Bill of Rights resolution at the BOCC meeting

I was at the BOCC meeting earlier this evening when Joan Walsh, the organizer of the Durham BORDC, received the resolution for the group.  All of the Commissioners were there.  

 

I was surprised when Victoria Peterson rose to speak on the resolution.  She said it was good that the Commissioners are highlighting the Bill of Rights, but she asked what they would do about how long some defendants have to wait before they are tried in Durham, and the apparently dirty or worn flooring in the lobby of the jail.  The Commissioners said they do not control the judicial schedule, and appropriate officials took note of the jail situation, though it has apparently been a problem for years.  I don't know what the situation is at the jail, but unreasonable waits for trials would be a violation that needs to be addressed.  This was an issue in the last judicial election.   

 

I left after the resolution recognizing the Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement for their work in rescuing Donald Meeks after he was trapped in mud at Falls Lake on October 2nd.  Apparently he was near death when he was rescued, with difficulty, because of the treacherous exposed lake bottom.  It was easy to find him though.  I think they said they used infrared vision equipment on an airplane, and found Mr. Meeks in 5 minutes, or 2 passes.  Most of the people at the meeting seemed to be deputies and others there for that resolution.     

 

War funding vote soon 

 

The military appropriations bill is coming up for a vote in the House and Senate, I've heard as early as the 11th.  Congress will recess on the 21st.  The bill would give $506.9 billion dollars to the "Defense Department" and another $189.4 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is the last chance to contact your Congress members about the current round of war funding.