The Village of Pinehurst Does the Right Thing - Sandhills Open Thread

Submitted by momoaizo on

There are many little towns across North Carolina and the US in need of Economic Development. Almost everyone refers to them as "The wrong side of the tracks" or "The Black Communities". One in particular has suffered this lack right along with the rest, but what makes them different is that their town borders Pinehurst, "The Golf Capital of the World".

Last October we took a "Tour" of both Pinehurst and Jackson Hamlet and were struck by the disparity between the two. Pinehurst, a town filled with retired rich and famous mostly white people. Jackson Hamlet, a town of working class African-Americans, many who have worked in Pinehurst or whose relatives helped build the resort.

Lcloud added value to the article by posting about the working poor, it seems that the old adage of working hard to get ahead does not apply to everyone in these United States. Earlier this month, SPLib shined the spotlight on Moore County's newest Representative, Joe Boylan and his attempt to pander to his base while further discriminating against the poor.

Last Tuesday, the 13th of February, the Village of Pinehurst had a public hearing and voted unanimously to apply for a block grant for county sewer lines to be installed in Jackson Hamlet. The application is to the Community Development Block Grant Program through the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The grant will finance the first phase of a project to install 8,140 feet of sewer lines to 51 houses in the unincorporated, predominantly black African-American community on the outskirts of Pinehurst. The area is now served by septic tanks, which are failing. No new homes can be built in the community, which straddles N.C. 5. The total cost of the project to serve the entire community is estimated at
$2 million at today's prices, according to Steve Austin, program administrator for Benchmark CMR Inc. of Kannapolis that prepared the application.

The county and Pinehurst will provide $100,000 in local matching funds -- $70,000 from the county and $30,000 from the village.

I commend Pinehurst and it's council for taking the initiative to do the right thing for the people of Jackson Hamlet.

Comments

New Budget

Submitted by SPLib on

Too bad Bush's budget slashes CDBG funding by 20%

So what chance does Jackson Hamlet have

Submitted by momoaizo on

Also, do you think this was just a ruse to get JH off their backs?

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

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Decent

Submitted by SPLib on

I think they have a decent chance of getting a CDBG but it might take an extra cycle to get approved. As I understand it, Midway was in a more desperate situation and it took more than one try.

No, I don't think it is a ruse on behalf of Pinehurst. They're only in it for $30K anyway.

Exactly why it IS a ruse.

Submitted by Robert P. on

Press Release: Pinehurst cares about the poor.

Reality : we're applying for a grant that, like all grants, we only stand a moderate chance of getting. If that doesn't go through, screw 'em. If it does, we're only forced to fork out 30K, which is what we charge for a membership at Pinehurst.

Where are the candidates?

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

I just noticed

Submitted by Leslie H on

that of the six users currently online, three are from Johnston. :) Bodes well for things to come.

"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

Way cool, Leslie H.

Submitted by Linda on

It's good to see neighbors on here, isn't it?

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

Pinehurst zonin'

Submitted by kmr on

Couple of Indy resources for ya. The first is a 2005 story by Jen Strom, which grew out of an effort by locals and the UNC Law School's Center for Civil Rights and Voices for Justice to highlight the problem. I remember getting the call from the center about this and I was floored. Jen did a good job with the story. V.C. Rogers also drew a really good map.
Here's the link.

Fiona Morgan followed the story recently.

Thanks Kirk, great stories and really good map

Submitted by momoaizo on

Did you follow the link to Boylan's speech in The North Carolina Conservative Watch?

In the cases of the lower-income, minority communities of Jackson Hamlet, Monroe Town and other similar communities in the area, we all remember the out-of-state agitators stirring up the issue during the US Open. Many people, including our beloved local paper, stated the people in these communities should be annexed “whether they want to be or not.” From a practical standpoint, the Village’s property ordinances (zoning, building, etc.) are much more restrictive than the county’s. The people living in these communities would probably have a difficult time affording the repairs to bring their properties up to current Village codes. Additionally, their tax rates will significantly increase, possibly beyond their means to pay. As a result, the people in these communities may find themselves taxed out of their homes by this process. No one benefits from this.

SPLib also wrote this article about what Rep. Boylan's bill, H60 the Moore Annexation Referendum, and what it could mean for these left-behind communities.

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

Progressive Discussions My Blog

LANCE!!!

Submitted by Blue South on

no more mailboxes? or have you decided to kick off the mac vs pc war?

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition

"Keep the Faith"

Blue!!!

Submitted by gregflynn on

Sometimes the inbox disappears temporarily but not temporally. I think it's a database sync thing. Or maybe you're just feeling blue after last night. :)

hmm

Submitted by Blue South on

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition

"Keep the Faith"

I guess after we kicked your ass last night

Submitted by Betsy Muse on

we stole your clothes. :)

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.



***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.

You know we'll lose the next game

Submitted by Betsy Muse on

just because I said that.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.



***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.

I think

Submitted by Blue South on

the fact that both our basketball teams protected home court against the tarholes this year speaks for itself.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition

"Keep the Faith"

ps

Submitted by Blue South on

its still doing it. ;( i had it back shortly but it went again.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition

"Keep the Faith"

I don't like Boylan's bill

Submitted by Linda on

for many reasons - one of which is that it is intended only for Moore County, and that stinks.

On a positive note, after speaking with several members of the Midway community and a former Aberdeen town commissioner this weekend, it looks like Aberdeen is very close to annexing Midway and providing much needed services there. When I asked "When do you think this will happen?" I was told, "Any day."

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

Larry Caddell

Submitted by Linda on

"As a former mayor of Carth-age, I know that Carthage would not be what it is today without annexation," Caddell said.

Larry Caddell served Carthage very well as Mayor, and will be good as commissioner, I think. I just wish he were a Democrat. I wish just one of our commisioners were a Democrat. For the information of those not in the Sandhills - one of our new commisioners is none other than Cindy Morgan, wife of Richard, formerly of the NC Legislature.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

I kind of think parties are

Submitted by SPLib on

I kind of think parties are irrelevant to 99% of what a county commission does. I'm not sure why they need to be partisan in the first place.

Calling All Sandhillers...and any close by

Submitted by momoaizo on

The Thursday Open Thread is open to anyone who would like to put up news about their area.....Please feel free to jump in and post.

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

Progressive Discussions My Blog

Pinehurst-Jackson Hamlet

Submitted by NCDem Amy on

What a blatant example of two Americas. Good God, aren't the people of Pinehurst even a wee bit embarrassed that their neighboring community doesn't even have sewer lines? ugggh...

Embarrassed in that while they are soaking up their white privilege, the working folks aren't even provided the basics by the city that THEIR tax dollars pay for. Last I checked, they do take taxes out of working class paychecks, in fact, they are the ones who really carry the tax burden.

Darned internets

Submitted by SPLib on

Had a nice post, but it got lost in a website error. Grrr.

The situation is slightly more complicated than it seems.

Pinehurst does not own its water or sewer system so they have no control over the County's operation or extension of lines.

Actually the whole situation in Moore County is more complicated than what the Center for Civil Rights or any of the newspapers got into. Of course it is not as sensational to dig deeply into historic settlement patterns, NC annexation law, specific details of Pinehurst's annexation practices, and local economic factors, but the issue would not be so black and white if one explored the whole big picture.

That said, they need sewer and will be getting it sooner rather than later as long as Boylan doesn't get his way. Shoot, even if he gets his way, I'm sure we can get someone with a heart in the legislature to sponsor a local bill to annex them legislatively so they can still get their services.

Not in the least.....

Submitted by momoaizo on

but they are very concerned that if sewer lines are put in these little hamlets on the wrong side of the tracks, that those poor people will be taxed off their own land

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

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