Durham Charter vs. Traditional Schools, says Mayor Schewel

Will the 150th anniversary of Durham include a statue of Pauli Murray?

Why do not more parents send their children to Durham Public Schools?

What does the mayor think of the new council members?

Mayor Steve Schewel has spoken with Facebook, local government reporter Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, about his first 10 months, and more, like the city council's controversial statement on keeping the order. Here are the highlights:

Charter against Durham's Traditional Public Schools

"I deeply believe that our children who go to school together are what will make us come together as a society. As a nation, we have withdrawn from school integration, which is extremely problematic, "said Schewel. And that's also true in Durham. Our schools are not as integrated as they once were. And it's really a challenge. "

Schewel, a former school board member, wants progressive families in Durham to seriously consider sending their children to Durham Public Schools.

"One of the problems with charter schools is that they separate neighborhoods from schools and encourage gentrification," he said. Instead of enrolling children in the school badigned to their neighborhood, residents can sign up for publicly funded charters.

Too many people seem to think, "I'm going to install in the neighborhood, buy the house that I can afford, and support the gentrification of the neighborhood, then send my child to a school where I want in the city," he said. said Schewel. , adding, "I think it's problematic."

Declaration of maintenance of order

In April, Durham City Council approved a statement against militarized police including a reference to Israel in a note from the police chief. The controversial decision caught the attention of the international community and some members of the community asked the city to remove the word "Israel" from the statement.

"I am Jewish, I can understand all those who are worried about anti-Semitism in our country or elsewhere, but that has nothing to do with it, it's all about keeping the order." said Schewel.

He added that he had recently spoken with his synagogue, the Judea Reform Congregation, and that he was eager to participate in a Beth El synagogue discussion about the problems of Israel. and Palestine.

But the city will not withdraw the reference to police training with Israel.

"We will not go back on this issue," he said. "We have solved this problem. It is all good. But I know there are still concerns in the community … and I'm always happy to talk to people. "

Inexperienced board

Schewel, who sat on the board before being elected mayor, said current members have not been in office for a long time, but that they were smart and dedicated.

Pro Tem Mayor Jillian Johnson and Board Member Charlie Reece have three years in office. Board members Vernetta Alston, DeDreana Freeman and Mark-Anthony Middleton were elected this fall. And Javiera Caballero, board member, was appointed in February.

How he thinks they are doing well:

▪ Johnson, his former student at Duke University: "She is pbadionately dedicated to the people of Durham who are deprived of their rights and not participating in our current prosperity."

▪ Reece, whose last priority was the rules for electric scooters: "Charlie meddles with politics. He does a great job. He went to Raleigh and drove a scooter. Schewel did not do it, but he said he would fly a scooter, with a helmet, on their arrival in Durham.

▪ Freeman: "DeDreana is pbadionate about racial equity."

▪ Caballero: "She's a great voice for our Latinx community … but that's not all she does."

▪ Alston: "Let's just say that she reserves her judgment. As you know, she does not jump as fast as some of us do, and I really think she does an excellent job of making good decisions. "

▪ Middleton: "Mark-Anthony has racial equity and racial justice at the top of his priorities. The whole council does it, but I think he's really eloquent about it.

A statue of Pauli Murray?

The city will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2019.

"We are going to launch this year with a holiday parade," he said, then a big event in April.

"I know two things – I will not say it because there should be surprises," he said.

The city will celebrate the heroes of Durham's past, including those who have overcome the injustices.

"We do not want the Confederate monument to be the primary means of commemorating people here in Durham," said Schewel. "What we want is the kind of people we want to be honored. How will they be honored? Some of them can be honored with a statue. Some of them can be honored with a mural. Some of them can be honored with a song. Who knows the types of commemorations we can offer. "

Does this mean that Pauli Murray, the holy bishop, lawyer, defender of women's rights, civil rights and human rights will be ruled?

"It would be at the top of my list, but I'm not part of this committee," he said.

Watch the Facebook Live video to see Schewel's full commentary and conversation about economic development, affordable housing, property taxes and more, at the address: facebook.com/theheraldsun.