WATER CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE
COUNTY WOULD IN TURN DO THE SAME
FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> WELL, WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS
WHO HAVE AUTHORITY AND THOSE
HAVE AUTHORITIES INVESTED IN
THEM BY THE CITIZENS, SOMETIMES
THERE IS A DISCUSSION BETWEEN
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY
OFFICIALS AS TO WHO HAS THE MOS
AUTHORITY.
AND THESE KIND OF CONTESTS GO
ON.
YOU READ ABOUT THEM FROM TIME T
TIME.
I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE,
THOUGH, WHEN WE GET TO A POINT
THAT THERE IS PUNISHMENT OR
RETALIATION GIVEN, BECAUSE BOTH
OF THE PROGRAMS ARE VERY MUCH
NEEDED.
IN THE CITY-COUNTY PLANNING
DEPARTMENT NEEDS THE MONEY TO D
THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
FOR THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF
DURHAM AND THE WARRANTS NEED TO
BE SERVED BY THE SHERIFFS AND
SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND OTHERS
ALONG THE WAY AS WELL AS THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT TH
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE
CITY COUNCIL ARE ABLE TO IRON
OUT THOSE DIFFERENCES.
AND IF I GET LAKED TO THE CITY
COUNCIL, I WILL BE ONE THAT WILL
TALK ABOUT THE CONCILIATORY
[BEEP] RESPONSES THAT HAVE TO B
MADE FROM BOTH OF THOSE BODIES.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER?
>> WELL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I
WAS REFERRING TO IN THE LAST
QUESTION.
UM ... I THINK BOTH ISSUES WERE
NOT EXACTLY CLEAR-CUT.
I UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY VOTED
TO REDUCE THE WARRANT PROGRAM.
I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH
IT, BUT I SEE WHY THEY DID IT.
AS FAR AS THE COUNTY IS
CONCERNED I SEE WHY THEY DID
WHAT THEY DID.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS, IF
YOU COMPARE IT TO COMPARABLE
CITIES SURROUNDING US, A VERY
LARGE BUDGET.
I THINK THAT THEY CAN DEFINITEL
PRIORITIZE TO MAKE SURE THAT --
TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS A
PRIORITY FOR THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT.
SO AGAIN, THE TRANSIT.
I SAY, I'M THE KIND OF PERSON T
TALK ABOUT IT, I WANT TO
COMPROMISE IT.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT BE AN
ADVERSARIAL SITUATION.
[BEEP].
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT?
I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS WE FIRST
GOT INTO THIS CLOSE A BUDGET
HOLE AND THE PROPOSAL WAS TO
INCREASE BUS FARES.
I MET WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I MET WITH THE DURHAM POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I MET WITH SEVERAL OF THE
COMMAND STRUCTURE AND THE
WARRANTS.
WE HAVE A WARRANT CONTROL OFFICE
IN THE CITY.
WHAT OUR DURHAM POLICE
DEPARTMENT SAID THIS DOES NOT
HAVE AN IMPACT, EXCEPT FOR ONE
THING.
PRINTING OUT THE WARRANTS.
THEY HAD TO GET A PRINTER.
IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.
I UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS BEING UPSET, IT
WAS MADE WITHOUT NOTICE TO THEM
WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE IT HAS BECOME
A MATTER OF RETALIATION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FINANCIAL
ISSUES THAT CROSSOVER BETWEEN
THE COUNTY AND CITY, THE GREAT
PROGRAM IS ONE EXAMPLE.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THESE
TOGETHER, NOT ONE AT A TIME AND
NOT *** FOR TAT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION --
EXCUSE ME.
THE PLANNING STAFF HAS TWO
SEPARATE FUNCTIONS.
[BEEP].
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I CAN'T ADD TO MUCH MORE TO
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MOFFITT
SAID.
IF IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM
WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT
BEING ABLE TO DO ITS JOB, I'M
WILLING TO SUPPORT ADDING
ADDITIONAL FUNDS, IF THAT IS
WHAT IT TAKES.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE FREED
UP DOLLARS, SINCE THEY'RE NOT
PUTTING INTO THE PLANNING STAFF,
THEY CAN HELP WITH THE WARRANTY
PROGRAM.
I HAVEN'T HAD THAT.
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I WOUL
BE WILLING TO ADD RESOURCES TO
HELP SUPPLEMENT THE PLANNING
STAFF.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. WILLIAMS?
ONE THING IT BRINGS UP FOR ME --
FOR THOSE THAT KNOW ME, THOSE
THAT WILL GET TO KNOW ME, ONE
THING IS I'M A PERSON THAT LOVE
TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
THERE SHOULD BE NOT AN
ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP GOING
ON WHEN YOU ARE IMPACTING THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE.
YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO COME
TOGETHER AND SAY WHAT IS BEST
FOR THE CITY OF DURHAM RATHER
THAN WHAT IS BEST FOR MY OFFICE
OR WHAT I AM?
THAT IS ONE THING I WILL BRING
IT IS AS A PASTOR, AS A LEADER,
BRINGING OPPOSING PARTIES
TOGETHER, BEING ABLE TO REASON
TOGETHER.
THAT IS ONE THING THAT THEY
BRING TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
UM, NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN
WITH MR. DAVIS.
THE COUNCIL VOTED RECENTLY TO
FUND TRASH COLLECTION THROUGH A
USER FEE RATHER THAN A PROPERTY
TAX INCREASE.
HOW SHOULD THE COUNCIL DECIDE
WHICH SOURCE OF FUNDS TO USE FOR
PARTICULAR PURPOSES?
>> I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE
LOTS OF DISCUSSION, BUT I WAS
PARTICULARLY OPPOSED TO THE USE
FEE.
I THINK THERE WAS A COMBINATION
BETWEEN THE NEED FOR MONEY FOR
THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AS
WELL AS THE BUS FARES.
AND I JUST THINK THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS SHOULD BE UTILIZED
THROUGH THE NORMAL BUDGET
PROCESS AND BETTER OFF IF INDEED
WE DIDN'T HAVE USER FEES,
PARTICULARLY USER FEES THAT
WOULD BE REGRESSIVE.
THEY ARE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH
THE NORMAL TAXATION PROCESS THA
WE HAVE.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER?
>> I PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH
MR. DAVIS ON THAT.
I THINK THERE ARE DEFINITELY
SERVICES THAT THE CITY OFFERS
THAT FEES ARE MAKE PERFECT SENS
AND SHOULD BE UTILIZED.
BUT MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER TRASH A
CORE SERVICE OF A MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT.
SO I WASN'T PARTICULARLY HAPPY
THAT WE WERE GOING TO CHARGE A
FEE.
HOWEVER, I HAVE TO SAY THAT
UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU COMPARE OUR
FEES TO MOST CITIES, COMPARABLE
CITIES, THAT IT IS MUCH LOWER,
BUT AS MR. DAVIS SAID, IT
DOESN'T SEEM EXACTLY FAIR TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE LOWER INCOME THA
THEY HAVE TO PAY THE EXACT SAME
THING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A
MUCH HIGHER INCOME RANGE WOULD
PAY.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT.
>> THE QUESTION IS WHO PAYS AND
WHO BENEFITS.
AGAIN, WE WERE TRYING TO CLOSE
THINK ABOUT HOLE.
WE HAD DIFFERENT TOOLS TO USE.
WE COULD HAVE RAISED PROPERTY
TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD.
THAT DIDN'T SEEM PARTICULARLY
FAIR EITHER.
THE USE OF THE FUNDS TO PAY A
PORTION OF THE SOLID WASTE
CAPITAL COST.
WE LOOKED AT SISTER CITIES
ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA THAT HAVE
SIMILAR SALES TAX AND PROPERTY
TAXES.
AND THE SOLID WASTE FEES RUN AS
HIGH AS $18 A MONTH.
THIS IS VERY MUCH SMALLER
PORTION OF THAT.
IT DOES NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON
ALL CITIZENS.
FOR EXAMPLE, RENTAL -- APARTMENT
RENTERS WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY PA
PROPERTY TAX INCREASES DON'T
HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE THE
TRASH ISN'T HAULED BY THE CITY.
THE CITY DOES A GREAT JOB OF
SOLID WASTE AND AGAIN, THIS IS
JUST TO PAY A SMALL PART OF THE
COST ATTACHED TO THAT.
SO IN ANY FEE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
INCLUDING BUS FARES, WHO PAYS
AND WHO BENEFITS?
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I THINK COUNCILMAN MOFFITT
EXPLAINED A LOT.
WE WENT THROUGH A BUDGET
PROCESS.
IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE
MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE
DID NOT WANT TO RAISE PROPERTY
TAXES.
IT WAS A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR
NOT WE WANTED TO RAISE BUS FEES.
IT WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
PUBLIC HEARING.
THE BIGGEST OUTCRY WAS NOT TO
INCREASE BUS FEES.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS BASICALLY
SHIFT DOLLARS THAT NORMALLY
WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE
SOLID WASTE, WE SHIFTED THAT TO
ALLOW US TO NOT HAVE TO RAISE --
INCREASE THE BUS FEES FOR THE
BUS DRIVERS, BY THE SAME TOKEN
WE WERE ABLE TO NOT INCREASE
PROPERTY TAXES AND WE WERE ABLE
TO IMPOSE A USER FEE, WHICH IS
NOT UNUSUAL FOR CITIES LIKE
DURHAM THROUGHOUT THIS REGION.
AS INDICATED WE PROBABLY HAVE
THE SMALLEST USER FEE FOR THE
SERVICE WE PROVIDE.
PLUS THE LAW PROVIDES US TO DO
THIS BECAUSE IT IS AN ENTERPRIS
SYSTEM.
FOR THE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, THE
LAW ALLOWS US TO USE THEM FOR
ENTERPRISE.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
>> MR. WILLIAMS?
>> THE USER FEE.
IT'S A TAX.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IT IS A
PROJECTED DEFICIT FOR EACH YEAR
FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
HOW DO THEY PROPOSE TO MAKE UP
THAT DEFICIT?
ONE-TIME TOUTING, BEAT OUR CHES
WITH THE TRIPLE-A RATING TALK
ABOUT THE GOOD RATING WE HAVE.
AND CONSTANTLY RAISING FEES ON
PEOPLE THAT ARE TAXED THAT CAN
LEAST AFFORD IT.
WHAT KIND OF CITY ARE WE
BECOMING?
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE WHO ARE
THE MOST IMPACTED BY THE USER
FEES.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
IS THERE A BETTER WAY?
RIGHT NOW, WITH THE DEBTS THE
WAY THEY ARE, PROJECTED GOING
FORWARD FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.
THAT IS WHY YOU NEED SOMETHING
WITH A FINANCIAL BACKGROUND.
SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE
FINANCIAL MARKET, SOMEONE THAT
UNDERSTANDS WHAT A TRIPLE-A
RATING TRULY IS AND WHAT IT IS
NOT.
[BEEP]
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> YES, SIR.
AS MS. KARRIKER SAID, WASTE
COLLECTION IS A CORE SERVICE.
IF I HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE -- AN
I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS WHAT OUR
CITY COUNCIL DID AT THE TIME TO
RAISE OUR PROPERTY TAX OR SALES
TAX RATES, WHICH ARE ONE OF THE
HIGHEST IN THE STATE, YOU WOULD
GO AHEAD AND PUT ON THAT USER
FEE.
IT IS A SMALL FEE.
AND THE WASTE COLLECTION
DEPARTMENT, THEY BENEFIT.
THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY OF DURHAM
DOESN'T HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE
OF THE SHORTFALL IN THE BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH
MS. KARRIKER.
YOU SUPPORT CONSOLIDATION OF TH
CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS?
WHY OR WHY NOT?
>> WELL, YES.
BUT WITH A CAVEAT.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING
WE CAN DO CONSIDER QUICKLY.
I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
SHOULD START INVESTIGATING AND
MOVING TOWARDS.
WE'RE ALREADY SHARING SOME
SERVICES AS FAR AS PLANNING AND
TAX COLLECTION.
I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
LOOK FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN
CONSOLIDATE AND WORK TOGETHER
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT HONESTLY
THAT WE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO
TOTALLY CONSOLIDATE AND MERGE
THE CITY AND COUNTY, BUT I THINK
THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER MORE CLOSELY AND
CONSOLIDATE SERVICES AND IT
WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO CITIZENS
OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. MOFFITT?
>> WELL, SURE.
I WOULD SUPPORT IT, BUT WE
SHOULDN'T EXPECT A FINANCIAL
BENEFIT FROM IT.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN OVER AND OVE
AGAIN THAT ULTIMATELY, THE
COUNTY AND CITY, WHERE THEY CAN
WORK TOGETHER AS MS. KARRIKER
SAID, THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT IS
PROVIDING DIFFERENT SERVICES.
SOCIAL SERVICES BY THE COUNTY,
STREET AND SOLID WASTE BY THE
CITY.
SO THERE IS NOT A HUGE FINANCIA
SAVINGS HERE.
EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE SEVERAL
TIMES OVER THE LAST 50 OR 60
YEARS, THE LAST ONE IN 2000.
AND TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY
EXPENDED, ALL COMES TO NAUGHT.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL
WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND
ENERGY AND MAKE SURE WE ARE
SERIOUS ABOUT IT IF WE MOVE
FORWARD AGAIN.
I THINK WE NEED A SEPARATE
TAXING DISTRICT FOR THE URBAN
AREA SO THE ENTIRE COUNTY
DOESN'T PAY THE SAME TAX.
WHERE SOME HAVE ACCESS TO PARKS
AND RECREATION AND SOME DON'T.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SERVICES
COMING FROM.
>> I HAVE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD.
I WAS CHAIRMAN WHEN WE MERGED
MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
MERGED NOW.
THIS CITY, COUNTY, ASKING TWO
MANAGERS TO COME BACK AS TO
RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHICH CAN BE
CONSOLIDAT
CONSOLIDATED, WORK TOGETHER.
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO COME UP
WITH ANY.
GENERALLY A MERGER HAPPENS WITH
A CRISIS.
WE DON'T HAVE A CRISIS.
MERGER WILL REQUIRE SUPPORT OF
THE PEOPLE.
IF IT HAPPENS, IT WILL HAPPEN
FROM THE BOTTOM UP, NOT FROM TH
TOP DOWN THROUGH A REFERENDUM.
IF THERE IS SUPPORT ENOUGH TO
HAVE A REVEREFERENDREFERENDUM,
AT IT, BUT I AM NOT WILLING TO
SPEND THE ENERGY TO LOOK INTO
THAT WHEN THERE IS NO FINANCIAL
SAVINGS.
IF THERE IS ANY CITY-COUNTY THAT
IS ELIGIBLE, WE'RE THE ONLY ONE
THAT HAS ONE MUNICIPALITY.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. WILLIAMS.
>> I AGREE WITH THE SUPPORT OF
THE PEOPLE IN THE REFERENDUM TO
MAKE THAT KIND OF DECISION.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN AS FAR A
BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE,
START LOOKING AT THE CITY,
COUNTY, FINANCIAL SERVICES.
IT WILL HAPPEN.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE ONE THAT
SAID IT HAPPENED UNDER MY WATCH.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> THANK YOU.
YES, SIR.
I WOULD SUPPORT THE COMBINING OF
THE GOVERNMENTS.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE INDEPENDENT
STUDY.
YOU KNOW, THEY SAID THIS HAVE
BEEN STUDIES TO SHOW IF THERE
ARE ANY SAVINGS DONE BY THE CITY
GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY
GOVERNMENT.
THEY SHOW THAT THERE ISN'T GOING
TO BE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW AN
INDEPENDENT STUDY THAT WOULD
GIVE US THAT STWR.
BECAUSE TO ME, IN WORKING IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AS A BAILS BONDSMAN
YOU SEE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, THAT IS
LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
THAT IS ONE DEPARTMENT I KNOW
WOULD BENEFIT DIRECTLY FROM THE
COMBINING OF GOVERNMENTS.
WITH A GOOD FEASIBILITY FROM AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHIN
THAT IS GOOD FOR DURHAM.
>> MR. DAVIS?
>> IF I GET ELECTED TO THIS
POSITION IN WARD 2 OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, I WILL BE FOLLOWING IN
THE FOOTSTEPS OF HOWARD CLEMENT,
WHO HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
STRONGEST ADVOCATES FOR A
CITY-COUNTY MERGER OVER THE
YEARS.
SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A
GOOD THING TO HAPPEN, NOT ONLY
BECAUSE HOWARD HAS ADVOCATED IT
IT COULD AVOID SOME OF THE DUPE
CAGES OF SERVICES --
DUPLICATIONS OF SERVICES WE HAV
AND PERHAPS THERE WOULDN'T BE
ISSUES ON DECIDES BETWEEN
WARRANTS AND PLANNING
DEPARTMENT.
THERE COULD BE LOTS OF THINGS TO
BE DONE.
HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, I KNO
IT HAS TO COME THROUGH A VOTER
REFERENDUM, AND FRANKLY, I DON'T
HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT WOULD
BE APPROVED.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL TURN TO QUESTIONS THAT
HAVE COME DIRECTLY FROM THE
AUDIENCE.
I WILL READ THEM AS I RECEIVED
THEM.
WE WILL START WITH MR. MOFFITT.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PERENNIAL
QUESTION.
WITH THE WIDESPREAD CRIME WE
HAVE HERE IN OUR AREA, WHAT
STRATEGIC PLAN WOULD YOU ADDRES
TO CURB THIS ISSUE?
>> THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
COIN WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER YP
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT -- I GO TO
THE COMSTAT MEADINGS.
THEY HOLD COMSTAT ONCE A MONTH.
THEY BRING IN ALL THE DEPARTMEN
COMMANDERS, DISTRICT COMMANDERS,
PUT UP PHOTOGRAPHS OF WHO THEY
ARE LOOKING FOR, TALK ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON, TALK ABOUT
INITIATIVES.
VERY FOCUSED ON CRIME IN DURHAM
THE RESULT IS THAT CRIME IN
2012, DON'T HAVE COMPLETE
STATISTICS FOR THIS YEAR, 2012,
8% LOWER THAN THE PRIOR YEAR,
WHICH WAS 6% LOWER THAN THE YEAR
BEFORE THAT.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS WE NO
LONGER GIVE UP ON NORTHEAST
CENTRAL DURHAM.
IT USED TO BE WE HAVE MORE CRIME
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE'R
NOW ACTIVELY POLICING IN
NORTHEAST CENTRAL DURHAM.
NO LONGER SAYING IT IS OK AS YOU
DO IT IN ONE PLACE AS LONG AS
YOU DON'T GO TO ANOTHER.
WE'RE SEEING MORE CRIME IN SOME
PARTS OF THE CITY, BUT LESS
CRIME OVERALL.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I DON'T HAVE A MAGIC SOLUTION
FOR REDUCING OVERALL CRIME IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW IT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE
THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY TO
DO THAT.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO REACH OUT
TO THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS WE
CAN.
LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL NOT SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM BY ITSELF.
WE CAN MAKE STRIVES IN NORTHEAST
CENTRAL DURHAM BY THE
CONCENTRATION PUT THERE.
AT THE LAST MEETING THE POLICE
CHIEF DIDN'T FEEL THAT BECAUSE
IT WAS PUSHED INTO OTHER PARTS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THAT
IS WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WAS SAYING.
IT WILL TAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT
CONTINGENT VIGILANCE ON THE PAR
OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE
TO REDUCE OVERALL CRIME IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
IT IS GOING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
ISN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH, BUT
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN
TERMS OF CRIME BEING REDUCED IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. WILLIAMS?
>> TO ADDRESS THE CRIME SOLVING
IN DURHAM WE HAVE TO LOOK AT TH
SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
75% OF THE CRIMES ARE COMMITTED
BY HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS AND
CITIZENS SAY MY CHILD IS IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BY THE TIME THE CHILD REACHES
4TH GRADE THEY HAVE DECIDED
WHETHER THE CHILD WILL FINISH O
DROPOUT OF SCHOOL BASED ON THE
INTEREST OF SCHOOL AT THAT
LEVEL.
THE CHILD DROPS OUT, THE MORE
THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN CRIME.
DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK ON
SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
WHAT I WILL DO IS ENCOURAGE OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE, LET THEM KNOW
THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM.
BECAUSE AS A PASTOR, TALKING TO
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY,
KNOW THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
THEY FACE.
IF THERE IS NOT SOMEONE THERE T
ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET THEM TO
GET ENGAGED IN SCHOOL, YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME CRIME
PROBLEM.
WHEN YOU REALIZE THERE ARE
THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE AT AN
EARLY AGE TO INTERVENE IN THESE
PEOPLE'S LIVES, YOU CAN FIND OUT
THAT YOU CAN AFFECT THE CRIME
PROBLEM WE HERE FROM IN DURHAM.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY.
>> I DO A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY
WITH YOUTH.
I'M A YOUTH TRACK AND FIELD
COACH.
WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE.
IDENTIFY NONPROFIT AGENCIES THAT
KEEP OUR KIDS BUSY OFF THE
STREET AND PROPERLY FUND THEM.
YOU KNOW, TAKE THE RESOURCES,
THE KIDS AWAY FROM THE GANGS.
ONCE WE DO THAT, YOU HAVE THE
KIDS ENGAGED, THE LIGHT BULB
COMES, YOU KEEP THEM BUSY.
THAT IS HOW WE CURB THE CRIME.
THE SECOND THING IS WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED, YOU
HAVE TO TRAIN THEM, PUT TRADES
BACK IN THE SCHOOLS.
WE TRAIN THESE KIDS, GIVE THEM
SKILLS, YOU EMPLOY THEM.
THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR CRIME
ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. DAVIS?
>> WELL, I WAS PLEASED TO BE
ABLE TO SEE THE STATISTICS THAT
INDICATED CRIME IS GOING DOWN,
PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF DURHAM
THAT MOST OFTEN HAVE BEEN VIEWE
AS MOST CRIME PRONE.
HOWEVER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE FOCUSING IN ON THE
MOST IMMEDIATE AND THE MOST
DAMAGING PIECE OF CRIME, AND
THAT IS THE HOMICIDES THAT WE
HAVE HAD.
AND EVEN THOUGH DURHAM
STATISTICALLY IS NOT AS BAD AS
SOME OTHER PLACES, ONE LOSS OF
LIFE IS MORE THAN WE SHOULD EVER
ALLOW TO TAKE PLACE IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
THIS COMMUNITY HAS SO MANY
RESOURCES AND SO MANY SMART
PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO A SOLUTION TO DEAL
WITH THE ROOT CAUSES TO WHAT
BRINGS CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO A
POINT WHERE THEY FEEL THEY CAN
RESOLVE CONFLICTS BY SHOOTING
AND KEELING EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE TO MAKE A COMMUNITIEST
TO GO ACROSS DURHAM TO SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM.
>> MS. KARRIKER?
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH PRETTY
MUCH EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID.
ONE THING TO ALSO TALK ABOUT IS
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT JOBS ARE A
PART OF THIS.
THAT THERE ARE LEGITIMATE, GOOD
JOBS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN
ATTAIN AFTER GRADUATION IF
THEY'RE NOT COLLEGE BOUND, TO
GIVE THEM JOBS THAT WILL EARN
THEM A LIVING.
I THINK MENTORING AS MR. BEASLEY
SAID IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT WE ARE STEPPING IN, ALL
WORKING TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE
AND GIVE THEM PERHAPS THE GRAND
PARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES THEY
DON'T HAVE THAT AS FAMILIES SORT
OF FLY APART AND DON'T HAVE THE
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAD
IN THE PAST, THAT WE'RE THERE A
A COMMUNITY FOR THEM.
[BEEP]
>> THANK YOU.
ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE
AUDIENCE.
A NUMBER OF THE QUESTIONS FROM
THE AUDIENCE DO CONCERN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAD A DO
YOU QUESTIONS ALREADY ABOUT THE
POLICE.
I WILL ASK THIS ONE.
I WILL START WITH MR. BELL.
HOW WOULD YOU PREVENT THE POLIC
FROM PROFILING?
>> AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO
EVADE THE QUESTION.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES,
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS
RAISED AT THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT
WE POSED WITH THE HUMAN
RELATIONS COMMISSION.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO JUMP INT
THAT.
I WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY DISCUSS
IT AND COME BACK WITH A
RECOMMENDATION BEFORE I TRY TO
DEAL WITH THAT PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MR. WILLIAMS?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK
THAT OUR CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD
TALK DOWN TO THE CITIZENS OF
DURHAM WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO
GET AN ANSWER TO PROBLEMS THAT
CONCERN THEM.
I THINK THAT WE ARE HERE TO
SERVE THE CITIZENS OF DURHAM.
ONE THING I WOULD SAY THAT I
THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE IS THAT
THERE NEEDS TO BE SENSITIVITY
TRAINING.
BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT
CULTURES IN THE CITY OF DURHAM.
UNTIL YOU KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS
THE CULTURES, BECAUSE A PERSON
OR LOOKS A CERTAIN WAY DOESN'T
MEAN THAT PERSON IS HURTING
ANYONE.
THERE SHOULD BE SENSITIVITY
TRAINING FOR ALL ON THE POLICE
STAFF.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY?
>> I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF
RACIAL PROFILING MANY TIMES HER
IN DURHAM.
OTHER PLACES WHILE VISITING.
SO IT IS A PROBLEM HERE BUT IT
IS A PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
LIKE I STATED EARLIER.
LIKE MR. WILLIAMS SAID, THERE
ARE OTHER COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT
THE CITY, THE STATE, THE COUNTRY
THAT HAVE TAKEN ON RACIAL
SENSITIVITY TRAINING.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS WE HAVE
THAT WERE SHOWN IN THE PAPER.
I THINK THAT WOULDN'T BE A BAD
IDEA FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO
CONSIDER.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. DAVIS?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT DOES.
THIS GOES BACK TO THE ISSUE OF
HOW WELL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SPEAKS TO THE PEOPLE, THE
CITIZENS OF DURHAM.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE DURHAM
POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE
SOME KIND OF RACIAL SENSITIVITY
OR SENSITIVITY TRAINING IN ITS
TOOL KIT OF THINGS GOING ON.
IF IT IS HAPPENING THEY NEED TO
SHARE THAT WITH THE CITIZENS SO
PEOPLE WON'T BRING THIS
COMPLAINT.
THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME WAYS THAT
WE CAN SHOW THAT IN ADDITION TO
THE STATISTICS THAT TALK ABOUT
WHAT APPEARS TO BE PROFILING,
THERE OUGHT TO BE WAYS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT CAN SAY TO THE
CITIZENS, HERE'S WHAT WE DO,
HERE'S WHY WE DO IT.
HERE'S WHAT WE ARE NOT TRYING T
DO SO WE CAN INDEED GET THE
FACTS AND NOT JUST DEAL WITH TH
EMOTIONS OF THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MS. KARRIKER?
>> ONE WAY TO WORK ON THIS, GOE
BACK TO A PREVIOUS ISSUE IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED HOUSING IN DURHAM SO
POLICEMEN, TEACHERS, PASTORS CA
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
WHEN THE POLICE FORCE DOESN'T
FEEL PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT
IS A PROBLEM FOR THEM TO FEEL
THE EMPATHY THEY NEED FOR THE
CITIZENS.
THAT IS ONE ISSUE.
RACIAL PROFILING IS A FACT.
IT IS NOT JUST IN DURHAM.
IT IS NATIONWIDE.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR
DRUG ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES, WE
CAN'T CHANGE THE LAWS, THAT'S
NOT CITY COUNCIL'S JOB.
BUT MAYBE WE TALK TO THE POLICE
THAT IF THERE ARE WAYS TO END
THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE
AND SAVE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM YOU
KNOW BEING ARRESTED AN GETTING
RECORDS WHICH MAKES THEIR FUTUR
VERY DIFFICULT.
[BEEP]
>> MR. MOFFITT.
>> I THINK MS. KARRIKER MADE
SOME GOOD POINTS.
ONE THING THAT IS NOT UNIQUE TO
DURHAM.
OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE WORKED O
THIS.
THERE ARE SOLUTIONS IN PLACE
THAT WE NEED TO CAREFULLY
CONSIDER.
FADE IS AN ORGANIZATION WORKING
ON THIS.
THEY'VE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
EXAMPLE, WORKING WITH THE RACIA
COMMUTE.
THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE,
I'M A LIAISON, ON THAT BOARD IS
WORKING ON THIS POW.
ALL OF THIS COMES INTO PLAY WHE
WE LOOK AT DISPARITIES IN THE
WAY TRAFFIC STOPS ARE MADE,
DISPARITIES IN THE
SELF-IDENTIFIED DRUG USE VERSUS
THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND
INCARCERATIONS THAT OCCUR.
I THINK THAT -- ONE OF THE
THINGS I WANT TO DO AND WORKING
ON HOW IS HOW TO GET AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY SO IT IS
NOT ALL CLUSTERED TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE ALL IN COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE
AUDIENCE, AND THIS WILL BEGIN
WITH MR. WILLIAMS.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE
PROPERTY TAX?
>> YES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REDUCE
THE PROPERTY TAX.
THERE ARE ZONING LAWS WE CAN PUT
IN PLACE TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES
HERE.
THE SKYLINE OF DURHAM IS GREAT.
BUT THERE IS NO REASON THAT WE
CAN'T BUILD TALLER BUILDINGS IN
DURHAM.
WE HAVE ONE CORPORATION THAT
DECIDED NOT TO LOCATE IN DURHAM
BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH
SPACE TO HOLD THE COMPANY
EMPLOYEES.
IF WE LOOK AT ZONING LAWS, THE
WAY THINGS ARE CURRENTLY SET UP
YOU CAN GET GREATER TAX REVENUES
FROM THE BUILDINGS THAT YOU ARE
BUILDING UP WITH THE TALLER ONE
THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THAT
COULD REDUCE THE DEPENDENCE ON
TAX INCREASES.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS IT
CAN BE DONE.
THINGS TO BE DONE TO DECREASE
TAXES IN THE CITY OF DURHAM.
>> MR. BEASLEY?
>> WELL, I AM NOT QUITE SURE HO
WE GO ABOUT E DUCING OUR TAX
BASE HERE.
WE CAN EXPAND THE TAX BASE AND
BE MORE FRIENDLY AND INVITING T
DEVELOPERS IN THE AREA.
AND ENCOURAGE MORE HOUSING
PROJECTS HERE IN DURHAM TO
EXPAND OUR TAX BASE.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE NEED TO CLEAN THE STREETS UP
MAKE DURHAM A SAFER ENVIRONMENT
TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WANT TO
STAY IN DURHAM.
WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS
TO COME TO COME HERE AND GET
DURHAM SAFE.
THAT WAY, WE CAN EXPAND OUR TAX
BASE.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. DAVIS I THINK THAT CAN THE
BUDGET PROCESS IS WORKING SO WE
DON'T HAVE MASSIVE INCREASES IN
TAXES WHILE WE STILL GIVE THE
WONDERFUL SERVICES TO OUR
CITIZENS.
I JUST DON'T THINK THERE WILL B
A LARGE.
SCALE REDUCTION IN TAXES WE CAN
MAKE SURE WE'RE BUSINESS
FRIENDLY, DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO EXPAND THE TAX BASE AND GET
MORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN MANY
OTHER AREAS OF DURHAM WHERE WE
MAY HAVE DESERTS WHERE THERE ARE
NOT VERY MANY BUSINESSES THAT
ARE GOING ON.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER?
>> AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I --
WE WORKED TOGETHER TO PASS A
BUDGET THAT LOWERED TAXES.
BUT WE DID WORK TOGETHER.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE RUNNING
GOVERNMENT AS EFFICIENTLY AS
POSSIBLE.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WITH
THINGS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON
AND THINGS GOING ON IN RALEIGH,
IT IS MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT
FOR CITIZENS TO RUN THE
GOVERNMENT IN A WAY THAT THEY
CAN LOWER TAXES A LOT.
HOWEVER, EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE
IS VERY CRUCIAL FOR THIS.
THAT WE GET MORE PEOPLE MOVING
TO DURHAM IN ALL SOCIOECONOMIC
LEVELS.
WE NEED HOUSING FOR THE
BUSINESSES WE'RE BRINGING IN FO
THE CORPORATE HEADS THAT THEY
WILL NOT MOVE TO OCCURY OR
RALEIGH OR CHAPEL HILL.
WE NEED HOUSING FOR THEM.
WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
THOSE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
BECOME TAXPAYERS.
>> MR. MOFFITT?
>> IT IS MONEY IN, MONEY OUT.
REVENUESES VANISHES SERVICES.
IF WE CAN SHIFT REVENUES TO
OTHER SOURCES WE CAN LOWER THE
PROPERTY TAX BY SHIFTING TO
SALES TAX, FOR EXAMPLE.
WHILE THERE WAS A TAX INCREASE,
WE CUT SERVICES FOR THE WARRANT
CONTROL.
LOOK AT THE FALLOUT FROM THAT.
TO HOLD TAXES OR REDAUS TAXES
MEANS A REDUCTION IN SERVICES.
WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING A TAX
BASE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS
ON THE COMMERCIAL.
RESIDENTIAL ACTUALLY COSTS MORE
IN SERVICES THAN WE GET IN TAX
REVENUE FROM IT.
WHEN WE DEVELOP IN COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT, THAT IS WHEN OUR
REVENUES OFF THE TAXES ARE LESS
THAN THE SERVICES WE PUT IN IT
CONTINUE THE GOAL IS THE SAFE,
SAUCETAINABLE WALKABLE CITIES
ACROSS THE CITY.
THAT IS WHAT I AM WORKING ON IN
COUNCIL.
>> TO THE QUESTION, YES, IT IS
POSSIBLE TO REDUCE TAXES.
THE CITY COUNCIL JUST HAS TO
DECIDE IT IS SOMETHING DEVIN.
ONE CENT CAN PROVIDE
$2.2 MILLION.
IF WE DECIDE NOT TO PROVIDE
$2.2 MILLION OF SERVICES
WHEREVER, YES.
BUT AT WHAT COST?
I WOULD ALSO SAY PEOPLE ARE
COMING TO DURHAM.
DURHAM IS THE FOURTH LARGEST
CITY IN CAROLINA BEHIND
CHARLOTTE, RALEIGH, GREENSBORO.
WE HAVE GROWN NOT BY ANNEXATION,
BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING
HERE.
PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO DURHAM.
WE CAN REDUCE THE PROPERTY
TARRANT COUNTIES BUT WE HAVE TO
HAVE SERVICES.
THERE IS PROPERTY TAX, WE CAN'T
RAISE SALES TAX UNLESS WE GO TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
WE CAN DECREASE PROPERTY TAX,
DECREASE SERVICE FEES OR DO
LESS.
>> THANK YOU.
WE REACHED THE END OF THE TIME
THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED FOR
QUESTIONS.
NOW EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A
ONE-MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT
BEGINNING WITH THE LAST
CANDIDATE ON THE RIGHT, SO THAT
WOULD BE MR. MOFFITT.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM THE
FIRST TERM ON COUNCIL IS I WORK
HARD.
I CARE DEEPLY.
I PREPARE THOROUGHLY.
I WORK ACROSS ALL PARTS OF THE
CITY.
I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES IN NORTH, SOUTH, EAST
AND WEST DURHAM.
UM, EARLY VOTE STARTS ON
THURSDAY.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THE ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 5.
PLEASE PASS THE WORD.
I HAVE A WEBSITE AT
DONMOFFITT.US.
I HAVE INFORMATION ON THE TABLE.
THERE ARE BUTTONS AND BUMPER
STICKERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND
FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
THERE ARE CLEAR CHOICES TO BE
MADE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU
ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.
>> THANK YOU.
MS. KARRIKER?
>> I, TOO, APPRECIATE YOU COMING
TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE THE FOLKS THAT ARE
LISTENING ON TELEVISION TONIGHT.
AS MR. MOFFITT, I WAS APPOINTED
TO SERVE AS A COUNTY
COMMISSIONER FOR 14 MONTHS,
AND -- BUT I REALLY WANT TO BE
ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
I THINK I CAN -- I HAVE THE
ABILITY, THE EXPERIENCE, THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT I CAN DRAW
PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE CITY, AL
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE FROM
OUR DIVERSE CITY TO WORK
TOGETHER FOR MAKING DURHAM A
BETTER PLACE.
MY WEBSITE IS PAM KARRIKER.COM.
I APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, TO THE
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE
INTERNEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF
DURHAM, LET ME SAY ONE THING.
THAT SINCE THE LAST FORUM, WE
LOST A GIANT.
RUTH MARY MEYER PASSED ON.
SHE WAS A WONDERFUL GIANT IN TH
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO
HONOR HER LEGACY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THANK THE
PEOPLE THAT VOTED IN THE PRIMAR
AND HAD THE CONFIDENCE IN ME.
I REALLY WAS PLEASED THAT IT WA
A BRIDGE TO ALL OF THE DIFFEREN
SEGMENTS OF DURHAM.
I WAS VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE T
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE ACROSS
RACIAL, ETHNIC, SOCIOECONOMIC,
*** ORIENTATION, OTHER KINDS
OF BARRIERS THAT OFTEN BRING
PEOPLE -- PUSH PEOPLE APART.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I CONTINUE
TO DO THAT.
AS A MEMBER OF THIS CITY COUNCIL
I WILL WORK HARD TO BUILD
COALITIONS TO ALL PEOPLE.
[BEEP]
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BEASLEY.
>> YES, SIR.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO SHOWED UP TONIGHT, EVERYONE
WHO TUNED IN.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CRIME
TONIGHT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW ME,
CRIME IS SOMETHING THAT I AM
PASSIONATE ABOUT AND I KNOW.
I'M THE CANDIDATE THAT HAS BEEN
PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THIS
ISSUE.
MY 20-PLUS YEARS AS A BAIL
BONDSMAN IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS
BLESSED ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH
JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, D.A.s, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THE ALLEGED IN
THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE CONTACTS HAVE ALLOWED ME
TO PUT A FINGER AND IDENTIFY TH
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN
DURHAM.
AND COME OUT -- COME UP WITH NE
APPROACHES AND STRATEGIC
SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE ISSUES.
THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I
LOOK AT IS THE DIVERSITY OF THI
BOARD.
IT IS SHAPED UP PRETTY WELL WIT
MEN, WOMEN, BLACK AND WHITE.
THE YOUTH HAS NO REPRESENTATION
ON HERE.
I ASK THAT YOU ALL WILL CONSIDE
ME AS YOUR CANDIDATE FOR WARD 2.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. WILLIAMS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION
TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS
ONE THING FOR THOSE WHO DO KNOW
ME, KNOW I'M VERY VOCAL ABOUT
THINGS THAT I HAVE A PASSION
FOR.
ONE THING YOU WILL HAVE IN ME A
BEING MAYOR OF CITY OF DURHAM,
IT IS YOUR INTEREST.
EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD BE COUNTED,
EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD HAVE A
VOICE.
NEVER THINK THAT IF YOU COME TO
THE CITY OF DURHAM YOU WILL BE
TALKED DOWN TO.
IT IS AN OPEN PLATFORM TO SHARE
YOUR CONCERNS.
WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU FEEL
ABOUT THE CITY OF DURHAM.
THAT IS ONE THING THAT I OFFER,
ONE THING THAT I BRING.
ONE THING I HOPE YOU WILL VOTE
FOR ME FOR, BECAUSE I THINK
DURHAM CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER
WITH SYLVESTER WILLIAMS AS M
MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. BELL?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
LEAGUE AND INTERNEIGHBORHOOD
COUNCIL OF DURHAM FOR POSING THE
QUESTION.
I WOULD SAY I TAKE THE ROLE OF
MAYOR SERIOUSLY.
I ENJOY THE ROLE.
I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT MY TRAC
RECORD AS A LEADER AT THE COUNT
LEVEL AND CITY LEVEL.
I THINK YOU CAN LOOK THROUGHOUT
THE CITY, WHERE IT IS NOW VERSU
WHERE IT WAS 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO
IT IS MUCH IMPROVED.
I'M NOT SAYING IT IS ALL DUE TO
I MAYOR OF DURHAM MAKING IT
HAPPEN.
I HAVE TAKEN PART IN SOME OF TH
POSITIVE THINGS IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT IN ALLOWING ME TO
CONTINUE AS THE MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF DURHAM.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
CANDIDATES AND AUDIENCE FOR
COMING OUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU AS
MR. MOFFITT REMINDED YOU, IT IS
IN MY SCRIPT SO I WILL READ IT.
EARLY VOTING IS OCTOBER 17, AND
ELECTION IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5
THIS FORUM WILL BE REBROADCAST
ON DURHAM'S OWN TELEVISION, DTV
8 ON TIME WARNER CABLE,
REBROADCAST NUMEROUS TIMES OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND
ALSO ON YOUTUBE.