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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C
Volume 43, Number 35
THURSDAY, May 4, 2017
City: Review tax
reappraisal process
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE _:
The Winston-Salem City Council would like to see
changes in the way the county does real estate property tax
reappraisals.
The'council unanimously passed a resolution asking
for an evaluation of the reappraisal process by the Board
of Equalization and Review, which reviews appeals to the
reappraisal process. Residents were still encouraged to file
repeals on their individual properties if they feel the reap
praisal value is inaccurate.
The resolution by City Council Member Derwin
Montgomery, who is a part of a group that recently pur
chased The Chronicle, questioned if the process accurate
ly accesses the value of properties in African-American
communities.
“Although the majority of properties rose in value,
there are certain neighborhoods and communities where
the reappraisal process is much more challenging,” said
Montgomery.
The county does reappraisals every four years, using
qualified real estate sales in an area and the condition of
properties to estimate their value. Reappraisals were con
troversial in 2013 when a downturn in the real estate mar
ket caused 90 percent of properties to lose value. This
year, 70 percent of properties saw some increase, but
Montgomery said that there’s an inordinate amount of
Montgomery
Burke
properties in black communities that saw drops similar to
2013.
The resolution said that some properties are being sold
for below market value and are then being rented by ten
ants at a higher amount, and asks that this “lease value” be
considered in the reappraisal process. It also asks the
board to examine other parts of the process, like how
homes are evaluated on their exteriors unless there’s an
appeal.
Other City Council members agreed the process
should be looked into. Denise “D.D.” Adams said there
should be a different metric to measure property values in
the urban core. Vivian Burke said she didn’t believe prop
See Tax on A10
ERNIE PITT: A ‘TRUE TITAN*
Photo by Todd Luck
Ernie Pitt, left, founder of The Chronicle, talks with present Publisher James Taylor Jr. in Pitt’s former
office, which is now Taylor’s office.
Founder of The Chronicle and
others look back at the ups
and downs of his long career
BY CASH MICHAELS
FOR THE CHRONICLE
This week, for the first time since
he founded The Chronicle on May 4,
1974, Ernie Pitt is no longer its pub
lisher.
Last week, Pitt officially retired
after selling the paper to The
Chronicle Media Group LLC, whose
principal directors are Derwin
Montgomery and James Taylor Jr.,
two Winston-Salem city council
members.
Taylor is now the publisher.
“Mr. Pitt is a true titan for this
community, having started this great
newspaper,” Taylor told The
Chronicle Tuesday.
“It’s truly an honor to now take
the baton.”
In an exclusive interview immedi
ately after the acquisition became
official, Pitt said he was pleased with
the sale because he knew that The
Chronicle’s tradition and mission of
serving the community would be con
tinued.
“I have confidence in these guys,”
Pitt said. “I feel good about the fact
that they’re young, they’re smart,
they’re committed, and they’ve
shown their commitment to this com
munity.”
Still, as he sat in what had been
his office on North Liberty Street for
many years (Mr. Taylor’s name was
already emblazoned on the door), tak
ing note of the barren walls that used
to display his personal and profes
sional accomplishments, Pitt recalled
his early years as a budding student
journalist at the UNC - Chapel Hill
School of Journalism, and how that
See Pitt on AS
1 st African
American to
lead YMCA
of NWN.C.
BYTEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Law
Next week, Stan Law will officially become the first
African-American to serve as president and chief execu
tive at the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina. Law, a
native of Charlotte, will succeed Kurt Hazelbacker, who
left in January to serve as president at the YMCA of
Metropolitan Dallas.
Before returning to his
home state, Law served as
the chief executive at the
YMCA of Greater
Birmingham and the
YMCA of Greater
Cincinnati. He also served
as the vice president at the
YMCA of Metropolitan
Washington, D.C. and
YMCA of Greater
Charlotte.
“I’ve had some great
experiences in other parts
of the country, but it feels
really good to be back
home,” said Law during an
interview earlier this week.
While discussing his plans for the 16 branches that
make up the YMCA of Northwest N.C., Law said he is
looking forward to getting out in the community to find
out ways the organization can better meet the needs of the
people. He said his goal as president is to engage the
community by creating more cause-driven programs sim
ilar to the diabetes prevention program they already offer.
“The Y has to engage itself in the communities we
serve. As communities change, the Y must change, “the
said. “We are committed to getting involved in the com
munity and building partnerships with other organiza
tions as well.”
When asked about the future of the Winston Lake
YMCA, Law said they are still having discussions to
decide what’s next for the branch located on Waterworks
Road. Last October, it was announced that the city was
considering purchasing most of the branch’s current loca
tion. At that time, The Chronicle reported that low mem
bership led to a shortfall of $400,000.
The branch started on Depot Street in 1924 to serve
African-Americans during segregation. It continues to
See YMCA on A10
Democrats will rise again, N.C. chairman says
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
N.C. Democratic Party Chairman Wayne
Goodwin said he believes that his party can turn
the current discontent with Republican rule into
future victories.
Goodwin was in Winston-Salem last week
attending a fundraiser for the Forsyth County
44 Democratic Party. He
said there’s been a
tremendous groundswell
m of support for Democrats
since President Donald
WU Trump’s upset victory last
JJ M November. He said in his
35 years in politics, he’s
“seen the epitaphs of both political parties written
at least three times each” and believes Democrats
will rebound from last year’s losses.
“I know [that] as much as it was a bad night
for Democrats in November of 2016,1 know that
we Democrats will rise again,” said Goodwin.
“We shall prevail again.”
Goodwin knows how bad a night it was first
See Democrats on A3
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