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Posted: February 2, 2009

Stimulus money could create 600 jobs in Durham

Durham, N.C. — Durham has more than $95 million in infrastructure projects ready to begin if the city can get money from the federal stimulus package, Mayor Bill Bell said Monday.

The projects include building a full-service recreation center on the site of a smaller existing center in Walltown Park, repairing downtown parking decks, renovating the Carolina Theatre and the Durham Civic Center, catching up on deferred maintenance in Durham Housing Authority buildings, removing lead and asbestos from Whitted School so it can be renovated for educational and community purposes and building 41 multifamily housing units on the site of an old tannery.

Bell said the projects could create up to 600 jobs in Durham.

The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved an $819 billion national stimulus package, which President Barack Obama has endorsed. The U.S. Senate is still crafting its version of the bill.

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23 Comments

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This coming right on the heels of Bell's "State of the City" address where he warns of possible (impending?) layoffs for city workers. What a joke. Sometimes I feel like our economy is like a dying horse, shoot it already and let's start fresh...

Dolphan
February 3, 2009 12:06 p.m.

But who is going to pay for these 600 jobs??? Our children and grandchildren is the answer as the federal government does not have any money - they spend more than the receive. If they had a surplus and wanted to give some money to Durham then this would be fine - but they want to spend the money and pass the bill on to future generations! I say let future generations determine how they want to spend their money and let us not put them in the hole. If this current generation wants to spend money - then pay for it!!!

jesmyopinion
February 3, 2009 11:25 a.m.

600 jobs in Durham? Maybe. A big tax bill for our grand children- definitely.

aspenstreet1717
February 3, 2009 10:35 a.m.

Is it a big surprise to anyone that Durham would get this money instead of Raleigh or Johnston County. Obama has to pay out for the votes he received and he got 76% of the vote in Durham county. Go figure.

JoCoGeologist
February 3, 2009 9:24 a.m.

Absent the total lack of regulation and oversight in the financial sector, we wouldn't be having this conversation. In 2006, the SEC closed their investigation into Bernard Madoff citing a lack of resources. A fifth grade class on a field trip could have found the fraud. Lack of resources is code for "the boss doesn't want this investigation happening".

If your mantra is that all regulation, oversight, and government is bad, welcome to the Utopia created over the last 8 years.

independent_thinker
February 3, 2009 9:00 a.m.

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