Leave it to the Chapel Hill News to fail the math portion of the test.

In the 26 August 2009 edition, the CHN features a headline article written by Mr. Mark Schultz, the CHN Editor, entitled “Carrboro Not Replacing Herrera”. The sitting Boa decided not to fill Mr. Herrerra's seat before the November election.

The Pulp can only imagine the conundrum the Boa faced. “Do we pass over Ms. Katrina Ryan, the highest vote getter of the 2007 election, appoint our trustafarian pal and newly media-christened “Hispanic candidate” - Mr. William Samuel Slade, and take the heat? Or do we simply do nothing?”

The CHN clearly wants Mr. Slade to win. So the article talks about the ongoing Carrboro campaign and names three candidates running for three alderman seats. Of course, the two incumbents are mentioned. Of course, Mr. Slade is mentioned. In fact, the article says ”They would take their seats in early December.”

What's the problem, you say? There are not three people running for alderman in Carrboro. There are five. The outcome is only decided already in the minds of the CHN editors.

Who got left out? Ms. Sharon Cook and Mr. Tim Peck.

Who are not wanted in office by CHN editors? Ms. Sharon Cook and Mr. Tim Peck.

Who were mentioned in a July article about campaign filing, but missing from the August article? Ms. Sharon Cook and Mr. Tim Peck.

How progressive.

FYI, Pulpsters, you can write the McClatchy head honcho, Mr. Gary B. Pruitt, at The McClatchy Company, 2100 Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95816, and N&O Publisher Orage Quarles III at News & Observer, 215 South McDowell Street, P.O. Box 191, Raleigh, NC 27602.

Tell them what a great job Mr. Schultz and CHN are doing.

Two years ago there was a big brouhaha at Carrboro’s favorite hangout for the underemployed, Weaver Street Market lawn. All kinds of people without any visible vocation, such as Alderman Dan Coleman, spend hours each day at the Weave.

One of the lawn denizens was a convicted robbery felon, Mr. Bruce Thomas. He had the quaint habit of dancing wherever, whenever, and however, he felt like dancing. He even took to dancing with bricks in his hands…around children

The spectre of personal injury lawsuits forced the hand of Carr Mill Mall manager, Mr. Nathan Milian. His client, the owners of Carr Mill Mall exercized their personal property rights and banned Mr. Thomas from the Mall property, after nicely asking him to stop.

Ohh….the heat! Oh…the light! Ohh…the nonsense!

You would have thought that the Bill of Rights had been burned. All the loons showed up to protect Mr. Thomas’ right to dance with bricks.

Who did these Mall owners think they were? How dare they talk about property rights!

You can still see the silliness on YouTube for yourselves.

Among those flaunting the property rights of the Carr Mill Mall owners was none other than Alderman Coleman. (Look at about the two minute mark on the video, ”AlderDan” in all his AlderGlory!) Knowing that the Carrboro police wouldn't dare enforce trespass laws against a public official, even one who lies to them, Mr. Coleman fearlessly joined the dance-in on the Weave Lawn.

Anxious for publicity, AlderDan stuck his nose into Mr. Milian’s business. (See N&O Coleman Butts In Story.) He demanded that the Mall owners bow to public pressure. He got Mr. Milian to change the “Good Neighbor Rules” already posted by Mr. Milian, who had the nerve to ask for a ban on soliciting, loitering, sleeping on the benches, and unauthorized performances.

Yes, AlderDan was beaming at the press conference, announcing how he and Mayor Chilton had gotten Carr Mill Mall to cave. Dancers, musicians and other creative types no longer had to sign up to express themselves on the Weave lawn. (See Coleman Dances On Property Rights Story.)

Fast forward to August 2009.

He’s back! Yes, Mr. Thomas has returned to Carr Mill Mall. In fact he’s such a fixture there, Mr. Milian has again had to step in. This time Mr. Thomas is being asked to park across the street where employees park.

Why? In Mr. Milian’s words, “I haven’t seen [Mr. Thomas] dance in a long time. It’s at the point that he’s loitering. It’s the point at which you’re no longer conducting business. When he stays here all day, he’s not a customer.” One wonders how Mr. Milian is able to distinguish Mr. Thomas from among the many loiterers whiling away their employable hours contributing nothing substantive to the Carrboro economy.

Has AlderDan heard the word? Surely, he’s headed down to Mr. Milian’s office to protect Mr. Thomas’ right to loiter and right to park just like anyone else.

Not really. The Daily Tar Heel quotes Mr. Coleman as predicting that “He doesn’t expect board members to get involved. It’s private property. It’s up to their discretion how they manage their lot.” (See DTH Coleman Property Rights Activist Story.)

What a difference two years makes. A committed eco-marxist can blossom into a pliable eco-fascist.

In most of North Carolina, a town wouldn’t invest $70,000 in a small retail beading business in the midst of the worse financial downturn since the Great Depression. The reluctance to invest would be enhanced if another bead retailer moved into town just prior to the first bead retailer asking the town for money. At the very least, town officials would require hard assets for collateral, assets such as real estate.

However, Carrboro loves to “keep it weird” in all things. It’s not like most of North Carolina. Flaccid ED is the norm in Carrboro, not the exception. It’s what the town has paid out over $1,000,000 for in the last decade, over $1,000,000 for an unaccountably flaccid ED office.

It should come as no surprise to Pulpsters to learn that the Original Ornament, a bead retailer located in Carr Mill Mall, has closed its doors after sixteen years in business. What may be of interest are the particulars behind the closing.

A last ditch Carrboro revolving loan given without hard collateral has made Carrboro the proud owner of a pile of glass beads.

Blue Skys - Happier Days
The original ornament was started by Ms. Casey Schlatter in 1992. According to Ms. Schlatter, for almost ten years there was no competition to this full service bead store. Business was fine.

Then the Internet exploded onto the retail scene. The Original Ornament started moving to upscale customers and custom jewelry, items suitable for those with disposable income, items that don’t sell well in economic downturns.

Dark Clouds - Retail Competition Arrives
With the 19 September 2008 opening of Rare Earth Beads but a few blocks away on West Main Street in Carrboro, the business pressure on Original Ornaments ratcheted considerably higher. Why would anyone believe that Carrboro could support two retail bead outlets?

The owner of the new store David Sterling, was quoted as being unconcerned. “We have a very different business and a very different clientele. I personally wish [Original Ornament] every success. I’m not doing this business to be competitive to anybody.”

Ms. Schlatter didn’t see things in the same light. “They are competition – especially, when we’re in the same town.” (See Carrboro Commons Bead Story).

Reaching For The Revolver - The $70,000 Bead Loan
Ms. Schlatter was apparently concerned enough to go over and seek out money from the infamous Carrboro revolving economic loan fund. It's the first and last stop for Carrboro creative entrepreneurs who can’t get real business loans.

Mr. James Harris, Carrboro’s ED director, foresaw no problem in issuing Ms. Schlatter a loan of $70,000 from town coffers. He even foresaw no problem with Ms. Schlatter only putting up $25,000 in assets. (Try getting that debt-to-collateral ratio in the real business world.) The term was six years. The interest rate was 3%.

Mr. Harris never saw any problem with the increased competition Ms. Schlatter openly admitted existed with the opening of the Rare Earth Bead store. Ms. Schlatter had been turned down by Wells Fargo, Wachovia, and even the Self Help Credit Union in Durham. That’s par for the course for Mr. Harris' clientele.

The Official Warning – Danger, Economic Folly Ahead
At least one party saw red flags ahead with regards to The Original Ornament loan. The UNC group that advises on the revolving loan applications (UNC-SBTDC) noted that Ms. Schlatter was using the $70,000 to buy inventory, more beads.

Moreover, that was the collateral for the loan, just beads and retail cases. There was no real estate collateral offered.

Finally, Ms. Schlatter was said to be personally unavailable to offer collateral because she had significant debt (credit card and long term) related to the business.

Mr. Harris needn't worry. He'll be paid regardless. He's a municipal employee.

The Economic Storm Blows In
Earlier this month (August 2009) Ms. Schlatter could no longer weather the economic storm. She turned in her keys and shuttered her doors.

According to Carr Mill Mall manager, Nathan Milian, “She turned in her keys and indicated she was filing bankruptcy, although we have not been notified as such. Apparently, one of her lenders called her line of credit and she couldn’t pay it off and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Beyond that, I do not know anything else.”

When asked it Carrboro would get its money back, Mr. Harris said, “We have to wait and see.” (See Carrboro Citizen Revolver Story.)

The Missing Collateral
Ms. Schlatter is the owner of a house in Hillsborough, the county seat. Her residence at 114 Tuscarora Drive has an assessed value of $162,180. It’s not part of the revolving loan collateral. Mr. Harris didn’t require it.

There’s no official explanation as to why Ms. Schlatter's house isn’t serving as collateral for the Carrboro revolving loan of $70,000 to Original Ornament.

No word on whether or not Mr. Harris will take a bead on funding another bead store if it comes to town.

No word on how the Boa will swallow Carrboro’s newest treasure, a pile of glass beads worth tens of thousands of lost ED dollars.

In most of North Carolina, an organization trying to be more than a club party guide, one trying to report on political happenings, such a powerhouse would jump all over an incumbent who tried to run over a defenseless woman volunteer at a local public school athletic event. In most of North Carolina, late child support payments aren’t in the same league as misogynistic rage and assault.

As Pulpsters are too aware, Orange County and its boosters aren’t like most of North Carolina.

It must be local municipal campaign time, for the Indy, Triangle party guide par excellence is swinging its media machete and political hack hatchets in beat to the local funk.

Even before Labor Day, the Indy is busy publishing an expose’ about a Carrboro mayoral challenger candidate, Ms. Amanda Ashley. Allegedly, Ms. Ashley has had troubles keeping up with child support payments. These troubles aren’t recent. They stem from about three years ago, but that doesn’t deter the crackerjack machete maulers over at the Indy. They must let the voters know that there’s “dirt” on Ms. Ashley. After all, the Indy has blindly backed incumbent mayor, Mr. Mark Chilton, since he ran for a Carrboro office over six years ago.

Think that the Indy is “just doing its job”? Think that there’s no bias in selecting stories about Carrboro candidates?

Then let’s trip back to the last Carrboro municipal election in 2007.

Appointed Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman committed vehicular assault against a woman volunteer at a local school athletic event in a public park. He told the Carrboro police falsehoods about the incident.

He got off with a half-hearted apology after a mediation session was rushed through the local Dispute Settlement Center by none other than Mayor Chilton. The poor victim was left having to consider future implications for her husband, who worked for the city school system.

Did the Indy report on the incident as it unfolded?

No. Instead the Indy reported on Dan Coleman’s epicurean delights while attending the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) fest in Berkeley, California, home to the world’s greatest entrepreneurs. After all, it’s a party guide!

The Indy went even further.

Late in the campaign, the editors ”fully endorsed” Mr. Coleman as a candidate. Theymisled readers about the Anderson Park incident, saying ”Coleman's campaign was briefly tainted by an incident at Anderson Park in which he allegedly touched with his car a pedestrian who was holding up traffic. However, the he said-she said tempest shouldn't derail his re-election. (That said, we wish he would apologize.)”. Progressive morality in action. Can't even keep straight the fact that he was never elected at that point.


Late child payments…. Whack!

Misogynist vehicle assault…Police falsehoods…Have you tried the crustini with the masala chai latte?

Yes, what’s wrong with living in Carrboro after leaving office? Why do rulers impose their will on the town for years, and then up and leave? Why, when they leave, do they wait until after candidate filing periods close?

First, in 2005 then-Mayor Mike Nelson announces unexpectedly that he’s leaving Carrboro for Hillsborough at the end of his term, after over a decade of imposing irresponsible, financial mismanagement and shady land deals on Carrboro residents. No explanation is given.

Now Alderman John Herrera announces that after eight years in office and passage of the magnificent Carrboro pooperscooper ordinance, he too is leaving Carrboro. This time the greener grass is Holly Springs, over in Wake County. No explanation is given.

Curiously, Alderman Herrerra is pulling a Bill Strom move. He announces that he wouldn't run again prior to the opening of the candidate filing period, throwing his support to that self-described “Latino” candidate, well-known usufructer with an ill-defined employment history (yet again) and trustafarian, Mr. Sammy Slade. Yet, Mr. Herrera decides not to announce his move from Carrboro until after the candidate filing period ended.

Yes, once again, the Orange Progressive preference for appointment over election is in play. According to the recent change in the state laws controlling Carrboro governance, Mr. Herrera’s vacancy can be filled immediately by appointment from the current Boa. (See Carrboro Election Statute, created, yet again, at great cost to town taxpayers and at great reward to Carrboro's high-priced, meter-running, town attorney.)

No word on when current candidate, and BOA pal, Mr. Sammy Slade, will be appointed as the replacement for Mr. Herrera.

Why Mr. Slade? Because he's a pal of the board. Because the power of incumbency is mighty. It helped Alderman Dan Coleman win in spite of a hushed-up misreporting to police of an assault of a woman with his vehicle in Anderson Park.

No thought will be given to appointing the fourth highest vote getter for alderman in the 2007 municipal election, Ms. Katrina Ryan.

No word on when the last load of shame left town.

Mayor Chilton’s Letter Announcing Alderman Herrera’s Belated Resignation

Congratulations to Carrboro Alderman John Herrera on his recent remarriage. (A beautiful wedding ceremony it was, too!) John's new blended family has six (!) children and I received the news this afternoon that his new family is making a new home in Holly Springs, which necessitates his resignation from the Board of Aldermen. I want to say that although I will miss having John on the board (and in Carrboro), I know he is doing the best thing for his family and I wish him all the best. I am also confident that John will remain a leader in North Carolina and I look forward to hearing what he is up to next. Congratulations and thanks for your service, John.
From Mark Chilton

Alderman Herrera's Resignation Letter

Dear Mayor, Colleagues and staff: It is with mixed feelings that I am writing this short note to notify you that I am submitting my resignation to the Board of Alderman of Carrboro. Due to my new change of residence outside of the city limits. I just bought a house in Holly Springs, NC and I am in the process of moving. It has been a pleasure and an honor to have work with you and served this beautiful town a an Alderman and Mayor Pro-Term. The appreciation for community diversity and the progressive community values that Carrboro has, it is what makes us unique from most towns in North Carolina and in the United States. I am very proud and grateful for the opportunity that Carrboro granted me to be a public servant. I will continue following the new developments of Carrboro and will continue to pray that the Creator always grant you wisdom and knowledge to continue to lead and serve this great community of Carrboro. My most sincere greetings to all of you. If I can be of help in any capacity and I am able to help, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please let me know if there is an official protocol that I need to follow to do this. I will like to have had the chance to thank in a public meeting all the people of Carrboro for this unique opportunity.
Sincerely,
John A. Herrera

In most of North Carolina, if a municipally funded field study on the effects of sludge spraying fell through, then money held and budgeted for that study would be returned to the municipal general fund. After all, no study, no need to spend the money.

However, Orange County isn't like the rest of the state. Here, the need to spend budgeted money outweighs any reason for budgeting the money in the first place. According to county bureaucrats, if you have the money, then you spend the money, no matter what. County commissioners must decide if they agree.

Years ago, Orange County residents concerned about ill health effects from nearby fields sprayed with UNC medical center sewage laced municipal sludge (euphemistically called “biosolids”) demanded a study proving how “safe and effective” the practice really is.

Responding to the bad publicity back in 2006, the Orange County Health Department (OCHD) agreed to have the UNC School of Public health conduct a field study and got $10,000 in its budget to conduct such a study. (See N&O Sludge Story.) However, study problems developed when a proposed researcher left and a suitable field couldn’t be found. Although UNC researchers now indicate a study can be done, $10,000 will no longer be enough money.

Rather than return the money to the county general fund, OCHD wants to spend $6,000 of the budgeted $10,000 for a restricted two day conference in October 2009. UNC employees, local officials and state municipal officials will tour the OWASA sludge operation site. You can’t.

Why are local activists deliberately being excluded? According to OCHD Director Dorothy Summers, “We weren’t looking at this as a community forum. We were looking it as being designed to be neutral. Our intention was to really provide education on biosolids and also understand the limitations of any science that’s out there.” Apparently, those most in potential danger from sludge can’t provide any education or understanding.

In the words of Ms. Myra Dotson, an Orange County resident concerned for years over the long term health effects of constant sludge sprayings, “I think to take money for an unbiased study and spend it on a pro-sludge forum is outrageous.” (See Chapel Hill News of 19 August 2009.)

No word on how much more money must be spent in order finally to have an empirical field study of potential health effects conducted using OWASA practices and OWASA/UNC Medical Center sludge on local county fields.

WRAL is reporting that former North Carolina Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards has taken a secret, definitive DNA paternity test as a part of the federal grand jury investigation into his possible misuse of campaign funds.

Sources now say that Edwards mea culpa admission could come before the end of a criminal probe into whether he used campaign funds to pay Ms. Rielle Hunter to keep quiet about their relationship. (See WRAL Edwards Admission Story.)

Pulpsters remember Mr. Edwards’ denial that he even had an affair with Ms. Hunter, much less that he fathered 18 month old daughter Francis.

The local news media remains silent.

In most of North Carolina if a person with ambiguous gender walks into a single sex bathroom, the reaction is “no harm, no foul”. A transgender person can quietly select by which gender they choose to be known.

However, Carrboro isn’t like most of North Carolina. Why solve a problem quietly and inexpensively if you can create a cause célèbre in the name of gender binary oppression?

Apparently, Section 14-19B of the Carrboro town code says that no person over five years of age should enter a town owned bathroom designated for the opposite sex unless performing maintenance.

Although no one has ever been cited for breaking this ordinance, Alderman Lydia Lavelle feels the pain of single sex bathrooms! All it took was a statement by an unknown transgender town resident for her to unfurl the social justice banner. Apparently, Carrboro must make unisex town-owned bathrooms available at all locations, or else it’s being socially unjust by practicing gender binary oppression.

Curiously, openly transgender mayoral candidate Ms. Amanda Ashley doesn’t feel that same pain, doesn't suffer from gender binary oppression in using town bathrooms. She isn’t concerned about the ordinance, saying, “It doesn’t make much difference to me”.

However, Ms. Lavelle remains undeterred in recognizing oppression, and won’t take it sitting down. She would rather the town investigate spending tens of thousands of dollars reconstructing bathrooms than have the governance board simply expunge the ordinance.

No word on how much money the town has spent, yet again, on its outside attorney to offer an, yet another, opinion.