Residents ‘frustrated’ over Falls of Neuse widening project

Regarding “McFarlane, council member spar on Falls of Neuse project” (July 6): Many area residents from the Muirfield neighborhood and others were quite surprised by the mayor Nancy McFarlane’s lengthy statement at the recent City Council meeting about the state’s proposed widening of a one-mile stretch of Falls of Neuse Road between Durant Road and I-540.

It appears that the mayor has a very different story to tell now than she did just a few months ago.

First, as a resident of one of the affected neighborhoods, I am strongly opposed to the widening because it does nothing to solve the problem – the I-540 backup – and will negatively impact the quality of life of the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses along this section of Falls.

On October 25, 2017, despite such opposition, including a petition supported by more than 300 area residents, CAMPO voted in the budget for the proposed Falls of Neuse widening. After the meeting, Mayor McFarlane spoke to some area residents, and told us that City Council could reallocate the budget at a future time. That was a small but welcome relief at the time.

In forcefully proclaiming the proposed widening a “done deal” on July 3, she directly contradicted her previous assurance from the Fall. What has changed in that short time?

Regrettably, it seems that the mayor points the finger to NCDOT as the decision maker of the process, while NCDOT points to CAMPO and CAMPO claims to follow the lead of City Council in these matters. This is why citizens remain frustrated and continue to fight.

Civility ‘not welcome’

Regarding “‘Don’t come back’: Lawmaker slams Trump after Putin summit” (July 17): I’m confused. Are Wiley Nickel and Grier Martin running for Congress or the N.C. General Assembly? The both recently posted or tweeted attacks on President Trump.

Nickel said, “It was clear Trump was going to be a puppet for Putin back in 2016.” Martin’s comment was particularly hateful. He told President Donald Trump in response to the president’s comment in Helsinki, “Don’t come back. You are not worthy to stand on American soil made free by the sacrifices of men and women better than you.”

When Sen. Jesse Helms said that President Clinton should be careful when he visited the Marines at Camp Lejune, Democrats went into hysterics. Many veterans, including this one, noted that for an elected official to suggest military people who took and oath to defend the Constitution would harm the president over political differences was disgraceful.

Sadly, civility is not just gone from American politics, it is no longer welcome. Which is why we need new people in the General Assembly, people who aren’t part of the establishment and who will end the incessant, destructive Democratic-Republican tribal warfare.

UNC spending

Regarding “UNC spent $390,000 to protect Silent Sam statue” (July 14): I laugh when I hear that UNC has spent nearly $400,000 to protect Silent Sam. This coming from the same flagship school that spent $18 million to convince the NCAA that fake classes are OK for their students and ballplayers.

End fracking

Regarding “Solar energy growing fast in NC, but restraints stifle wind power” (July 18): The Republican legislators and Duke Energy have done all they can to slow the inevitable transition to clean, renewable energy as defined in HB 589. The continued support for and investment into fracked gas fails to recognize and acknowledge the effect that burning fracked gas and the related unresolved methane leakage issue have on global climate change.

We need to elect legislators on the state and federal level that will understand that renewable energy should be encouraged to reduce pollution and allow for individuals and businesses to exponentially maximize clean energy production. In doing so the need for large centralized power plants will be significantly reduced.

Our elected officials and the Utilities Commission have been obsequious to the utilities’ status-quo agenda which only adds to ongoing environmental damage. That needs to change.

This story was originally published July 20, 2018 at 11:35 AM.