As my term as president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities comes to an end, the uncertain times that we live in remind me of why I sought to become involved in municipal government, and then, why I chose to become involved in this organization.
It starts with frustration.
You see something in your community that frustrates you, that you...
Sadly, you might have predicted it – disasters and crises always seem to attract the scams. From phishing to data theft to money theft to ransomseeking file-encryption, it’s all in circulation. Bad actors don’t lay back when people are more susceptible than usual.
Some municipal governments may not immediately see themselves as uniquely vulnerable. But beware that the nature of...
Jim Alberque’s recipe for an efficient, forward-thinking town has three ingredients, and they’re all people. Talented people, service-oriented people, curious people.
It’s a somewhat surprising list considering Alberque’s role as the Emerging Technology Director for the City of Raleigh, where the emphasis is on finding and leveraging new tools, not personnel. The embrace of both technology and humanity seem at...
Fresh out of college, filled with passions and finding a path, the fellows of the Lead for North Carolina program are not unlike many other recent graduates.
Unique, however, may be the level of impact they are making. Micro-transit projects, community development initiatives, wide-ranging social research, land use plans, communications strategies—these achievements cover only some of the successes of the...
That key portions of North Carolina do not have the kind of internet access that they need in order for people to thrive and local economies to flourish is not news, particularly in those places themselves. Residents of those areas understand that that to succeed in the modern economy, or simply to enjoy their retirement, they need fast, reliable...
A leader isn’t a suit and tie.
Sure, dress for the occasion. Honor decorum. But be a human first, learn with good faith, build capacity to help, and be real about the consequences, says William Pitt, the Washington City Council Member now rounding out a year as president of the N.C. League of Municipalities.
“Respect is earned,” he says.
Sitting in a...
Sen. Gladys Robinson of Greensboro won election to the legislature just in time for the wave of change that removed her party from its leadership spot. That was 10 years ago and the power dynamics have mostly held, with Republican majorities in both the House and Senate. While that’s posed plenty of challenges for Democrats like Senator Robinson in...
In our nation’s history, only two U.S. presidents came into office having previously served as mayor of a city or town – Grover Cleveland, who served as mayor of Buffalo before becoming governor of New York and then being elected to the presidency, and Calvin Coolidge, who briefly served as the mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts.
When you think about it,...
Western North Carolinians Honored with Attorney General Josh Stein's Dogwood Award
Attorney General Josh Stein today announced that Casey Cooper, CEO, Cherokee Indian Hospital, Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman, Franklin Mayor Bob Scott, and Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor have received the Attorney General’s Dogwood Award. These awards are given annually to honor North Carolinians who are dedicated to keeping people...
The League’s Health Benefits Trust pool, and the health insurance industry in general, is a complex field to navigate. At all three levels of government, the parts—from provider to patient—are constantly moving, and the path to providing exceptional service can be a labyrinth of hitches and hurdles.
These challenges, however, are not a deterrent to providing exceptional coverage. If anything,...
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