INC NEWS - Thanks to Voters for City Bond Approval

[Blalock, Amy]

Op-Ed from City Manager Patrick W. Baker

 

Voter Bond Approval Signals Improved Streets and Sidewalks for City

 

In the November 5 election, voters authorized the City of Durham to
finance $20 million in street and sidewalk repairs by issuing
low-interest municipal bonds. In fact, you authorized this by an
overwhelming three-to-one margin.

 

I want to thank you for recognizing this long-neglected public need and
for empowering your government to continue addressing it. I thank you
also for your confidence that we who lead your government will spend
these funds wisely. It is a trust that I hope we have earned through
wise stewardship of your 2005 street and sidewalk bond funds, which I
made a top priority. 

 

Because a larger amount of money from this new bond issue is dedicated
to street resurfacing, I believe you'll find the results even more
dramatic this time. And I hope that as you see us wisely spending these
new funds to fix streets and sidewalks as quickly as we can - and see us
keeping you up to date on our progress - we can deepen your confidence
in your government. You will soon notice signs posted along streets
paved with 2005 and 2007 bond money that read, "Your Bonds = A Better
Durham Street." It's just one of the ways I want to make sure you see
your vote in action, making our city better.

 

I also want to thank the many civic organizations whose members spent
their time and energy gathering information on the 2007 bond referendum
and then making a recommendation to voters: Downtown Durham, Inc.,
Durham CAN, Durham People's Alliance, Durham Regional Association of
Realtors and the Friends of Durham. I'd also like to recognize the local
newspapers for reviewing the need for bond funding for our street and
sidewalks and then recommending your support, which is gratifying.

 

Our consistent theme since the 2005 bond referendum has been
transparency.  It continues to be our mantra, and we will continue to
conduct the public business in a transparent manner and keep our
citizens informed.

 

As we continue to improve our city, I recognize that this the most
exciting moment for Durham in many decades. The city's quality of life
is rising at an amazing and accelerating pace. This is most obvious
downtown, where the Central Business District is attracting tens of
millions of dollars in private investment and dozens of new residents,
where a beautiful new Performing Arts Center is under construction near
a revitalized American Tobacco Historic District and a beautiful Durham
Bulls Athletic Park, and where the Liggett & Myers complex that sat
vacant for years is about to become another major destination. Also, the
Durham transportation station is about to become a reality after years
of planning.

 

Many older residential neighborhoods closest to downtown are also seeing
massive public/private investment.  Recently, the city focused its
efforts on improvements in Southwest Central Durham, where 58 families
with low-to-moderate incomes will enjoy new or renovated homes by 2008,
thanks to this city-led revitalization effort.  In fact, since 2002, the
city has spent $1.2 million in the area, which includes 1,300
households. 

 

Your approval of the 2007 street and sidewalk bond will go a long way
toward catching Durham up on one of its most obvious needs. Our streets
and sidewalks didn't get in the condition they are in overnight, but are
the result of putting major repairs on the back burner for many years.
Consequently, a priority for the city will be to set aside enough money
each year to improve ongoing maintenance of our streets and sidewalks.
The combined investments of bond funding and more money for maintenance
will surely boost our efforts to make Durham a better place.  Not only
will better streets give visitors a positive impression of Durham and
all of its neighborhoods, but will also enhance how those of us who call
Durham home feel about our city, too. I hope it will enlarge our
considerable pride in this fantastically diverse, textured city, and
embolden us to rise higher still.

 

Patrick Baker is the Durham city manager.

 

 

 

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