- Background on Dillon’s Rule - Dec. 2, 2025 Nothing will end this Dillon’s Rule controversy, but here is some background, from Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law “The ‘rule’ refers to a standard for judicial interpretation – a guide for judges suggesting that municipal powers should be narrowly construed. It was developed by John Forest Dillon, a judge and scholar […]
- Documents about Lab Fund connection - Nov. 18, 2025 Here are some of the documents behind today’s announcement of a fund to support livestream and other digital support for the Forum. July 28: An e-mail outlining the interest of the NC Local News Lab Fund in offering financial support of the Forum’s work. July 28: Steve Johnston’s expression of interest, but […]
- How can voter participation be encouraged? - Oct. 22, 2025 By Steve Johnston Perhaps one of the more interesting threads running through the District 3 conversation had to do with this: How do elected officials encourage resident input into city policymaking? And what encourages disparate, far-flung residential neighborhoods to collaborate, focus on common problems and then take action that addresses their common […]
- The legacy of a 1975 voter revolt - Oct. 8, 2025 The city was smaller. Precincts were fewer. But the 1975 rejection of an airport bond referendum is remembered by some older Black voters as a victory for justice over get-along. Mayor John Belk had proposed a major airport terminal expansion. City Council included 6 white members and newly-appointed African-American Harvey Gantt. Black […]
- Unaddressed questions - Oct. 7, 2025 Three questions or comments were sent in to the Forum during the transit tax discussion by online viewers. They were not read aloud or discussed. BPC —You quoted that statistics show that roughly 80% of transit ridership is Black, which has often been used as a reason we should support expansion. […]
- Juggling policy & people’s needs - Mayoral candidates discuss their role, and residents' role, in making government work.
- Do you accept what you read as true? - By Steve Johnston A friend of the Forum sends along this piece. It seems worth reading at a time when School Board candidates are dancing around over “what to do” about achievement gaps and mental health and making “college and career ready” more reality than buzzword. As the person who created an e-mail containing it […]
- Unanswered questions - By Steve Johnston CMS board candidates this morning expressed pleasure at last year’s test-score progress. And with the hard work and leadership of Supt. Dr. Crystal Hill. But the Forum’s back-and-forth between candidates and attendees echoed education policy debates that have dogged the community for decades. And often, when CMS heads off in one direction […]
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- Footnote on Dispatches - • • • • Research and writing on subjects discussed at today’s Forum may be published in this column. Authors are unpaid and must agree to include their name. The material is subject to editing for clarity and civility. Submit text or attachments by e-mail.