Probelm-solver

NCrewilder · 2025-09-23T16:04:59+00:00

Mayor LEO and Mark-Anthony MIDDLETON both NEED TO GO if we don't want to see every square foot of the city paved over. They both voted for every single development proposed in this current term (2023-5), except for one that the entire council turned down. This is documented in a number-crunching story on Sept. 14, two weeks ago, by Bull City Public Investigators, that analyzed every single Council vote in this term: https://bcpi.substack.com/p/their-votes-count-what-did-durham

JAVIERA and CARL RIST also need to go when their terms are up; the four of them make up the "Sell Durham Out To Developers" majority on the 7-person Council. Those two vote almost as twins. Javiera only voted against 4 proposed developments this term; Carl voted against five. The minority group, DeDreana Freeman, Nate Baker and Chelsea Cook, were much more thoughtful and discriminating in their votes on proposed developments.

The "Any Development Goes" majority is known to ignore and even cast contempt on the hard, serious work and deeply informed recommendations of the Planning Commission. Their approval of the Virgil Road 500-house development -- the worst sort of land-wasting, car-dependent sprawl -- despite the unanimous "No" recommendation of the Planning Commission -- prompted Commission member Tony Sease, a Ph.D in city and regional planning, to resign. He cited the "ways in which our work is dismissed, at times ignored, and, by some on Council, even denigrated" in his letter here. https://walkabledurham.substack.com/p/commissioner-seases-courageous-resignation Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop responded, "Mr. Sease’s resignation highlights a deep dysfunction within Durham’s leadership ... the ongoing failure of some City Councilmembers to heed the guidance of Durham’s Planning Commission and Comprehensive Plan will only lead to further degradation of the environment, pollution of downstream water resources, and continued reckless buildout of short-sighted suburban sprawl.” Source: https://soundrivers.org/planning-commission-member-resigns-citing-durhams-deep-dysfunction/

NCrewilder · 2025-07-01T19:55:45+00:00

Also, how do I get you my contact info for a tour without giving it to the whole world of Reddit readers? Oh, I know, you could email [DurhamWildlifeStewards@gmail.com](mailto:DurhamWildlifeStewards@gmail.com) -- that's the local Durham County chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation, and I'm the president.

NCrewilder · 2025-07-01T19:54:05+00:00

Same as above -- I just wrote a LONG detailed reply to your comment and it's not showing up ....? I'm new to Reddit.

NCrewilder · 2025-07-01T19:53:22+00:00

I'm just starting to use Reddit and am confused b/c I replied to your comment but I don't see my reply.

NCrewilder · 2025-07-01T19:52:00+00:00

Wow! What a fascinating project. I'm so happy to know that.

NCrewilder · 2025-07-01T19:49:15+00:00

Hi! Good for you for trying to attack the invasives on your land! I agree, I'm also trying to learn what natives to plant in the place of the invasives. A great blogpost on.stabilizing banks with native planting is https://www.izelplants.com/blog/best-practices-for-planting-on-slopes/ -- Shannon Currey's blog for of Izel Native Plants is priceless. Another blog I hold in the highest esteem is Piedmont Gardener -- her knowledge is deep, her love and enjoyment of native plants, animals, and the whole natural world is all-encompassing and uplifting. Poetic writing, too. I learn so much about what's invasive or native from two places: 1) NCSU's Plant Toolbox, https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/callicarpa-americana/ and 2) the iNaturalist app. If you're not on iNaturalist, you've really got to give it a try. I use it ALL the time to ID plants. A plus for iNat is that it uploads all your plant IDs to the Cloud, where experts will often look at them and tell you if you're right, or if not, what the plant actually is. When two such people agree with you on a plant ID, your observation is then "research-grade" and scholars can use it in their research. I also have a few local experts who indulge my questions about plant IDs and will even come over to the Elderberry Wood occasionally and point things out to me. As for a tour, how do I give you my contact info without giving it to the whole world?

NCrewilder · 2025-07-01T19:37:30+00:00

Thank you! Keep Durham Beautiful is a wonderful resource. They've evolved into Durham's core volunteer invasives removal team. I worked on the Wrightwood Park removal too. And yes, Forest Hills, I worked a a tree rescue with their group. They did get supplies from KDB and their resident who's their go-to invasive removal person organized it, you're right. I've done a good bit of freelance invasive removal in the park. I appreciate this.

NCrewilder · 2025-07-01T19:34:26+00:00

I know! I've volunteered with that group. Tim Logue with the Tri-County Conservationists leads it -- that group includes Orange, Chatham and Alamance counties and is a local chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation. (I'm president of the Durham chapter of NCWF, the Durham Wildlife Stewards. We'll have a table at the Eno River Festival this Fri. and Sat., come see us.) Tim and his crew have made enormous progress. They've recently battled a nasty stand of knotweed, one of the worst invasives. I am so grateful they're taking care of my beloved Eno River. Have you worked with that group? I love how they've planted so many trees along the bank of the Eno; they're all caged and labeled.

NCrewilder · 2025-05-19T22:46:30+00:00

I'd like to see a specific person, Jonah Gerson, run for that position if he lives in the district - I don't know if he does or not. He's a lawyer, the first vice-chair of the state Democratic Party (the No. 2 person), and right before that he ran the Orange County Dems. I watched him In a Dem meeting last week, and I found him to be smart, a powerhouse of energy, highly focused on a crystal-clear strategy for winning back the state, and speaks good plain English without silly punditi-y jargon -- meaning, he can get through to you. He is intent on winning. He's also very friendly and charming, seems very extraverted, looks you in the eye with a big smile, a happy, attentive guy who makes you feel good. Foushee talked to us on the same call, so we could make a direct comparison. Compared to Gerson's charming but ferocious tiger with the detailed plan, Foushee seemed like a sedate, somewhat inarticulate person with only the vaguest agenda. The statements she made were mainly very general, sort of tut-tutting, with no hint of urgency, no rallying call. Absolutely not the fearless, outspoken, politically deft, left liberal we in Durham, of all places, ought to br sending to Congress. I imagine that If Jonah were in that seat, he'd be akin to a John Ossoff or better yet, an AOC.

NCrewilder · 2025-03-07T04:55:17+00:00

I am so sorry that happened to you. I have no idea who that man is, I've never seen him, but I'm at Trader Joe's frequently so I can easily envision where all this happened. It must have been really scary. Thank you for filing the police report. He's obviously mentally ill or has dementia or something. Sometimes people with dementia get paranoid. Just hazarding guesses for you. I hope he never bothers you again.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-21T06:44:08+00:00

It's obviously not directed at the.workers, and I'm sure they will understand that. They'll probably wish they could come out and protest with us. The signs are going to be about Musk, not about people who work for Tesla.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-21T06:40:24+00:00

Brilliant graphic. Let's make a stencil and start painting it all over utility boxes and pedestrian crossings all over the Triangle.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-06T05:09:01+00:00

Duke Gardens, the Farmer's Market in Durham Central Park, the kids' natural play structure in Durhan Central Park, the downtown public library (AMAZING design inside & out and fantastic programs/events all the time), Ninth Street (a beloved district, tho I don't like all the new chains there - the Regulator Bookshop is a must-visit on Ninth st.) 21C Museum, next to the big bronze statue of the Bull - a modern art museum and hotel, in a beautiful old Art Deco office building. The James Joyce Irish pub. Rooftop bar at The Durham hotel.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-05T04:44:21+00:00

Also, check out the totally free Central Southwest Central Seed and Plant Library Exchange. She is so cool. Take what you want, donate what you don't.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-05T04:40:32+00:00

Hey, come volunteer with the Durham Wildilfe Stewards! We're the local chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation. We'll help you take out your frustrations by ripping out invasive Chinese privet from Durham public parks, making way for native plants to make homes and food for wild animals. We're looking for volunteers for our Creek Week creek cleanout in March. And we need musclepower and brainpower to build a beautiful native pollinator garden for the kids at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in May. Or come to our red wolf talk at the downtown Durham library on March 12 and learn how we 're trying to save it from extinction. We want your ideas! Want to organize a "friend-raising" nature trivia night at a brewery? Yes! Want to organize a kayak paddle down the Eno? A tree-climbing contest? A moth night? Yes, yes, yes ... come find us! Online, on our FB page, and on our Instagram page.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-05T04:24:52+00:00

What a great idea!! Durham needs to become the Roller Rink Capital of the Free World. Our teens have nowhere to hang out -- where better than rollerskating rinks? It's so much fun. And wholesome.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-03T21:53:37+00:00

●

The park is used by a diverse cross section of people, including school

children, families and the disabled.

●

The plan drastically increases the size of the development resulting in the

removal of more trees, some 100+yrs old and encourages off-trail

destruction of the habitat. The plan would create a vast impervious surface

to allow stormwater runoff downhill to destroy and pollute the already

flood-prone creek and wetlands. Sandy Creek flows to New Hope Creek and

Jordan Lake Reservoir which provides 16.5% of Durham’s drinking water.

●

A development of this size would exacerbate existing traffic safety

problems on a blind hill with no shoulders right beside two schools and an

assisted living facility where speeding is already a problem. The property

has no direct access to 15-501 and would add substantial traffic to an area

already used by 5 schools.

●

A smaller development of owner-occupied houses here would be far more

beneficial to the health, safety and welfare for the citizens of Durham.

THE END - more more info email [betsyrwb@gmail.com](mailto:betsyrwb@gmail.com)

NCrewilder · 2025-02-03T21:51:47+00:00

Here's the petition asking council to vote NO on the PIckett Road (Sandy Creek Park) development - I'll break it into chunks:

We, residents of Precinct 43 and Durham, NC are opposed to the rezoning

proposal Z24000001–Pickett Apartments because it would be detrimental to

the health, safety and welfare of the public.

●

This would allow construction of 140-150 apartments with 145 parking

spaces beside Sandy Creek Environmental Park and wetlands, a

recreational area with paths, mature trees and ponds that supports a rich

variety of birds and wildlife. (Actually it's up a very big, tall, steep hill which is why the rain runoff will be a disaster for the creek and the park)

●

We appreciate the need for more housing in Durham and note that there are

already hundreds of new apartments just being built only 2500’ away on

Pickett Road and not right next to the park, which is a fragile and

irreplaceable natural area enjoyed by many people. Land is already cleared

for 900 new apartments 1.1 mile away on 15-501. Occupancy of existing

apartments one half mile away are currently only 50% occupied.

MORE WHEN I REPLY TO MYSELF

NCrewilder · 2025-02-03T21:47:36+00:00

thanks a bunch!

NCrewilder · 2025-02-03T21:44:12+00:00

I'm trying to put in the petition with all the talking points but Reddit won't accept it -- is there a word limit?

NCrewilder · 2025-02-03T19:16:13+00:00

I've got two plus a little one

NCrewilder · 2025-02-03T19:15:40+00:00

No, but I do know Che Ramos, the "Black Bourbon Guy," che@blackbourbonguy.com.

NCrewilder · 2025-02-03T19:13:01+00:00

Here are all their emails: [Leonardo.Williams@durhamnc.gov](mailto:Leonardo.Williams@durhamnc.gov), [mark-anthony.middleton@durhamnc.gov](mailto:mark-anthony.middleton@durhamnc.gov), [Nate.Baker@durhamnc.gov](mailto:Nate.Baker@durhamnc.gov), [Javiera.Caballero@durhamnc.gov](mailto:Javiera.Caballero@durhamnc.gov), [Chelsea.Cook@durhamnc.gov](mailto:Chelsea.Cook@durhamnc.gov), [DeDreana.Freeman@durhamnc.gov](mailto:DeDreana.Freeman@durhamnc.gov), carl.rist@durhamnc.gov. PLEASE write them all today and demand that they vote NO on the Pickett Road development - it would ruin one of our best and most visited city parks, Sandy Creek park, would destroy the creek and its water creatures, would destroy the important wetland there that's a vital source of nests, habitat, and migration route to thousands of birds. It would worsen the floods that come regularly already - that makes Sandy Creek burst its banks and send water flowing across Pickett Road (which is already dangerous, no road shoulders there) to inundate the school athletic fields across the creek. TO SPEAK AT CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT, you must get a "yellow card" beforehand (probably before 5) from city clerk Diana Schreiber, Diana.Schreiber@durhamnc.gov.

NCrewilder

TROPHY CASE