CCF

[Don]

In the TOC debate/forum two candidates inferred that Jack Smith and Jennifer Robinson's participation with the Cary Community Foundation was a negative. CCF is a relatively new area non-profit that has raised over $160,000.00 for many other area local non-profits and community organizations.

Lori Bush stated that KB Homes was donating $1000.00 to CCF for every home they built in Cary (Lori mis-stated - the actual # is $100.00 but that's neither here nor there) and that this "encouraged growth". Yet at the same forum Mrs. Bush was critical of Jennifer Robinson for her vote to eliminate Cary's Schools APF.

Municipalities are creatures of the state. They are allowed to do what the state allows them to do. Cary has not been given the authority to collect schools impact fees from the state. Cary tried to do so anyways, and is now facing hundreds of thousands in legal costs and lawsuits as a result. Cary has and continues to lobby our wake delegation for this authority.

Since Lori and her supporters are upset that Cary eliminated the schools APFO, why then are they also upset with KB Homes donating money to an area non-profit who in turn gives that money back to the community? How does this encourage growth? I can't figure this one out.

[Brent]

I can't figure this one out.

I disagree. You're a very intelligent man; I'm sure you can figure it out.

[CatherineE]

KB Homes has given $20K to the CCF who hasn't given a cent this year to any nonprofit (see town press release for confirmation).

As a councilmember, Don F, how about you explain why the APFOs for traffic are acceptable and legal but not the APFOs for schools. Just curious what exactly our two council members Jack and Jennifer have done to get the school APFOs re-instituted.

And if the school APFOs aren't legal, then why is Jack promising to bring back school APFOs if he's re-elected? Curious to know why he hasn't tried to do this yet in the past few years since McAllister's administration repealed them.

Let us know.

[Belle]

KB Homes has given $20K to the CCF who hasn't given a cent this year to any nonprofit (see town press release for confirmation).



Whether or not they have given to a non-profit, they made a significant contribution this year.
I am grateful for the expenses they covered in providing the Town's Climate for Education Success Forum. Without CCF, the forum would not have been possible.

People who support change in our school system should know the value CCF provided, helping promote dialogue between parents, educators, administrators and experts.

It's entirely viable that people who love our town and have the skills to make a difference would serve on both a foundation like this, and in town council. The goal of helping and serving our community is the same.

Is there evidence that the money that came from the developers is being spent on something other than good deeds like the education forum?

[d4vendel]

I am not speaking for Jack or any other council member, but it seems pretty obvious to me that introducing a new school APFO while the Town is in the middle of settleing lawsuits from the last one would be sheer folly. Doesn't it make sense to clean up the mess from the last one so that one has all of the information needed to create an APFO that does result in the Town being sued?

[MattD]

Municipalities are creatures of the state. They are allowed to do what the state allows them to do. Cary has not been given the authority to collect schools impact fees from the state. Cary tried to do so anyways, and is now facing hundreds of thousands in legal costs and lawsuits as a result. Cary has and continues to lobby our wake delegation for this authority.

Note: This specific post below is not about CCF or the upcoming election (should I move it to another thread?).

To follow Don's thought forward - If the Town KNEW it did not have the authority, then who authorized it anyway? That decision has now cost the tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Was this staff or Council decision?

[CatherineE]

I am not speaking for Jack or any other council member, but it seems pretty obvious to me that introducing a new school APFO while the Town is in the middle of settleing lawsuits from the last one would be sheer folly. Doesn't it make sense to clean up the mess from the last one so that one has all of the information needed to create an APFO that does result in the Town being sued?

So explain why Jack is promising to bring back school APFOs if re-elected? You're his campaign treasurer, I'm sure you can find out.

[CatherineE]

KB Homes has given $20K to the CCF who hasn't given a cent this year to any nonprofit (see town press release for confirmation).



Whether or not they have given to a non-profit, they made a significant contribution this year.
I am grateful for the expenses they covered in providing the Town's Climate for Education Success Forum. Without CCF, the forum would not have been possible.

People who support change in our school system should know the value CCF provided, helping promote dialogue between parents, educators, administrators and experts.

It's entirely viable that people who love our town and have the skills to make a difference would serve on both a foundation like this, and in town council. The goal of helping and serving our community is the same.

Is there evidence that the money that came from the developers is being spent on something other than good deeds like the education forum?

It's entirely viable that a candidate seeking voter support would use her clout on the CCF and town council to host a forum in the town's council chambers on the subject of schools, a political hot button topic. While I attended and found it worth my time, it was poorly attended. For Jennifer to orchestrate this forum so close to her re-election campaign seems opportunistic with CCF monies supporting certain council members and vice versa. Had Jennifer Robinson been a vocal supporter of parents' concerns about reassignment prior to this forum (like the mayor and council members Adcock and Frantz), it would be entirely more believable that her intent was something other than helping position her campaign.

[CatherineE]

Municipalities are creatures of the state. They are allowed to do what the state allows them to do. Cary has not been given the authority to collect schools impact fees from the state. Cary tried to do so anyways, and is now facing hundreds of thousands in legal costs and lawsuits as a result. Cary has and continues to lobby our wake delegation for this authority.

Note: This specific post below is not about CCF or the upcoming election (should I move it to another thread?).

To follow Don's thought forward - If the Town KNEW it did not have the authority, then who authorized it anyway? That decision has now cost the tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Was this staff or Council decision?

Good question. We'd all like to know.

[Belle]

KB Homes has given $20K to the CCF who hasn't given a cent this year to any nonprofit (see town press release for confirmation).



Whether or not they have given to a non-profit, they made a significant contribution this year.
I am grateful for the expenses they covered in providing the Town's Climate for Education Success Forum. Without CCF, the forum would not have been possible.

People who support change in our school system should know the value CCF provided, helping promote dialogue between parents, educators, administrators and experts.

It's entirely viable that people who love our town and have the skills to make a difference would serve on both a foundation like this, and in town council. The goal of helping and serving our community is the same.

Is there evidence that the money that came from the developers is being spent on something other than good deeds like the education forum?

It's entirely viable that a candidate seeking voter support would use her clout on the CCF and town council to host a forum in the town's council chambers on the subject of schools, a political hot button topic. While I attended and found it worth my time, it was poorly attended. For Jennifer to orchestrate this forum so close to her re-election campaign seems opportunistic with CCF monies supporting certain council members and vice versa. Had Jennifer Robinson been a vocal supporter of parents' concerns about reassignment prior to this forum (like the mayor and council members Adcock and Frantz), it would be entirely more believable that her intent was something other than helping position her campaign.

I suppose anyone who attended or was involved could leave themselves open to such accusation, including yourself.

If she HAD gone to the reassignment meetings, you'd probably just accuse her of doing *that* for political reasons too.

Jennifer's work trying to aid education efforts in Cary dates back ten years, when she was first on council and helped move the Cary Education Initiative through. And as you know, during her time on council, she has supported millions of dollars in efforts that benefit Cary's families.

The answer to the question "Is there evidence that the money that came from the developers is being spent on something other than good deeds like the education forum?" - is still NO.