BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for October 9, 2008

• The H-S' Ray Gronberg updates the police/fire pay debacle story, confirming the concerns we addressed here at BCR last Friday on pay compression between first-tier firefighters/patrol officers and second-tier positions like fire technicians and corporals as being central to the conflict. Gronberg's reporting adds pay conflicts between more senior level positions, too, and notes that Chief Lopez appears to be engaged directly in the conversations with City Hall. (H-S)
• The Indy has a look at the strange bedfellows involved in the prepared food tax debate, including the alliance between the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and a group led in part by Raleigh conservative Art Pope. Worth reading. (Indy)
• Another Gronberg story notes the N.C. League of Municipalities is warning cities, including Durham, to expect falling sales and property tax revenue this year and to consider cutting budgets and postponing construction projects. The H-S also highlights municipalities' fear that Easley or N.C.'s next governor might again try to seize cities' share of state revenue, as happened during the last recession, a step that could further crimp local budgets. The bond markets are also a challenge for raising capital, though the City of Durham isn't expected to try to issue bonds again until next summer, for water/sewer projects. (H-S)
• N.C.'s historically black colleges and universities met in Durham this week, with speakers including Xavier University president Norman Francis and comedian and activist Bill Cosby talking about strategies for economic and institutional growth. (H-S #1, #2)
• The N&O notes an open house this Saturday for the public to see the new Terminal 2 at RDU airport. The 10am-4pm open house includes children's activities, food samples from the terminal's new restaurant, and is your big chance to see the facility before it opens Oct. 26. (N&O)

Comments

[Jonathan]

I attended the open house at RDU. It was packed full of people taking a look at the new project. It's an impressive facility; photos are available in my most recent blog entry.