Raleigh Public Record (https://theraleighcommons.org/raleighpublicrecord/topics/featured/page/59/)
A form of bank fraud that can victimize hundreds within hours is growing in sophistication and increasingly targeting the Raleigh area.
The Raleigh Police Department arrested four suspects in 2009 as a result of multiple investigations into cases of “skimming,” where thieves use electronic devices to steal financial information. Although the arrests stem from only three cases in 2008 and 2009, the crimes can impact a large number of people.
The Raleigh Public Record police blotter will be on vacation until January, check back soon for updates.
The Raleigh City Council approved moving forward on three major projects in their capital improvement plan:
$2.4 million to finish plans for the Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center, the construction of an outdoor amphitheater next to Raleigh’s convention center and funding for new Solid Waste Services facilities.
The Lightner center will house the police and fire departments, and now has funding to finalize development plans that are currently 50 percent done. The amphitheater will host cultural events, art expos and a partnership with Live Nation, which will bring big-name acts downtown. Approving the projects now takes advantage of the poor economy, keeping the costs down for the public, said City Manager Russel Allen.
The Raleigh City Council will get an update on the Lightner Public Safety Center design. Councilors will also meet the winner of the Moore Square design competition.
The city council will consider more parking stations for downtown and Glenwood South, stimulus finding to make loans to private businesses and reorganizing the police department.
Business owners along Hillsborough Street across from N.C. State University report that sales are down 30 to 50 percent since construction began over the summer. Construction on the $10-million Hillsborough Street Improvement project began in mid-August and should be done by September 2010.
This was Philip Isley and Roger Koopman’s last meeting as city councilors. The council voted to support the African-American cultural festival with the full $75,000 it pledged last year. The city and Wake County were supposed to match funds for the festival, but a split 3-3 vote by the county commissioners earlier this week denied giving the additional funding to the festival.
Earlier in the meeting, councilors voted to approve changes to the Solid Waste Services Department’s Need Assistance Program, which helps disabled people bring their trash bins to the curb. The council also decided not to require changes to the route for the annual Krispy Kreme Challenge.
The Raleigh City Council will have its last meeting before seating the new council next month. On tap for the last meeting of the 2007-2009 council: annexation, special amplified music permits and the Raleigh Telecommunications Commission.
