It is with deep sadness and regret that I tendered my resignation
from the Greensboro Planning Board effective immediately. Sadly,
recent personal events in my family have ultimately led to this sudden
and untimely decision.
One of which is the personal, yet-shocking discovery that several of
my maternal family members are victims in the recent and
widely-publicized disinterment of deceased individuals at a
Chicago-area cemetery. While the true horror of this discovery is
starting to settle in, I suddenly now find myself becoming immensely involved in working
with family members and both law enforcement officials and legal
experts in finding answers, which will be a time consuming effort.
In addition, my family is one of many in the Triad that struggles to
survive paycheck to paycheck, working in a service-oriented economy.
While I consider myself part of Greensboro's dwindling "creative
class," I'm finding myself needing to rededicate more time to securing
better employment, even if it is outside of the Piedmont Triad. While
I would hate to relocate, our family may not have much choice if our
local economy fails to improve quickly, nor if an adequate number of
jobs that I'm degreed for are not brought into the area.
Because I'm involved with these two pressing issues, it is unfair to
the citizens of Greensboro to provide the necessary leadership
required when pressing family concerns warrant my immediate attention.
While my tenure was short, I appreciated serving the citizens of this city.
May God truly bless the citizens of Greensboro and Guilford County.
E.C. :)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Out of tragedy comes triumph
Out of tragedy comes triumph.
It's been a few years since I've flown back home to Chicago (I moved away permanently back in late 1997). But after a relative passed away on my father's side of the family, I found myself flying up late last week. It was good to see my old hometown, even if it was only for a short period.
And while I was well-prepared to blog about seeing my old hometown again and discuss the creative class being very much alive and well in the Windy City and discuss comparisons and contrasts, I got side-tracked.
For the "tragic" part was not the event itself that I flew up for, but what was waiting for me as I opened up the Chicago Sun-Times on my US Airways (shameless plug) flight back to CLT (and ultimately to GSO). It nearly made me sick to my stomach.
A front page story last Thursday reported that over 300 bodies at a southwest Chicago-area cemetery were dug up. Bodies unearthed, like weeds in a field. Burial records destroyed. Plots resold in a massive scheme. Four arrests were made and the FBI has joined the investigation. Chicago Tribune coverage here. The latest from the Cook County Sheriff can be found here.
Normally, I would have read a story like this and would have shook my head...but this was different. See, there is a problem: I have personal ties to this cemetery. And at last count, according to family, I have at least eight relatives buried in this cemetery. Our family counts are continuing.
I shudder the thought of printed pictures like this below (Sun-Times courtesy) where officers from the Cook County Sheriff's Office are combing over the now-shuttered cemetery grounds, hallowed grounds that house remains of my great grandmother and great great grandmother. As of now, we have no information as to if those remains are intact or untouched. We are uncertain if the cemetery's records are intact or destroyed. My family back in Chicago has no information at all.
Talk about a unique kind of stress.
The cemetery, now closed due to the gruesome crime scene that exists there today, is home to many families of color on Chicago's South Side. And as I am quickly educating myself on the history of Burr Oak Cemetery, and its unique relationship to predominantly black funeral homes on Chicago's South Side, I'm constantly reminded that out of tragedy comes triumph.
Triumph in the sense that even though my family is scattered across the country, we're brought together in times of tragedy such as this. And we're made stronger.
While the shock hasn't quite hit yet, the anger is starting to grip me. How could human beings with a conscience do this? How could something like this be allowed to happen? It is my hope and prayer that these questions will be answered in time.
But for now, I'm left to wonder what is happening 600 miles away. We're all left to wonder why and how. And we're left to ask questions...hoping to get answers.
Answers will come. I'm hopeful and prayerful.
E.C. :)
It's been a few years since I've flown back home to Chicago (I moved away permanently back in late 1997). But after a relative passed away on my father's side of the family, I found myself flying up late last week. It was good to see my old hometown, even if it was only for a short period.
And while I was well-prepared to blog about seeing my old hometown again and discuss the creative class being very much alive and well in the Windy City and discuss comparisons and contrasts, I got side-tracked.
For the "tragic" part was not the event itself that I flew up for, but what was waiting for me as I opened up the Chicago Sun-Times on my US Airways (shameless plug) flight back to CLT (and ultimately to GSO). It nearly made me sick to my stomach.
A front page story last Thursday reported that over 300 bodies at a southwest Chicago-area cemetery were dug up. Bodies unearthed, like weeds in a field. Burial records destroyed. Plots resold in a massive scheme. Four arrests were made and the FBI has joined the investigation. Chicago Tribune coverage here. The latest from the Cook County Sheriff can be found here.
Normally, I would have read a story like this and would have shook my head...but this was different. See, there is a problem: I have personal ties to this cemetery. And at last count, according to family, I have at least eight relatives buried in this cemetery. Our family counts are continuing.
I shudder the thought of printed pictures like this below (Sun-Times courtesy) where officers from the Cook County Sheriff's Office are combing over the now-shuttered cemetery grounds, hallowed grounds that house remains of my great grandmother and great great grandmother. As of now, we have no information as to if those remains are intact or untouched. We are uncertain if the cemetery's records are intact or destroyed. My family back in Chicago has no information at all.
Talk about a unique kind of stress.The cemetery, now closed due to the gruesome crime scene that exists there today, is home to many families of color on Chicago's South Side. And as I am quickly educating myself on the history of Burr Oak Cemetery, and its unique relationship to predominantly black funeral homes on Chicago's South Side, I'm constantly reminded that out of tragedy comes triumph.
Triumph in the sense that even though my family is scattered across the country, we're brought together in times of tragedy such as this. And we're made stronger.
While the shock hasn't quite hit yet, the anger is starting to grip me. How could human beings with a conscience do this? How could something like this be allowed to happen? It is my hope and prayer that these questions will be answered in time.
But for now, I'm left to wonder what is happening 600 miles away. We're all left to wonder why and how. And we're left to ask questions...hoping to get answers.
Answers will come. I'm hopeful and prayerful.
E.C. :)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tax increases? Because she's the governor, dammit
She actually said that...well, not the "D" word, but in defending why she wants to raise taxes to attempt to plug a shortfall in the budget, she said:
"Because I'm the governor."
Moron...
E.C. :)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Still stuck on stupid...
Undoubtedly, this post is going to offend some of you...I apologize in advance. I mean no harm.
But this really has me agitated...the Triad's local economy has been stuck (on stupid) for the past decade, and yet, our so-called economic developers continue the madness of promoting this area (even to out-of-state honchos) as a big aerotropolis. Another article in today's N&R points this out.
An op-ed than ran over the weekend by Dan Lynch shows us that we still don't have the crown jewels to think high...no. Instead, we race to board a developer's private plane in an effort to build a multi-million dollar site in the southern part of downtown for a school system that's broke, building a hotel and office complex for a city that has no jobs...and I don't mean service jobs.
Remember, I work a $9/hour service job in Winston-Salem; it barely pays the bills, we struggle, but we're surviving. And yet, I continue to get frustrated when I see empty websites (ones I frequent) like this:
*************************************************
that's right....empty.
It makes me question my future...and my role in this area.
This area cannot survive on a service-based economy. It cannot. If you think it can, look to articles like this, where we continue to play 3rd fiddle to Raleigh and Charlotte, with a population loss.
And for those of you planning a run for City Council, heed this now...think higher, think broader, think jobs...GOOD jobs, so that this area can survive. Otherwise, you will not get my vote.
E.C. :)
But this really has me agitated...the Triad's local economy has been stuck (on stupid) for the past decade, and yet, our so-called economic developers continue the madness of promoting this area (even to out-of-state honchos) as a big aerotropolis. Another article in today's N&R points this out.An op-ed than ran over the weekend by Dan Lynch shows us that we still don't have the crown jewels to think high...no. Instead, we race to board a developer's private plane in an effort to build a multi-million dollar site in the southern part of downtown for a school system that's broke, building a hotel and office complex for a city that has no jobs...and I don't mean service jobs.
Remember, I work a $9/hour service job in Winston-Salem; it barely pays the bills, we struggle, but we're surviving. And yet, I continue to get frustrated when I see empty websites (ones I frequent) like this:
 | |||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||
 |  |  |  | ||||||||
| |
| ||||||||||
that's right....empty.
It makes me question my future...and my role in this area.
This area cannot survive on a service-based economy. It cannot. If you think it can, look to articles like this, where we continue to play 3rd fiddle to Raleigh and Charlotte, with a population loss.
And for those of you planning a run for City Council, heed this now...think higher, think broader, think jobs...GOOD jobs, so that this area can survive. Otherwise, you will not get my vote.
E.C. :)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
PTI E-fares for 7/2/09
After some well-deserved days away from the Triad, I'm back...and it is good to be back.*******************************
ACT NOW Many fares have time limitations for response and are removed from this site as the special fare offer time expires. Many fares are only available for 48 hours. If you are interested in a specific fare, you should inquire as soon as possible because seats and availability are limited. Many fares are for online purchase only. You may also check with your travel agent for other low fares from PTI.
EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Low Fare information is provided to PTI by individual airlines and is subject to airline conditions. We make our best effort to keep the information current and accurate, but cannot guarantee all fares are available at all times. Please use the Airline Links to check specific airline fares, availability and conditions. All fares are subject to change without notice.
$150.00 | ||
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
