Great civic day!

It’s been an amazing civic day! I began my morning with a meeting at 8 with the police chief and his staff to discuss an increased police presence at a nearby intersection. I’m optimistic about the outcome and think it’s a big step forward.

After work I led another great East CAC meeting, moving items along so that it actually ended ahead of schedule. We heard from a committee I initiated to get help out with CAC matters and I’m extremely proud of the caliber of neighbors who have stepped up to serve. Things are actually getting organized and its making our business run much more smoothly.

After the “drudge work” was done, we held out first “summer social,” with chicken wings provided by our Vice chair’s restaurant. It was thrilling to look around at 30 neighbors happily chatting and getting to know each other as they enjoyed the snacks. It was incredibly fun, and I knew that the bonds and connections that get created will strengthen our community in ways I hardly imagine.

I came home and talked Kelly’s ear off about the whole event. I sat there for a while, staring at the ceiling with a stupid grin on my face, relishing how cool it feels to empower people and watching where it leads.

Being paid for your work is a perk?

Laura Leslie from WUNC’s Isaac Hunter’s Tavern brings up the same question I had about the N&O’s story about state employee comp time: when did it become a perk to be paid for your work?

Says Leslie:

… comp time is mostly given in lieu of overtime to employees who aren’t eligible for the latter. And one reason employees are earning so much of it is because staffing in many departments is thinner than it’s been for years. When there’s more work to do and fewer people to do it, employees end up working extra hours to complete what needs to be done. Last time I checked federal labor laws, a one-to-one trade for overtime worked is not a “perk.”

Seems like a big hole in the N&O’s argument and one that should’ve been considered before running the story.