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A group of anti-capitalist activists briefly occupied a building at the site of a planned CVS drug store in downtown Carrboro today but left about four hours when police told them to leave or they would be arrested.

Mayor Mark Chilton entered the building at 201 N. Greensboro St. across from Carr Mill Mall early this evening.  "I asked them not to damage the property and asked them to leave," he said in an interview. "They asked me to leave."

"I asked them what their plans were. They asked me what my plan was. One of them suggested ice cream. I said I'd be glad to get them ice cream if they wanted to eat it on the sidewalk." 

Demonstrators, many wearing bandanas to cover their faces, heckled the mayor as he stood before television cameras and reporters in the building lobby. They asked Chilton if he was breaking the law by being in the building too. A giant sign hung on the wall that said "Under capitalism we're all under gunpoint."

"Please leave this property," the mayor said in a loud voice at about 7 p.m. "You're trespassing, and there may be other crimes you're committing as well. The time has come for you to leave this building."

Here's a look at today's local headlines.

ANTI-LOITERING RULE REPEALED: The Carrboro aldermen repealed the four year-old anti-loitering ordinance affecting day laborers at Jones Ferry and Davie roads. Find out what behavior Jacquie Gist wants them to turn to next in Tammy Grubb's story.

And in today's Chapel Hill News:

COUNTY OKS ELEMENTARY: It will be the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' 11th. Find out where it's going in staff writer Katelyn Ferral's report. Read the story here.

OCCUPY TALKS TACTICS: Don't let the balmy weather fool you. Winter's coming, and with it cold temperatures that could bring change to the Occupy Chapel Hill tent encampment outside the Franklin Street post office. I listened in Sunday afternoon, Read the story here (and see a picture of the calmest cat in Chapel Hill in today's print edition).

TOWING RULES REVISITED: The Town Council is leaing to stricter rules for towing companies after a spike in complaints. But council members aren't ready to endorse an increase in fees the towers want. Katelyn Ferral has that story here.  

Tim Tyson, J. Linn Mackey, Vincent DiSandro Jr. and Michael Czeiszberger comment on the Yates Motor occupation and police response in today's opinion pages, and the Carrboro Jaguars come oh so close in the state soccer championship.

Thanks for reading,

Mark

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

COLONIAL INN UPDATE: Owner Francis Henry could get the OK tonight to raze a portion of the King Street inn he and a state expert say is not historic. Tammy Grubb has our preview.

SHELTON STATION DELAYED: The project proposed for North Greensboro Street in Carrboro is challenging the Board of Aldermen to balance the need for economic development and town character. Read why Jacquie Gist is taking a different tack than some of her colleagues.

BUDDHIST TEMPLE TO OPEN: The late John Hartley had a reverance for nature amd sought to bring the outdoor into the buildings he designed. The architect's last big project opens this weekend. Dave Hart went to take a look.

Katelyn Ferral has a report on the county commissioners meeting last night here. I'll be heading out later to the Department on Aging public meeting today, and you can weight in again on the future of Chapel Hill at tomorrow night's 2020 visioning session. Busy week.

Thanks for reading, and remember you can follow me and the Chapel Hill News on Facebook now. Friend us!

Mark       

From correspondent Tammy Grubb

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted 6-1 Tuesday night to rezone a 2.69-acre parcel at 210 Hillsborough Road for the county’s new southwest branch library.

Alderman Jacqueline Gist said she could not support the rezoning, because she thinks the site is in a residential and not a transitional commercial district. No one is opposed to a library, she said, but the process feels rushed, with little transparency or cooperation between the county and town.

“The citizens of Carrboro for generations have been paying the same taxes as everybody in Orange County,” Gist said. “It is very disconcerting that all of a sudden, after 24 years, it’s hurry up and pass this, and it’s all this or nothing.”

Mayor Mark Chilton disagreed, saying that while he’s not convinced the site is the best, the move would be “a show of good faith from town government” that Carrboro and the county could work together to resolve the concerns and talk about other viable sites.

“There’s plenty of reason for suspicion, but I hope this project is going to be an opportunity to change what our relationship with the county has been in the past,” Chilton said.