I’ve been slack keeping y’all in the loop on the Raleigh Neighborhood College classes I’ve been taking. In a word, this program is terrific! I thought I knew my way around the city services, having been here for so long, but the resources available are truly impressive.
The class on communications and emergency services was memorable. We got a chance to tour the 911 center: a place I toured eight years prior as part of Garner’s police citizen’s academy. It didn’t seem to have changed too much, though I did notice the addition of multiple large, flat-panel TVs along the walls. Most of them were tuned to traffic cameras, though a few were tuned to the NCAA basketball tournament.
Hey, no sweat, as long as the phones aren’t ringing. And that’s one thing that wasn’t happening: there were few if any calls. I heard one dispatcher remark to another one “wouldn’t you know it. We get guests and there’s nothing going on.” Seems that people don’t hurt themselves or others when they’re glued to their televisions.
We had a class on Raleigh Housing Authority which impressed me, too. I wasn’t aware that the city owns over 250 rental properties around Raleigh. I also didn’t know that Barker Realty manages them for the city. The projects are doing wonders for the neighborhoods they are in and I am impressed at how they are being managed.
Tonight’s topics were Inspections and Public Utilities. Ed Beckham from Public Utilities and Larry Strickland from the Inspections department came and talked. Though Ed said he had to make his presentation short, he was peppered with very thoughtful questions from the class – and he answered every one. Larry Strickland also fielded some interesting questions and gave equally interesting answers. Once again I found myself wishing we had more time to delve into the topics.
What’s really the most interesting thing about this course is witnessing the leaders in the class emerge. There are a few classmates who consistently ask our speakers probing questions. They show commendable grasp of the topics and wow me with their comprehension. I would not at all be surprised to see them sitting on our City Council someday. And should someday I happen to get there first, I would put their skills to work by appointing them to city boards. We are blessed with some great citizens here in Raleigh, that’s for sure.
The Raleigh Neighborhood College takes a big commitment in time, but already showing how it will pay off.