Census Bureau revises Winston-Salem population estimate
The city of Winston- Salem announced the US Census Bureau has revised its 2008 population estimate for the city, putting the new estimate at 227,834 residents — an increase of more than 10,000 people from the agency’s initial estimate of 217,600. Paul Norby, the city-county planning director, said that the new estimate is 528 people less than the state demographer’s estimate of 228,362 in an Oct. 12 press release. The revised estimate is important because it is used in determining federal distributions and grants based on population, Norby said. Winston-Salem now ranks as the 84 th largest city in the nation, ahead of Baton Rouge, La. and just behind
Birmingham, Ala. The Census Bureau’s original 2008 estimate, which calculated the city’s population to be 217,600, was almost 6,000 less than its revised 2007 estimate of 223,532. — KTB
1979 shootings raised as election issue
Conservative operatives and pundits swarmed on Greensboro City Council District 4 candidate Joel Landau last week, taking their cue from opponent Mary Rakestraw, who publicly noted that Landau’s campaign website had previously “listed at least one controversial political activist supporter (e.g. a Communist Workers Party organizer), but has now removed that one.” The activist is Signe Waller Foxworth, a survivor of the 1979 Klan-Nazi shootings, but the Communist Workers Party foundered soon after the attack. Landau said in response to questions about the removal of Waller Foxworth’s name from his website that another supporter approached him and cautioned him that the association could be distracting to his campaign because some people consider her to be a controversial figure. “I trust that the majority of citizens are more concerned with real issues right now than what someone who’s not a candidate did 30 years ago.” Among those who participated in the attack were Tony Wilkins, executive director of the Guilford County Republican Party. “In my opinion, your attempt to hide the association sends a message of deception, deceit and hypocrisy.” Blogger Joseph Guarino chimed in, noting that Waller Foxworth was a mover behind the truth and reconciliation process: “If Waller is supporting Landau, it might speak volumes about his political stance.” Days later, Guarino noted Mayor Yvonne Johnson’s support of the truth process. Johnson testified before the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2005, and Landau went on record in support of the truth process in a city council campaign that year. Guarino is supporting Johnson and Landau’s opponents. — JG
City council candidates react to Dell closing
Seven candidates for Winston-Salem City Council discussed their ideas on how to move forward in the wake of Dell’s recent announcement it will be closing its Forsyth County operations during a forum sponsored by the Winston-Salem chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals. James Taylor, the Democratic nominee for the city’s Southeast Ward, said part of the $15.5 million in incentives Dell has promised to repay the city should go toward a workforce-development program to help Dell employees transition back into the workforce. Vivian Burke, a 32-year incumbent from the Northeast Ward, said the city has plans to revitalize its workforce development program to assist displaced Dell workers. Derwin Montgomery, a 21-year-old Winston- Salem State student and Democratic nominee to represent the East Ward, said some of the 905 displaced Dell employees might have to leave Forsyth County to find employment. Claudia Shivers, Burke’s Republican opponent, said the city could attract big and medium-sized businesses without resorting to financial incentives. Denise “DD” Adams, the Democratic nominee running in the North Ward, said the city council should have implemented greater oversight to ensure the $15.5 million the city invested in the Dell deal was being protected. Peter Sorensen, the Republican nominee in the Northwest Ward, said until the state fixes the corporate tax code, the city should focus on recruiting small and mediumsized businesses. — KTB
