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Action Alerts
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Hold NC Lawmakers Accountable for Blocking Medicaid Expansion |
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Monday, 13 May 2013 23:45 |
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A MESSAGE FROM PROGRESS NC
Are you angry that right-wing lawmakers in North Carolina turned down $20 billion in federal dollars that would have provided coverage to over 500,000 uninsured North Carolinians while boosting our state's economy and creating jobs? READ More and Act Now.
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Challenging Times for North Carolina |
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Friday, 03 May 2013 19:34 |
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A Message from DEMOCRACY NC
These are challenging times for North Carolina. Our state legislature continues to push one radical piece of legislation after another, despite broad public outcry. Calls for moderation are ignored; legislators are literally telling people to shut up! We are called to act.
On Tuesday, May 7 at 7 pm, all people of goodwill are called to rally outside the NC General Assembly. The details are not firm but we’re sending this notice now so you can hold this date. Please keep an eye on the NAACP website for more information.
On Monday, April 29, religious and community leaders held a "pray in" at the General Assembly. The event was an act of civil disobedience against attacks on public education, economic and social justice, and voting rights. During the pray-in, 17 people including our Organizing Director, Adam Sotak, were arrested. Learn why they participated in this action.
On Wednesday, May 1, more than 100 students marched in support of student voting, affordable college, and fair immigration policy. Five students were arrested for trying to enter the General Assembly while police blocked their path.
The regressive actions of our elected officials reflect poorly on our state and harm all of us. It is our duty, as We the people, to hold the out-of-control General Assembly accountable.
Next Monday, May 6, more people will gather at the legislative building in nonviolent protest. Those who wish to participate in civil disobedience should meet at 3:45 pm at Davie Street Presbyterian Church (MAP: 300 E. Davie Street, Raleigh). Others should meet at the Bicentennial Mall (behind the General Assembly) at 5:30 pm to show support, without participating in any arrest activity.
We hope to see you at one or more of these events!
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FIGHT BBACK! HELP Elizabeth Colbert Busch Win the South Carolina Special Election for the US Senate! |
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Saturday, 27 April 2013 16:12 |
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FROM the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
With 10 days left, the latest polls show Elizabeth Colbert Busch with a slight lead over Mark Sanford in the South Carolina special election. This means we're within reach of seriously embarrassing John Boehner and all the Republicans who thought a Democrat couldn't win this ruby-red district!. But first, we HAVE to close the fundraising gap. Sanford's campaign just announced that they have a cash advantage that could do some real damage in the final days of this campaign. We can't wait any longer.
Will you donate $3 or more right now to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to fight back against Republicans like Mark Sanford? We have 10 days to try and put a Democrat in a seat that's been Republican for over 30 years. This is when we need you most.
Friends, stand with us right now to help us win -- even in the toughest races out there.
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Donate to BOSTON ONE Fund |
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Wednesday, 24 April 2013 18:40 |
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 A MESSAGE FROM Elizabeth Warren
U.S. Senator, Massachusetts
It's a calm, quiet day in Boston today. It's difficult to believe that such horror filled our streets only a week ago.
Two times, bombs rocked the streets of Copley Square. Three lives were taken that day, and a law enforcement officer was killed just three days later. More than 260 people were wounded, many of whom remain hospitalized with amputations and other scars of tragedy.
I've heard from folks across the country, asking what they can do to help. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino have formed a fund to help the people most affected by these tragic events.
During the Boston Marathon, everyone in our city cheers for each other. We help each other across the finish line. When terror struck, we acted as a family. Throughout the chaos, courageous people ran toward danger to help strangers in need.
Now we cry together. We pray together. We help each other.
No one can replace what we've lost here in Boston. But today, and in the weeks and months ahead, we'll get through it together -- through sorrow and anger, rehabilitation and recovery. That's what families do.
The OFA family knows how to work together to accomplish amazing things. Let's make a difference for the Boston Marathon victims.
Your donation will directly help the families who need it most.
From West, Texas to Watertown, Massachusetts, we remember and honor the men, women, and children we lost last week. We help those whose lives will never be the same. And we thank our first responders, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and National Guard for their heroic work.
I'm very proud of the people of Massachusetts for their strength, resolve, and courage. Bostonians are tough.
We are fighters -- and we cannot be broken. No matter where you live, thank you for being with us in our time of crisis and our time of healing. We run together.
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Make Calls From Home: Protect Voting Rights |
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Thursday, 18 April 2013 18:07 |
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From DEMOCRACY NC
Hello Voting Rights Advocates,
In the past, you've taken action to protect voting rights in North Carolina. Now, we need your help again. The next few weeks are crucial in our efforts to save early voting, same-day registration, Sunday voting, and more.
Here's a simple way you can help in the coming days: Democracy North Carolina and other nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations are coordinating volunteers to call NC voters to urge them to contact Gov. McCrory and demand that he not sign any bill that will make lines longer and voting more difficult.
Gov. McCrory says he wants a “customer friendly” government, but that won’t happen if he agrees to shorten early voting.
To make calls from home in the evenings or on weekends, there is now an online phone banking tool that anyone can use. Sign up here and we'll send you the web address, talking points, and instruction so you can get started. Even making calls for a couple hours a week over the next few weeks can make a big difference. Please sign up and tell a friend, too!
Thanks again for all you do!
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What Do You Have to Say to Congress? |
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Thursday, 18 April 2013 17:55 |
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Yesterday (April 17, 2013), 45 senators chose to ignore their constituents and stand with the gun lobby.
And because of Senate rules, this minority was able to stand in the way of a bipartisan measure to expand background checks for gun sales.
A lot of people are reading the headlines today and wondering how these senators had the nerve to get up there -- right in front of victims' families from Newtown -- and cast that vote against something that more than 90 percent of Americans support. I'm one of them.
Those senators made a cynical calculation that, at the end of the day, the gun lobby would be louder and stronger than we are.
Yesterday was just round one. We will keep fighting.
If you're one of the millions of Americans who care deeply about preventing gun violence, you need to show it today.
Add your name -- tell Congress you're not going to back down now until they pass a common-sense gun violence prevention bill.
Here's where we go from here:
The senators on both sides of the aisle who stood up to the pressure and cast tough votes to do the right thing -- they're going to know that OFA supporters are going to get their backs.
And those senators who decided that not crossing the gun lobby was more important than making our kids and communities safer -- OFA supporters will call them out and hold them accountable to their constituents.
The special interests have been at this longer, and they can do a real good job at scaring people by distorting the facts -- they think we'll go away quietly.
But there are so many more of us than there are of them. And as long as you don't give up, we're going to keep fighting, and someday soon, we will win.
Add your name right now to say you're going to keep fighting -- for the families of Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, Chicago, and the thousands of other communities that have been torn apart by gun violence:
http://my.barackobama.com/Keep-Fighting. Thank you for what you're doing. More soon.
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A New Land Use Plan for Chatham County? |
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Tuesday, 16 April 2013 13:00 |
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A Message from CHATHAM CITIZENS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNITIES
The Chatham County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will soon send "something" to the Board of Commissioners (BOC) regarding the apparent development of a new land use plan. The reference here is to "something" because it is far from clear what the BOC has requested that the EDC produce. Nevertheless, it is now time for citizens to take notice of this activity since an EDC committee that has been working on this project will hold public hearings on April 23 and 25 in Siler City and Pittsboro, respectively (details below).
At its work session on September 17, 2012, the BOC passed a motion requesting the EDC "to start the beginning stages, fact-finding, and other due diligence work to get the Board of Commissioners the information to begin a land use plan." This inartful motion passed 3 - 1, with Commissioner Sally Kost dissenting (Commissioner Cross absent). Kost argued that a new, comprehensive plan was needed, more than what was considered by this motion. She said that the limited fact-finding requested in the motion could be done by County employees using tax records, the GIS, and other data available to them.
The surrounding BOC discussion included references to gathering information about "where we are now," including town land use plans, the Chatham-Cary joint plan, and other material. The EDC committee has referred to its task as developing a "conceptual plan." Amazingly enough, none of this discussion referred to the fact that Chatham County has an existing land use plan: the Land Conservation and Development Plan (available at www.chathamnc.org/Index.aspx?page=441 under "Plans and Guidelines").
It now appears that the EDC committee will submit a "base map," which shows "where we are now," including, among other things, commercial, residential, and industrial operations, conservation areas, and existing infrastructure. The committee also plans to submit additional maps showing how the County could develop pursuant to four separate "scenarios":
1. Decentralized growth (i.e., continued development guided only by existing zoning, watershed, and other ordinances and regulations that would produce dispersed single-use, low-density development).
2. Compact centers/growth corridors (which would focus new growth in compact, walkable communities with nearby work opportunities, shopping, and entertainment).
3. Conservation/farmland preservation (which would guide further development away from existing agricultural and environmentally-sensitive areas).
4. Targeted employment (where the focus would be on developing more employment in the County).
It is not clear whether the EDC will recommend to the BOC that it develop a comprehensive land use plan. Nor is it clear whether the EDC will actually recommend any one (or a combination) of the four scenarios above. At the public hearings, however, citizens will have the opportunity to comment on all of these matters.
The April 23 hearing in Siler City will start at 7:00 p.m. and will be at the Earl B. Fitts Community Center, 111 South Third Avenue.
The April 25 hearing in Pittsboro will also start at 7:00 p.m. and will be in the Multipurpose Room (Building #2) of Central Carolina Community College.
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Two Chatham Park Investors Public Meetings: April 16th & 23rd |
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Tuesday, 16 April 2013 12:47 |
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Message from CHATHAM CITIZENS for EFFECTIVE COMMUNITIES
Chatham Park Investors (Preston Development) will hold two public meetings to present long-range plans for its massive mixed-use project proposal, Chatham Park. When fully built out, the development will occupy approximately 7,000 acres in southeast Chatham County. The developers’ presentation will include a map showing the general layout of the project, but there are few specifics at this time.
Promoters of the project describe Chatham Park as similar to Briar Chapel, although it will be eight times larger with corporate, institutional, and residential components. They cite the economic recovery and the expected influx of people to this region of Chatham County as the impetus for pursuing the project at this time. Chatham Park Investors predicts that east and southeast Chatham will be the next big area of growth for our region, and they are poised to facilitate the urbanization process.
The question for us is, are we ready for them?
In 2012 the developer requested and was granted inclusion of the 7,000+ acres in the Pittsboro ETJ (extra-terrestrial jurisdiction), placing the property entirely within the Town of Pittsboro’s jurisdiction. Therefore, approval of the project will rest with Pittsboro town government.
Thus far, Pittsboro managers appear to view this project favorably. The Preston Development team has a reputation for creating “world-class” projects. But Chatham Park will be an enormous development. Some are calling it another Research Triangle Park. And the location is a rural and environmentally sensitive portion of our county abutting Jordan Lake, an important water resource. A drive through Cary where Preston Development projects are prevalent could show a glimpse of the future landscape of the area.
Earlier this year, Chatham Parks Investors proposed that Pittsboro create a new zoning classification, Planned Development District. This request was unanimously approved by the town on April 8. Next the developer will request that the town rezone the Chatham Park property from its existing status to a Planned Development District. Citizens can follow the this request as it is submitted to the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners, the Pittsboro Planning Board, and public hearing.
Chatham Parks Investors public meetings will be held TONIGHT, Tuesday, April 16th and Tuesday, April 23rd at 7:00 p.m. at Chatham Mills in Pittsboro.
Map
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TUESDAY, April 16: Demand Senate Take Action on Background Checks |
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Monday, 15 April 2013 21:45 |
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FROM: Lindsay Siler, National Director of Issue Campaigns
Organizing for Action
This week, the U.S. Senate is getting ready to vote on a bill that would go a long way toward preventing gun violence and making our communities safer.
That's because, in the wake of tragedies like the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, people like you spoke out to demand action from Congress.
We cannot let up on our senators -- not when we've come this far. This Tuesday, April 16th, we're holding a National Call Day to make sure the voices of ordinary Americans are heard in this debate.
We'll follow up with their contact information and the resources you need to get it done.
All across the country, OFA supporters and our allies will be doing the same thing -- calling their senators and letting them know that we haven't forgotten about the toll gun violence is taking on our families and our communities.
If we do our jobs right, anyone near a U.S. Senate office on Tuesday will know exactly the kind of passion that's out there to do something about gun violence in this country.
Pledge to call your senator on Tuesday and join the groundswell of voices demanding action from Congress: http://my.barackobama.com/National-Call-Day-Pledge
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