John Lewis: Conscience of a Nation

John Lewis, a son of sharecroppers who fought non-violently for civil rights for his entire life and served for 30 years in Congress, died at 80 on Friday of pancreatic cancer. Recently, Lewis said of the Black Lives Matter movement: “It was very moving, very moving to see hundreds of thousands of people from all over America and around the world take to the streets — to speak up, to speak out, to get into what I call ‘good trouble'." CBS This Morning, in June. A brutal attack on Lewis and others in a peaceful march in Selma Alabama shocked the conscience of the nation and contributed to the the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lewis lived to see the Voting Rights Act gutted by the Supreme Court in Shelby v. Holder in 2013, opening the door to an explosion of state laws limiting African American voting. But he never gave up. Characteristically, when he cast his vote on Donald Trump's impeachment in 2019, he said this: “When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something. . . to do something. Our children and their children will ask us, ‘What did you do? What did you say?’ For some, this vote may be hard. But we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history."

NHRMC "Partnership" Funds $1.25 Billion Foundation Controlled by Novant Health

Last Monday the County Commission voted 4 to 1 to proceed with letter of intent to proceed with a "partnership" with Novant. The Commission also released a draft outline of a plan for the $1.9 billion in proceeds that includes an investment in a $1.25 billion nonprofit community foundation that "furthers the county's strategic priorities of health and social, equity, community development and community safety." According to WECT, the new foundation would be governed by an an 11 member board, with 6 members appointed by Novant. Approximately $300 million would go to an NHRMC Transition Stabilization Escrow, that would be used to bridge employee benefit gaps (including pensions) and wind-down costs. Another $300 million goes to a reserve fund that the county can use for emergency response, debt relief, and tax stabilization. Finally, $50 million will go to a fund for mental and behavioral health initiatives. Now the county and novena will proceed to drafting a final agreement, including agreement on use of the proceeds, which will be shared publicly in September or October. A public hearing will be held prior to a final vote by the NHRMC Board and County Commission. County Manager Chris Coudriet said the goal is to have everything worked out by October 19, prior to the November 3 election.

Biden Clean Energy Plans Could Bring Thousands of Jobs to North Carolina

(NCDP) I

n announcing a $2 trillion plan for clean energy last week, Joe Biden told reporters, “When Donald Trump thinks about climate change, the only word he can muster is ‘hoax,’” Biden told reporters. “When I think about climate change, what I think of is jobs.” According to the North Carolina Democratic Party, Biden's plan would provide an enormous boost to construction, engineering and manufacturing industries in states like North Carolina and is the latest piece of Biden’s plan to rebuild the US economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic downturn. It calls for the elimination of carbon pollution by 2035, upgrading 4 million buildings and weatherizing 2 million homes over four years.

“Vice President Biden’s proposal today would secure our clean energy future and create thousands of good paying, union jobs across North Carolina,” said Wake County Commissioner and state Labor Commissioner candidate Jessica Holmes. “In addition to the boon this plan would give our manufacturing and engineering industries, the trickle down effects of upgrading our infrastructure and expanding broadband access would be widespread. This is a bold, exciting agenda that will bring our country, and especially North Carolina, into the future.”

New Hanover County Commissioners Rename Hugh McRae Park

(From a county press release) At its meeting on Monday, July 13, a majority of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners approved changing the name of Hugh MacRae Park to Long Leaf Park. The name change is effective immediately, so the park’s signs were taken down, and new permanent signs will be up in the coming weeks.

“There’s been a lot of conversation over the last many years about Hugh MacRae Park and what the name symbolizes,” said Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr., who made the motion to rename the park. “I think it’s time that we change the name of the park, to change it to another name that can cause healing in our community. What we are looking at in our community is a new landscape, of healing and bringing everyone together and making sure that everyone has equity in the decisions being made.”

The park’s land was originally donated by Wilmington native Hugh MacRae, who has become a controversial figure for his involvement in the 1898 Wilmington massacre. “The park is full of longleaf pines that are indicative of our region and the park is located in the Long Leaf area of our community,” said Commissioner Barfield. “So this new name just seemed right, as a way to highlight the park’s location, the characteristics of our community, and the beauty of the longleaf pine.”

Long Leaf Park is located in the center of New Hanover County at 314 Pine Grove Drive. You can learn more about the park and its features here.

Tillis Votes Against Declaring PFAS Hazardous on Defense Department Land

(From NC Policy Watch) U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted against an amendment to a defense policy bill last month that would have designated two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous under Title X of the U.S. Code — the law governing the Defense Department. Doing so would have given the department more discretion to use funds to clean up contaminated areas, recover related costs from polluters, and reimburse communities for cleanup efforts. Tillis has said he backs legislation that would declare a broad class of toxic substances as hazardous under the EPA, but he recently opposed a similar effort that would apply only to the U.S. Department of Defense.

PFAS are used in tape, nonstick pans, carpeting, waterproof clothing and firefighting foam.The foam, which is used in military training exercises, is often the source of contamination on and near bases. PFAS have been found in the water systems at 328 military bases, including those supply Fort Bragg in Fayetteville. PFAS have been linked to cancer and other serious health problems and may weaken immunity to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PFAS are a particularly critical issue here in the Cape Fear River Basin where high concentrations have been found in our water. For a North Carolina Health News article on PFAS, click here.

Volunteers Sought for Ongoing COVID-19 Virtual Phone Bank

We may not be able to knock doors, but we can do it virtually! We want to reach out to our fellow Democrats by phone to check-in and ask how they are doing and to help them apply early for an absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 election. We want every possible vote to be counted, and to make that happen we need to start NOW!

We are making great progress in our goal to reach all Democrats in NHC who are 60 years or older, but we still have a ways to go and not much time left. Can you help make phone calls? All you need is a computer or tablet and a phone in the safety of your own home and on your own schedule!

Email Madeleine Henley, [email protected] to get connected to this critical effort.

Unity Banquet Cancelled

As you have probably already guessed, the Unity Banquet this Fall has been cancelled because the NHCDP Officers were not confident that an in-person banquet could be held safely. Last Monday Deloris Rhodes and Madeleine Henley led a group of volunteers in a discussion of alternative fundraising options. You will hear more on that in the near future.

EVENTS

Combined Campaign Dialing for Democrats -- Daily through July 21

When: Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Where: Call from your home

The Combined Campaign invites you to drop in to a Zoom phonebank party from a comfy chair at home between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to call voters in the 7th Congressional District. To sign up, click here.

Meet County Commission Candidate Leslie Cohen; Phonebank for Democrats -- July 22

When: Wednesday, July 22, 5:00 p.m.

Where: Virtual event

Meet Leslie Cohen, candidate for County Commission, who believes the "decisions made by our New Hanover County Commission effect the lives of everyone who lives here. I want to work to protect our way of life, and make New Hanover the best place there is to live.” The event includes an orientation for folks who want a refresher or introduction to phonebanking, a chat with Leslie, and then calls to help her and the rest of the Democratic slate get elected. For more details and to sign up, click here.

Happy Hour and Conversation with County Commission Candidates -- July 22

When: Wednesday, July 22, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Zoom

New Hanover County Democrats will join Precinct M04 in an online zoom video conference with the Democratic County Commission candidates on July 22. Meet Jonathan Barfield, Leslie Cohen and Kyle Horton. After social time and greetings, moderator Sue Hayes will introduce the candidates allowing each a period of 10 to 15 minutes to speak on their own behalf or to respond to questions.

To join the Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82923315390

Meeting ID: 829 2331 5390

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,82923315390# US (Germantown)

+13126266799,,82923315390# US (Chicago)

An Evening with John Pavlovitch to Support Marcia Morgan -- July 23

When: Thursday, July 23,7:00 p.m., Sponsor reception at 6:45 p.m.

Where: Zoom

Free Online Event: Marcia Morgan, who is running again for North Carolina House District 19, invites the public for an online evening with John Pavlovitz, a writer, pastor and activist from Wake Forest, North Carolina. In the past four years, John's blog Stuff That Needs To Be Said has reached a diverse worldwide audience. A 20-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry, John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and outside faith communities. He is the author of five books: A Year in the Grief Valley, Stuff that Needs to be Said, A Bigger Table, Hope and Other Superpowers and Low: An Honest Advent Devotional.

Sponsor reception begins at 6:45 p.m.; main event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register or sign up to sponsor this event at https://secure.ngpvan.com/txroHYaYr0m3qeYnBl7vag2

Clayton Hamerski for Register of Deeds National Day of Action Phone Bank -- July 25

When: Saturday, July 25, 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Call from your home

You are invited to join the Clayton Hamerski for the Register of Deeds team on Saturday, July 25th for our National Day of Action Phone Bank! Volunteers from across the country will be making calls in support of Clayton Hamerski, a young, progressive candidate for local office in what has been identified by The Hill as one of the country's most critical swing counties.

Clayton is running on a platform of modernizing our local government, creating a culture of respect, and improving accessibility of crucial services for all residents of New Hanover County. Additional information is available on the Facebook event page here. Additional information will be provided upon RSVP or contact Clayton at [email protected]

Jessica Holmes for NC Labor Commission 100 Day Event -- July 26

When: Sunday, July 26, 4:00 p.m.

Where: Online

100 days before the election join the Democratic nominee for Labor Commissioner, Jessica Holmes, for a dynamic conversation with Congresswoman Alma Adams, Representative Zack Hawkins and author Gene Nichols about the state of NC’s working poor and the role we can all play in addressing it. Sign up here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/EA7fkr8XeUufAyull9-yPg2

Best,

Richard Poole, Chair

News Content by James Cummings

If you have any announcements, comments, questions or concerns regarding this email series, please contact the Editor here.

Paid for by the New Hanover County Democratic Party

Mailing Address:

NHCDP

PO Box 3036

Wilmington, NC 28406

Office Address:

5041 New Centre Drive

Wilmington, NC 28403

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