In May, I pointed out that the News and Observer had a habit of giving Stan Norwalk a platform to complain about growth in Wake County. His group, WakeUP Wake County, seems to have a friend (a best friend forever) in the N&O. We’ll have to talk to management about that.
Today, the N&O published the third op-ed from Norwalk this year. This time, Norwalk talks construction costs (rising) and taxes (he likes them high). He also takes a swipe at the “Realtor lobbies and their anti-tax allies (read: Americans for Prosperity, the John Locke Foundation and the Wake Taxpayers Association).” On behalf of all three groups, we’re flattered.
And then there is this: “anti-government types say we can cut costs and save our way to prosperity. Most of these critiques ignore the enormous inflation underlying the cost of schools.” In fact, I recommended that the Wake County school system cut costs and use innovative construction and financing methods because of the rising cost of construction. It is the rational thing to do.
In addition to taxing Wake County residents to death, Stan wants to shift blame away from the school system, but he does not acknowledge that the Wake County school system, by its own admission, spends more than average on new school buildings. He also fails to appreciate the fact that school system’s priorities are not always consistent with accommodating growth, e.g., the school renovation projects (funded by the billion dollar bond he supported) will add very few seats. In his zeal to defend the school system, Norwalk left these and many other facts fall by the wayside.
