Congressman Davis hosts town hall meeting in Windsor

U.S. Congressman Don Davis ended a four-day, 15-stop tour of eight District 1 counties Thursday evening with a Town Hall meeting in Windsor.

The two-hour event capped Davis’s week awarding Community Project Fund (CPF) appropriation checks to the municipalities of Robersonville, Elizabeth City, Roper, Columbia, Plymouth, Halifax, Grimesland, Spring Hope and Nashville. Each of these communities submitted CPF applications for specific projects meeting appropriation guidelines.

The event brought interested citizens and local officials together to meet, greet and listen to the congressman.

Davis covered a variety of topics reflecting on his recent trips to Ukraine, Gaza and the Southern Border. Davis’ main focus, however, was Eastern North Carolina and how the region can grow, prosper and maintain its youth.

The Congressman shared statistics of meetings he has had with young people regarding the opportunities in Eastern North Carolina.

“I went around to all 19 counties — every single county in this district — talking to young people and elected officials. The real issue before us is so many young people are leaving by the masses in Eastern North Carolina,” Rep. Davis said. “And this is something you couldn’t go have a conversation with another elected official about. You need to go talk to these young people.

“And I’m telling you, no matter if they were in Bertie County, Pasquotank, Franklin, Chowan, Vance, Warren, Green, Pitt, Tyrrell or Washington, they all say the same thing. They don’t feel they have a real shot,” Rep. Davis continued.

Congressman Davis went on to explain he spoke with almost 100 students and out of the group only four had plans of staying in the region.

“These students want a good education, they want positive things to do and we cannot give up on them,” urged the Congressman.

Bertie County Commission Chair John Trent explained housing problems are the foundation of Bertie’s problems.

“We’re teaching law enforcement in our high school through our law enforcement program so these children can come out of high school and have certificates to be able to go into junior college and have credits with us,” said Trent, adding 32 percent of the people working in Bertie County do not live in Bertie County because we don’t have housing.

“People in Western Bertie County have to drive 25 to 30 miles to go to the grocery store,” he said.

Trent’s point of contention sits with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency that will not allow tax credits to builders unless there is a grocery store within two miles of the development.

“I have to tell you I’ve been fighting this for 12 years,” Trent stressed. “I’ve been fighting this for 10 years and talking to people in the Commerce Department, talking to people from North Carolina housing, finance, aging, talking on the federal level. Nobody’s doing anything. I call it rural discrimination.”

Bertie County Council on Aging Director Rebecca Stapleton urged Davis to vote for the Older American Act.

“I’m here to ask you to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. It is up for reauthorization. It was last reauthorized in 2020. That provides many of the core services that the Senior Center offers. That is the bulk of our funding. So again, that is up for reauthorization. That’s a very important piece for North Carolina, especially for Bertie County where resources are limited,” said Stapleton.

Rep. Davis was firm in his belief that Eastern North Carolina has to work together, whether Democrat, Republican or Independent for the good of the region.

“So, when you see people going beyond counties and communities, people sitting down at the same table, breaking bread, talking, this is more rare than it is the norm, and we need to move towards the norm. We’re not competing against each other,” said Davis. “We can’t afford not to work together. I mean, this table right here in particular, y’all need a hand.”

Davis was referring to Bear Grass Mayor Charlotte Griffin, Robersonville Mayor Tina Brown, Powellsville Mayor James Peele, Lewiston Woodville Mayor Chris Crodon, Trent and Assistant County Manager David Scaraborough. Brown had received a $1 million dollar award on Wednesday for new AMI water meters.

Davis urged officials in need of federal appropriations to fill out an application and to let his office know a project is being submitted so his office can pitch and support the project.

Davis was humble about the week.

“It’s not about how I feel. It’s about when I’m out there for instance, I was in the Lincoln Heights community just moving around the district. People were literally in some cases screaming and shouting,” he said. “Because some of these projects had gone for years. And when I see the genuine joy that somebody has because someone actually heard them and I am a part of this, that’s what I’m here for.”

“I’m here to get out to the families of Eastern North Carolina, so that we can work to improve life for families across a part of the state that we all love and dearly care about,” said Rep. Davis.