Political Signs Go Green

What started as a quest to lower the cost of yard signs resulted in having the most environmentally sound signs of the campaign. Lee Sartain's campaign for Raleigh City Council is aiming to have the "greenest" signs in the race. Our new yard signs are made from recycled materials, and the signs themselves can be recycled at the end of the election. The stakes are made from pine, and can be composted or used as tomato/vegetable stakes in your backyard garden after the election in October. One of Sartain's competitors is using plastic "bag" signs. Not only do these signs use oil in the process of production, they easily fly off holders and become choking hazards to our pets and other animals. Urge our competitor to stop using these signs as they are bad for our environment, and are not easily recycled. For more information on the campaign visit: http://www.sartainforraleigh.com

SARTAIN CALLS FOR MAJOR RENTAL REFORM

Today candidate for Raleigh City Council, Lee Sartain, announced major changes for two programs impacting rental properties in the city of Raleigh. Sartain is calling for major reforms to the Probationary Rental Occupancy Permit (PROP) program and the Raleigh Rental Dwelling Registration Ordinance.

The Raleigh Rental Dwelling Registration Ordinance was passed by city council in July 2008 to generate revenue for a city database of rental properties. Currently, the aims of program fall short of the needs of renters and property owners. Sartain’s proposal would morph the database into a tool that would aide property owners in identifying problem tenants and properties.

The current Rental Registration Ordinance does not act as a tool to aide property owners in maintaining safe and healthy rental properties for their tenants. Reforms would link the database to public safety and health information so property owners can identify problems before they reach levels that require city intervention.–Lee Sartain

Sartain is also proposing major reforms to the Probationary Rental Occupancy Permit (PROP) program. The aim of the PROP program is to address “problem rental properties.” However, the current program blends several housing issues together, including problem tenants. Currently PROP shoulders the burden of problem tenants on property owners. To carry out the expectations of PROP requires landlords to violate tenant privacy rights protected by state and federal law. Reforms will hold nuisance tenants responsible for their actions, while enabling property owners to maintain the health and safety of the residence.

A Blue Ribbon commission consisting of members of the City Planning Commission, community groups, and representatives from various property management groups would be formed to make full recommendations for reform. The goal of the commission will be to bring comprehensive reform that works for tenants and property owners. For more information on Sartain’s proposed reforms see http://www.sartainforraleigh.com. A campaign media kit is also available at http://www.sartainforraleigh.com/news/mediakit.zip.

Summer Reading List

If you have high schoolers at home you are probably well aware of summer reading lists. Candidates for public office should also have summer reading lists. In addition to policy briefs and pages of tax code, I have been reviewing several books I have read in the past to aid me in my campaign. I would suggest you check them out if you get the opportunity.

A Generosity of Spirit: The Early History of the Research Triangle Park by Albert Link: This book chronicles the early history of RTP, and highlights the unheard of (at the time) collaborations between three major research universities, state government, and the business community. This case study has been been extremely instrumental in the development of the RITZ proposal.

From Seed to Harvest: The Growth of the Research Triangle Park by Albert Link: This followup explores the ongoing growth of the park, and policy interactions required to make growth constant.

The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby: This book discusses the "dumbing down" of American politics into categorical extremes. It also covers how the age of distractionism has left us in an untenable situation where we fail to seek real long-term goals.

The Vision of The Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy by Thomas Sowell: While generally Sowell is on the wrong side of the debate around economic issues, this book is more than that. Overall I don't agree with much of Sowell's philosophies, but it proves to be an interesting read.