Showing posts with label North Carolina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Carolina. Show all posts

Friday, October 16, 2020

Guilford County and North Carolina Total Covid-19 Cases and Deaths YTD; What may likely happen next

Guilford County Covid-19

Total Cases;

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article241168731.html

Total Deaths;

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article241168731.html

Data back to September 26, 2020;

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article241168731.html

Guilford County Deaths by Age;

https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/human-services/health-department/coronavirus-covid-19-info/covid-19-data



Pre Air Conditioning Days = US had uptick in hottest Summer weather

The influenza pandemic in 1918 and 1919 occurred in three waves, killing about 675,000 in the United States and between 20 to 100 million worldwide.

The first wave eased during the Summer of 1918, which looks to be similar to current COVID-19 events, taking the effect of 2020's Summer time air conditioning had into account. 

In the Autumn of 1918, the second biggest wave began, consistent with the onset of Winter/Flu Season in the Northern Hemisphere with lower humidity and temperatures. 

2020's Fall outbreak looks to be less severe than 1918, as Covid appears to leave younger patients with much fewer complications and morbidity, as well as better wide spread social distancing and elder seclusion.

The third wave hit in the first half of 1919, and by the summer the pandemic relatively ended as those that were infected either died or developed immunity.

COVID-19 “established significant community spread in cities and regions along a narrow east-west distribution roughly along the 30-50 North latitude corridor at consistently similar weather patterns (5-11 degrees C [41 to 51 F] and 47-79 percent humidity)";

https://www.accuweather.com/en/health-wellness/higher-temperatures-affect-survival-of-new-coronavirus-pathologist-says/700800

If known infections retard significantly enough as asymptomatic spread goes relatively undetected in warmer weather, a new wave could hit the areas around the yellow with reported infections spreading through next Fall/Winter/Flu season.

Dropping amounts of water vapor in cold, dry Winter air makes it easier for Covid to become airborne. 

30 year average temperatures between 1988-2018 October through May indicate when a larger second wave will likely occur. Areas around Yellow to Green are most likely to experience higher case loads.

October;

https://gvn.org/sars-cov-2-response-efforts/

November;


December;


January;


February;


March;


Covid-19 should start dissipating for North Carolina by April;


Sunday, August 27, 2017

Sunday guest post; "Greensboro’s Carpetbagging, KKK-Combatting Judge, Part 1", by YJ Miller

"Recent events in Charlottesville  and Durham challenge justice-minded North Carolinians to remember that the fight against hate requires a coat of many colors. Some photos in the African American Registry stand out. 1, 2, 3.
 
Eminent annals of Greensboro “Carpetbagging Judge” Albion Tourgée’s life bear titles such as “Undaunted Radical” and “Refugee from his Race.”



Such accounts highlight activities such as Tourgée’s substantive role in the founding of Bennett College.  Works dedicating particular attention to his legal career bear the title “Color-Blind Justice,” reflecting his role representing Homer Plessy in the 1896 separate-but-equal Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson.  Though he lost the case at the time, his work was substantially the foundation when Brown v. Board of Education overturned Plessy 60 years later. 4,5,6.


When anti-slavery chronicles focus on reconstruction, one will often find Tourgée chronicled alongside key figures such as Harriet Beecher Stowe.  The association is particularly apt given Tourgée’s post-judicial career as a best-selling author chronicling reconstruction and the post-war plight of African American Southerners. 7.


The thinly-fictionally-veiled account of his Greensboro civil rights career during reconstruction—which included a prominent role drafting the state’s post-war Constitution permitting re-entry to the Union under the 14th Amendment—bears the disheartening title: “A Fool’s Errand, by One of the Fools.”


A year later, Tourgée published “Bricks Without Straw,” presenting Reconstruction through the eyes of emancipated slaves, making it unique among the white-authored works of its time and evidencing the remarkable relationship Tourgée had built with North Carolina African Americans.


The 1880 edition of “A Fool’s Errand” included an appendix chronicling the KKK’s atrocities throughout the South, including many victim’s accounts. The appendix was later republished on its own under the title “The Invisible Empire.”


North Carolina’s Constitution bears the stamp of this reality in Article I, Section 12:
Right of assembly and petition.

The people have a right to assemble together to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to the General Assembly for redress of grievances; but secret political societies are dangerous to the liberties of a free people and shall not be tolerated. 

Tourgée’s writings evidence a remarkable commitment and ability to analyze and articulate counterpoint, presenting compelling descriptions of why the KKK’s development was a natural product of the culture,  and offering contrasting descriptions like “The Northern Idea of the Southern Idea of Slavery” and “The Southern Idea of the Northern Idea of Slavery.” 8,9,10.


Subsequent entries in this series will highlight key experiences Tourgée shares, providing guidance to Greensboro, North Carolina, and US Citizens who wish to respond to current events with an undaunting commitment to equality and justice."



Rabbi-turned-Civil Rights Attorney YJ Miller is completing his training at Elon School of Law and Harvard University while becoming a leader in North Carolina’s fight against gerrymandering and other corruptions against The People, earning him the moniker “Penicillin for Injustice.”  YJMiller@YJMiller.com
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1.https://www.thenation.com/article/the-charlottesville-syllabus/
2.https://www.thenation.com/article/the-activists-who-took-down-the-confederate-statue-in-durham-still-need-our-help-heres-what-you-can-do/
3.http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/voice-against-segregation-albion-tourgee
4.Kevin Reid, Images of America: Greensboro, Arcadia 2014, p. 83.
5.https://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/163us537
6.https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483
7.http://www.claremont.org/crb/article/defending-reconstruction/
8.http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Legislation/constitution/ncconstitution.html
9.Fool’s Errand, Waveland Press Edition, Chapter 39.
10.Fool’s Errand, Waveland Press Edition, 138-139.

Sunday, July 2, 2017

So What Happened To Those Low NC Taxes?

Forbes recently released its ranking of the Best And Worst States for Taxes with New York coming in worst at #50 and Wyoming best at #1.

So where did North Carolina come in after years of Republican "tax cuts" as claimed by "leaders" in Raleigh? In the worst half and rising at #34.


Don't worry Folks, when it all comes crashing down you'll not have to worry about taxes any more.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

If You Live In North Carolina You're Probably Stressed Out

People generally think of life in the Southland as being less stressful than life up North but turns out that's not necessarily the case. If you live in North Carolina you are probably living under more life threatening stress than folks in Washington, DC, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Rhode Island, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and numerous other states long thought to be far more stressful than anywhere in the Southland.

According to Wallethub's 2017’s Most & Least Stressed States, North Carolina is the 14th most stressful state in the nation. As a matter of fact: the Southland leads the nation in stress giving us yet another reason why Greensboro Sucks.

Source: WalletHub

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

North Carolina, A Good Place To Die Young

With the 20th highest obesity rate in the nation at 29.1% tied for the 22nd highest smoking rate, 19.1% and the 10th lowest household income in the nation according to MSN 24/7 Wall Street, North Carolina has the 14th lowest life expectancy at birth of just 77.9 years.

And that, my friends, is another reason why Greensboro sucks.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Guilford County Public Information Request

from: Billy Jones
to: rkeller
cc: Justin Conrad
mlawing
MPAYNE
jphilli1
Hankhenning
abranso
Raymond Trapp
date: Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 9:58 AM
subject:Public Information Request

Ms Keller,

Please provide, in electronic form, documentation and communications containing all open public records requests to Guilford County.

To be clear, produce all public records requests which have not been fulfilled by Guilford County.

Thanks,

Billy Jones
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From: Robin Keller 
Date: Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 10:23 AM
Subject: RE: Public Information Request
To: Billy Jones 
Cc: Mark Payne

Thank you for submitting a records request. We have received your request and will forward to our Legal Counsel for response.

Robin B. Keller, NCCP, NCCCC
Clerk to the Board
Guilford County

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Repeal The Law Now!

Just in case my comments to Charlotte mayor calls for repeal of new police video law never get past moderation.
Charlotte mayor calls for repeal of new police video law - See more at: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2016/09/28/charlotte-mayor-calls-for-repeal-of-new-police-video-law/#comment-376814
Charlotte mayor calls for repeal of new police video law - See more at: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2016/09/28/charlotte-mayor-calls-for-repeal-of-new-police-video-law/#comment-376814never get past moderation
 
"Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts is calling for the North Carolina General Assembly to repeal a new law that restricts access to police videos."

TRUTH"

"But the conservative leaders of the General Assembly say Roberts botched the follow-up to the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer last week and should take responsibility for it."

TRUTH

Now perhaps it is time both Republicans and Democrats in North Carolina took responsibility for their screw-ups, stopped the finger pointing, quit hiding the truth behind laws designed to hide the truth and solved the damned problems we face.

Or the stupid bastards can wait until all our cities erupt in flat our war.

Have it your way, Politricksters!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

We are being lied to; According to the NC Commerce Department, there were 5,845 layoffs announced through all of 2015, but 7,453 through May, 2016

There were 3,327 mass layoffs in North Carolina through May of last year 
and 7,453 so far this year, and our news industry 
and our politicians won't tell anyone

http://www.nccommerce.com/Portals/11/Documents/Reports/WARN/warn-2015.pdf#search="warn notice"
http://www.nccommerce.com/Portals/11/Documents/Reports/WARN/Warn.pdf
Meanwhile in la la land, these are their talking points;

http://www.nccommerce.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=zJStDFI4T8U%3d&tabid=4337&mid=8740
Do you believe it?

Announced mass layoffs have doubled year over year
and the public is fed platitudes from the establishment

Think the Rhino will tell anyone?

The Triad and Triangle Business Journal won't and hasn't;

Once again Triangle Business Journal Staff Writer Lauren K. Ohnesorge misleads readers and the public on North Carolina layoff statistics


http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/once-again-triangle-business-journal.html

Once again Triangle Business Journal Staff Writer Lauren K. Ohnesorge misleads readers and the public on North Carolina layoff statistics

The first sentence reports North Carolina layoffs fell 400; 

"...Layoffs reported to the state were on the decline in May, from more than 1,200 reported in April to a little more than 800 in May.

Later in the story, after most stop reading and move on
in our short attention span theater mostly full of the marginally engaged world;

...Altogether, four layoff notices impacted 818 employees in the state in May, bringing the 2016 layoff total to 7,453. The number trumps last May’s total of 100.

May layoffs, year-over-year:

May 2016: 818

If 7,453 May, 2016 - 7,041 April, 2016 (below) = 412 year to date layoffs,
why does the May story say there were 818 layoffs?

May 2015: 100
May 2014: 867
May 2013: 1,370

There were eight times more May 2016 layoffs than May 2015.

While the numbers show a big decline, as May was the first month of 2016 to end layoffs at three digits, the numbers don't always tell the whole story..."

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/blog/morning-edition/2016/06/by-the-numbers-north-carolina-layoffs-in-may.html?ana=RSS%26s%3Darticle_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_triad+%28Triad+Business+Journal%2953-
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May, 2016; Business Journal's Lauren K. Ohnesorge lipstick on a pig; "Mass layoffs in North Carolina slow down in April";

"As of Monday morning, a total of 37 notices resulting in 7,041 layoffs had been reported to the state.

If 7,453 May, 2016 - 7,041 April, 2016 = 412 year to date layoffs,
why does the May story say there were 818 layoffs?

...the monthly layoffs are at its lowest through four months this year.

The lipgloss on the swine intensifies; 

...April alone brought 1,235 layoffs


Farther down;

...It’s an uptick from the 503 layoffs reported in April 2015.

Farther down;

...it’s an increase over the numbers reported to the state in April 2014, when layoffs were estimated to impact 681 employees

Farther down;

Monthly layoff data, as reported to the N.C. Department of Commerce:

April: 1,235 layoffs disclosed

March: 1,259 layoffs disclosed

February: 1,753 layoffs disclosed

January: 2,774 layoffs disclosed

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/blog/morning-edition/2016/05/by-the-numbers-mass-layoffs-in-north-carolina-slow.html?ana=RSS%26s%3Darticle_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_triad+%28Triad+Business+Journal%29

Thursday, May 19, 2016

North Carolina Among Highest Taxed Southern States

Forbes released their list of Best and Worst States for Taxes in 2016 with Texas being #1 and North Carolina coming in at #31 with a combined State and local tax burden of  9.8%. Only 2 Southern states, Arkansas and West Virginia had higher tax burdens than North Carolina despite the fact that North Carolina Republicans have been telling us for years they have been lowering our tax burdens.

And so it is we have but another update to add to Billy's Big List Of Documented Reasons Why Greensboro Sucks.

You do know this is getting me down, right?

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Hartzman blackballed

Triad business interests and North Carolina state government officials have issued verbal warnings to reporters, commentators and news media personalities whose public remarks on the economy are out of step with federal, state and local government’s upbeat statements, according to government officials and economic commentators with knowledge of the matter.

George Hartzman, who has been outspoken about rising corporate and government debt, the real estate market and crony capitalism in Greensboro, North Carolina received a warning in recent weeks, these people said.  It was at least his second. The first came from the Securities Exchange Commission, and the later one, these people said, from North Carolina's Treasurer's office, which instructed him to avoid making “overly bearish” remarks about the economy, particularly investment fees in the state's retirement plans and commercial real estate.

At least one local non-profit foundation was told by City of Greensboro and State officials not to cast doubt on a planned government program to build a megasite in Randolph County involving the state owned North Carolina Railroad, which is refusing public information requests.

Hartzman has told investors that “a lot of official data aren’t reliable” and the economy still faces “big problems,” according to people who attended the closed-door event.

Words of those remarks crackled across social media.

Hartzman and representatives at his firm didn’t return requests for comment, as his name is virtually banned from appearing within local papers and other news outlets.

While restrictions on economic related media have always been tight, they are becoming tighter, with a growing list of publications receiving pressure to produce calming narratives including Greensboro's News and Record, the Triad Business Journal and the Rhino Times.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

North Carolina Senator Phil Berger, President Pro Tempore, may be sexually deviant, explaining his HB2 actions

Considering the long list of incidents at the national level below and the blatant pandering to North Carolina's religious right by Senator Berger, it stands to chance Phil may have some kind of sexuality disorder.

As fixated on Men in Women's or vice versa bathroom, locker and shower homophobia and discrimination to the extent in which Berger engaged, it may make sense the President Pro Tempore suffers from some inner demons, not unlike others who have risen to similar heights of power.

If about 5% of the population is gay, there may be about a 5% Phil Berger is too.

If about 0.5% of the population may be transgender, the same chance or perhaps better exists that Phil Berger has experienced transgender thoughts.

Considering the company of fine upstanding individuals who have deviated from the norm within the political establishment over time, there may be something unknown about Phil Berger's declared sexual identity.

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=senate&nUserID=64
David Dreier, Representative (R-CA), voted against a number of gay rights proposals, but was outed concerning his relationship with his chief of staff. (2004)

Larry Craig (R-ID) a US Senator for 18 years, was apprehended and arrested on June 11, 2007, with a charge of lewd conduct in a men's restroom at the International Airport in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Ed Schrock, Representative (R-VA), announced he would abort his 2004 attempt for a third term in Congress after allegedly being caught on tape soliciting sex from a male prostitute after having aggressively opposed various gay-rights issues in Congress, such as same-sex marriage and gays in the military.

Mark Foley, Representative (R-FL), resigned his House seat when accused of sending sexually explicit e-mails to teenage male congressional pages. He was replaced by Tim Mahoney. (2006)

Eric Massa, U.S. Representative (D-NY), resigned to avoid an ethics investigation into his admitted groping and tickling of multiple male staffers. He later stated on Fox News, "not only did I grope [a staffer], I tickled him until he couldn't breathe," (2010)[112][113]

Robert Bauman, Representative (R-MD), was charged with attempting to solicit sex from a 16-year-old male prostitute.[39] Upon completing an alcoholism rehabilitation program, the charges were dropped. Bauman apologized to voters for his indiscretions but was defeated for re-election.

Jon Hinson Representative (R-MS), resigned after being charged with attempted sodomy for performing oral sex on a male employee of the Library of Congress.

Fred Richmond, Representative (D-NY): Charges that he solicited sex from a 16-year-old boy were dropped after he submitted to counseling.

David I. Walsh, Senator (D-MA), was accused of visiting a male brothel frequented by Nazi spies in Brooklyn

Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), U.S. Representative. In 2012, it was revealed that DesJarlais, a physician at Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, while running on a pro-life platform, made his ex-wife have two abortions, and tried to persuade a mistress who was his patient, into an abortion as well. DesJarlais has admitted under oath to at least six affairs, including two patients and his staffers.

Strom Thurmond, Senator (R-SC), noted segregationist, fathered a child, Essie Mae Washington-Williams, with a 15-year-old African American in 1925 who was employed by the Thurmond family.

Barney Frank, Representative (D-MA), was reprimanded by the House for fixing 33 parking tickets for Steve Gobie, a male escort who lived with Frank and claimed to have conducted an escort service from Frank's apartment without his knowledge.

James Henry Hammond, U.S. Representative and later Senator from SC of the (Nullifier Party),[18] engaged in a homosexual relationship with a college friend, pursued what he called "a little dalliance" with his teenage nieces, and had sexual relationships with female slaves including a girl aged 12.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_political_sex_scandals_in_the_United_States

Could this be the reason Senator Phil Berger signed off on a law with no criminal penalties?

North Carolina District 59 Republican State Representative Jon Hardister may be transgender/transtesticle

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUserID=645

Representative Jon Hardister appears to have a feminine/effeminate appearance

Jon may be a girl dressed as a guy, and may be in violation of North Carolina law when he uses men's bathrooms, lockers and showers

Hardister may have been a girl who became a guy

Jon may also be a guy who may want to be a boy, who is still a girl 

To be fair, the public needs to see Jon Hardister's genitalia and birth certificate

Affidavits from Jon's parents and significant other should also be forthcoming, as well as from Jon's friends who have seen his junk within the last 12 months

Jon may also be homogeneous 

According to North Carolina state law, if Jon is a girl, he must use the women's facilities at North Carolina's legislature

Call the genitalia police if you see Representative Hardister anywhere near a public restroom

If necessary, prevent Jon from using the men's restroom until this issue has been resolved

If anyone has any knowledge or inkling that Jon physically became a woman after being a man and is using men's restrooms, contact your legislative representative to file a report, as his actions are illegal under state law

If Jon physically became a man after being a woman and is using women's restrooms, ask for proof of biological sex identification at the point of bodily excretion

North Carolina's children are not safe until their parents/grandparents who don't bother taking their own children/grandchildren into public bathrooms know the truth about Jon Hardister and all the other sexually ambiguous looking state legislators actual organs

Here's who has given money to what could be a pretty seriously sicko State Rep;


Seems like these folks have no idea what kind or person Jon Hardister really is

Where is the press? And why does HB2 include no criminal penalties? Was it to prevent Jon from going to jail?

Saturday, April 30, 2016

4/15/16; Still no big money for McCrory and friends since HB2; Click on the links to see what has happened since

"...HB2 had four primary sponsors, all Republicans, and ahead of McCrory’s Tuesday announcement, the most vocal of those, Rep. Dan Bishop of Mecklenburg County, did not return calls inquiring about who pushed for that provision.

Rep. Bob Steinburg also did not respond to inquiries, but Rep. Julia Howard, of Davie and Forsyth counties, said the language was crafted by state lawmakers.

“There were eight of us that worked on the House side and there were I think eight that worked on the Senate side,” Howard said. “It was just a collaboration of the eight members from the House, eight from the Senate that pulled the language together.”

Another sponsor, Rep. Paul Stam, of Wake County, said he knew “a lot of the source of the bill, but not the source of that one sentence.”...

...What is technically true and what is pragmatic for a fired employee bringing suit on a race-discrimination claim don’t move in lockstep.

Under the current law ushered in by HB2, employees can still file a claim at their county courthouse under the federal law, “but no employer would ever leave that federal statutory claim in state court,” Clarke said.

They would request to have it removed to federal court, a legal maneuver that gives them a financial edge, Clarke said. Federal cases are more costly, and a company that has both cash flow and insurance isn’t facing the financial pinch of an employee who might be jobless and feeding a family.

“It sends a really bad message about who we are,” Clarke said. “North Carolina’s the first state to eliminate these basic discrimination rights under state law, which is a pretty ugly distinction, and now we’re only the second state with Mississippi to not have workplace protections under state law on these fundamental categories.”

Fired employees can also seek federal discrimination protections through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but those claims must be filed within 180 days, as opposed to the three years formerly allowed under North Carolina statute.

In fiscal year 2014, about 4,000 people filed a claim though the EEOC in North Carolina, but it’s not practical for many employees, said Eric Doggett, an employment attorney and chairperson of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, an organization of legal professionals that seeks to protect rights for people.

Workplace discrimination is often just the beginning of a series of traumas, he said, and the six-month federal time frame isn’t always enough time for a potential plaintiff to begin legal action.

“They get fired, they get walked out the door, and they get traumatized again because they have no income. They try to get unemployment, but the employer fights unemployment and they are going through the fight and appeals to get their unemployment pay,” he said. “They’re trying to feed their kids. They got cut off from medical benefits. As they’re dealing with all these things, they have 180 days to file their claims with the EEOC, or they lose their federal claims forever. A lot of people don’t understand they have to do it, and it doesn’t become important to them until they need it.”

The venues are also far-flung. The 19 westernmost counties, for example, are served by one federal courthouse, which is in Asheville.

Some fired employees might not realize they have a discrimination claim until after the federal window has closed, said Asheville employment attorney Jessica Leaven.

An older employee or a pregnant woman might not know they were replaced by a younger worker or one without a newborn until that window has closed, shuttering them from discrimination claims..."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/04/14/origin-hb2-civil-action-unclear/82977072/
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Campaign Finance Results for Committee: PAT MCCRORY COMM

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-AIYGP3-C-001&OGID=11869

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: PHILIP E BERGER

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-C0854N-C-001&OGID=1159

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: FRIENDS OF TIM MOORE

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-C1652N-C-001&OGID=1947

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: FRIENDS OF TRUDY WADE

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-V4HE73-C-002&OGID=22377

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: COMM TO ELECT JOHN FAIRCLOTH

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-C1332N-C-002&OGID=16978

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: JOHN BLUST CAMPAIGN

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-C1805N-C-001&OGID=2095

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: JON HARDISTER FOR NC HOUSE

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-2JNO5T-C-001&OGID=17017

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: BOB STEINBURG FOR NC HOUSE

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-SPPM3Y-C-002&OGID=22442

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: STAM FOR HOUSE

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-C1973N-C-001&OGID=2246

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUserID=309

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: JULIA C HOWARD FOR HOUSE 

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-C2019N-C-001&OGID=2294

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/membersByDistrict.pl?sChamber=H&nDistrict=79

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: BISHOP FOR SENATE

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-I1750P-C-001&OGID=26591

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUserID=698

Campaign Finance Results for Committee: COMM TO ELECT CHAD BAREFOOT

http://cf.ncsbe.gov/cf_rpt_search_org/cf_report_doc_results.aspx?ID=STA-W37ZPR-C-001&OGID=22085

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=S&nUserID=369

Friday, April 22, 2016

The Letter Senator Phil Berger Doesn't Want You To See

North Carolina State Senator Phil Berger never bothered to answer my question when I asked:

"Mr Berger, What is the penalty for violating the bathroom portion of HB2? Thanks in advance for answering my question."

Senator Berger never answered my question. My guess is he is now wishing this whole thing had never happened, especially now that Greensboro's Eric Fink, a professor at Elon Law, has decided to challenge him in what would have been an unopposed run for office.

Mr Berger wanted you to believe that North Carolina's women and children are unsafe in public restrooms. And to make his case he wrote a letter dated February 24, 2016 to North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper expressing his views.

Now to be clear, I don't believe people are safe in public restrooms either. In 1971, as a 15 year old high school student at James B Dudley High School in Greensboro, NC, I was beaten almost to death by a gang (8-10 total) of young men from off campus for reasons I've yet to learn in over 40 years. I was found lying on the floor in a pool of my own blood by then Assistant Principal Bradley.

Rape and peeping aren't the only things that happen in public restrooms. In case you are wondering it was the boys room in the South Annex of the school. I was where I was supposed to be.

Because of that and other violent incidents I have suffered from PTSD for over 40 years. PTSD is what you can expect for anyone who suffers any sort of traumatic incident inside a public restroom. That is, if they are lucky. If they are not lucky it could be far worse.

In his letter Senator Berger wrote:


 "We have grave concerns over the recent changes made to Charlotte’s Code of Ordinances by the Charlotte City  Council. The  most concerning change allows men to share bathrooms  and showers with women  and young  girls in  places  of  public  accommodation,  violating existing criminal law. "

Now if true that is indeed very troubling. I don't think that anyone wants to see grown men showering with little girls with the exception of some perverts. By the way, while the Senator says the Charlotte Code of Ordinances violates existing criminal law he doesn't note which, if any laws are actually violated. Now considering that Senator Berger is a licensed, practicing attorney at law in North Carolina writing an official document to the NC Attorney General that seems... Well, troubling.


The Senator goes on to say:
"The brazenness of this policy decision is shocking, and your silence on the matter is  deafening. Until  the General  Assembly can  act, it  is  your  duty,  as  our  state’s  top  law enforcement official, to ensure that Charlotte follows the law."

You can bet it's shocking. If my son were still alive I'd be concerned for his safety. In his letter Senator Berger spends the next several paragraphs comparing Charlotte's new ordnance to Charlotte's old ordinance. Obviously the Senator is unhappy but he recommends no real course of action. He cites NC. S.M.S,  196 N.C. App. 170 (2009) (affirming adjudication of second-degree trespass after boy entered girls’ locker  room  that  was  marked  accordingly). but in that very case, while the court ruled against the defendant the court also noted that the school should have never brought the kid to trial in the first place and had within its means the disciplinary ability to handle the case outside of the courts.

(Oops, there's another one for the anti- School Resource Officers movement.)

You see, as I pointed out previously in
HB2 Opinion Vs Fact there are no existing laws preventing men from walking into women's restrooms in North Carolina. There should be but such laws do not exist. I provided all the documentation necessary to prove my point.

NC Senator Phil Berger knew it too. He admired it in his letter to Roy Cooper when he wrote:

"A  patchwork  of  criminal  law  simply  will  not  do. We  cannot  have  acts  that  are  criminal  in  one city or county but not in the others.  The General Statutes expressly prohibit municipalities from passing  ordinances  that violate the  general  criminal  laws. See N.C.  Gen.  Stat.  §  160A-174. In other  North  Carolina  cities,  a  man’s  use  of  a  designated  women’s  facility  subjects  him  to
potential criminal prosecution. "

But wait, what about N.C.  Gen.  Stat.  §  160A-174, it prohibits men from going into women's restrooms, right? N.C.  Gen.  Stat.  §  160A-174 in it's entirety:

"§ 160A-174.  General ordinance-making power.

(a)        A city may by ordinance define, prohibit, regulate, or abate acts, omissions, or conditions, detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of its citizens and the peace and dignity of the city, and may define and abate nuisances.

(b)        A city ordinance shall be consistent with the Constitution and laws of North Carolina and of the United States. An ordinance is not consistent with State or federal law when:

(1)        The ordinance infringes a liberty guaranteed to the people by the State or federal Constitution;

(2)        The ordinance makes unlawful an act, omission or condition which is expressly made lawful by State or federal law;

(3)        The ordinance makes lawful an act, omission, or condition which is expressly made unlawful by State or federal law;

(4)        The ordinance purports to regulate a subject that cities are  expressly forbidden to regulate by State or federal law;

(5)        The ordinance purports to regulate a field for which a State  or federal statute clearly shows a legislative intent to provide a complete and integrated regulatory scheme to the exclusion of local regulation;

(6)        The elements of an offense defined by a city ordinance are identical to the elements of an offense defined by State or federal law.

The fact that a State or federal law, standing alone, makes a given act, omission, or condition unlawful shall not preclude city ordinances requiring a higher standard of conduct or condition. (1971, c. 698, s. 1.)"


That's right, Charlotte couldn't and didn't make a law that violated State law because there was no such state law. The City of Raleigh has it's own municipal law:

"Sec. 13-2015. - TOILET FACILITIES; USE BY SEX FOR WHICH NOT INTENDED.

On public or on private property used by the public or patrons of a business establishment where separate toilet facilities are provided for the use of different sexes and such facilities are conspicuously labeled to give notice of the sex for which the facility is set apart, it shall be unlawful for a member of one sex to enter or use a facility provided for members of the opposite sex. Provided this section shall not be construed to prevent the inspection of toilet facilities by the owner or person in charge thereof or the designated agent of either, nor to prevent the performance of janitorial services therein by the person or persons designated to perform such services when members of the opposite sex are not present"

Other North Carolina cities and counties have their own municipal laws as well but by Phil Berger's own admission in his letter to NC Attorney General Roy Cooper, Berger wrote:
"A  patchwork  of  criminal  law  simply  will  not  do. We  cannot  have  acts  that  are  criminal  in  one city or county but not in the others."

The Senator also wrote:

"In other  North  Carolina  cities,  a  man’s  use  of  a  designated  women’s  facility  subjects  him  to potential criminal prosecution. "

Thereby noting State law was and remains inadequate as North Carolina is dependent on a "patchwork" of municipal laws.

But when it came time to pass a law Republican Senator Phil Berger and the rest of the conservative North Carolina House and Senate chose to pass House Bill HB2, a "law" with no criminal penalties for men who go into women's restrooms.

Now for those of you still pointing fingers at Roy Cooper-- what was he to do? The job of the attorney general is to enforce the law but not even Senator Phil Berger, himself a licensed, practicing North Carolina attorney at law can tell you what law was broken. It's the job of the State House and Senate to make laws, Phil Berger even admitted that in his letter as well:
"Until  the General Assembly can  act, it  is  your  duty,  as  our  state’s  top  law enforcement official, to ensure that Charlotte follows the law."

What law? The General Assembly had to meet in special session to pass a new law to strike down Charlotte's new city ordinance. Berger was just playing the blame game along with Sen. Buck Newton, Sen. Shirley Randleman, Sen. Warren Daniel and the rest who jumped on the pee-pee bandwagon hoping to score a few more votes from scared voters.

Don't believe me? Click here to read the letter for yourself.

We need a law. We need a law that protects people. We need a law that protects all people without discriminating against anyone. And what we don't need are politicians passing new laws under the guise of protecting people while secretly taking away other rights at the same time.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

HB2 Opinion Vs Fact

I don't care how you feel or what you think. This is what is known to be true.

First there was the City of Charlotte passing a city ordinance that somehow allowed men into women's restrooms. Now I'll admit that seemed odd but how could that have happened? Aren't there laws against such things in North Carolina?

Not according to the  National Conference of State Legislatures as of March 13, 2015:

"Five states—Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas—do not have a public accommodation law for nondisabled individuals. All states with a public accommodation law prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, ancestry and religion. In addition, 18 jurisdictions prohibit discrimination based on marital status, 22 prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and 18 prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Nineteen jurisdictions also prohibit age-based discrimination in areas of public accommodation."

You see, unlike most states, North Carolina' Public Accommodation Laws as covered under NC Gen Stat § 168A-6 don't mention gender. It's just not there. And you'll not be able to find it under any other existing State law. We're just backwards like that.

As a matter of fact, NC law expressly prohibited cities from passing laws that broke state laws. If Charlotte was really overstepping their bounds then all the State Legislature needed to do to stop Charlotte was mail them a cease and deist order. And if the Charlotte City Council then refused they could have the Charlotte City Council thrown in jail. Simple fix, ask any lawyer.

From the NC League of Municipalities:

" In this state, municipalities do not have home rule, which means that the state legislature must grant the powers and authority to municipalities and authorize them to perform certain functions."

Charlotte did not overstep its bounds in passing their ordinance, Charlotte simply found a loophole in that the State of North Carolina had and still has no enforceable laws prohibiting men from women's restrooms. You know, just like Conservatives, Libertarians and even some Liberals love finding loopholes that allow them to pay less taxes. Like it or not the State of North Carolina has never prohibited such behavior. That's fact.

 Now before we go any farther please allow me to explain: I'm not pushing any sort of liberal, gay, trans, pervert agenda. I'm talking about what is and isn't truth. The State of North Carolina is having a problem because the conservative leadership in Raleigh has been lying to its supporters all along about what is and isn't the truth. You have a right to your opinion as to what is and isn't morally correct. You also have the right to expect your leaders to tell you the truth. The moral high ground cannot be claimed when its seizure is based upon lies.

And taking up for conservative leaders just because you believe men in the women's rooms is morally wrong doesn't make it okay for you to continue to allow them to get away with their lies. Doing so helps them to continue their lies and doesn't get you what you want.

Prior to the passing of the Charlotte ordinance there was no law in North Carolina making it illegal for men to go into women's restrooms. And after the passing of HB2, despite what they would like you to think there is still no law to stop it from happening.

Need more proof:  Keep reading.

You see, Charlotte never overstepped its legal authority because there was no such law in the first place. That much I've proved.

Now you are welcome to your opinions but I deal in facts. And I document the hell out of them. The links you see here are not advertising, they are links to documents and news reports.

Liberals, progressives, gays, trans and perverted people didn't do this. That is, unless you consider your political leaders to be perverts. Your Conservative leaders in Raleigh chose to pass HB2, a lie, a bill that included zero criminal penalties for crossing what has long been traditional gender boundaries when it comes to who belongs in which restroom.

And they knew it all along.

ECU professor Carmine Scavo pointed out:

"Dr. Scavo said, “I don’t think at the time that they passed it that they ever thought they were going to have to defend it or enforce it.” Dr. Scavo added that the legislature passed the law to make a statement. He said lawmakers knew it couldn’t be enforced.

9 On Your Side asked one representative from the area about enforcing HB2 and he said Dr. Scavo isn’t far off.

I think it was one to either send a symbolic statement or a real statement across the state that this is an expected modicum of behavior for people in bathrooms, bath houses, locker rooms,” NC House District 9 Representative Dr. Gregory Murphy said.

9 On Your Side asked law enforcement agencies how they plan to enforce HB2 and most of them said the topic hasn’t even come up.

People in the area said a law with no enforcement is pointless."



Go back and read the 3rd paragraph of that last quote. I would think that North Carolina Conservatives would be angered to no end that all the evidence shows that they have been lied to by their very own Conservative leaders but still they back them-- why?

Who is Representative Gregory F. Murphy, MD? A Republican, from a very conservative district-- that's who.


Still don't believe me? In the post Is It Illegal for a Man to Use the Ladies’ Room? the NC School of Law was unable to point out one single state law prohibiting men in women's restrooms back in May of 2015.

Funny, the issue came up a year before, they knew there was no law against it but Conservatives in Raleigh did nothing about it. That's a fact they'd rather you not remember.

But what about indecent exposure you ask. Well, for starters you are assuming the man exposes himself. What if he goes into the restroom and doesn't expose himself? What if he goes into the women's restroom simply because the men's room was a filthy, disgusting mess he didn't dare use? Most normal men don't make it a habit of exposing themselves to other men in public restrooms. Here what NC § 14-190.9.  Indecent exposure has to say about the matter:

"(a5) Unless the conduct is prohibited by another law providing greater punishment, any person located in a private place who shall willfully expose the private parts of his or her person with the knowing intent to be seen by a person in a public place shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor."

Key words: "... who shall willfully expose the private parts of his or her person with the knowing intent to be seen by a person in a public place..."

You see, intent is a very big part of North Carolina law. Same goes for peeping so don't bother to bring it up.

Then there's this from WRAL:

"The three main groups backing House Bill 2 have told North Carolina House members to ignore a pledge they had asked legislators to sign promising not to repeal any parts of the law.

The Keep N.C. Safe Coalition, made up of three conservative religious organizations – Tami Fitzgerald’s N.C. Values Coalition, Mark Creech’s Christian Action League and John Rustin’s Family Policy Council – sent an email to House members Wednesday with the subject line, “Please DISREGARD H.B. 2 Pledge.”

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article72842002.html#storylink=cpy

Somebody has something to hide. What I don't know. Hat tip: Fec.

And to add insult to injury, we now learn from the NC School of Government that North Carolina cities can now be sued under Federal laws for complying with NC HB2:

"That is because the law of sex discrimination under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as interpreted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and to some extent by the courts, is moving to protect individuals from discrimination on account of sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.  This development of the law is ongoing and uncertain.  It is not possible at this point to say that an employer’s refusal to allow an employee to use a bathroom other than that of the employee’s “biological sex” is a violation of Title VII, but it is extremely likely that test cases will be sought.  Where the law will go cannot now be fully predicted.  It is possible to imagine a time, however, when the state-law HB 2 bathroom restrictions are unenforceable as unlawful under expanded federal-law protections."

Now what I find most disturbing is that with an entire law school on the State payroll, not one single member of the North Carolina House, Senate or the Governor's office bothered to ask them before passing this stupid law that doesn't keep men out of women's restrooms but does open our cities up to being sued.

Finally, here's the thing: now that I have proven there has never been a State law in North Carolina prohibiting men from entering women's restrooms it's time North Carolina Conservatives stopped with all the BS opinion, finger pointing, liberal blaming, and gay bashing, and asked yourself this question: Does North Carolina need a law prohibiting men in women's restrooms?

And if you believe the answer is yes then you, as Conservatives, need to get off your sorry asses, and demand your elected leaders in Raleigh pass such a law with real criminal penalties while you still have Republicans in control of all 3 branches of NC government.

Otherwise you lose again.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Remember Bob Harris, Phil Berger, his now a judge Jr who wanted to get into the charter school business, and KEEP CONSERVATIVES UNITED"?

BENSON, CLIFTON L JR. RALEIGH NC 27624 02/18/2014 10000.00 RETIRED 14960633711
CRAIG, MARK R GREENSBORO NC 27407 03/19/2014 5000.00 RH BARRINGER DISTRIBUTING CO. 14960633711
GANT, ALLEN E JR. BURLINGTON NC 27215 02/28/2014 10000.00 GLEN RAVEN, INC. 14960633711
GLEN RAVEN, INC. GLEN RAVEN NC 27217 07/08/2014 5000.00 14978047544
GLEN RAVEN, INC. GLEN RAVEN NC 27217 03/06/2014 15000.00 14960633712
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27615 07/27/2011 1350.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 12950079804
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27615 08/08/2011 450.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 12950079804
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27624 03/17/2012 14000.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 12970840301
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27609 01/04/2014 750.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 14960633712
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27609 02/10/2014 3000.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 14960633712
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27615 07/12/2011 1350.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 12950079804
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27615 09/12/2011 1500.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 12950079806

Bob spent a lot of money on Phil Berger Jr., 
and lost

HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27615 09/03/2011 3000.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 12950079810
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27609 08/13/2014 12000.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 14978047545
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27615 09/22/2011 1350.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 12950079808
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27615 08/30/2011 3500.00 SELF-EMPLOYED

Why did Harris spend this kind of money on Phil Berger Jr.?

HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27609 07/02/2014 15000.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 14978047545
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27609 06/20/2014 32000.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 14941724404
HARRIS, BOB RALEIGH NC 27609 04/21/2014 15000.00 SELF-EMPLOYED 14941724404
LEMER, ROBERT S HOUSTON TX 77079 09/30/2011 250.00 RETIRED 12950079809
LUDDY, ROBERT L RALEIGH NC 27616 07/08/2014 10000.00 CAPTIVE AIRE SYSTEMS 14978047544
LUDDY, ROBERT L RALEIGH NC 27616 01/17/2014 50000.00 CAPTIVE AIRE SYSTEMS 14960633713

I recall getting a well written cease and desist from Luddy's lawyers
during the election cycle

PITA RALEIGH LLC, SALISBURY NC 28144 04/09/2014 25000.00 14960830596
PRONAMIC INDUSTRIES, LLC WASHINGTON NC 27889 05/12/2014 15000.00 14941724403
REPUBLICAN STATE LEADERSHIP COMMITT, WASHINGTON DC 20004 04/28/2014 75000.00 14941724403
REPUBLICAN STATE LEADERSHIP COMMITT, WASHINGTON DC 20004 07/07/2014 20000.00 14978047544
WORDSWORTH, JERRY L ROCKY MOUNT NC 27802 06/27/2014 6700.00 BRIGADE PROPERTIES, LLC 14961584946
WORDSWORTH, STEVE A ROCKY MOUNT NC 27802 02/03/2014 35000.00 MBM 14960633713
WORDSWORTH, STEVE A ROCKY MOUNT NC 27802 06/27/2014 6700.00 MBM 14961584946

http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/com_ind/C00499525/
.
.
Philip Berger, Sr.'s Campaign Finances, Robert Luddy, Charter Schools and Phil Berger Jr.

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/philip-berger-srs-campaign-finances.html

How much does Phil Berger Jr.'s chief political adviser and his wife make at taxpayer funded Phoenix Academy Charter School?

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/how-much-does-phil-berger-jrs-chief.html

Looks like Phil Berger Jr's chief political adviser Paul Norcross has prior charter school related ethics issues, of which it looks like Jr stood to personally benefit from

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/looks-like-phil-berger-jrs-chief.html

Questions Phil Berger Sr. funded Keep Conservatives United's Bob Harris has so far refused to answer on Jr.

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/07/questions-phil-berger-sr-funded-keep.html

"Deadline looms for charter schools to submit contract info"

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/09/deadline-looms-for-charter-schools-to.html

Baker (Charter School Profiteer) Mitchell's Pat McCrory Campaign Contribution

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/08/baker-charter-school-profiteer.html

Project Vote Smart; "Phil Berger Campaign Finances"

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/07/project-vote-smart-phil-berger-campaign.html

"$82,350 from political action groups catapulted Berger to a total campaign fund that’s more than double Walker’s."

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/07/82350-from-political-action-groups.html

Camel City Dispatch on the Phil Bergers and Mark Walker

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/07/camel-city-dispatch-on-phil-bergers-and.html

Information Request for Franklin Academy charter schools; Robert Luddy

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/information-request-for-franklin.html

NORTH CAROLINA CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/north-carolina-charter-school-advisory.html

Information Request for NC Public Charter Schools Association; Norcross, Luddy or Berger Jr.

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/information-request-for-nc-public.html

Did NC District 6 Congressional Candidate Phil Berger Jr. stand to profit from his approved charter school?; It looks like Norcross and Luddy do.

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/did-nc-district-6-congressional.html

Phil Berger Jr. supporter Robert Luddy's $4,520,000 loan to Thales Academy

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/phil-berger-jr-supporter-robert-luddys.html

Is this what Phil Berger Jr's big financial backers want with Jr in DC?

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/06/is-this-what-phil-berger-jrs-big.html