Nate Baker

A Plan for Bus Rapid Transit in Durham is In the Works The City of Durham is designing and seeking funding for a central Durham bus rapid transit system that would run from Duke to Wellons Village.

Durham’s Transportation Department wants to give one of the city’s busiest traffic corridors a major upgrade by developing its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route.

Op-Ed: The Left Can Defeat the Rising Tide of Fascism History shows that oppressive systems can be overthrown, even when they seem insurmountable. What can we do locally?

For as long as I've known him, @natebakerdurham.bsky.social has preached the same policy agenda Zohran Mamdani has put a spotlight on in NYC.

Here for @indyweek.bsky.social, he makes the case for this Democratic Socialist agenda as the last best hope against fascism.

indyweek.com/news/opinion...

Emergency Protest from LA to DURHAM: ice out! July 23 7 pm CCB PLAZA

We do not want ICE in our community. We do not welcome ICE in our community. ICE makes Durham more dangerous. ICE is a waste of taxpayer money when we have many other urgent needs. ICE is Trump and Stephen Miller’s personal police force. ICE has fascist tendencies.

Abolish ICE.

Whether we prioritize the voices of community on safety/gun violence, environment, and governance or voices of big business and developers.

Whether we listen to scientists and environmentalists over corporate citizens.

Whether we take our housing advice and expertise from apartment tenants and city planners or instead from the apartment and homebuilders associations.

Do we have the courage to speak out with moral clarity during this modern day McCarthyism and rise of authoritarianism.

Whether we understand our city in a global context and are willing to speak with our voices and choices on our own nation’s inhumane actions at home and abroad, including ICE raids and American bombs dropped on Gaza.

Whether we begin holding developers adequately accountable for contributing their fair share of their profits toward the public good in the form of affordable housing, parks, art, public space, and other community benefits during the development process.

Whether we self-inflict more fiscal wounds like the one redirecting an annual 3.3 million dollars from the city’s own initiatives to a new nonprofit that promotes tourism.

Whether we create true representative wards rather than a council entirely at-large that currently lacks the local representation residents across our city need.

Whether we have the political will not just to say we want it but to leverage our local powers to pursue a just outcome and commit to concrete actions.

Whether we don’t just make residents and small businesses pay for our collective needs but have the courage to hold Duke University and other wealthy institutions accountable for contributing a portion of their fair share too.

Whether we’ll hold the line on worker’s rights: raise city worker wages above $25/hour next year and strengthen the Durham Workers Rights Commission.

Whether we make it a goal to increase the percentage of residents that can reach a park, playground, or greenway within a quarter mile walk (we’re currently moving in the wrong direction).

Whether we empower our residents and city planners to plan our communities collectively or choose to leave that job to the real estate industry.

Whether we make it a priority to address our city’s food deserts or downplay that urgent problem.

Whether the city green lights real estate speculation and pours gasoline on the fire of gentrification by supporting widespread upzoning and land deregulation as part of the overhaul of the city’s zoning laws.

Whether we will increase taxes on Durham residents and businesses to pay over half a billion tax dollars on a new convention center in the face of other urgent needs.

Whether we have the political will to contain rampant corporate-driven car-centric suburban sprawl.

Whether we hold the line to keep city buses fare-free, benefitting the 88% bus ridership that is low income.

This election will impact more than just personalities. It could shift the Council’s balance of power and impact Durham’s future in tangible ways. Here are some key issues at stake during this election:

What’s at stake in the 2025 Durham municipal race?

With municipal elections gearing up during a rise in state and federal fascism and oligarchy, you might be wondering if there’s much at stake locally. The answer is YES - the stakes are high.

How do we build a thriving, just, and democratic city in a declining nation? How can we fight locally against all odds to overthrow the corrupt and exploitative ruling class? These are questions Mamdani’s people-powered campaign in NYC are shedding some light on & our task in Durham & elsewhere.

What’s in the bill the Senate is about to vote on?

-CUTS to Medicaid & SNAP
-SELLING our public lands
-LOOPHOLES for Big Oil to make even more money
-BLOCKS AI regulations at the state and local levels
-MORE money for war

Call your Senators & tell them to vote NO: 202 224-3121

Kudos to the progressive caucus for proposing this key resolution

This weekend the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee will be convening.

They have an opportunity for TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE by approving the “People’s Primary” Policy banning billionaires and corporations from buying or unduly influencing Democratic Primaries.

Approve it!

Excerpt from Dan Immergluck’s book Red Hot City

Excerpt from DuBois’s The Souls of Black Folk

In Atlanta this weekend so I decided to read some of @danimmergluck.bsky.social’s book Red Hot City and it shows a lot of similarities to Durham and Raleigh.

Reading some DuBois as well and that has tons of similarities too.

10 Key Takeaways From the Proposed City of Durham Budget The FY2026 City Budget goes to a City Council vote on Monday, June 16

open.substack.com/pub/walkable...

Durham now has record levels of residential vacancies. To build housing on city land not only would we have to subsidize affordable units but now market rate units too.

4 major residential/mixed use downtown projects are paused: GeerHouse 2, YMCA Redevelopment, ATC Phase II, Durham Center II

Inherent to human nature is a desire for human-scaled places. There’s a reason why—from an urban design perspective—people tend to feel comfortable me walking and standing in places like this.

I condemn Lee Zeldin’s campaign against ORD workers and stand in solidarity with the AFGE union that represents so many of them.