Several readers have asked if we knew Martha Greene, who died a couple of weeks ago. No, we only knew of her from her blog Raleigh City Government Wide Open and her occassional appearances before the Raleigh City Council that we would catch on TV. She would email us now and then, we always appreciated her comments.
RalCityGovWideOpen was dedicated to good governance, the principles of which are articulated here. Transparency. Participation. Responsiveness. Effectiveness and efficiency. Things that Martha, like us, often found wanting in Raleigh municipal government.
It gets mighty lonely out here in the local government blogosphere, and we will miss Martha.
We raise a glass of Champipple to you, C Through. Peace out.
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Martha Harrison Greene (known by some as “Martha” and by others as “Harrison”) died on June 15, 2007. Ms. Greene was born in Winston-Salem on October 23, 1957 and was a graduate of R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ms. Greene was truly Jeffersonian in the range of her intellectual breadth. She loved natural sciences, art, architecture, history, philosophy, religion, cultural anthropology, literature, languages, gardening and all forms of music. She was also interested in municipal public policy issues, and in 2006, she became the author of a blog known as Raleigh City Government Wide Open. Ms. Greene was honest, principled, open and egalitarian by nature. She never had patience for privilege, prejudice, partisanship, or political correctness.
You think Lunsford doesn't like illegal signs along the road? Well, he doesn't have anything on this guy - surf around his website a bit, and you'll see that when it comes to illegal signs, this guy is the guru. Swearingen has even been arrested for removing illegal signs from along roadways. Lunsford hasn't spent a night in the clinker for that offense (yet).
He's formed CAPSOROW.org - that's Citizens Against Portable Signs on Right-of-Ways. Even if he's the only member, he's a hero in the BTB.org book.
The 2nd BTB.org LOCAL HERO is...
Citizen Corner appeared before the Raleigh City Council on the Ides of March to remind the Councilors that the City needs to keep and enforce it's current temporary sign ordinance. Cool and collected, Corner made the rational case for a tidy city, and debunked the claims that businesses need illegal signs to thrive.
He also gently admonished the Councilors for not including any normal folk on the task force organized to study the sign problem. For speaking up, the Council immediately appointed him to the task force (see Lunsford's ramblings).
And he looks good on TV, too.
We salute you, Roger, for your passion for the City, and your willingness to serve her best interests!
The 1st BTB.org LOCAL HERO AWARD...
Rachel wrote an analysis of Louisiana's blatant disregard for the First Admendment. First published in the Eagle's Eye, the school' newspaper, the article was reprinted this week in the News and Observer. Rachel is Features Editor of the Eagle's Eye.
Rachel pulls no punches in defending the First Amendment rights of ALL citizens, not just those who happen to share the opinions of a few in positions of power at any particular moment. She warns us that similar attacks are underway in North Carolina, and reminds us that in this country, "The government should not be allowed to limit the right of dissenting citizens".
BTB.org to UNC.edu: They've got a live one for a Morehead Scholarship over there at Enloe High School, don't let this one get away!
And a tip of the hat to the N&O for reprinting her words of wisdom and warning.