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CURTIS BROWN HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES CHURCH, HEAVENLY FATHER.
THIS EVENING, WE COME TO YOU ASKING YOU TO DIRECT US THROUGH YOUR LEADERS.
WE THANK YOU THAT THEY HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN TO INCLUDE YOU.
IT IS EVIDENT ALL THROUGH THE BIBLE, YOUR HOLY BOOK.
THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE REMEMBERED YOU, THEY WERE ALWAYS BLESSED AND THINGS WORKED WELL WITH THEM.
WE THANK YOU THAT THIS IS OUR PORTION FOR NEW BERN AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, BECAUSE WE REMEMBER YOU ALLOW US TO EVEN MORE.
SO KEEP THIS APART OF OUR CHARACTER AND OUR WAY OF LIVING.
BLESS THIS MEETING TONIGHT AND BLESS US THROUGHOUT ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES.
FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND HELP US DO EXACTLY AS YOU PREFER US TO DO FOR THIS IN JESUS NAME.
MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IT'S ONCE AGAIN, MY PLEASURE TO COME BEFORE YOU INTRODUCED THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO HAVE HIM SWORN IN BY YOU, SIR.
UM, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT, OFFICER
UH, JASON GRADUATED FROM A COOK HIGH SCHOOL IN MCCOOK, NEBRASKA IN 1995, AND HE ATTENDED MCCOOK COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE YOU'RE PAYING THE ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
UM, LET'S SEE, HE SERVED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AS A MILITARY POLICE OFFICER FROM 97 TO 2001 DURING TWO TOURS MARINE, HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT MERITORIOUSLY IN MAY OF 2001.
HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINES, GRADUATED FROM BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING IN FEBRUARY OF 2002 AND JOINED THE NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN JULY OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OFFICER RASH.
AND IF YOU STEP FORWARD HERE, JASON, WHEN YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR
JOINING THE SAYING, WE'RE GETTING TO BE ALMOST INVESTMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA.
I'M ALMOST TEMPTED NOW TO SAY THE
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BEST, BUT I'LL PROBABLY KIND OF SAY IT.JEEZ, I CAN SAY THE BEST ONE THAT I BET, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOUR BOARD.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, TO BE IN AN OLD NORTH CAROLINA COUNTRY BOY, WITH A FEAR OF FLYING THAT I TOOK A TRIP ACROSS COUNTRY HERE IN 1996, WITH 9,200 MILES IN A VAN, A VEHICLE.
AND ONE OF THE STATES WE WENT THROUGH WAS NEBRASKA ALONG WITH ALWA AND SOME OF THE OTHER STATES.
AND WHEN I CAME BACK, SOMEBODY ASKED ME, I SAID, WHAT'D YOU LEARN ON THE THREE OF US ARE TWO THINGS.
ONE, THIS COUNTRY IS NOT CROWDED.
THE SECOND THING WAS WE AIN'T EVER GOING TO RUN OUT OF CORN.
THAT'S WHY, I GUESS YOU ALL GO TO CORN HUSKERS, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF, SO WE WORKED ME A BOWL.
THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS SOME FOLKS FROM DEFINITELY FAILED WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT THAT.
THE DEPUTY, UH, FIELD FAST, DEAF FEST, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR TOM BALERS AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
MY NAME IS JOHNNY ROBINSON JR.
AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CREATIVE FUEL AREA.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER DIFFERENT FIELD OF RESIDENTIAL COUNSELING.
AND HERE TONIGHT, WE ALSO HAVE A MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE GREATER DUFFIELD RESIDENT COUNCIL.
AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO STAND, OKAY.
YOU MAYBE SEE IT CADILLAC TOO.
WE'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME BRIEFING OF THE, UH, WHAT THE GRADED FUEL IS.
RESIDENT COMMITTEE IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UH, THE GREATER DEPTH OF YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATED AND OPEN, UH, ORGANIZED EFFORT AMONG RESIDENTS, CONCERNED CITIZENS, FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS, YOUTH BUSINESSES, PUBLIC AGENCIES, THE CITY OF NEW BERLIN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS COMMITTED TO BUILD AN ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIALLY ECONOMICAL AND CULTURALLY SOUND COMMUNITY.
IT IS OUT IN TECH TO CREATE A SAFE, HEALTHY, CLEAN SELF-SUSTAINING COMMUNITY THAT IS DIVERSE YET UNIFIED RESULTING IN A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR APPROXIMATELY 2,500 RESIDENTS, GREATER DEPTH OF FIELD RESIDENT UNDERSTAND THAT THE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF THE ENTIRE NEWBURN AREA DEPENDS ON THE EFFORT AND FULL PARTICIPATION OF ALL OF THIS COMMUNITIES.
THE DUFFIELD RESIDENT COUNCIL IS MOTIVATED TO ACTION, WHICH WOULD NOT ONLY BENEFIT THE FIELD, BUT WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO EFFORT TO PROMOTE NEW BERN AND CRAVEN COUNTY AS A DESIRABLE PLACE TO VISIT LIVE LOCATE BUSINESSES.
FOR 18 MONTHS, WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE CONSULTANTS, AND THE CITY OF NEW BERN OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR GREATER DEPTH OF FIELD.
THE OTHER HISTORIC COMMUNITY IN NEWBURN, AMONG THE GOALS WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE AND WILL ACHIEVE OUGHT TO REDUCE CRIME AND INCREASE SAFETY, IMPROVE, HELP THROUGH DIET, EXERCISE, AND ABSENCE THESE FROM THE BACKUP PRODUCTS TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN A CLEAN COMMUNITY, TO INCLUDE YOUTH OF ALL PARTNERS IN REVITALIZE IN GREATER THE FIELD TO DOUBLE THE RATE OF HOME OWNERSHIP, PRESENTLY 22% VERSUS 67% NATIONALLY.
THESE GOALS ARE BEING ACTIVE PURSUE THROUGH THE GREAT AT THE FIELD RESIDENT COUNSELOR IN AN EFFORT TO STABILIZE AND REVITALIZE A LOW WEALTH COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION, ON MAY 15TH, 2002, THE NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER OF AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RESIDENT COUNCIL SPONSORED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY DESIGN CHARRETTE ATTENDED BY 50 RESIDENT BUSINESS OWNERS AND CIVIC LEADERS LED BY DISTINGUISHED TEAM.
DOES IT FEEL TO RE ASSIST THE COMMUNITY STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS, AND THEN USE THE INFORMATION TO CREATE A VISION AND DRAFT MASTER PLAN TO REVIVE VITALIZED THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO THE DUFF FEST DUFFIELD UNITY FAMILY FESTIVAL IS ONE ARE SEVERAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND FOSTER COMMUNITY AWARENESS
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ABOUT THE STRATEGY PLANS AND ITS IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE REVITALIZATION OF THE HISTORIC DUFFIELD COMMUNITY DOSE.THIS WOULD BE HILL, AUGUST THE 31ST AT HENDERSON PUMPS, STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER IN NEWBURN.
AND WE WILL ALSO BE FEATURING MANY LOCAL ARTISTS, TV AND RADIO PERSONALITIES, THERESA TO PULL ME JUST SESSA JOHNSON AND ANTHONY SWING ENTERTAINERS, CIVIC LEADERS, MUSIC, FAMILY, FUN EVENTS, ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL BOOTH AND DISPLAY THAT PROMOTES BETTER HEALTH, HOME OWNERSHIP, COMMUNITY UNITY, SPIRIT AND PRIDE.
LAST YEAR, PREMIER DUFUS UNDER THE FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN ATTRACTED ALMOST APPROXIMATELY 2000 PARTICIPANTS AND THAT ALL THE MOBILE PREMIER DELPHUS DEDICATE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OR ALL OF THEM AT BARBARA LEE UH, WHO GRACIOUSLY SERVED AS A FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN ACTIVE ATTENDED APPROXIMATELY 2000 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING NEW BIRTH FINEST MAYOR, TOM BAYLESS, FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSION, MR. JONATHAN ELECT OFFICERS AND DIGNITARIES THE BALL OF SUPPORT OUR BABY FOREST DELPHUS UNITY FAMILY FESTIVAL WAS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR EFFORT TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE THANK YOU ALL FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR, FOR OUR PAST AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE DEPTH OF FIELD STRATEGIC PLAN AND GREATER TO THE FEW COMMUNITY RESIDENT, COUNSELOR AND ITS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR GOAL AND OUR VISION OF THE FUTURE OF THE GREAT AT THE FEW COMMUNITY.
AND WE WILL VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE GREATER DEPTH OF FIELD UNITY FAMILY DAY FESTIVAL.
I WAS AT 31ST, 2002 FOR A GLORIOUS DAY, A FUNDING FOOD MUSIC GAMES, ENLIGHTENED DISPLAYS PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE AGENTS, INCLUDING CRAVEN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, ECU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, CRAVEN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, NEWBURGH FUNDS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND MANY OTHERS.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL ON AUGUST THE 31ST.
I'VE JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, ON BEHALF OF THOSE OF THEM DEFINITELY FEEL AND OTHERS, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER AND DEPTH OF FIELD.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMUNITY KNOWS, BUT THE BOARD OF ALL OF THEM, THE MAN, AND ALL OF US JUST WENT ON A TOUR, THE SAME NAME OF THE DUFFY FIELD AREA, JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.
AND YOU COULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE IN DUFFY FIELD COMMUNITY.
THE SENSE OF PRIDE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME THAT WHEN PEOPLE SAID SOMETHING NEGATIVELY, THEY MAKE REFERENCE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THANK GOD THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND, AND, AND, AND THE CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE MADE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, TO COME OUT TO THE DUFF FEST.
I MEAN, THIS YEAR, I'M NOT THE CHAIRPERSON.
MY FRIEND, UH, LONDON IS, UH, IS A CHAIRPERSON AND SHE'S DONE A DYNAMIC JOB.
I JUST LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.
ALL YOU GUYS JUST STAND UP AND WAVE AT THAT CAMERA.
YOU DON'T WANT MORE TIME UNTIL HE'S A DEPUTY OF PEOPLE.
JUST SHOW HOW PROUD YOU ARE AND TELL HIM HOW YOU I'D LIKE TO GO TO THAT.
I DID A CHALLENGE, ALL OF THEM AND REINER TO A RACE DOWN THE SLIDE BOARD ON THAT DAY SET UP MY RECORD RIGHT NOW IS I WOULDN'T ONE.
AND I LIKE TO ALSO THANK THE DEPUTY FIELD COMMUNITY.
I HAVE NOT EVER FORGOTTEN A CLEANUP DAY LAST YEAR.
AND IT WAS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THE SUPPORT AND THE DEPTH OF FIELD GAVE US ON THAT EFFORT.
MY WIFE AND MARK OF THAT, THAT DAY, WE RODE THROUGH TOWN AFTER WE PICKED UP OUR AREA AND WENT ALL OVER THE PLACE AND LOOKED AT EVERYBODY.
AND I SAID, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S REALLY GREAT
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WHEN THE, WHEN THE CITY BLOWS THE HORN AND THE RESIDENTS TURN OUT AND, AND DO THE JOB.I MEAN, YOU REALLY COUNT ON THEM.
YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS WONDERFUL.
I WISH WE COULD TAKE CREDIT FOR IT, AND WE WILL TRY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR IT, BUT YOU ALL DID IT.
AND, UH, ON A WOMAN, LADY GAVE ME SOME GREAT LEADERSHIP ON THAT, AND Y'ALL HAD DONE A HUGE JOB.
THE BOARD, YOU HAVEN'T GOT ONE LADY FROM JASPER ON THE COMMITTEE.
UH, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THE COMMUNITY HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST 10 OR 12 YEARS.
IT LOOKS, IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY GREAT NOW.
AND, AND THERE'S, THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING ON THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU ALL.
AND WE CAN, WE WERE BEING TOLD AS WE TOOK THE TOUR TODAY ABOUT THE TREES THAT WILL BE PLANTED IN SOME OF THE AREAS.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
AND AS WE CAME BY STANLEY WHITE, IT WAS IMPRESSIVE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE WALKING THE TRACK OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I FIGURED OUT A WHILE BACK THAT I HAD TO DO GET OUT AND DO MORE WALKING.
AND I'VE LOST ABOUT 45, 50 POUNDS.
AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT, AND THAT'S IT, BUT IT HAD BEEN IN 10 MONTHS AND I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WALKING ON THAT TRACK AND KIDS RUNNING ON THE TRACK AND THINGS LIKE THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY DON'T THINK, AND YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF.
SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS GREAT, REALLY DOES.
AND MAX, I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ONE DAY, IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO RUN AND BECOME THE MAYOR, THAT, UH, IT WON'T BE TOO HARD TO LOSE THAT 40 OR 50 POUNDS YOU'LL HAVE A CROWN.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ME OUT THERE TRAINING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I WILL MENTION THIS AUGUST 31ST IS BARBARA LEE'S ANNIVERSARY.
AND AUGUST 30TH IS MY BIRTHDAY.
SO WE THOUGHT IF THERE WAS A LITTLE CAKE OUT THERE WE MIGHT, I MIGHT PUT ON A HALF A POUND OF NOT LOST.
UH, WELL THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB.
NEXT THING WE HAVE IS THE FOURTH ITEM, WHICH IS REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.
DID WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE ON THAT ACCOUNT TONIGHT? I'M NOT HERE TO RAIN ON ANYBODY'S FOR RAGE, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN THE AREA WHERE I LIVE, AND THAT'S WHY I REQUESTED TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WOULD BE ALLOWED FOR ME TO TALK.
MY NAME IS MIRA RANDOLPH, NATIVE OF NEWBURN.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN, AS I HAVE FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS, ABOUT THE ONGOING PROBLEMS THAT EXISTS IN AND AROUND THE PREMISES WHERE I LIVE, I'M A TAX PAYING CITIZEN, CITY AND COUNTY, AND I AM ENTITLED TO LIVE IN A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, NOT IN A SLUM WHERE I BREATHE IN STALE AND SMELL THE AIR FROM THAT.
UH, CORNELL IS SPILL THAT ACCUMULATES IN THAT CANAL, THAT IS NOTHING BUT A CESSPOOL.
THAT IS A BUILDUP OF SLUDGE AND DEBRIS THAT HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING FROM OVER FIVE YEARS ALONG THE BULKHEAD THAT WAS ERECTED THERE TO PREVENT MY PROPERTY FROM EROSION, FROM THAT WATER THAT STAND IN THERE AND STILL STANDS IN THAT CANAL.
AND THEY'RE ALL, ALL THE OLD TREES, SOME EROTIC WITH VINES COVERING THEM.
ONE OF THOSE TREES ARE GOING TO FALL AND A LOT OF DAMAGE IS GOING TO BE DONE IN THAT AREA.
THERE ARE ALSO TWO TREES ALONG THAT CAN NAIL LEAN INTO ON MY PROPERTY.
IF THEY FALL, THERE WILL SURELY BE DAMAGED TO DAMAGE DONE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERGROWN TREES THAT ARE NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY, BUT ON AN EASEMENT A RIGHT AWAY.
THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY I WATCHED EARLY IN THE SPRING, HOW THE SONS ARE THE OWNER OF JUST THEIR RESIDENT CUT DOWN TREES ALONG THAT DITCH BANK DOING THE BEST THEY COULD, BUT COULD NOT CUT THE ONE THAT AT THAT TIME,
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THAT IS LEANING TOWARD MY PROPERTY FOR FEAR OF DAMAGE, UH, AND SOME, AND THE SAME WHEN THEY RECENTLY CUT DOWN MORE TREES, THIS, UM, I MET WITH THE MAYOR AND ALL OF THEM AND, AND THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, UH, AROUND THAT CANAL.AND THIS, I MENTIONED, UH, HOW THOSE YOUNG MEN WHO ARE TIED, KILLED TACKLING THOSE TREES THAT NEEDED HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO GET THE JOB DONE.
AT THAT TIME, I GOT AN IMPRESSION THAT SOME HELP WOULD BE GIVEN TO THEM FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT WASN'T THAT MY NEXT CONCERN IS THAT DEAD IN THERE WHERE I LIVE, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE TO IMPROVE IT.
THE PAYMENT FROM MY PROPERTY IS ONLY 22 FEET.
AND TWO FEET OF MY LAND WAS TAKEN TO PUT, UH, AN OPEN PIPE DOWN FOR WATER TO DRAIN OFF INTO THE CANAL BECAUSE THERE ARE NO GODDESS ON COLLEGE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE ON DOWN TO THE JT BARBER SCHOOL.
ALSO ONE OF, ONE OF MY, UH, LAND STATES ARE UNDER THE LAST 10 FEET OF PAYMENT THAT WAS EXTENDED, UH, FOR VEHICLES THAT WAS EXTENDED 10 FEET OF PAVEMENT THAT LET ME BACK UP HERE.
ALSO ONE OF MY LANCE STEAKS UNDER THE LAST 10 FEET OF PAYMENT THAT WAS EXTENDED FOR VEHICLES COMING IN TO THAT AREA TO HAVE SPACE, TO TURN AROUND AND GO OUT, BUT IT HASN'T WORKED AND WON'T WORK BECAUSE THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ANY VEHICLES TO DO SO.
EVERY VEHICLE THAT COMES DOWN THERE HAS TO BACK ALL THE WAY OUT.
AND YOU KNOW THIS BECAUSE YOUR VEHICLES HAVE DONE THE SAME.
GOD FORBID IF SOME CHILD IS PLAYING IN THE STREET AND HAVING TO BE IN THE PATH OF THOSE VEHICLES, I AM TIRED OF MY PROPERTY BEING DAMAGED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO TURN THEIR VEHICLES AROUND AND GO OUT WITHOUT DRIVING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, INTO MY CAST IRON POSTS.
WHEN IT HAPPENED, I HAD TO GET SOME, SOMEONE TO RESUBMIT THEM BACK INTO THE GROUND.
I HAVE REVIEWED SOME OF THE BUDGET FOR 2002 AND THREE, AND I SAW THAT MONEY HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR MANY ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAMS. I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT THERE IS A NEED TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN DIRE NEED, YOU HAVE GRANTS COMING INTO THE CITY, BUT IT SEEMS THAT IT'S NEVER, THAT IT NEVER REACHES THE BOTTOM.
THOSE AT THE BOTTOM, EVEN, EVEN, UH, THESE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY SUBSIDIZES AND PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS, FUNDS ARE NOT REACHING OUT INTO THE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A NEED, BUT SPECIAL BUT SPECIAL INTERESTS.
AND TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN ARE BEING LEFT OUT.
ALL THE GRANTS THIS CITY HAS RECEIVED SINCE 1982 HAVE, HAVE NOT GONE FOR THE COST FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED.
HOW DO I KNOW? BECAUSE I SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE TO GET THE PLACE OF GRANT AND DUFFIELD WAS SELECTED AS A TARGET AREA.
LATER, MANY CHANGES CAME ABOUT CHANGING THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
I WOULD COMMENT FURTHER, BUT TIME WILL NOT PERMIT ME TWO YEARS AGO.
ALL OF MY LEAFS SUGGESTED TO ME THAT I SERVED ON THE CLEAN COMMITTEE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE.
I AGREED TO DO SO, AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE THEN.
I THOUGHT THAT I'D BE WORKING WITH THE GROUP THAT WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA SO FAR IN THIS AREA.
I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT SOMETHING IS BEING DONE TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT EXISTS.
I CONTRIBUTE CONTRIBUTED MY TIME TOWARD THE ACTIVITIES HELD LAST YEAR AT THE STANDING HEIGHT CENTER THIS YEAR, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OR THEIR PLANS AS THEY MET IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
WELL, AS I AM NOT TOO MUCH INTO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, BUT MORE IN THE HELPING, THE LESS FORTUNATE AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS RANGING FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AND FOR 45 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, INVOLVED IN CIVIC AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES.
WHEN I LIVED IN THE NORTH AND ON MY RETURN BACK HERE TO LIVE MY HOME WHERE I WAS BORN, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED INVOLVED IN ORGANIZATIONS ONE OR ANOTHER OR ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER, BUT I AM USED TO WORKING THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO WELCOME
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YOUR INPUT, YOUR IDEAS, OR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.BUT I FIND IN THESE MEETINGS OF MANY, MANY GROUPS THAT I MEET WITH, UH, THAT I MEET WITH HAVE A WAY OF WANTING TO LISTEN, NOT TO LISTEN OR TO CUT YOU OFF WHILE YOU ARE PERHAPS ASKING A QUESTION OR MAKING A STATEMENT, ET CETERA, WHEN THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION, THERE'S NO DIALOGUE.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO PERFORM IN THAT KIND OF ATMOSPHERE.
BECAUSE WHEN I FIND THE NEED TO SPEAK, I WILL DO SO.
AND NOBODY'S GOING TO PUT A MUZZLE ON MY MOUTH.
AS I SAID, I'M USED TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY.
I'M QUALIFIED TO SERVE ON ANY BOARD.
I FEEL THAT I'M QUALIFIED TO SERVE ON ANY BOARD.
THERE ARE AREAS I HAVE TRIED OR AM TRYING TO WORK, OR WE'RE IN INVOLVE INSTEAD OF BUSINESS, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
OF COURSE, SOME OTHERS DON'T INVOLVE CITY BUSINESS, BUT I FIND THE SAME ATMOSPHERE IN THERE.
AND THOSE TWO OH, OH, THIS IS PAGE SIX.
I TRIED TO CONTACT ALL THE POLICE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO REGARDING SOME MATTERS.
BUT TODAY MY CALLS HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, NEVER MATTERS OF CONCERN TO ME OUTSIDE OF THE MATTERS REGARDING THE PROBLEMS AROUND THE PREMISES THAT I FELT THE NEED TO DISCUSS WITH HER.
I WILL SAY AGAIN, I WANT TO FEEL REMOVED FROM THAT BAR HEAD.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT I WOULD, THAT YOU WOULD LET A WHITE RESIDENT LIVE IN AN ON HEALTHY AREA, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITY OFFICIALS AND THE CITY MANAGER IS TO SEE TO IT THAT THE PROPER SERVICES RENDERED TO ITS CITIZENS.
AND I AM ONE OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO HAVE SUFFERED LONG ENOUGH.
AND MY HEALTH IS BEING AFFECTED BY YOUR REFUSAL BECAUSE OF YOUR REFUSAL TO CLEAN UP THAT CESSPOOL THAT'S EVEN DESTROYING OTHER LAND ADJACENT TO HER, TO IT LIKE THE, LIKE THE END ON THE END OF
AND WHILE YOU'RE PULLING THE, THE APARTMENT LOOKS THE OTHER WAY AND TRY TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR BACKS OR THE TAXPAYERS.
EVERY ONE OF YOU SIT UP THERE NEEDS A BOARD, A BUS, OR A VAN, AND GET OFF THERE AND SEE WHAT THEY FEEL FOR MESS.
WE, THOSE OF US LIVING AROUND THAT CANAL AND, AND ALL OF THOSE LARGE TREES THAT ARE LEANING TOWARD OUR PROPERTIES ARE US TO LIVE IN.
AND LET ME SAY TO YOU, BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE NINE 11, IT'S AFFECTING ME RIGHT HERE, WHERE I STAND, BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, COME NOVEMBER, WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE POLLS.
I WISH THAT THE CITY OF NEWBURN WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SENIORS WHO ARE IN NEED, WHO ARE ISOLATED LIVING IN RUNDOWN, DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS.
I HAVE NO GRIPE WITH YOUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND YOUR FUNCTIONS, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE VERY LITTLE AND YET TO SIT.
I CAN FIND TIME TO USE FUNDS EVERYWHERE ELSE.
WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT IS FOR THE POOR AND THE NEEDED, AND THOSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE, THANK YOU.
AND THE AUDIENCE PETITION THEMSELVES MUSCLE WILLIAMS AND YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION OR CALI,
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SO HE DOESN'T HANDLE.THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO PULL OFF NUMBER 12 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I PULLED OFF ON THE 12TH DOT RESOLUTION, APPROVING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE OTHER CONTRACT FOR THE PLEASANT HILL PARK.
AND I JUST WANTED IT TO BE KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE DID AS A BOARD COMMITTED OURSELVES TO TRY TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND TO HELP THE COMMUNITY ACQUIRE THAT PARK AREA SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A NICE PARK FOR THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY AND I'M BANKING.
AND I WANTED IT TO BE KNOWN THAT WE NOW LOOKED LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY THAT LAND.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, APPROVING THE OFFER OF PURCHASE, UH, FOR THE CONTRACT FOR THE PLEASANT HILL PARK.
AND WE JUST THANK GOD THAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO REALLY COME TO PASS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.
IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR PERSISTENCE, THE RESIDENTS OF THE DEPTH OF FIELD NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY, UM, MS. MONTGOMERY, MS. MONTGOMERY, AS PRESENT AS MR. MONTGOMERY AND OTHERS IN HER COMMITTEE WHO WERE ALWAYS EVERY YEAR, VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PLEASANT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD, HAVING A PLACE TO PLAY AND IT KIND OF ACTIVE EQUIPMENT ON THAT PARK.
SO WE'VE GOT TO BE THANKFUL TO OUR RECREATION DIRECTOR.
AND HE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR ATTORNEY THURMAN AND OUR ATTORNEY OVER HERE, THEY WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY BECAUSE THEY TOO FEEL THIS A NEED FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT, BUT THAT BEING SAID, I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, APPROVING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE THAT CONTRACT FOR PLEASANT HILL PARK.
GET READY TO SAY YOU GUYS, THE QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION.
UH, FIRST TIME I LOOKED AT AS A GROUP LOOKING AT PROBLEMS THAT WERE POSTED TO PRODUCT AREAS OR AREAS BACK TO I'M TRYING TO PIECE IT'S THE SAME PIECE, THE SAME RUNS ON THE STREET AND RUNS ALL THE WAY BACK.
MY THING, WE HAD LOOKED AT SOME OTHER PROPERTIES THERE, CAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK WE'VE ACQUIRED THIS PROPERTY, BUT THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS AWFUL.
AND SO THIS IS THE PROPERTY THAT THEY CURRENTLY USED AS UPON OH, THE SAME PROPERTY THAT COMMUNITY THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN PROVIDING ACTIVITIES FOR OVER THE YEARS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IF NOT CALL ROBO MAPPING PLEASE, MAN.
TONIGHT I HAVE A NOMINATION FOR THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD, A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF MR. RICK MAHER LIVES AT 1 0 9 LANCE WOOD COURT IN NEW BERN.
AND HE'S A RETIRED POLICE CAPTAIN FROM OUT OF STATE.
AND I THINK HE'S WELL KNOWN BY CHIEF PALUMBO AND HE IS REQUESTED TO BE A MADE A MEMBER OF THAT BOARD.
AND I WOULD REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL, THAT NOMINATION.
ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE.
UH, MS. LEE, I DON'T HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS.
HOWEVER, I'D LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE OF SOME VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES THAT I COULD MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO.
AND THAT IS ONE, UH, TO THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD AND TO, TO THE APPEARANCE COMMISSION.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING AND THEY COULD GIVE ME A CALL AND I'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO APPOINT THEM TO THESE COMMITTEES.
OKAY, MR. FREEZE, I ASKED MR. MAYOR, IF YOU PLEASE, UH, THE TURN HIM OFF TO THE SATTERFIELD TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS HAS EXPIRED.
AND, UH, SHE HAS SERVED HER LIMIT THERE AND CANNOT BE REAPPOINTED.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN A VERY CONSCIENTIOUS MEMBER.
AND I'M SORRY THAT, UH, THEY WILL BE LOSING HER.
WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR MORE WORK FOR HER ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE, BUT IN HER STEAD, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. JERRY WALKER TO THE NEW-BORN BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
UM, MR. WALKER IS AN ARCHITECT.
HE HAD BEEN A CONTRACTOR FOR ABOUT, UH,
[00:35:01]
WHAT 13, 13, 15 YEARS.HE IS MARRIED, HAS TWO CHILDREN.
HE IS AN ARCHITECT AND HIS WIFE IS AN ARCHITECT AND THEY HAVE A FIRM HERE IN TOWN.
UH, THE WALKER GROUP, THEY HAVE, UH, DEVELOPED A LIFE.
I THINK HIS WIFE IS ACTUALLY A NATIVE OF NEWBURN.
SHE WAS A RESIDENT OF MOVEMENT, WENT AWAY TO SCHOOL.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHERE JERRY MET HER, I BELIEVE.
AND SHE BROUGHT JERRY BACK WITH HER IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HIM HERE.
HE'S BEEN HERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WANTS TO BECOME A MORE ACTIVE PART IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE, ANYBODY ELSE FREE? THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT, MR. RYAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I WAS WATCHING HIM BATMAN, BUT IF HE WAS ONE OF MY KIDS UP IN ARMS WARD SCENARIO, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN PLATE, MR. MR. FREE.
AND EVERY TIME THEY SAID, IT'S THE FRISKIES.
THEY ASKED IF I COULD PLAY THAT PART, BUT I TOLD THEM NO ARNIE NEEDED THE WORK.
HOW ABOUT MISCELLANEOUS? UH, NO SIR.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TONIGHT.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF MY FRIEND, MY WHOLE HEART AND MY BUDDY, UH, COMMISSIONER SAMPSON'S PRESENCE HERE.
HE'S BEEN A BIT UNDER THE WEATHER AND IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE HIM OUT AND DOING WELL.
AND HE'S GONE, WENT OUT ON THE WEEKEND.
IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HAVE SUPPORT MR. FREEZE.
UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TREES BEING PLANTED, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WERE TALKING, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE TIME BEFORE THAT, UH, WHEN FALL WEATHER GOT HERE THEN WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE SOME TREES IN ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I HOPE THAT PERHAPS WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADD SOME TREES DOWN ON SPENCER AVENUE IN THE LAST BLOCK.
UH, DANNY, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? HOW DO YOU FEEL THE CHANCES ARE NOW OF GETTING A DOUBLE LEFT TURN LANE ON GLEN BURNIE, DRY ON A NEWS BOULEVARD ONTO GLEN BURNIE IN FRONT OF MCDONALD'S.
I, I ALMOST GOT CREAMED THERE TWICE IN ONE STOPLIGHT CHANGE TODAY, WE HAVE MADE THAT REQUEST TO DLT, TO LOOK AT IT, UH, THEIR FIRST BLUSH AND, AND WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCEDURE WITH THEM.
FIRST BLUSH IS IF WE GIVE A DOUBLE LEFT TURN AND YOU CREATE A PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER WAY, IT'S NOT ENOUGH RIGHT OF WAY TO DO WHAT THEY REALLY NEED TO DO, BUT THEY ASSURED ME THEY WILL LOOK AT IT AND GIVE US A RECOMMENDATION THAT, AND IF, IF THEY CAN'T DO THAT, WE NEED TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITIES, CLOSING THAT LITTLE ENTRANCE ACROSS FROM THE PUB, FROM THE WATER PLANT INTO THE BIG PARKING LOT.
BECAUSE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE FURNITURE STORE AREA, COMING OUT OF BURGER KING, THAT WAY COMING OUT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE HAVE A DAUNTING TASK TO GET ACROSS THE TRAFFIC HEADED OUT OF TOWN.
WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT ONE LANE IS TIED UP WITH A LONG LINE OF CARS, THE DOUBLE LANE WOULD DEFINITELY CUT THAT LANE AND THAT LINE IN HALF AND MAYBE HELP.
BUT IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, IF WE CAN'T GET A LEFT TURN LANE THERE, WE NEED TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO CLOSE THAT BECAUSE THE FIRST ACCIDENT NEARLY OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TO LET A CARLOAD OF PEOPLE COME OUT OF THAT STREET.
AND THE PEOPLE TOWARD THEM DID NOT WANT TO STOP.
AND THEN WHEN WE FINALLY GOT TO THE STOPLIGHT, THERE WAS ANOTHER NEAR ACCIDENT THERE.
SO THAT, THAT IS A VERY SCARY INTERSECTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRAFFIC STATISTICS ON THE WRECKS ARE, BUT I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OCCUR THERE.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S A NASTY INTERSECTION.
I THINK THAT WOULD SPEED UP THE TRAFFIC BECAUSE RIGHT WHERE THE LEFT TURN COMES OFF THERE IN FRONT OF THE WATER PLANT, TRAFFIC BACKS UP INTO THE LANES WANTING TO GO STRAIGHT ON AND IT'S, IT'S BAD NEWS AND JUST TWEAK THEM IF YOU CAN JUST LEAN ON THEM, IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU'LL LET ME JUST INJECT THE SPN, WE'RE TALKING SIGNALS SIDE.
I THINK HE SAW THE ARTICLE ON TV THE OTHER NIGHT ABOUT THE OAKS ROAD SIGNAL, AND SOME FOLKS REFER IT IN SOMEWHERE AGAINST IT AND ALL THIS KIND OF GOOD STUFF.
UH, JUST FOR A MATTER OF CLARIFICATION, UH, DLT IS GOING TO INSTALL THAT AND, AND WE'RE GOING TO REQUEST TO ACCEPT IT.
AND THAT WOULD NOT BE A WORKING LIGHT AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING A TIME ON IT TO, TO WORK THROUGH THE, THE HATTERAS TRAFFIC.
BUT, UH, IT, IT WILL MAKE THAT INTERSECTION A LOT SAFER.
AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL, UH, HINDER ANYONE, UH, ANYMORE.
IT'LL JUST DISTRIBUTE THE HINDRANCE AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE IT A LOT SAFER.
SO, UH, ALL THOSE THAT WERE LOOKING AT IT FROM A NEGATIVE STANDPOINT, I THINK IT'S GOING TO DEFINITELY, I THINK THE CHIEF WILL AMY AND THAT, THAT
[00:40:01]
IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT SAFER THAT INTERSECTION THAT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.WHAT WILL THAT LIGHT FLASH ALL THE TIME OR THE FLASH? IT WILL FLASH CONTINUOUSLY, UH, BUT THERE'LL BE CERTAIN HOURS THAT WE WILL HAVE IT ALL THE TIME OR WE WILL COME IN AND, AND SEQUENCE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S OUR PLAN AT THIS POINT, THAT'S CORRECT.
CRASHING RAIL NOTES ROAD FLASHING, KEEP RUNNING FLASHING RENTAL NOTES ROAD FOR THE MOST PART OF THE DAY.
JUST LIKE YOU HAVE A STOP SIGN NOW AND THE CAUTION WILL BE DOWN GLIMMER.
UM, NOW I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT
MS. RANDOLPH, WE DO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE SPENT, WE SPENT HOURS DISCUSSING WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO AND WE CAN'T DO ABOUT IT.
AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS OR THINGS THAT POINT EXAMPLE THIS VERY DAY, WHO DID I ASK ABOUT? AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PUMPING STATIONS TO ALLEVIATE DRAINAGE, WHO WAS THE INDIVIDUAL I ASKED, WILL THIS EFFECT, WILL IT HELP ME RANDOM? YOU KNOW, NO, NO.
WITH THE POINT THAT I'M TRACKING THE POINT, THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, I MEAN, IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHY DON'T WE FIX THEM IF WE'RE CAPABLE OF FIXING THEM AND WE HAVE THE WILL TO FIX THEM, WE HAVE THE WILL, SOME OF THE THINGS WE CANNOT FIX AS EASILY AS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND SOME THINGS WE CAN'T FIX, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE CITIES ON THE CITY'S PROPERTY WE'VE HAD TO, IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THOSE LATER, I'D APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
WELL, I MEAN, WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT WE CAN DO.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO, AS SOON AS THIS MEETING'S OVER AND WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO IT, YOU AND I, AND DANNY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IF BEACON RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, AS SOON AS I FINISH OFF THE MEETING, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PROCEED WITH, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PROCEED WITH A MEETING I'M NOT IN CHARGE ANYMORE.
WHERE, WHERE WERE WE? UH, IT WAS IN FACT RELATED TO THE CLOSING OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
I'M SAYING, UH, YOU KNOW, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE LAST MEETING WE VOTED TO CLOSE THE FIREMAN MUSEUM, QUOTE, THIS, BUT YOU, WELL, NOT AS A PERMANENT THING.
AND EVIDENTLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE LAST LAST MEETING, THE LETTERS REALLY READ THAT THEY ARE AGAINST THOSE CLOSE WITH RYAN TO MOST OF IT WAS OFF,
[00:45:01]
BUT THEY'LL PULL UP PAPERLESS DISTANT IN HERE.IT'S CLOSED THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF BUDGET RESTRAINTS.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN OPEN IT AGAIN, EVEN BETTER THAN WHAT IT'S BEEN IN THE, IN THE FUTURE.
AND I'LL SAY IF I MADE THAT MY HEAD, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT HE WAS ABLE TO BE CLOSED FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
IT MEANT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE COULD PUT IT IN THE BUDGET, THE OTHER WAYS OF DOING IT.
AND SO, UH, IN FACT, I HAD, UH, IF Y'ALL CHANGED THAT SIGN ON THE DOOR HERE, WE WOULD CHANGE IN SIGN ON THE DOOR AND SAY THE PUBLIC WHEN IT WAS SOLD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT NOT JUST CLOSED, BUT CLOSED TEMPORARILY, I GOT ALL KINDS OF LETTERS AND SO FORTH.
AND I WAS SORT OF AMAZED WHEN I GOT THEM BECAUSE THIS BOARD HAS NOT EVER VOTED TO CLOSE THE FIREMAN'S MUSEUM.
AND IT WAS JUST A BUDGETARY THING WHERE WE HAD TO SAY NO TO A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR WAYS OF FUNDING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CALLING ON THE CLUB AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT, WE CAN'T DO IT RIGHT THIS MINUTE, SO KEEP AWAY.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
WE NEEDED TO CLARIFY THAT MR. WRIGHT, ONE COMMENT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS IF THE CHIEF COULD HELP US OUT ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAN I, WE SEE.
AND I KNOW I GREW UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ERA AND MAYBE THEY WEREN'T AS MUCH TRAFFIC.
THEY WEREN'T AS MANY STOPLIGHTS AND ALL THIS OLD BEDS, BUT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE AND IT'S NOT JUST A NEIGHBOR AND I'LL BET UP RALEIGH AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
BUT WE DO HAVE A, WHEN THE MASS RUNNING RED LIGHTS THAT I'M NOT EVEN CLOSE, I MEAN, NOT EVEN A CLOSE CALL, THE LIGHT IS ALREADY TURNED RED IS MEN RAN.
AND SOMEBODY SITTING BY YOU GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR, THIS IS, IT'S NOT JUST AN ACCIDENT, LIKE MAP.
THIS THING IS GOING, YOU KNOW, WALK SOMEBODY TO THE MOON IF THEY RUN INTO SOMEBODY.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND AGAIN, I DON'T LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE HISTORY DOWN AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE OLD COPS DID THAT.
UH, I USED TO KNOW JUST, JUST AN ACQUAINTANCE JUST KNEW, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN THE OLD HATS, MANOLO BOYS, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU USED TO SEE IN THE MOVIE WHERE THE GUY WAS BEHIND THE, THE, A BILLBOARD, BUT HIS MOTORCYCLE OR WHATEVER, THEY WERE ALL HIS LETTER.
I MEAN, IF SOMEBODY JUST ROLL THROUGH THE STOP SIGN OR WHATEVER REAGAN WAS HAMMERING, AND AGAIN, I KNOW WE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE PEOPLE WITH A WHOLE LOT LESS COPS.
IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT YOU CAN PUT THE, THE FEAR IN SOME OF THESE FOLKS THAT IT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE THING TO KIND OF FUDGE AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
BUT SOME OF THAT STUFF I SAID, IT'S YES.
I MEAN, IT OUTRAGES ME AND I'M HERE TO OPEN THE CAMERA.
WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL APPROACHES.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKES ABOUT A THOUSAND TRAFFIC STOPS A MONTH AND WE WRITE ABOUT 800 TICKETS A MONTH.
AND IT'S FOR ALL KINDS OF VIOLATIONS.
ALSO OUR TRAFFIC UNIT IS INVOLVED IN A, UH, AGGRESSIVE DRIVING CAMPAIGN TO, WE USE A PLAIN VEHICLE.
THAT'S A POLICE VEHICLE IT'S EQUIPPED, BUT IT HAS NO MARKINGS ON IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT COLOR IT IS, BUT IT'S OUT THERE.
AND THE OFFICERS ON THE TRAFFIC TEAM USED THAT FOR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING, UH, YOU KNOW, VIOLATIONS.
I DON'T HAVE EXACTLY THE NUMBER OF RED LIGHT VIOLATIONS.
BUT THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER.
ALSO A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY RUNNING RED LIGHTS.
AND THE ONE FATALITY WE HAD LAST YEAR WAS SOMEBODY RAN A RED LIGHT UP ON, UH, 17.
UM, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE TRAFFIC RULES.
UH, WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
UH, COMBINED OUR TRAFFIC UNIT ALONE WRITES A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF CITATIONS AND WARNINGS, BUT COMBINED WITH THE OTHER OFFICERS, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE UP IN A THOUSAND A MONTH, TRAFFIC STOPS.
UM, I THINK THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT HAVE PROVEN TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY THE ISSUE OF RED LIGHT VIOLATIONS.
AND THOSE ARE, YOU NEED A LOCAL BILL APPROVED BY THE, BY THE LEGISLATURE, BUT THEY USE THE CAMERA'S RED LIGHT INTERSECTION CAMERAS.
UH, THEY'RE TOTALLY COST-FREE UH, TO THE CITY BECAUSE THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES THEM, UH, DOES ALSO ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE COLLECTION OF DEFINES AND TAKES A FEE BASED ON THE FINES THAT ARE COLLECTED AND EVERYTHING.
UH, IT'S AUTOMATIC, YOU RUN A RED LIGHT, GET TWO PICTURES OF YOUR CAR.
THEY SEND YOU A LETTER HERE, YOU ARE PAID TO FIND, UH, THEY TAKE THEIR PERCENTAGE OF REST, GOES TO THE CITY AND TO, FOR WHATEVER DISTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE.
BUT FOR INSTANCE, THE WILMINGTON HAD REDUCED THEIR ACCIDENTS BY 30% WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE INTERSECTION ACTIONS BY 30%.
SO THERE IS A DEFINITE EASY WAY TO DO IT.
UH, IT DOES TAKE A LOOK, LOCAL BILL, BUT WE, I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN OUR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
AND IF YOU GET IN THE WAY WITH IT,
[00:50:01]
I WOULDN'T PUSH MY LUCK IF I WAS YOU, BECAUSE THE FINES ARE SUBSTANTIAL, THE COURT COSTS ARE OVER $90 PLUS OTHER, UH, FEES AND EVERYTHING.SO IT'S A REALLY EXPENSIVE WAY TO SAVE ABOUT 35 SECONDS IN YOUR TRIP TO WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING.
SO WE WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CALM DOWN A LITTLE.
LET ME COMMENT ALSO A LITTLE FURTHER ON THAT, NOT TO BELABOR IT, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A CAUSE AND EFFECT, BUT WHY PEOPLE DO THINGS IN OTHER WORDS.
AND I NOTE IT BECAUSE THE LIGHTS HAVE SO MANY LINES AND IT'S SO LONG, AND IT'S SO FRUSTRATING TO ME TO BE SITTING DOWN AT LINE AND MADE A FIFTH CAR.
AND SOMEHOW YOU CAN'T MAKE THE LIGHT.
NOW YOU GOT TO SIT DOWN, I KNOW THREE OR FOUR MINUTES.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE TEMPTATION IS THERE, BUT IT'S PEOPLE DO IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE HUNG UP IN THE LIGHT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
PAUL I'M GETTING THERE IS OBVIOUSLY, AND AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE GOT THE BEST POLICE FORCE ANYWHERE.
AND I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
SO IT WAS NO DISRESPECT TO THE POLICE AT ALL.
THIS IS A TOUGH PROBLEM TO SOLVE, BUT, BUT MY SUGGESTION AS A, UH, A LAYMAN, SO TO SPEAK IS THAT FIRST OFF, IF PEOPLE ARE RUNNING THAT LIGHT, WE HADN'T TIGHTENED UP ENOUGH BY DEFINITION, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TIGHTEN UP AND DO IT EQUIPMENT RUNNING IT, NO MATTER WHAT TOTALLY QUIT WELL, WHEN SOMEBODY HAS TO GO RUN THOSE LIGHTS, LIKE HONESTLY, I'M DOING WHERE IT'S NOT EVEN A CLOSE CALL.
HE AIN'T GOT RESPECT FOR ANYBODY.
AND THAT REFLECTS BACK ON ME TOO.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND AGAIN, Y'ALL FIGURE IT OUT HOW YOU CAN DO IT OR WHATEVER.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH HAVING A COP VISIBLY NEAR A LIGHT WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAY, OH, I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THAT COPS AFTER HE'S NAILED.
IF YOU FLINCH YOURSELF, WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO THAT LIFE AND THEN HOME TO MAKE SURE TO COPY IT, LARRY ANYWAY, AND THAT'S ALL I'M GETTING, MAN.
THAT'S WHAT THOSE GUYS USED TO DO.
THE OLD POLICE WORK AND BE PROUD OF WHATEVER, THE FIVE OR SIX STEPS TO IT, WHERE NOW YOU'VE GOT 2000 OF THEM.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THE COP, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN IT, IF IT WAS THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND THEY WANT A SOUL ANYWHERE, YOU STILL STOPPED AT THAT STOP SIGN AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP.
I KNOW I HAVE TO SAY THIS, I'LL GET SIX TICKETS MYSELF TOMORROW.
I HAVEN'T HAD ONE SINCE I WAS 16.
I KNOW SOMEBODY TO WATCH THIS AND GO, WE CAN RECTIFY THAT.
BUT THE POINT IS THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING A GREAT JOB OF REALLY, THAT IS JUST ABS IT'S IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THE SAME SORT OF THING.
WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW, LIKE, HEY, I DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND ATHLETE, WE CAN, WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I KNOW THAT Y'ALL, IF AGAIN, DOING A WHOLE LOT OF
I WAS LIKE, OH, I'M ASKING THIS.
IF THEY'LL SEE RYAN ON THAT SPECIFIC THING.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A MATTER OF A MILLISECOND ONLY, LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY,
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU SEE IT MORE THAN ONCE.
THAT WAS THE SECOND ACCIDENT THAT ALMOST OCCURRED AT THAT GLEN BERNIE AND, AND, UH, THAT'S I'M SURE.
AND THOSE BOULEVARD INTERSECTION OF THE GUY IN FRONT OF ME WAS SO FRUSTRATED AT BEING PINNED UP THERE THAT HE RAN THE LIGHT COMPLETELY JUST SAYING I'M INNOCENT RALEIGH, BUT I JUST THINK IT, YOU KNOW, AND JUST LIKE THE CAMERAS, I WOULD HATE TO SEE US, HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY FROM THIS POSITION, ALL THE WAY TO THE CAMERAS, BECAUSE THE CAMERAS AND VITAL AND BIG BROTHER IS A 1984.
IT'S ALL THIS A LITTLE BIT, AND IT'S BETTER TO AVOID ALL THAT.
I ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM, UNDERSTANDING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN A POLICE OFFICER, WATCHING THE INTERSECTION AND A CAMERA, WATCHING THE INTERSECTION, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE OFFICER MIGHT BE BUSY AND YOU CAN SQUEAK BY WITH THE CAMERAS, NEVER BUSY.
AND IT ALWAYS CATCHES YOU WHEN THE CAMERA GOES ON, IT GOES OFFLINE TWO SECONDS.
AFTER THE LIGHT, YOU STILL GOT IT.
YOU GET A TWO SECONDS EVEN, EVEN THEN GET A TWO SECONDS.
AND, AND THERE'S, THERE'S A REALLY INTERESTING MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND HOW MUCH TIME YOU LOSE BY GETTING CAUGHT AT THE LIGHT.
TYPICALLY A LONG LIGHT IS 90 SECONDS.
SO YOU'RE NOT, IF YOU MISS THE LIGHT, YOU'RE ONLY LOSING MAYBE 90 SECONDS BEFORE.
AND WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH IS WHEN A GUY RUNS THE RED LIGHT AND THE NEXT ONE DOWN IS RED WITH FIVE CARS IN, YOU KNOW, AT THE INTERSECTION.
SO HE RUNS THE RED LIGHT AND GETS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
THERE'S NO LOGIC INVOLVED IN IT.
WE WILL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY WILL.
WE ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO THE 10, MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS IN THE CITY.
AND WE REPORT THOSE EVERY MONTH.
THE TRAFFIC UNIT REPORTS THOSE EVERY MONTH TO ME.
AND WE WORK ON THOSE PARTICULAR INTERSECTIONS IN ORDER TO TRY TO AVOID COLLISIONS AND INJURIES.
AND WE'RE DOING, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT WE'RE DOING SUCH
[00:55:01]
A GOOD JOB THAT THE GOVERNOR'S HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM WON'T GIVE US ANY GRANT MONEY FOR ANY MORE EQUIPMENT, BECAUSE OUR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE DOWN OR INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE ARE DOWN.YOU LOSE MONEY, BUT WE'LL WORK ON IT ONLY BECAUSE WITH THE BUDGET SITUATION RIGHT NOW, RALEIGH, THEY'VE PROBABLY DONE THE SAME THING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? EXCUSE HE HAS NO MONEY IS COMING, BUT I, BUT I MEAN, Y'ALL KNOW Y'ALL ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND AGAIN, I'M SAYING THIS EVERYWHERE.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT IF WE HAVE TO BE KNOWN AS THAT, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T WHEN YOU GO THROUGH NEW AND BY GOD, YOU DON'T RUN A RED LIGHT AND THEY HAMMER YOU BIG TIME.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE CAMERAS WITHOUT BELABORING, THAT I THINK ONE PROBLEM PEOPLE HAVE IS IT TAKES A PICTURE OF THE CAR AND THE LICENSE PLATE.
AND THAT'S WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY.
I WOULDN'T, I DON'T WANT THE DAY TO COME WHEN, WHEN POLICE WENT, UH, OR, OR REPLACED BY AN AUTOMATON ROBOCOP OR THIS AND THAT.
I LIKED FOR SOMEBODY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF JUDGMENT IS DEALING WITH THE SITUATION.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN LETTING THIS ONE GO AND HAMMER NAP ON OR WHATEVER.
BUT THE CAMERA IS JUST SUCH A CUT AND DRIED THING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMEDAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE US USE THE RESOURCES WE GOT INTO LIKE THIS WHITE AND WHITE FLAG SAY WE CAN'T STOP.
AND THEN WHEN THEY SAY, HEY, WE'VE DONE THE BEST WE CAN, WE CAN STOP.
BUT LIKE I SAY, I JUST, DON'T, I'M GETTING TOO OLD.
MY BLOOD IN THE BOWL, LIKE I WAS SAYING, I MEAN, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
AND I'M LIKE, IT COULD GO TO SLEEP, BUT ANYWAY, I'M BOWLING IT.
AND, UH, YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? I MOVE, WE ADJOURN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE, WE GOT ATTORNEYS.
AND WE GOT, WE GOT THE ATTORNEYS BEFORE
WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT NOW? IS THAT WE'RE NOT? OUR BIG THING IS THE MAYOR.
WE ANNUALLY GIVE A USED PLACE DART THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE THAT REVOLUTION TO DO THAT WITH A CAR THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT HOME TO MOVE THE ROAD.
RIGHT? MOVE THE RESOLUTION TO BE ADOPTED ALL IN FAVOR.
WE NEED TO CALL A ROLL ON RESOLUTION.
MA'AM YES, YES, YES, YES, YES.