RTP-area local music and culture

["Caleb Southern" <southernc AT mindspring.com>]

Rick Sawyer wrote:
>first of all, i know that you sit on the durham city board of zoning.  

Correct. I am a member of the Durham Planning Commission.


Rick Sawyer wrote:
>i therefore find the fact that you cannot explain the zoning change
>proposed by commisioner reckhow without waving your arms to be...
>disheartening.

I posted the Herald-Sun article, and referred to the comments of Durham
Planning Director Frank Duke. He is certainly an expert on zoning issues. I
would also generally associate myself with the comments of County
Commissioner Lewis Cheek, as reported in the Herald.


Rick Sawyer wrote:
>finally, i checked the company you keep.  you sit on the board of downtown
>durham, inc., 

Correct. DDI does some things that I agree with, and some others that I do
not. I joined this board in an attempt to influence the policy positions of
this organization from the inside. I am one of two downtown residents who
sit on this 41 member board. There are about three small business owners on
this board - only one of which is a retailer.

I could sit on the outside and express opinions about DDI when I disagree
with them, or I could sit on the board and try to influence the direction of
this organization from the inside.

On this particular issue, my views happen to be very different from many
others at DDI.


Rick Sawyer wrote:
>and it seemed as if your call to "ACTION" came, in part, directly from that
>organization.  

Dead wrong.

My call to action was a direct *REACTION* to positions long expressed by
some staff and some board members within DDI, advocating for additional
regulation of entertainment businesses. Similar comments from the Chair of
the Durham Board of County Commissioners reinforced this position.

There is another perspective on downtown zoning issues and entertainment. I
will likely be the only representative on the board of this organization
expressing this side of the issue - being to leave zoning ordinances the way
they are. 

This issue is an example of one reason I chose to join this board -- to
express points of view that would otherwise not be represented.


Rick Sawyer wrote:
>i checked it out, and it [DDI] seems to me to be a collection of banks and
>corporations, with a smattering of nonprofit types.  these are the groups
>that brought us the american tobacco campus, a starbucks, and a wonderful
>brown river that runs straight toward the heart of downtown.

Correct. 

Would you rather someone like myself, with a different perspective than the
aforementioned, *NOT* be on the DDI board?


Rick Sawyer wrote:
>on what basis should i trust such a group? as rich (mostly) white
>men, they aren't responsible to me.  they are responsible to their
>shareholders.  

The position I have taken on this zoning issue is unpopular with many at
DDI.


Rick Sawyer wrote:
>so, i'm supposed to swallow it when they pump out some theory about our 
>elected officials entering into cabal against downtown development?  

Again, your understanding of the various positions and who is pushing them
is incorrect.

As I stated, the position coming from some at DDI and the positions reported
in the paper from Commissioner Reckhow (which she has since backed away
from) were generally consistent -- more zoning regulation that would further
restrict entertainment businesses in downtown Durham. 

This is the issue of relevance and interest to this list. 

The position I am advocating (in favor of the status quo zoning allowing
downtown entertainment, and against further regulation) is the exact
opposite of what is coming from some at DDI and originally reported as that
of Ellen Reckhow.


***

Rick,

It is bizarre that you continue to falsely characterize me as representing
some of the very positions that I oppose. What kind of strange conspiracy
theory world do you live in?