You can’t ban protests. But I agree with the rest. I’m sorry for the things black people and other people face, but having a few people smash up downtown businesses that did nothing wrong, while people on the sidelines are excusing it, does nothing to solve the problems, and ends up equating legitimate protests with violent rioters. The issues don’t need more attention that riots bring, they need solutions and enough people on board to make them happen. Instead the opposite is happening. Most of the country is sick of this, and some on the right want to have troops in our cities. This just plays into it. I support BLM and police oversight, but destroying someone’s business because you’re upset about something else and/or want attention is just counterproductive. I’m appalled that people will just excuse it.
The mayor needs to ban (the thing the mayor’s constituents want to do and have the right to do and by the way is also the right thing to do).
Great plan.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.”
So if you are against having troops brought in, how do you stop the damage to these third parties (which IMO aren’t part of the protests)?I am not baiting you (I have a lot of respect for you and your opinion). I really don’t have a solution. But I do know that these business don’t have faith in Raleigh leadership.
I don’t know. But troops aren’t going to make it better. If I had a solution, I’d share it with anyone who would listen, but I’m not that naive. I just have this sense of anxiety about our downtown and everything I love about this city.
The solution to just getting rid of all the plywood -or getting to the bottom of what’s fueling the protests?
I’m also sick and tired of all the great restaurants in Raleigh not being able to open up. But at the same time, I think “squash the protests” is just putting band-aid on a gun wound; especially if BLM protests are going to become a thing, the only way to stop them will be to eliminate why they happen.
The solution to getting to the bottom of what’s fueling the protests.
I think there are two separate issues at hand fueling the protests/riots:
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The obvious, and truly real issue, is racial profiling and unequal treatment of POC by the criminal justice system; from policing to sentencing, bail, parole, etc. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone suggest an immediate answer to solve this historical issue. Body Cams were a step in the right direction, but they also lead to more emotional triggers (unjust killings videos being released vs. unjust killings having no footage). Gun ownership per capita and training hours per officer are other salient metrics that should be part of the conversation. This issue demands attention, and the wheel is in motion following the George Floyd protests in Raleigh.
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The jet fuel on the fire is the deliberate use of media/social media to spread sensationalized stories, misinformation, and threads of hate throughout the community, potentially by agencies/actors outside of this community and outside of this nation. A portion of the energy and angst that could be focused on creating solutions is instead being hijacked to focus on retaliation, anger, and resentment. Truly amazing times, and it seems no coincidence that it’s a huge election year. These divisive movements online; hijacking legitimate hashtags, pushing false info [rumors] through “credible” channels/accounts, and organizing rallies immediately following stories seem just a little too well coordinated and organized. Almost as if there is some large scale coordination between the news coming to light and the following rally logistics. It’s all extremely fishy to me.
God speed to us all, and may Raleigh and the US find itself in a better place soon, including all people of all descendents and religions.
I’ll add that Glenwood was slammed tonight. Had an amazing meal at Plates. 1 hr. wait at La Santa
Mr.Boltman your not a Washington Times man are you lol ?
Nah, I’m no Washington Times or Fox guy, nor I’m I a MSNBC or CNN. Running out of options… I usually stick to financial news sources like Bloomberg or CNBC.
BBC’s North American coverage does the trick. On a National level, that’s all Ive been reading for 5+ years.
I find that the Wall Street Journal provides the best overall coverage. The news is center-left. The editorial page is on the right, for the most part. More detailed and fair than most rags.
Very glad to hear that GS is still doing well, commercial wise.
You are correct. First thing I read everyday. I forget about print.
If you don’t mind, debates on newspaper political bias may spin into an off topic argument that most don’t want to see.
Fayetteville Street looked grim when I drove by earlier today. Let’s hope for an impactful but peaceful protest tonight without incident.
To the DT residents, get your ear plugs ready. 
Food hall busy. Friday some more debris was taken away from grocery store site but still no real signs of construction.
This morning, downtown felt a little busier to me than it has for awhile, with the exception of Fayetteville St. The Moore Square and Transfer areas had some foot traffic as did the warehouse district.
People were dining indoors at Parkside, which I haven’t seen in a while. Still too soon for me, personally, to eat indoors at a restaurant, but I hope everyone is able to stay safe and not worsen the pandemic while supporting local businesses. I very much miss going out to eat and look forward to when I can safely do that again.
I didn’t say no protests, rather, I said no violent juvenile!
As long as they march and don’t bother no one, I am 100% for it. But showing up and banging glasses (poor Beassly’s…) and ruining a city that is NOT theirs to ruin (let them ruin their own homes and neighborhoods). That is entirely unacceptable
As long as we welcome these law breakers by giving them a time (oh until a curefew and baby sit them with the cops)-we are literally inviting their acts of violence. Is it a wonder they got to work within 5 mins! Even the cops said, we were caught off guard. We enable the behavior and I’ve said that last time too.
I’m all for ‘working things out’ but not allowing violent law breaking behavior in the interim. That is never allowed. But they are welcome to protest legally and peacefully, every single day. I am all for that.
they have teamed up with Capital Club 16 to make a huge area. They are routing pedestrian traffic off the sidewalk and using the whole sidewalk for tables and servers. Seems like a clever use of the space they are given.
I got a little insider information from the GC about a Person St. Bar style establishment coming to New Bern Ave. from Merge Capital.
The address 1601 New Bern Ave. is currently home to the New Bern Mart. This section of New Bern badly needs a facelift and shot of life. Once the sun goes down this area changes drastically and could use a different clientele to reflect the evolving neighborhood around it.