“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.

 

Chapel Hill Town Council Recommendations

A perspective from Burwell Ware

 

Those opposed to the complete communities framework are probably wealthy enough to draft restrictive covenants prohibiting multifamily dwellings in their neighborhoods. I hope voters will think about this when they decide who to support for council.

We’ve owned a duplex in Timberlyne since 1987. Incoming rent has allowed my family to afford living in Chapel Hill. While I am wary of developers making big profits off of real estate, living in one side and renting out the other is a small business that is consistent with a livable community. Today, my 100-year-old mother and my 93-year old aunt live on the other side.

These candidates support the complete communities framework:

I support Jon Mitchell, who has excelled at the planning commission. He understands the need for the town to change its approach to planning.

I support Melissa McCullough, who has been active in local government for years. She understands how local governments can make a difference and that addressing climate change also means addressing affordable housing, public transportation, and parks and greenspace.

Theodore Nollert convinced the university to raise graduate student stipends by 20%. I think he will bring energy to the town council. As a member of the planning commission since February, he has has been willing to think innovatively. Nollert is a renter, and because there are so many renters in Chapel Hill, this segment needs to be represented.

Erik Valera represents the Latinx community, another large group that needs representation.

Additionally, here are school board recommendations.

During a school board candidate forum, Solomon Gibson III was asked what he’d do to attract and retain school-bus drivers. He wisely said that he’d ask the drivers first. No one else recommended this. Solomon is an honest, common-sense problem-solver, who is concerned about adequate financing of our schools. He is one of the African-American candidates and sees how racism is affecting our schools. I think there needs to be significant representation of blacks on the school board. He is also very supportive of teachers and is an advocate for higher salaries.
He has concerns about school resource officers, and I think his concern is valid. He has empathy for the low-income community, and I think it’s crucial to represent this community as well.
I’ve known Solomon since he was my son’s after-school teacher in the ’90s, and with 20 years of experience in the public schools, I feel he has the wisdom to make the right decisions for the next four years.  I also support Rani Dasi, Barbara Fedders, and Deon Temne.

“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.

Related Stories
None