PA members passed a resolution on electronic billboards

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Specifically, it calls on the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners to oppose any changes to the UDO that would allow for electronic billboards.

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WHEREAS electronic billboards waste energy, pose safety challenges for nighttime drivers, and reduce the quality of life in affected neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS federal law requires that if citizens of Durham ever decided to remove billboards, we would have to reimburse the billboard company for the cost of the billboard, and

WHEREAS Durham would also have to reimburse the billboard company for any future revenue the billboards would generate, and

WHEREAS if electronic billboards are allowed, we could never afford to remove them; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Durham People's Alliance opposes the billboard industry's efforts to change our ordinance to allow electronic billboards in Durham, and be it further

RESOLVED that Durham People's Alliance opposes any changes to the current language of the UDO related to billboards, especially that language related to the relocation or renovation of billboards beyond what is currently permitted, and be it further

RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be speedily transmitted to the City and County Managers, and to members of the City Council and Board of County Commissioners, as well as to the news media and other interested parties.

Adopted by the membership of the Durham People's Alliance
January 13, 2009

Animal Control (560-0630) collects clean containers to use for giving water and food to dogs who have nothing when they come to investigate or check up again on animals that have been reported.

Ideal are the water jugs b/c there will definitely be no smell, but cleaned-out milk jugs are good, too. They also use 2-liter juice bottles--the ones that have the black bottoms are the best, because they are more stable.

Also it would be great to help out by cutting them down to 5 inches high so that there is no handle (for gallon); 6 inches high (for juice).

We now have a neighborhood drop-off point (see below); but if you call them, they will pick up from your house. (In this case, please put the bottles in bags and mark them: For Animal Control pickup.)

You can also leave them outside the Animal Shelter (2117 E. Club Blvd.) if Animal Control is not open.

DROP OFF The Lakewood United Methodist Church (corner of Huron St. and Chapel Hill Road) has kindly allowed us to be a drop-off point.

From the Huron St. side there is an entryway (greenish door). The brown 30-gal. container for the jugs is on the right side of the door. Please put your jugs in plastic bags (no marking necessary).

NOTE ROAD CONSTRUCTION THERE: UNTIL AUG. 24, which prevents accessing the church from CH Road. At the moment, you can access Huron from either Wa Wa Ave. or Ward Street.

On Huron at the intersection of Wa Wa and Huron, you'll see "street closed" barriers. Just go in between them and you can get nearly to the church, which is on the right-hand side.

Thanks!

Some advice on cutting the bottles: I find that if I hold the handle and use a large serrated knife pointing slightly downward, I can cut most of the way through. Then I take scissors and do the rest, and go around the edge to make it smooth so it won't hurt the dog. Leaves about 5 inches of container. Takes less than a minute. Then you can easily wash it.

Please pass the word around.

THANKS!

Every month numerous tracts of land are rezoned, usually to allow for denser residential development. If it's happening in your neighborhood you may not know where to turn. There's an easy-to-read and informative website you should check out:www.swdurham.org

How to pay for new development is a very contentious issue. Taxpayers subsidize new development by paying up to 80% of the costs of infrastructure (roads and utilities). For more information check out this website in Wake County:www.wakeupwakecounty.com/

In particular read the tab on "Hot Topics."