Durham City Council meetings
City Council (Virtual) Work Session and Meetings are listed below. You can watch work sessions and meetings via the City’s YouTube channel, Twitter account, Facebook page, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV (via the free Boxcast app), Spectrum channel 8, Google Fiber channel 8, Frontier channel 70, and AT&T U-verse channel 99 in Durham.
Free Legal Aid NC webinars
Legal Aid NC will host HOME (Housing on Monday Evening) every Monday from 4 to 5pm. A Legal Aid NC housing attorney will talk about a range of current and important housing-related topics and will also answer questions (of a general nature). Click here for more info and to watch (and participate) live.
Legal Aid of North Carolina will host Free Forum Friday every Friday from 11am to noon. Get your questions (of a general nature) answered on a variety of topics. Click here for more info and to watch (and participate) live. Legal Aid NC will host a free Criminal Record Expungement Webinar on Tuesday, September 1, 2:30–5:30pm. Learn how to legally remove previous offenses from your record so you can improve your chances of finding a job and seizing new opportunities. Watch the webinar on Legal Aid NC’s Facebook page. Free legal assistance is available at 866-219-5262. Legal Aid NC will host a free Social Security Disability Clinic on Thursday, September 3, 2:30–4pm. Learn about the application process and how to prove that you’re entitled to benefits. Attend the clinic on Legal Aid NC’s Facebook page. Free legal assistance is available at 866-219-5262 Legal Aid NC’s Resources for Renters session, Durham Eviction Diversion: Presentation to Durham PTA Council, will take place on Thursday, September 3, 6pm. Learn your rights as a renter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to sign up and attend this free Zoom event. Legal Aid NC will host a free Child Custody Clinic on Tuesday, September 8, 2:30–4pm. Learn all about child visitation rules/agreements. Watch the webinar on Legal Aid NC’s Facebook page. Free legal assistance is available at 866-219-5262. Legal Aid NC will cohost a free Eviction Prevention Workshop on Wednesday, September 9, 6–7pm, with Durham Technical Community College. Learn how your community can maintain stable housing during the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in the loss of many jobs. Watch the webinar on Legal Aid NC’s Facebook page. Free legal assistance is available at 866-219-5262. Legal Aid attorney Charly Gilfoil will lead the discussion and answer questions, and afterwards will meet one on one until 8:30pm with anyone who needs assistance. Click here to sign up to meet with Attorney Gilfoil. Visit the Facebook event page for more info. Legal Aid NC will host a free Employee Rights Webinar on Thursday, September 10, 2:30–4pm. Learn all about employment “at will,” right to work, discrimination and retaliation in the workplace, and eligibility for unemployment benefits. Watch the webinar on Legal Aid NC’s Facebook page. Free legal assistance is available at 866-219-5262. Legal Aid NC will host a free Simple Divorce Webinar on Thursday, September 17, 2:30–4pm. These are the basics; property division, spousal support, and alimony issues are best done with the aid of an attorney. Watch the webinar on Legal Aid NC’s Facebook page. Free legal assistance is available at 866-219-5262. Legal Aid NC will host a free Tenant Rights Webinar on Thursday, September 24, 2:30–5:30pm. Learn about your rights and obligations as a residential tenant and how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting evictions (for example, the delay of pending court cases and the enforcement of evictions that have already been granted), how to contact Legal Aid for help, emergency rent assistance, and what to expect from the court process.. Watch the webinar on Legal Aid NC’s Facebook page. Free legal assistance is available at 866-219-5262. Durham County meetings
Click on the calendar to see all of the Durham County committee, commission, advisory-council, and other meetings for the month of September.
‘I Voted’ sticker contest winner
The Durham County Board of Elections selected Mark Congiusta’s design to grace the lapels of voters exiting the polling booths this coming November. It’s also highly visible on voting materials on social media. Congratulations, Mr Congiusta!
Public safety/law enforcement talk
Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead will lead a discussion about the local and national movements regarding law enforcement reform in a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 22, noon–1pm, hosted by Durham Congregations in Action. Community leaders will also be on hand during Public Safety and Law Enforcement—Where Is Durham Headed? to talk about making Durham a safe and more equitable place to live. Send your questions to dcia@dcia.org, and click here to attend the meeting.
Here’s how to vote early
Many people are choosing to vote early, as opposed to waiting until Election Day (November 3) or voting by absentee ballots. Here are the places you can go to vote early and the hours you can vote. Click on the graphic to expand it.
Voting via absentee ballot available now
If you’d like to ignore all of the political drama and already know who you’re going to vote for this November, it’s not too early to submit your absentee ballot. You can click here to request your absentee ballot.
Restorative Justice Circle of Hope and Healing
The Restorative Justice Circle of Hope and Healing will meet on Wednesday, September 16, 10–11:30am, at Calvary United Methodist Church (304 E Trinity Ave). Explore restorative justice (RJ) values and work with RJ facilitators as they face challenges guiding people through rough times in their lives. Another session will be held on Thursday, September 17, 7–8:30pm. Write to restorativejusticedurham@mail.com with any questions you might have.
Durham Police 1st quarter 2020 reportGet legal help
The North Carolina Bar Association offers its NC Lawyer Referral Service, which will refer you to an attorney who will give you one half hour consultation. This half hour of advice can involve any legal subject of your choice. Call 800-662-7660; the cost won’t cost more than $50.
Legal Aid of North Carolina (201 W Main St, Suite 400) offers free legal advice and representation (civil cases) for low-income residents. Call 919-688-6396 for more info and to set up an appointment. Mobile Justice smartphone app
There’s a new smartphone app called Mobile Justice NC that you can use to monitor and record police actions. We have the right to film the police, but always have your safety in mind when doing so. If an officer says that you’re in the way and tells you to get back, that might not the time to stand your ground and to tell him or her that you’re acting within your rights. Learn how to use the zoom-in feature so you can step out of the way and continue filming.
If you’re an activist or member of the media, download this free app and get familiar with Mobile Justice NC’s four features now (as opposed to during the heat of a protest or police action):
Click here to watch a short but in-depth explainer on how the app works: (O clique aquí para más information sobre el app Justícia Móvil en español.) Durham Police Department Citizen’s Complaint Form
You can make a formal complaint online by filling out the blanks of this form and sending it in. Click here for instructions and to fill out the Durham Police Department Citizen’s Complaint Form.
Durham Police Department Commendation Form
You can also single out an officer who went out of his or her way to be helpful/come to your aid. Click here for instructions and to fill out the Durham Police Department Commendation Form.
NC Lawyer Referral Service
The North Carolina Bar Association can help you find an attorney to represent you. Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) attorneys can’t charge more than $50 for initial consultation meetings of up to 30 minutes. None are able to take clients on a pro bono (free) basis. Visit ncfindalawyer.org or call 800-662-7660 (or 919-677-8574 if you’re out of state).
NC SAVAN
Crime victims and survivors often feel like they’re sitting on pins and needles while waiting to hear about upcoming trials and to get news on the status of perpetrators. NC SAVAN (North Carolina Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification) is set up to keep them informed. A 24-hour, toll-free telephone number, 877-627-2826, is available for learning about an offender’s status and about victim-assistance resources. You can also call that number to register for the automated victim notification service. Once you’re registered, you can choose whether to get updates via automated telephone messages or emails; you can also download an app for your smart phone. Notifications can be delivered in English or Spanish, or you can have them translated into one of more than 100 available languages.
Click here to register for NC SAVAN or to search for offender information. |
Durham Police Department info
Request to appear in front of the City Council (during a Work Session)Click here for a link to the online form. They’ll give you 3 minutes to speak and make your presentation. Submit the form by Monday, 5pm, 10 calendar days before the meeting you plan to attend. If you want to make sure your form was received, call the Agenda Coordinator’s Office at 919-560-4222.
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