Wake County wants fewer “white male” firefighters

No. 24 — Jun. 11-17, 2023

Wake County wants fewer “white male” firefighters

As part of it’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Wake County allocated $2.3 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding to go towards a year long “Career in a Year” fire academy program intended to “diversify” the Wake County Fire Services. According to Wake County director of Fire and Emergency Management Darrell Alford, 90% of the fire service was white males prior to the introduction of this program last year.

Although “diversity” is being heavily emphasized once again for the second year of the program, it’s not exactly clear what measures Wake County is taking to make this goal a reality. Does the training program’s stated goal of diversity end at press releases and public statements, or did “diversity” play a role in which of the 250 applicants were selected for the 37 available seats, like it does in many college admissions processes?

…when I say diverse pool, I mean anything other than a white male. The fire service is, I hate to use the word dominated, but it’s mostly white male…

- Darrell Alford, Wake County director of Fire and Emergency Management (source)

Unabomber commits suicide at federal prison in Butner

Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber for his 17-year bombing streak, passed away early last Saturday morning at the Federal Medical Center in Butner at the age of 81, reportedly by suicide. Kaczynski committed at least 16 bombings, killing three and wounding or maiming numerous more victims.

Before Kacyznski became a terrorist, he was somewhat of a prodigy: beginning his education at Harvard University when he was only sixteen years old. In his second year at Harvard, Kacyznski was recruited as a subject in a 3-year-long psychologically abusive experiment run by psychologist Henry A. Murray. Due to Murray’s previous involvement with the CIA’s precursor, the Office of Strategic Services, many believe the experiment may have been part of the agency’s infamous Project MKUltra, which is known to have been active during the time period this experiment took place.

Bill to change Wake County Commissioner elections becomes law (N&O)

Last week, a bill to change how the elections of Wake County Commissioners became law after being passed by both chambers of the NC General Assembly (the governor’s signature is not required for bills applying to <15 counties). Under the new law, seven commissioner seats will be elected by district, as well as two new seats elected at-large. Under the current law, all seven commissioners were elected at-large by the whole county, though they were each required to reside in a different “residential” district. For more info, see my analysis from March:

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