BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for September 10, 2009

• The H-S has its own wrap up of the second quarter crime statistics, recapping the discussion at City Council on Monday -- but with some interesting new data from metro lead Ray Gronberg thrown in. After a local defense attorney expresses skepticism at DPD data showing decline in crimes and encourages a look at felony case filings, Gronberg does so -- and finds that, there too, felony filings in Durham's Superior Court have dropped over the past decade in a fashion that mirrors the crime stats (including, too, a brief spike overlapping with early 2008's reported DPD increase.) (H-S)
• One of the probation officers demoted from a supervisorial position after alleged oversights in last year's Abhijit Mahato/Eve Carson killings has reached a settlement with the probation office after challenging her change in status; she'll be brought back into a probation chief position in the to-be-merged Durham/Orange/Chatham office when a position opens. (A Wake County chief is being restored to a position in Johnston Co.) (H-S)
• The Bulls came back from an early deficit to beat the Louisville Bats 8-4 last night in front of a larger-than-expected crowd of 1,800+ at the DBAP, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series. Play resumes tonight at the DBAP, then it's off to Kentucky for up to three more games. (H-S, Indy)
• The Jordan Lake matter appears on Monday's BOCC agenda, but hang on: it's a procedural step only, with a public hearing on a comprehensive land map change planned to be opened and then continued to Oct. 12 to match the zoning case. At the same time, Durham's Environmental Affairs Board suggested a technical advisory committee be formed to advise elected officials on the matter, a move that the N&O's Jim Wise notes is essentially DOA, given the late date and the lawsuit in progress. (N&O #1, #2)
• NC's Department of Cultural Resources has awarded almost $440,000 in grants to Durham County arts groups, including $70k to St. Joseph's/Hayti Heritage Center, $91k to the Durham Arts Council, $85k to the American Dance Festival, $45k to the Full Frame documentary film festival, $40k to the Mallarme Chamber Players, and $25 to Manbites Dog Theater -- along with a range of smaller grants. (H-S)
• The local paper also looks at the NC Biotech Center's expansion, enabled in part by a $1m gift from Biogen Idec. See also: NC Biotech Center's press release. (H-S)

Comments

[Stockard Channing]

I'm guessing that's not really "$25 to Manbites Dog Theater". $25K?

$25 would be a hilarious grant though. There you go..buy a new pack of lightbulbs!

[Page]

On neighborhoods' "perception" of crime: The Q2 stats don't include July and August, when a big chunk of NGP B+Es happened. In an area a half mile from a central site in NGP (about the boundaries of our 1000 household neighborhood), we had 22 B+Es in 2006, 44 in 2007, 31 in 2008 and SIXTY ONE to date in 2009. That includes 10 in May, 18 in June, 15 in July and 10 in August. Houston, we have a problem. The DPD is working hard on this and it may have subsided, thanks to them and all the watchful neighbors and their fierce canine companions. ;-)
I have questions about when DPD decided to put a laser focus on NGP and hope to get answers soon. I am interested in understanding how and WHEN decisions about allocating resources are made.

[Enforce the Housing Codes]

Ever wonder what holds Durham back, despite the City's best efforts? Here is one example.

Slumlord (Fireball Roberts) News:

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5972994/

The owners of five rental properties on Boone Street east of downtown faced off Thursday morning against city crews intent on demolishing the buildings.

City officials say the residences don't meet building codes, and a court order requiring the owners to upgrade the properties expired Aug. 6. Officials said the family that owns the properties has had years to bring them up to code and has already had repeated extensions.