BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for September 28, 2009

There's no fishwrap like the Monday Fishwrap. Here's a load of stories from today and the weekend:

Same Sex Marriage Oppo: The City Council's recent 7-0 vote in support of same-sex marriage has been a lightning rod for some challengers for Council, sez the Herald-Sun. Sylvester Williams has been one of the more outspoken on the subject (and repeated that at yesterday's candidate forum, calling the Defense of Marriage Act the law of the land), and the Triangle Tribune calls out that one subject as their reason for supporting him. Donald Hughes expressed his opposition last week at the Young Dems candidate forum, saying that the City should "abide by" state law on the subject until it is changed. John Tarantino and Matt Drew also voiced their opposition to this as a matter for Council. (Herald-Sun)

City Likely to Disband In-House Medical Services: If you're anything like me, your first reaction on hearing that the City was going to close its in-house medical services unit (including two nurses and a recently-slashed physician assistant role) and outsource that work to Duke might have been, "why did the City have a medical services unit in the first place, when we're in the City of Medicine?" The center performs pre-employment physicals and on-the-job injury evaluations; its closure will save $300k/year. (Herald-Sun)

Durham MSA #1 in Southeast GDP; Unemployment Down: Durham's metro area showed the highest per-capita real GDP of any metro in the southeastern US in 2008; although regional GDP only increased 1.1% over 2007, it grew by 11.7% from 2005 to '06 and 9.5% from '06 to '07. (Herald-Sun) Meanwhile, unemployment in the County dropped by 0.4% in August, to 8.0%, joining a regional, but not seasonally adjusted total. (Herald-Sun)

NC Pride Draws 4,500: Almost 5,000 people came from throughout Durham, the region and the nation for the 25th annual North Carolina Pride Festival; Durham-based blogger Pam Spaulding was the keynote speaker, and touched on the divisions she perceives between the black and white community over gay rights. (N&O)

Duke 49, NCCU 14: NCCU came as close as a touchdown behind Duke in the inaugural Bull City Gridiron Classic, with a second quarter score of 21-14, but Duke pulled ahead in the remainder of the game to win the first football matchup between the two schools. And with over 26,000 in the stands, it was a game that was as much about a civic connection, it seems, as about football. (Herald-Sun)

NCCU's Nelms Talks of Broader Mission: Even as NC Central celebrates its 100th anniversary, the historically black college and university was pressed in Chancellor Charlie Nelms' State of the University speech last week to look to a broader mission in service to the state of North Carolina and society. He called for a recommittment to the liberal arts, and said that with "mandatory segregation" over, Central would need to "plot a new course for the future" that included all races and regions. (Herald-Sun)

Sunday Features: Two interesting N&O feature stories are worth a look from Sunday's paper. Sadia Latifi looks at the life of a homeless family whose son is succeeding in public schools despite the long odds and turmoil. (N&O) Meanwhile, Barry Saunders takes a look at a Triangle's jazz community that seems to have outgrown its limited performance spaces, with talent like Branford Marsalis, Nnenna Freelon, Lois DeLoatch, and Aaron Mills all making Durham their home. (N&O)

Mayors for Transit: Mayor Bill Bell joined counterparts from Raleigh and Chapel Hill last week in promoting "Try Transit Week" in the region, which includes free fares this Thursday. DATA grew 5% last fiscal year in terms of ridership -- slower growth than its regional counterparts, which the Herald-Sun chalks up to constrained funding. Altogether, the 64,000 daily riders on local transit probably remove 40,000 individuals from local roadways. (Herald-Sun)

East Durham Home Tour: The Herald-Sun has a nice wrap-up of some of the sights (and sites) on the 3rd annual Old East Durham Home Tour. (Herald-Sun)

Comments

[I'm OK]

"calling the Defense of Marriage Act the law of the land"

As much as I frown at the "you're different than me, thus I hate you" types, they do have a valid point this time. State law is going to preempt anything a measly City council does. It's a meaningless gesture, though I'm sure it felt good to say "hooray gays!" on Pride Weekend.

[Andy]

You do such a good job of putting together these stories and I enjoy them but I am worried they do not get read enough so a couple of ideas on presentation.
1. What about putting in the headline of the post the most sensational story? "Duke 49, NCCU 14 and the rest of went on this weekend." This might get more people to pull it up from their RSS feeder.
2. I think "fishwrap" raises connotations of dead fish which might make more sense if you were in Boston or Seattle where harbor metaphors are all the rage. "BCR" is ok but I think "Durham" is clearer.
3. What about ranking the stories like "The Daily Beast Cheat Sheet?" We all like lists and it is fun to see what you think is the most important or interesting. We all know it is subjective but we want to know what you think is the juiciest gossip or most significant news.

Again, I think what you are doing is great.

A comment on the news:

One of the highlights of the Duke-NCCU game was the NCCU marching band dancing at half-time and the Duke marching band dancing not quite as well. Now I am not sure of where they rank on a technical scale but there was lots of chuckling in the stands about the contrast in dancing skills.

[Erik Landfried]

@I'm OK

Just because City Council has no legal authority when it comes to supporting same-sex marriage, I'm not sure it's entirely "meaningless". I guess you would have to ask supporters of same-sex marriage how they felt about the gesture.

Regardless, if one of the big topics of discussion for challengers is a non-binding vote of support that City Council made, well, that's kind of grasping at straws, isn't it?

[Steve Graff]

Thank you BCR, you've just made my decision on who to vote for easier. Now I know that I will not be voting for either Williams or Hughes due to their intolerant views.

Apparently Williams would have viewed Rosa Parks refusing give up her seat on the bus as "grandstanding", and Hughes would tell her to give up her seat because "the law as it currently stands is the one we should abide by".

[Pam (but not THAT Pam)]

Donald Hughes is a flip-flopper!

Here's what he posted on his Facebook page the morning after the City Council's August 17 vote:
Donald 'Duck' Hughes "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Words we often recite w/o full conviction. Hear Hear Durham for leading the way and affirming a commitment to JUSTICE FOR ALL. "http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/12536/nc-durham-city-council-votes-unanimously-for-marriage-equality-resolution
NC: Durham City Council votes unanimously for marriage equality resolution
Source: www.pamshouseblend.com

Four of his "Friends" "liked" this after he posted it. And another "Friend" even posted this: "I am really proud of this."

But now Donald claims this is his stance (from Herald article):
But challengers Donald Hughes and John Tarantino echoed [Matt] Drew in saying the council shouldn't have weighed in. Hughes said "the law as it currently stands is the one we should abide by" until state leaders change it.

From "JUSTICE FOR ALL" and "Hear Hear Durham" to abiding by current state law (whatever that means) in a month?

Why the change, Donald?
Not politically expedient?
Your handlers get to you?
You feel the sudden need to align yourself with Pastor Williams in a desperate grab for votes?
It's cool to favor this with your online "Friends" but you better not do it in front of a live audience who doesn't read Facebook?
Where's your next flip flop?

"It's our time." Sorry, you aren't ready for prime time, not with this flip flop.

"We did not come here to fear the future, we came here to shape it!" (Borrowed from President Obama.) Maybe your fear is your mother scolding you for speaking your mind, not her party line.

The choices in Ward 1 and 2 get clearer every day.

[Donald Hughes]

My stance on this issue, though it has undeniably evolved, hasn't changed. While I applaud the Durham City Council for standing up for the rights of the GLBTQ community, after much deliberation on the matter, I realized that the law as it currently stands is the one we should abide by until state leaders change it and the matter taken up by the City Council was clearly outside of the City Council's auspicies.

I have been constantly hammered by people and newspapers across town for focusing on matters that are not prescribed responsibilities of the council. My response clearly articulated my belief that the matter was not a matter under the City Council's purview. It is not the Durham City Council's (or any governing entity's) responsibility to tell people what they can or cannot do in their homes or how they should live their lives.

I have and will continue to articulate my opposition to changing the NC State Constitution (NC Defense of Marriage Act) to deny any citizens their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[Donald Hughes]

*auspices

[Bob Marley]

So Donald, how do you feel about legalizing marijuana for use in a person's home for medical use?

[Thomas]

Whether he's ready for the council or not, you gotta give it to Hughes: he can bloviate and dodge questions with the best of 'em.

[Sunny Daye]

I want the "Duck" (good nickname, actually) to cover the points raised by Steve Graff.