So I’ve decided to let the cat out of the bag. First and foremost, meet:
For now, the site will just be this daily email/news roundup (which will be renamed Daily News). In addition, I hope to add original coverage and opinions around state and local government, transportation (all modes), buildings and architecture, and education. Go ahead and bookmark www.ncplacebook.info.
So what will happen to The Black Urbanist? The Black Urbanist will become my editorial blog, allowing me to still have a voice on issues affecting placemaking and communities of color. However, with this change I can address the need to have a more comprehensive coverage of placemaking issues throughout the state of North Carolina.
Also, for the next few weeks, I’ll still be posting Placebook here, so everyone can get used to going to our new home and I can get a few bugs worked out. If you are reading in email, you will still get Placebook, but there will soon be options to subscribe to just the Daily News, to our articles and blogs feed and to a few other things we hope to pilot with over the next few months.
I want to thank everyone who continues to read, share, suggest, proofread and like this work on the social networks. Everything I promised on Monday content wise will happen and you will see not only me, but a few others create something that makes the case for a better North Carolina and presents us with a better image to the world. I’ll also be reaching out to a few of you about special opportunities to work with and share content with North Carolina Placebook.
News from North Carolina
All it took was an email for Trader Joe’s to pull back out of Greensboro again.
But look on the bright side, the ACC Basketball Tournaments are here in Greensboro for the next two weeks.
Break-ins are causing Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools to question whether its mobile classrooms are safe.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will not sue the state, but ask for changes in regards to the new tenure policy.
High Point wants to finally name a street after Martin Luther King, Jr.
Batman came to Charlotte yesterday as well.
State leaders pushed for more public-private partnerships at a conference in Charlotte.
New reports have revealed issues with the Union and Gaston counties Department of Social Services.
Ferry tolls may go up.
There are more corrugated pipes at Duke Energy power plants throughout the state, similar to the one at the Dan River spill.
Wilmington wants to establish a special downtown taxing district, similar to Greensboro’s Downtown Greensboro, Inc.
And of course, we share this sentiment on reporting on the cities, with our friends at the new Triad City Beat.
News and Lessons from Elsewhere
Ok I lied, but I wanted to get this one link out from friend of the blog James Rojas about what influenced his decision to become a placemaker and how it ties into the Latino Civil Rights struggle.