Dear Friends,
Wake school administrators have released two new student assignment plans that are being considered for use beginning in the 2012-13 school year. This is a major milestone after months of uncertainty and fighting over the direction of the state's biggest school system. The assignment plan will dictate where our 143,000 students go to school for years to come.
The public can review and comment on the proposals online. (Note that although two proposals have emerged as the top choices for consideration, you can review all nine proposals that the Student Assignment Task Force researched.)
The proposals are accessible from the Wake County Public School System website -- feedback can be submitted through the "Comment" link. The online comment period will be active Monday May 23 - Sunday June 12.
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Save the Date! Raleigh City Council Public Hearing
Mark your calendars for the next Raleigh City Council public hearing Monday, June 7 at 7:00 pm. The Council will be discussing its 2011-2012 budget. We urge you to attend and speak up in support of:
- Increased funding for public transit and bus shelters
- The sewer rate increase proposed by the Water Utility Transition Advisory Committee, which will help pay for necessary water and sewer infrastructure replacement over the coming years.
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CityCamp Raleigh
Want to help re-imagine the future of Raleigh through collaboration and technology? You'll get your chance
June 3rd - 5th at CityCamp Raleigh. This event is not just for techies! Anyone who wants to improve Raleigh and community access to local government should participate in this free public event! WakeUP Wake County is one of many cosponsors of CityCamp!
CityCamp will bring together government, business, neighborhood, non-profit, and academic communities to highlight the power of participation and engagement, enhance communication with local government, and explore how technology can be used to increase government transparency. More information at
CityCamp Raleigh.
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Legislative Update
The NC General Assembly is considering several bills critical to the future of our region and state.
Contact your legislators to make your opinion on these bills heard!
Senate Budget Appropriations
This week the Senate will be discussing the 2011-2012 budget. Senators are proposing debilitating cuts to education, public transit projects, and the Department of Natural Resources that would jeopardize our children's future and our future quality of life.
The Senate will take up this bill on Tuesday May 24. The current version does not include previous provisions preempting local vegetation ordinances or allowing conversion to blinking digital signs, but it still includes significant increases in how many trees can be removed around roadside signs.
Water Bills
- NC Water Efficiency Act (H787) would have required a reduction in average residential and commercial water use to 45 gallons/capita/day by 2035 through various efficiency measures. The House Environment Committee is discussing a substitute bill that removes the efficiency goals and weakens the bill significantly.
- Promote Water Supply Development (H609) directs DENR to cooperate with local governments to identify water supply needs and appropriate water supply sources and water storage projects to meet those needs. The bill was favorably received by the House Environment Committee.
- Enhance Water Supply Funding (H586) authorizes Clean Water Management Trust Fund monies to be used preserve lands that may be used for water supply reservoirs. The bill was favorably received by the House Environment Committee.
Change Early Voting Period (H658) The House passed a bill that reduces the early voting period to seven days. The claim is that this will save money, though the Director of Elections testified that it may actually increase costs by increasing the need for facilities and machines on Election Day to deal with larger crowds. Statistics show that early voters are more likely to be students, elderly, and minority voters. The Senate will take up H658 soon.
Residential Building Inspections (S683) On Thursday May 26, the Senate Commerce Committee will discuss a bill that would eliminate Raleigh's rental registry and PROP program, which ensure oversight of irresponsible landlords and are important for maintaining a high quality of life in the city.
