I do not know all of the breakdowns for what exactly composes the local labor pool.  There are many students in the population.  A fair number of them desire part time work at least.  The majority of graduates from the University are expected to leave.  Historically a large enough percentage of graduates have elected to stay in the local community after graduation to be noted.  There seems to be a good percentage of retirees.  Stu Cole once said it seemed like everybody who settles here, allergist works at closing the door behind them.  Stu is forced himself, pills regardless of his success with Squirrel Nut Zippers, to go to LA for work that pays enough to take care of his family.

This is the sort of place like where Romans moved to when Rome was in decline.  When the Romans left London they told the locals they were going to have to take care of themselves.  Federal and even State money is being withdrawn in many a US community these days.  I judge it right much an imperative that we look clearly at what we need to do in the Grand scheme of things.

We do every now and then, get around to completing some big grand old thing, but it is all the little things we do day in and day out that really make these statute pride moments really possible.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel is the major economic engine of this town.   The size of this community is considered to be population wise just large enough, and just small enough to be a happy place.   Far as I can tell the suffering, and the grind of poverty is shoved out of town, to places unseen, or underground.  I'm thinking now of the people, working people who drive in for low wages, eaten up by gas prices for jobs at the Hospital, cleaning, caring for, or building.  Homes cost a lot still in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.  Many have lost their jobs building, or been forced to take less.

When this Great Recession hit it was reported that it was different from events of the past, since essentially it is general, widespread, and there really isn't some other great place to pick up and move to.  Sure enough we need some limits as far as how we impact our shared lands.  This does not mean we have to limit the opportunities for work for our citizens, local neighbors, participants in the local economy.

From my point of view it was a mistake for the University to close Tar Heel Temps at the onset of the Great Recession.  I can understand why they did not see another path, for they were of and for the institution as their primary mission.  They did not apparently see how they might help continue to provide work for the willing.

Locally right here I'd like to see either the Town of Carrboro put together a replacement for Tar Heel Temps, or encourage a private enterprise replacement.  Personally I'd like to see all the paper job applications handed into the local businesses in person, of those who for one reason or another, could not be hired.  For those for whom a proper job could not be found, then a job is then simply mandated to be created.

I simply reject the idea that this is not possible, or undesirable.