Incentives give away our tax dollars to developers: Should we let them?

Economic development incentives have long been a staple in the South, often focusing on providing subsidies and tax breaks for footloose manufacturing plants. The origin of incentives date to the Post-Reconstruction era, when Mississippi led Southern states in luring companies from the Northeast who were seeking lower taxes and weaker labor unions. With important public investments necessary to ensure shared prosperity in Durham, it’s worth asking whether local leaders should still be offering millions in incentives to lure employers to Durham.

The One City Center, which now hosts WeWork, received a nearly $4 million incentive contract in 2014.

The One City Center, which now hosts WeWork, received a nearly $4 million incentive contract in 2014. Photo: Scott Sellers.

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New Findings: Durham County Jail Contracts

During several meetings in 2019, justice-involved folks on PA's Race Equity Action Team brought forward injustices they faced in the carceral system--including exorbitant prices for phone calls. The RE Action Team reached out to Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy to help research the Durham jail's phone contracts. They discovered that folks in the Durham Jail pay significantly more for a 15 minute phone call than people in other counties in NC and across the country.
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December 2019 Membership Meeting Vote Results

Announcements from the December 12, 2019 People's Alliance end of year meeting and party:

Thanks so much to everyone who joined us at The Scrap Exchange for our end-of-year membership meeting and holiday party! After enjoying each other’s company and delicious catering from Zweli’s, People’s Alliance members took the following votes:

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