I drive this corridor often. Along the way I see signs of effort. Some homeowners have painted their houses. Others have repaired porches. A few homes appear to be in the middle of a transformation, left unfinished, but Individual citizens are trying. The larger question is whether the corridor itself reflects the same determination. Several … Continue reading Ward 1: Atlantic Avenue – First Impressions of Our City →

For weeks, much of the public discussion surrounding Ward 1 has centered on personalities. Some defend Councilman Andre Knight passionately. Others criticize him just as passionately. Social media has done what social media often does, reducing a complicated civic question into opposing camps. The issue is not whether a councilman is liked. The issue is … Continue reading After Twenty-Three Years, What Does the Ward 1 Garden Look Like? →

Every Council Member Governs the Whole City Recently, some readers have asked me to explain more fully why I favor returning Rocky Mount to a citywide voting system for City Council elections. First, let me acknowledge the argument on the other side. Ward-based elections were created to ensure that every part of Rocky Mount had … Continue reading Why Rocky Mount Should Return to Citywide Elections →

I have been writing about Rocky Mount on my blog, Mainstreetrockymount.com since 2015. About its history, its architecture, its people, its challenges, and its possibilities. During that time, I have seen countless attempts to engage citizens through speeches, editorials, council meetings, statistics, and social media debates. Then along comes The True Rocky Mount and something entirely new … Continue reading The True Rocky Mount Facebook Videos Have Created Something Fresh Innovative, Impossible to Ignore →