Press Releases and Newsletters
Transforming into the Good Transportation State
NC Go! recently released a report that reflects a compilation of several studies issued recently regarding highway safety and the costs of poor roads, bridges and traffic congestion. Additional information from the NC Department of Transportation on road and bridge conditions and recovery funds provides further context for the discussion on the current status of transportation in North Carolina.
At the conclusion of the report they provide several options available to the state in planning to meet future revenue needs. NC Go! does not favor any single plan over another, but simply suggests all options be considered and that any solution be equitable in gauging how each user pays for their share of highway, bridge and public transportation consumption.
North Carolina Transit Ridership Exploded in 2008
North Carolina Transit Ridership Exploded in 2008
Increase was second highest in the nation
Raleigh, NC – Record numbers of North Carolinians rode the bus or the train last year, fueling an increase in transit ridership that outpaced all but one other state. A new Environment North Carolina report, “Getting On Track: Record Transit Ridership Increases Energy Independence,” shows ridership was up 16 percent in 2008—thanks in part to the 20 percent surge in ridership in the Triangle.
Transportation is responsible for two thirds of the nation’s dependence on oil and more than a third of the state’s global warming emissions.
“Last year, the Triangle had more transportation alternatives than ever before, and citizens took advantage of those choices in droves, helping to reduce air and global warming pollution and our dependence on oil,” said Margaret Hartzell, Global Warming Advocate with Environment North Carolina. “Last year, North Carolinians proved the old adage, ‘If you build it, they will come.’”
North Carolinians also drove less in 2008, with 2,278,000 fewer miles driven than in the year before – a 2 percent decrease. People drove less due in part to volatile fuel prices and decreased economic activity, and many of these car trips were replaced by transit.
“As this report illustrates, demand for public transportation alternatives in high-growth areas such as the Triangle is far outpacing supply. Given the potential that transit projects have to help us address transportation needs and broader challenges such as climate change and energy independence, federal investments in public transit are no longer just a matter of dollars and cents — they are a matter of our core national interest,” said U.S. Representative David Price (D-04).
The report also showed that 2008 increased statewide transit ridership saved more than 20 million gallons of gasoline, the equivalent of the fuel nearly 35,000 cars use in one year. The report did not calculate other benefits of increased transit ridership –including reduced congestion, fewer hours stuck in traffic, reductions in smog and soot pollution or money saved by households regularly taking transit.
“Every additional dollar we spend on public transit makes us less dependent on oil and reduces global warming pollution, smog, and asthma attacks,” continued Hartzell.
In addition to fuel savings, public transportation reduced global warming pollution in North Carolina by 185,000 tons in 2008. In order to maximize public transportation’s potential to save energy and reduce pollution, Environment North Carolina is calling for more and cleaner public transportation alternatives, including transit, high speed rail, and better walking and biking options.
In the near term, Environment North Carolina is eager for cities to take advantage of a new law championed by Reps. Deborah Ross (D-Wake) and Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg) that allows local governments to raise revenue to support public transit.
Environment North Carolina is also calling on Congress to incorporate the full provisions of CLEAN TEA (the Clean, Low Emissions, Affordable New Transportation Equity Act, S. 575) into the energy and climate bill soon to be debated in the Senate. CLEAN TEA would direct 10 percent of climate bill allowances to clean transportation efforts that will save oil and reduce emissions. The House-passed version of the President’s energy plan increases transit funding by 1 percent.
“To reduce air global warming pollution along with our dependence on oil, Sen. Hagan should support a strong energy bill with increased transit funding,” said Hartzell.
Sept. 2nd Board of Transportation Meeting
Sept. 2nd Board of Transportation Meeting
*Thanks to Jim Humphrey with the City of Charlotte for sharing these notes he took at the meeting.
Draft Project Prioritization Process for Urban Loops-Don Voelker gave a presentation emphasizing the draft nature. He listed 6 principles guiding development including support statewide growth, data driven and transparent, consistent with overall strategic prioritization process (i.e. for non loop projects), include benefit/cost, subject to public review and allow Secretary of DOT to have ability to change ranking (but he will have to explain basis). Project will be scored utilizing need and benefit factors. Need factors and their potential scoring emphasis included congestion (high), safety (low) and pavement condition (low). Benefit factors included travel time saving (high), environmental readiness (low to medium), air quality (medium to high), economic development potential (high), freight movement (medium), multimodal (medium) and land use (medium). The rating for economic development is determined based upon Dept of Commerce info. Ultimately projects across the state will be compared based upon their “Priority Ratio” which is their Need Factors score plus Benefit Factors score divided by the project cost. It was stated other factors that will be considered in scheduling projects include build useable segments (is it a segment that begins and ends in a logical place), avoid lapse in planning documents, paying for cash flow for projects started in previous years, apply funds based upon favorable construction conditions (low construction cost due to contractor availability) and the amount of non-loop (non-DOT funds) funding provided (such as thru public/private, TIFIA, Tolls, etc.). The implementation schedule includes production of a pilot report outlining the methodology, BOT input, MPO input from loop areas, a 30 day comment period via the web site and finalization in the spring of 2010 (presumably so the new method could be used in prioritization of new loop projects, not current loop projects, for the new 5 Year Work Program). Don’s presentation should be on the NCDOT web site.
Sustainability-Lacy Love updated the Environment and Planning Committee regarding a “Sustainability in Transportation” peer exchange he and others from NCDOT attended sponsored by USDOT and others. He spoke of the “triple bottom line” approach to sustainability by evaluating performance on the basis of economic, social and environmental impacts and allocating equal consideration to these driving forces in project and operational decisions. He stated next steps for NCDOT included clarifying what sustainability means to NCDOT and their role, inventorying what they already do since some actions already consider sustainable criteria (example, LED signals) and continuing dialog with AASHTO, local communities and other resource agencies regarding their efforts. The presentation was for information only at this point, but it seems clear NCDOT is very interested in pursuing the concept. If you want to see an example, the state of Washington produces a sustainability report each year which is probably on their web site. Lacy’s presentation should be on the DOT website.
New Federal Rules on Mitigation-Bill Gilmore updated the Safety and Emerging Issues Committee on new rules which the NCDOT must comply with by June 2010. A copy of Bill’s presentation should be on the NCDOT web site.
Legislative Update-Johanna Reese updated the group on a number of bills and other legislation. Some of the info that I highlight include (pardon me if the bill numbers are incorrect) HB 881 which among other things authorizes the DOT to sell salt and stone to municipalities and counties, SB 648 which allows the NCDOT to pay developers directly for road improvements, HB 12 which clarifies how GARVEE funds will be accounted for in Equity Formula calculations, HB 148 (Intermodal Bill) that authorizes sales tax and other revenue options for transit, HB 1617 that places the Turnpike Authority in NCDOT, SB 200 which puts a floor on the gas tax and SB 750 which clarifies gap funds which the legislature authorized for the NCTA will not be subject to the equity formula. It was mentioned that a statewide bill was approved that allows golf carts on public roads under certain conditions and authorizes local fees for licensing (no bill number was given). Johanna indicated a number of studies were authorized (but not mandated) on subjects such as the Equity Formula, reducing costs via various paving methods, and tolling at state lines.
Complete Streets-Tom Norman indicated a process will be presented to senior DOT leadership for approval soon which suggests a DOT and Stakeholder group (including municipalities and MPOs) be formed to develop a complete streets workbook that could be given to stakeholders. Timetable for production of the workbook is 12 months. He also mentioned a goal to change DOT geometric and design standards so they better align with the complete street philosophy. Quarterly updates will be given to the Multimodal Committee regarding DOT efforts to pursue the complete streets philosophy and measures will be developed.
Bide and Ped Applications-Tom Norman indicated that this Friday the NCDOT will call for applications for Bike and Ped planning grants. 90 communities now have Bike and Ped Plans. In the future, cities that have Bike and Ped plans will be more likely to receive bike and ped funding.
I-85 Corridor Study/Yadkin River Bridge-Jim Trogden mentioned the NCDOT had begun soliciting contractors for the design/build project submitted for Stimulus discressionary money. I believe the NCDOT wants to have a contractor chosen and ready to begin work in the event project funding is authorized by the feds. Jim indicated he expects the state to “fare well” on it’s application (a similar indication was stated in his remarks at the recent Metro Mayors luncheon in Concord).
5 Year Work Plan-Board was given an update of work to develop a 5 year work plan. An interim 5 year work plan was handed to Board members which essentially takes current projects and initiatives and places them in a new format. Major sections of the plan/format include a timetable for developing 20, 10 and 5 year programs, a summary of program areas and where all transportation funds go, a summary of expenditures (by mode, tier and region), a detailed project listing (by division, mode and TIP number), project support costs, operations and maintenance summary, administrative funding, listing of where other DOT funds are going and targets for measuring successful administration of the budget. The interim work plan is intended to be in place until the Board approves a new work plan next May. Jim Trogden indicated it merely contained what they are currently doing and working on and that it did not have a strategic focus. MPOs and localities will be invited to comment on the new format and will be involved in development of the new work plan. I do not know if the interim work plan is on the DOT web site.
I was unable to attend the Rail and Transit Committees meetings. The TIP Committee did not meet.
UPDATE: NC to lose $249m in unspent Federal Highway Program Funding
UPDATE: House Approves 3-Month Authorization Extension; Does Not Address Rescissions
UPDATE: Here’s the latest (and it is changing minute to minute). The House bill, H3617, is a three month extension of SAFETEA-LU without a repeal of the rescission. It was calendared to be heard today, but was pulled from the calendar because of a lack of support for the three month time frame.
The Senate has a bill ready, but not yet filed, with an eighteen month extension and a repeal of the rescission. I hear the White House supports this bill.
I am told the hang up on repealing the rescission is the price tag, as the money would have to come from another source or contribute to the deficit.
Congress must pass something by September 30 or SAFETEA-LU ceases to exist, so there is talk of adding a one month extension (without repeal of the rescission) to the House’s FY2010 Fiscal Appropriation Continuing Resolution which has to pass by the 30th. That bill has not been filed yet either, but when it is, I will include a hyperlink here.
Click here for the letter from High Point
Click here for the letter from Charlotte
Click here for the Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro MPO letter
Click here for letter from Fayetteville
Click here for sample letter to Congressional Delegation from Greensboro
Click here for a copy of the letter from the City of Concord
Click here for the letter from the NC Assoc. of MPOs
Click here for a copy of the letter from Sec. Conti
North Carolina is slated to lose $249 million of unspent Federal Highway Program funding effective September 29th if Congress does not act before then. SAFETEA-LU (federal surface transportation authorization legislation), which expires September 30, 2009, includes a provision for a major rescission of Federal High Highway Funds. (A rescission is a cut in previously approved funding levels taken out of unused.) This cut will be made on September 29, 2009 if Congress does not act to eliminate the rescission provision.
This loss will affect all federal highway funding programs and represents a 27% reduction in North Carolina’s annual federal highway fund appropriation. In addition, the funds also encompass the STP DA funds that are directed at urbanized areas over 200,000. Below is a table representing the potential hit to those cities:
North Carolina
Asheville $1,008,869
Charlotte $3,345,647
Durham $1,310,415
Fayetteville $1,258,380
Greensboro $1,219,750
Raleigh $2,465,722
Winston-Salem $1,362,750
Total $11,971,533
We are strongly encouraging you to write and call the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and ask them to eliminate the rescission. The clock is ticking as the rescission is effective in just over a week. Please act quickly.
LaHood Supports Direct Funding for Cities and Counties (AASHTO Journal)
LaHood Supports Direct Funding for Cities and Counties (AASHTO Journal)
Addressing a meeting in Chicago last week, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood called for the development of regional transportation plans by counties and cities, which would be implemented with direct federal funding.
LaHood spoke Sept. 3 to the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association. After congratulating the organization on Illinois’ success in obligating 80 percent of its economic recovery highway funds, LaHood turned to authorization of the federal surface transportation programs.
LaHood made the following remarks regarding his desire to send federal transportation dollars directly to local governments, bypassing state transportation departments, which historically have been responsible for allocating most of a state’s federal funding:
“Looking ahead, beyond the recovery act, I believe it’s time to re-think our federal spending priorities and focus on transportation investments that more effectively meet the needs of our communities.
For many years, federal transportation spending has mainly been driven by rigid formulas and divided by modes of transportation — with separate funding for each type of need, from highways to subways to ferries. We need to turn this around, so that our priorities and the outcomes people care about — such as building transit and affordable housing closer together — drive our investments.
In order for this to happen, we have to change the way we operate. We need to make our national priorities clear — and then empower state and local jurisdictions and other stakeholders to make them a reality.
And we don’t want to pit one mode of transportation against another. Instead, we’re asking communities to put outcomes first — and then determine the type of transportation infrastructure that works best to meet those outcomes. We’re hoping and expecting that this will be an effective way to strike a new balance among all forms of transportation.
We also want to allow counties and cities to work together to develop regional plans reflecting both regional and national priorities. Then we’d fund them directly. The fact is, metro areas hold over 80 percent of the U.S. population. They’re major centers of economic activity. And they account for most of the congestion and greenhouse-gas emissions.
Empowering metro regions to tackle their transportation and energy problems will move us closer to enjoying cities and suburbs that are cleaner, less congested, and less polluted than many are today.
We think all this can be accomplished without sacrificing the important investments that also need to be made in rural towns. What’s really important isn’t the size of a project or a jurisdiction. It’s whether we can succeed in investing in transportation projects that enhance our quality of life and help us compete economically.”
LaHood Gets Regional on Transportation Spending (Brookings Institute)
LaHood Gets Regional on Transportation Spending (Brookings Institute)
Robert Puentes
Lost in the hubbub about health care last week were some remarkable comments from U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. While certainly not as weighty as many of the issues Washington is wrestling with now that Congress is back in session, they represent a sea-change in rhetoric about national transportation policy.
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Why is this a big deal? Because despite Secretary LaHood’s common-sense reasoning, federal transportation policy has only haltingly recognized metros’ centrality to transportation outcomes, and continues to assign states the primary role in transportation planning and programming. Taken together, federal law only gives metropolitan areas direct control over a small share of road and bridge funding (less than 7 percent; see attached pie chart).
This uneven allocation on the highway side is starving the older portions of our metropolitan areas. This at the very time when those places are struggling with the highest need for repairs and congestion relief, can generate some of the greatest reductions in oil consumption and green house gas emissions, and are ultimately central to economic prosperity and growth in this nation. Washington should heed the secretary’s call.
Peers offer sage advice to incoming manager (Triad Biz Journal)
Peers offer sage advice to incoming manager (Triad Biz Journal)
(Click on article title immediately above for link to PDF of story)
Greenville Crime Summit (The Daily Reflector)
City will host crime summit (The Daily Reflector)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A panel discussion and comments from the state’s leader in crime control are the featured events at a city-sponsored crime summit to be held next week.
The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday and will be held in the Greenville City Council chambers, third floor, Greenville City Hall.
Reuben F. Young, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, is the scheduled keynote speaker.
In addition toYoung’s presentation, there will be a panel discussion featuring Greenville Police Chief William Anderson, Pitt County Sheriff Mac Manning, District Attorney Clark Everett, Kim Williams of North Carolina Probation and Parole, the Honorable District Court Judge Joseph Blick, and the Rev. Tyrone Turnage. Dr. Virginia Hardy with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University will moderate.
The panel discussion will include questions from the public, according to a Greenville Police Department news release.
Light refreshments will be served in the Gallery Room beginning at 6:30 p.m. Call the police department at 329-4333 for more information.
General Assembly’s fiscal forecaster foresees ‘another jobless recovery’ (TBJ)
General Assembly’s fiscal forecaster foresees ‘another jobless recovery’ (Triangle Business Journal)
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 1:07pm EDT | Modified: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 1:14pm
by Lee Weisbecker
Rays of sunshine might be peaking through the economic storm clouds, but General Assembly fiscal researcher Barry Boardman is forecasting only limited growth over the next four to six quarters.
“The latest expectations are that the recession is over, but it will continue to feel like we are still in a recession,” Boardman writes in a September 2009 forecast released this week.
As signs of recovery, Boardman points to various studies by the Federal Reserve Bank and others showing an improvement in manufacturing orders. Additionally, he adds, increased government spending has been having some short-term beneficial effects.
Yet, he says, “employment has yet to respond to the improvement, though layoff announcements are fewer and monthly job losses are smaller than they were a few months ago.”
Recovery, he adds, will depend in large part on the return of consumer demand, which has been battered by tight credit, the “destruction of household nest eggs,” unemployment and concerns over job security.
“Coming out of the 1981-82 recession, economic growth was at 6 percent, nearly twice the long-term rate. This time around, weak consumer demand will undercut the potential for a robust recovery,” Boardman writes, adding that the state’s unemployment picture “will remain bleak as yet another jobless recovery takes hold.”
Employment in the state’s traditional manufacturing sectors such as textiles and furniture will be very slow to recover, Boardman says. However, “new economy” industries like high-tech manufacturing and research-based industries “may help lead the state to a recovery,“ he concludes.
StreetSafe Taskforce Members Announced
Gov. Perdue Names Members to StreetSafe Task Force
Gov. Bev Perdue today named 34 members to the StreetSafe Task Force. Attorney General Roy Cooper and Department of Correction Secretary Alvin Keller will serve as co-chairs. Secretaries Linda Hayes and Lanier Cansler also will serve on the task force.
StreetSafe will bring together faith-based organizations, non-profits, local and state government agencies, business leaders and members of the community to develop a plan to combat recidivism and reintegrate offenders safely into the community.“By uniting the efforts of government, business and civic organizations, this task force will work to stop ex-offenders from committing new crimes,” Perdue said. “StreetSafe will give ex-offenders the support they need to successfully reenter society, which will make North Carolina safer for everyone.”
“Law enforcement officers too often see criminals they’ve arrested and convicted go right back to their old ways as soon as they get out of prison,” Cooper said. “Stopping criminals from repeating their crimes will make all of us safer.”
“With more than 28,000 offenders being released from our prisons each year, we need to do everything possible to help those people succeed and to keep them from coming back,” said Secretary Keller. “StreetSafe will be a key part of that effort.”
In May, Governor Perdue signed Executive Order No. 12 creating the StreetSafe Task Force. The governor made the announcement at Step Up Ministries, a program that works with ex-offenders.
Below is a list of members:
• Attorney General Roy Cooper – Cooper is co-chair of the task force. The state’s top law enforcement officer, he heads the NC Department of Justice which includes the State Bureau of Investigation. Before becoming attorney general, he practiced law and served in the legislature where he helped author the Crime Victims Bill of Rights.
• Secretary Alvin Keller, Department of Correction – Secretary Keller is co-chair of the task force. He was appointed secretary in 2009. He has more than 30 years of military, judicial and government experience. He served as Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice.
• Secretary Linda Hayes, Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – Secretary Hayes was appointed secretary in 2009. For the past 15 years, she served as chair of the Governor’s Crime Commission.
• Secretary Lanier Cansler, Department of Health and Human Services – Secretary Cansler has renewed DHHS’ commitment to enhance public confidence in the agency’s ability to successfully meet the challenges and address the needs of North Carolina citizens. He also served in the N.C. House of Representatives, where he served on numerous health care committees.
• Al Delia – Delia is the Governor’s policy director. Prior to his role in the Perdue administration, he served as president and CEO of North Carolina’s Eastern Region Development Commission, where he oversaw plans for business recruitment, retention, expansion and creation for a 13-county region.
• John Smith – Judge Smith is director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts and was named a special superior court judge in 2005. He also served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.
• Moses Cary Jr. – Carey is chairman of the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina. He worked in local and state departments of health in Florida and served as executive director of Piedmont Health Services for 18 years until he retired.
• Thomas Maher – Maher is executive director of the N.C. Office of Indigent Defense where he oversees the supervision and funding of public defenders and privately assigned counsel providing legal representation to indigent citizens in North Carolina.
• Roger Shackleford – Shackleford is the executive director of Workforce Development. He supervises the Commission on Workforce Development, which is responsible for oversight, policy development and the planning of the workforce development system in North Carolina. Shackleford has more than 24 years of experience in workforce development.
• Mike Robertson – Robertson is commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles and has served 40 years as a law enforcement officer. He also is past assistant director of the State Bureau of Investigation and the past director of the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division.
• The Honorable Scott Thomas – Thomas is a district attorney and current chair of the Governor’s Crime Commission. He also has served as a state senator and was chair of the Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Subcommittee and vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee.
• Erskine Bowles – Bowles has been president of the UNC system since 2005. He also served as chief of staff for Pres. Bill Clinton.
• Dr. Scott Ralls – Ralls is president of the N.C. Community College System. Prior to this position, Ralls was the president of Craven Community College.
• Thomas Bennett – Bennett is the executive director of the N.C. Victim Assistance Network, a nonprofit that promotes the rights and needs of crime victims. He also was executive director of the N.C. Association of County Directors of Social Services.
• Leslie Winner – Winner is the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. She is past vice president and general counsel to UNC. Winner also served in the N.C. Senate from 1993-98.
• Larry Dail – Dail is the correctional administrator at Craven Correctional Institution, which also is a diagnostic center where new inmates are evaluated medically, physically and mentally to determine which prison is appropriate for their incarceration.
• James Langston – Langston is the superintendent of the Wake Correctional Center, a minimum security prison. He is the previous assistant superintendent at Wake Correctional Center.
• Tracy Royster – Royster is the judicial district manager in Cleveland and Lincoln counties. She also has served as a probation officer and chief probation/parole officer.
• Donald Pinchback – Pinchback is the chief juvenile court justice counselor in Durham County from the N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice and Prevention. He also has worked in the court district for Caswell, Person and Wake counties.
• Eugene Ellison – Ellison is an attorney at his law firm, the Law Office of Eugene W. Ellison, which he opened in 1984. He also is a member of the N.C. Bar Association and the N.C. Central University Law Alumni Board of Directors.
• Benjamin David – David is district attorney for the Fifth Judicial District. He also is the founding member of the Blue Ribbon Commission to End Youth Violence.
• The Honorable Craig Croom – Judge Croom is a Wake County district court judge. He also volunteers with Capital Area Teen Court, and he spends time speaking with young people in schools and churches throughout Wake County.
• The Honorable Yvonne Evans – Evans has been the Mecklenburg County superior judge since 2003. Prior to 2003, she was a county district judge for 10 years.
• Terry Bellamy – Bellamy has been the mayor of Asheville since 2005. She is the youngest mayor in North Carolina and the first African-American to serve as mayor in Asheville.
• Delores Jennings – Jennings has worked in human services, where she has provided case management and evaluation services to clients who are dual-diagnosed, mentally ill or impaired by low socio-economic status, homelessness and/or substance abuse.
• Alan Glenn Cloninger – Cloninger is sheriff and jail administrator of Gaston County Sherriff Office, where he oversees the operations of the Gaston County jail, courthouse, jail annex, road division and administration.
• Jose Lopez – Lopez is Durham’s police chief. He also served in the U.S. Air Force as a law enforcement specialist.
• Nancy Murray – Murray is the board chair and executive director of Builders of Hope, an organization that rescues properties, rebuilds them and sells them at affordable prices to families and individuals who earn less than the median income.
• Dr. Greg Moss Sr. – Moss has been the pastor of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church since 1998. He also is the president of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
• Jimmie Hughes – Hughes is the vice president of human resources/safety for Barnhill Contracting Company. He has worked in human resources for 30 years.
• Myra Clark – Clark is the executive director of the Center for Community Transitions, Inc., which helps offenders with employment and transitions services. She has helped lead the center for 21 years.
• Joseph Martinez – Martinez is the executive director of FIRST at Blue Ridge Inc., which is an 85 bed substance abuse treatment and vocational training center for men. He also was the multi-cultural coordinator for the Mecklenburg County Health Department, where he assisted projects such as “Fighting Back,” the department’s drug prevention and gang violent program in minority communities.
• Sonya Brown – Brown is the team leader of the Justice Systems Innovations team for the Division on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. She also served on the Council of State Governments Reentry Policy Council.
• Dr. Michael Blackwell – Blackwell is the president of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, the largest children’s home network in the southeast. He also is a fellow of the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership and has written four books.
• Linda Davis – Davis is a community activist, focusing on homelessness and prison reform. She also volunteers on a variety of local and state boards and committees, including the Methodist Home for Children and the Second Chance Alliance
