I’d like to extend my congratulations to the fine North Carolinians who have succeeded in enshrining bigotry and hatred in our state’s founding document.

It took 223 years to get the amendment bandwagon rolling, but, now that it’s under way, I’d like to offer Amendment Two:

In order to more accurately reflect the hearts and minds of the people, the state motto shall be changed to read:

Videri quam esse

Peter Mooney

Chapel Hill

Among the opposition

We are aware of the dismay that many of our members and friends are experiencing following the passage of Amendment One in North Carolina.

We are thinking especially to all the hard-working volunteers who raised money, canvassed neighborhoods, made phone calls and rallied our church. The news reports say that churches were responsible for the large turn-out of voters – and the passage of the amendment assumes that no churches were opposed to the amendment.

Let us remember that churches across our state stood with those who would be harmed by this Amendment including the Episcopal dioceses of North Carolina, both Methodist bishops in North Carolina together with the N.C. Council of Churches and many, many UCC, Baptist, Lutheran, Unitarian, MCC and progressive Pentecostal pastors from across our state. We are aware of the special pain that comes with reading quotes from people saying things like, “God’s mercy prevailed.” Not only is this hurtful to the LGBTQ community, but also to the integrity of God’s word and God’s love.

At these times we are comforted by the words of Martin Luther King Jr. “The arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Keep the faith!

Jill and Richard Edens

United Church of Chapel Hill, UCC

A proud gallery

FRANK gallery is proud to be entering our third year as a collective representing nearly 100 local artists, proud of the Chapel Hill community who continues to support us, and proud of the work that we are privileged to exhibit.

On April 21, we hosted our OFF THE WALL party/gala fundraiser to fund our Educational and Community Outreach programs. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of over 80 artists donating 100 pieces of art valued between $300 and $2,500. We sold 100 art tickets (the same amount as the number of pieces of art donated) and many companion tickets and the gallery was packed with people who were here to support us and have a great time – and we did. (For those who might not know, we sell the same number of tickets as we have donated art – so everyone is guaranteed to take home a piece of art.)

Additionally, many local businesses were on the team as well. The Acme, The Catering Company of Chapel Hill, the Cedars of Chapel Hill, Crook’s Corner, Handscapes Gallery of Beaufort, Harris Teeter, Margaret’s Cantina Mediterranean Deli, Top of the Hill, Vimala’s Curryblossom Cave and the Weaver Street Market were generous in their donations and we are so appreciative of their support.

Frank Stasio emceed the drawing as he did last year, and his personal style kept the evening moving along, and injecting humor as he does, made everyone feel relaxed and involved.

If only vicariously, please celebrate the success of this event with us and make plans to join us next year. Or, come by and see how you can participate in this extremely heartfelt, valuable and necessary enterprise.

Barbara Rich

Gallery director

Legal loophole?

Anyone who went to the last Chapel Hill Planning Board meeting would have observed an interesting contrast in personal ethics.

When Charterwood came before the board, chair Del Snow, an open critic of the plan, recused herself from the hearing, citing her desire for remarks to be made on the merits of the proposal rather than her presence. She obviously seems to have a stronger set of moral values than those of the Charterwood developer, who is pushing through a development that has seen vehement neighborhood and community opposition and was recently struck down by the Town Council.

Instead of working with the concerned citizens and improving the plan, developer Bill Christian has decided to exploit a legal loophole and redraw the lines to circumvent the citizens’ right to a protest petition. That right, granted to citizens by a 1923 North Carolina statute, requires a super majority vote in the Town Council to approve, in this case, the requested rezoning of a portion of the property. Back in January, Charterwood failed to get the necessary votes, demonstrating, at least for the moment, the power of people’s voice. This night, the developer’s attempt to silence that voice and circumvent the right to protest, almost won. Thankfully, the board was deadlocked with a 3-3 vote. One couldn’t help but notice that, had Ms. Snow’s NO vote been counted, it would have rejected the plan, signaling almost certain doom for the project, for a second time.

Regardless of the outcome, as concerned citizens, we should be outraged at this callous disregard to a community’s voice and rights, by developers who are determined to force their agenda with whatever means. Let us show our collective disapproval and our angry protest! Write to the planning board, the mayor and the council and let them know that citizens of Chapel Hill hold them to much higher standards than what was displayed in last night’s hearing.

Sanjay Arangala

Chapel Hill

We need school now

A Spanish Dual Language Magnet School would promote equal opportunities in our community. All Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School parents who are interested in the Dual Language Program would have the opportunity to enroll their children without having to live in certain attendance areas.

I have not heard many arguments against creating the Magnet School. The argument is about where it will live. And Frank Porter Graham, my neighborhood’s school, is the obvious choice.

The committee took many factors into consideration. Walkability was rightfully considered. FPG doesn’t and never will have large walkability. Smith Level Road., even with sidewalks, is too busy. There are not that many neighborhoods within walking distance anyways. Turning Carrboro, Scroggs or Elementary No. 11 into a magnet school would result in too many kids needing to be bussed. Additionally, No. 11 will serve a large community that has been re-districted more than other neighborhoods.

If re-districting neighborhoods in order to support growth and development in the school system is the “dismantling” of schools, then growth and development are the culprits here – not a magnet school. The fact is that, in order to populate No. 11, a large percentage of FPG non-dual language students will be re-districted no matter what.

I am sensitive to the fact that FPG is home for many Burmese/Karen refugees. But not choosing to create a magnet school at FPG because of how hard the transition might be for one minority population neglects the needs of the population as a whole. A Magnet School promotes the very things that FPG stands for. What better place to position a Dual Language Magnet School than a place whose tradition over the last 50 years has been excellence in the promotion of diversity and cultural sensitivity?

We need the magnet school. And we don’t need it in seven years when No. 12 is built; we need it yesterday. I urge others who do not yet have children in the school system to think about how important this decision is for their families. When it comes down to decision-making, the school board has the responsibility to consider the needs of the entire Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System, present and future.

Jill Marie Hill

Chapel Hill