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she latly ®ar County's Needs Are Paramount There’s $75 million up for grabs in Orange County -and every one has a hand out On Nov. 6, Orange County voters will be asked to approve a $75 million bond referendum for much needed capital improve ments. The Orange County Board of Commissioners has set spending limits in specific categories to ear mark the money. School spending was set at $47 million, S2O mil lion for parks and recreation, $4 million for JONATHAN CHANEY CITY COLUMNIST two senior centers, $4 million for affordable housing initiatives and $3 million for land preservation. But there is some disagreement as to how to spread the money around. The drama surrounds the lion’s share of the bond money: school construc tion and renovation. There isn’t enough money to build everything the county needs -much to the chagrin of some residents and school administra tors. Here’s the situation. Two new ele mentary schools in the Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools are sure to receive funding because of current overcrowding. That leaves two needs: anew high school for the Chapel Hill- Carrboro schools and anew middle school in Orange County. Unfortunately, there’s only enough to build one, so both school systems are jockeying to get their need met. Chapel Hill-Carrboro school offi cials expect their high schools will go over capacity by the 2002-03 school year. They point out that Orange County schools will be 1,390 students under capacity by 2003. That statistic is true but misleading. Even if they are under capacity over all, Orange County school officials estimate that their middle schools will be 134 students over capacity by the 2002-03 school year. That number is unacceptable to a school district that prides itself on attention to small class room size. So Orange County commissioners are left with a tough decision: Who should get what? At a public meeting Monday night, both school districts made their cases before the commissioners, who must ultimately decide on the specific pro jects and the amount allocated to each by Sept. 4. It’s not really a question of whether or not the bond will get passed. I would be highly surprised if this pack age was rejected by voters. The last bond package for schools, parks and affordable housing passed by a wide margin in 1997 (though $4.6 million for building a senior center and other county buildings was rejected). Education is tantamount in Orange County -and voters are willing to pay for it But it is up to the county commis sioners to ensure that the money is well spent. “Bond money” isn’t “free money.” It has to be paid back - usu ally through higher taxes. This particu lar bond package would amount to a property tax hike of 7.3 cents per SIOO valuation. The county cannot build both anew high school and anew middle school. Which one takes priority? The new middle school. Next year, Orange County plans to Open up Cedar Ridge High School. Orange County school officials are still a little disgruntled that they had to shoulder half of the costs of that new high school. They expect more fiscal help from the county -and anew mid dle school is their due. But that shouldn’t leave the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools high and dry. Cedar Ridge is expected to be under capacity for the next several years. Overcrowding problems in Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools can be lessened if they filter some of their students into that high school. It’s not the perfect solution, but it is a temporary one. At Monday’s public hearing, County Manager John Link pointed out that S2O million to S3O mil lion could be raised by other means, such as loans. There are always other methods of funding, and the county still owns land viable for school construction. It will just take a little more time. But it is time that I think the high schools in Chapel Hill can afford. The commissioners’ decision next week will undoubtedly piss people off. But they have to weigh die needs of the county and make the most fiscally responsible move. Columnist Jonathan Chaney can be reached at jhchaney@email.unc.edu. Cabinet Posts Revamped, Positions Filled By Lizzie Breyer University Editor Two high-ranking administrative posts were recendy filled at UNC as the provost’s Cabinet underwent an organi zational transformation. Provost Robert Shelton named Bernadette Gray-Litde, senior associate dean for undergraduate education, as the executive associate provost. Stephen Allred, professor of public law and government at the Institute of Government, was appointed associate Aldermen OK Pine Street's Block Party The Carrboro board approved the event, which will take place Nov. 7, in hopes it will improve strained relations in the area. By Kathleen Wirth Assistant City Editor Members of the Pine Street community are looking to heal -a process that some residents propose begins with a party. After listening to comments from residents and landlords, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen gave the Pine Street Homeowners’ Committee the go-ahead Tuesday for a neigh borhood block party scheduled for Nov. 7. . The event, which will close the street from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., was proposed as a way to rebuild relationships between long-term homeowners, landlords and renters. The demand for on-campus housing this year exceeded the University’s available spots, landing many students in residential communities like Pine Street and aggravating an already sore situation. Tensions mounted this summer when several residents made a formal com-' plaint to the board, asking it to review development ordinances affecting the community. Officials said the party is the first step in smoothing out conflicts. “I hope folks make a genuine effort to meet each other halfway,” said Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson. “Tonight’s discussion symbolizes that this kind of thing is needed.” The committee’s plans sparked criticism from some land lords who say the party is not the right solution for the neigh borhood’s disputes. See ALDERMEN, Page 9 Marshall Aims for U.S. Senate Seat Elaine Marshall, secretary of state, is the only Democrat to have declared candidacy for Jesse Helms' position. By Jennifer Hagin Assistant State & National Editor North Carolina’s first female secre tary of state, Elaine Marshall, hopes to continue breaking new ground as the state’s first woman to serve as a U.S. sen ator. Marshall will seek the Democratic Family Adds Spice to Franklin By Matt Viser Senior Writer There were the Danzigers in the 1950 sand thejulians in the 19705. And now, there are the Dißartolos. Chapel Hill has a long history of fam ily-run businesses, and the Dißartolo family is keeping this tradition alive on Franklin Street. The family, which employs at least 50 people, owns and operates four restau rants in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, three of which are located in prime spots along Franklin Street. The Dißartolo family moved to Chapel Hill seven years ago and brought with them a history of family run businesses. Each of the family’s four members runs one of the family restaurants. “We all run one," said Joe Dißartolo, who operates I Love N.Y. Pizza, locat ed at 106 W. Franklin St “There’s mom, dad, sister and me.” But the Dißartolos have created a family atmosphere that extends beyond their immediate family, said Mike Crusco, the head chef of Valentino’s. Dave Crusco, Mike’s brother, is a manager for the restaurant, located at 100 W. Franklin St. Crusco’s cousin, Vinnie Camaj, works with Joe Dißartolo provost for academic initiatives. Both Gray-Litde and Allred will begin their new positions Sept. 1. Shelton said the two posts are new tides for revamped Cabinet roles and replace the associate provost for acade mic affairs and associate provost for health affairs positions. “This University is so wonderfully strong at cioss-school and cross-collabo ration that having this historical division between health affairs and academic affairs was outdated," Shelton said. “I redefined those -1 wanted to have one . m HMSmI IW Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson said renters and homeowners need to meet each other halfway. nomination in 2002 for the Senate seat presently held by Republican Jesse Helms. Marshall said women in politics, such as herself, are beginning to gain public acceptance. “It’s a quantum leap forward, and women have done well,” she said. “The public is enjoying a growing confidence in women as public policy leaders.” Although she has no experience on the national stage, Marshall has both legislative and executive experience on the state level. She was elected state senator in 1993, at I Love N.Y. Pizza just a few doors down. “Everybody’s family here,” Crusco said. “I’m in no way related to Joe (Dißartolo), but he’s like my brother. I could ask Joe for anything.” Robert Humphreys, director of Chapel Hill’s Downtown Commission, said 80 percent of businesses on Franklin Street are independendy owned and operated. “I think it’s the nature of the street,” Humphreys said. “We’ve been able to maintain the small town, village-like atmosphere,” he added. Before the Dißartolos came to the area in 1994, they owned restaurants in Italy and New York. They got their start in the Triangle by opening Anna Maria’s Pizzeria in Carrboro, which is named after Joe’s daughter. Three years later, the family started I Love N.Y. Pizza. Building on the success of diese two pizzerias, the Dißartolos expanded their operations with the opening of Valentino’s and California Pizza Cafe, located at 201 E. Franklin St. Humphreys said the Dißartolo fami ly is not the first to open a string of busi nesses along Franklin Street. News position that worked with all the deans and one who worked with everyone else.” Gray-Litde’s new job description includes working with deans on a day-to day basis and dealing with topics such as allocating faculty, post-tenure review and sabbatical policy. She also will serve as the acting provost in Shelton’s absence. “(Gray-Little) is a fabulous choice because she has a variety of experience here on campus,” Shelton said. “She has been asked to and has given of her time to serve on numerous com mittees all over campus. That’s what I RAIN ON A SUNNY DAY DTH/SEFTONIPOCK UNC medical student Keith Kocher passes sprinklers watering the grounds of the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery on his way to play basketball in Woollen Gym on Tuesday afternoon. serving just one term. In 1996, Marshall defeated NASCAR driver Richard Petty for her first term as secretary of state - a post to which she was re-elected last fall. But Bill Cobey, chairman of the N.C. Republican Party, said name recogni tion could be a problem for Marshall. “She has been elected statewide a couple of times,” he said. “But she is not very well known.... It will be hard for her to overcome that.” Marshall is the only Democratic can didate who has officially declared can didacy. Other possible party candidates The Danziger family, in the 19505, owned and operated three Franklin Street restaurants including The Rathskeller, located at 157 1/2 E. Franklin St, Humphreys said. He also recalled the Julian family, who by the mid-1970s owned three clothing stores on Franklin Street. Only one of the family’s three origi nal shops, Julian’s, located at 140 E. Franklin St., remains today. Despite a nationwide trend toward large, corporate-run businesses, Humphreys said Chapel Hill residents have supported independendy owned businesses, evidenced by the success of the Dißartolo family. “(The Dißartolo family) certainly has added diversity to Franklin Street,” he said. “They obviously know the formu la to a successful business.” Family members say they pride themselves on their authentic Italian cui sine and New York-style pizza, and in a thick New York accent, Crusco said it is the best in the area. “If you put this in Manhattan, we wouldn’t be original,” Crusco said. “Since it’s in Chapel Hill, we’re orig inal.” The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu. was looking for - that breadth of expe rience. This office is supposed to speak on behalf of the entire campus.” Mike Smith, director of the Institute of Government, also will be part of the deans’ Cabinet that Gray-Litde oversees. Smith said he thinks the newly orga nized posts will improve the operation of the Cabinet and its communication with the provost’s office. “I think it’s a nice balance - (Gray- Litde) is a person respected by so many people, and I have complete confidence going to her on any issue that might face include Rep. Dan Blue, D-Wake, and Mark Erwin, a Charlotte businessman. Marshall said she boasts a wide range of life experiences that will aid her in running for the U.S. Senate, citing her time as a legislator, a businesswoman and a teacher. Charles Coe, a N.C. State University political science professor, said raising money will be Marshall’s toughest chal lenge. “The Senate races are all about money,” Coe said. “That’s where (Helms) was so effective, he was just able See MARSHALL, Page 9 ■Jr r I M mfism T * Wm saMBgjWHBI sfe ■ -u r '**,*' HF Wm- - ltii&i::./; .■HifeW.. L. JllL * j|§ gS pp* , DTH/BESS LOEWENBAUM As the head chef at Valentino's, Mike Crusco spices things up. He says he feels like an extended part of the Dißartolo family. Wednesday, August 29, 2001 the institute, but I still have the option of going to the provost as well,” he said. Smith said he is sad to say goodbye to his colleague as Allred heads to South Building. “I’m not thrilled to lose (Allred) to the institution, but I think the University gains,” Smith said. In his new post, Allred will be respon sible for cross-disciplinary programs and public outreach, overseeing areas such as the Carolina Center for Public Service, the Ackland Art Museum and the Sonja See NEW POSTS, Page 9 Counsel Nabs Its Ist Client The Independent Defense Counsel, after almost a year of waiting in the wings, will debut in the Honor Court. By Stephanie Horvath Assistant University Editor The Independent Defense Counsel is preparing to represent its first client before the Honor Court nearly a year after the counsel’s original conception. Senior William Hashemi, IDC presi dent and founder, said the IDC offers an alternative to defensive counsel from the student attorney general’s office. The student attorney general’s office now provides both the prosecutor and the defense counsel in Honor Court cases. Both Hashemi and Student Attorney General Brad Newcomb declined to comment on the charges facing IDC’s client or the date of the trial. Hashemi began work on the organiza tion last fall when 24 members of James Coggins’ Computer Science 120 class were on trial, charged with academic cheating. “The premise we started out with was to provide an option to people charged with an Honor Court violation,” Hashemi said. “I think there’s an inher ent conflict of interest in the way the stu dent judicial system is set up.” Hashemi said the system is adversar ial, because student attorney general counsels can be either prosecutors or defenders. He individually represented students in three Honor Court cases before the IDC was formed. Hashemi said the IDC’s first client heard about the counsel by word of mouth, a trend he wants to see continued. “We want to work with (resident assis tants) to set up programs in the dorms - let them know we’re available,” he said. “We’ll be less dependent on the references of the student attorney general staff and more dependent on the students.” Newcomb said Hashemi would need advertising to get cases. “At this point the student attorney general staff has not made a decision as to whether we would mention (the IDC) in assigning defense counsels," he said. “Unless he does a lot of advertising, I’m not expecting a lot of cases to go his way because students don’t know about his organization.” The IDC, which currently has 10 members, received training that Hashemi said is identical to the training student attorney general counsels receive. Winston Crisp, associate dean of stu dent affairs in the School of Law, led an See IDC, Page 9 3
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