A Different View for Dix Hill

As everyone in Raleigh knows, the late Dorothea Dix (April 1802 - July 1887), had a vision for a property to serve the 'indigent' insane. Through a vigorous program of lobbying elected officials, she created the first generation of American mental asylums. 

In Raleigh, care of mentally ill patients was authorized and the hospital opened in 1856.

At some time, brilliant minds in the State of North Carolina decided that this population of people could be better served in Butner, NC. Butner is also the sight of a federal penitentiary. 

We should expand the vision of serving the mentally challenged by embracing them - not shipping them off. We further should understand they deserve more than just a hospital bed.

When former President Ronald Reagan bravely announced that he had begun suffering the effects of Alzheimer's, he was applauded. That marked the period until his death as being, "the long goodbye". All of us know someone close who has succumbed to Alzheimer's or dementia. 

We also know of children and adults who find themselves beset with OCD - obsessive compulsive disorder. A late friend's only child (age 24) found himself washing hundreds of times a day and standing in a corner as he felt that everything around him was dirty. He spent 30 days at Dix and, because no other property was available, was put in a nursing home with a roommate 80+ years old.

He would only eat if his mother brought his meals. After several months, he was able to leave and fully function on his own. Regretfully, the toll on his mother and her own newly developed illness, caused her to die not long after. I miss her still today.

We have an extraordinary opportunity to honor the wishes of Ms. Dorothea Dix and uniting people with mental challenges with an array of services. This could include transitional housing, a home for disabled veterans, training and education, hospice and others.

We can embrace the vision. But it takes guts.

Family Safe from DC Shooting

In the middle of the campaign today, I took a station break. The shooting had hit too close to home, as I have many family and friends who work in the Washington DC area.

First text hit the mark. The brother of one employee had not heard from his brother. I assured him that he shortly would. AND, within 15 minutes he got that call! His younger brother was not only fine, but was no longer working at that location AND - had taken the day off!

Another relative works for a DC charter school. Yes, he text me back, their school was on lockdown. I passed that message on to other family.

I thought of many ways to celebrate: a cold glass of wine and popcorn or, just some water while I meditated.

I had the water. I mediated. I prayed. And remember sorrowfully that someone's family member will not be home tonight.

Raleigh Mayor's Secret Plans

For the first in memory, Raleigh's mayor has completely forsaken transparency and treats us citizens as children. While some results seem amusing, these sophomoric decisions make Raleigh look like a joke. nation.

It's past time to demand answers.

Yes, former police Chief Harry Dolan had apparently indicated that he would only serve 5 years, however, his quick retirement now makes me wonder. The almost immediate forsaking of City Manager Russell Allen (who bucked the tide to hire a new Chief) continues to raise doubts - even in the media. Allen gets $200k, City employees get a raise, and suddenly dumber decisions get made.

How could ANYONE think that they could ignore the needs of hungry people by trying to scare off charitable groups? Worse still - how could Raleigh pretend that problems had exacerbated in just 3 months?

How could City leaders pretend not to know that churches and charitable groups were being harassed? Why did it take 3 days to place the blame on the police - not themselves?

And we always heard that the Captain is to leave a sinking ship....