Commentary

Standing Room Only in Raleigh with Leader Sydney Batch and Stacey Abrams

THE CAROLINIAN — North Carolina Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch and national voting rights champion Stacey Abrams held a data-driven discussion in Raleigh on critical policy issues facing North Carolina and the nation. The event, framed as a Jeopardy-themed fundraiser, explored topics such as systemic healthcare failures and threats to the judiciary and voting infrastructure.

Published

3 months ago

July 15, 2026

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Standing Room Only in Raleigh with Leader Sydney Batch and Stacey Abrams

By Jheri Hardaway, Staff Writer | The Carolinian

Raleigh, NC — It was a standing-room-only crowd in Raleigh as North Carolina Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch took the stage alongside national voting rights champion, attorney, and author Stacey Abrams for an intensive, data-driven Jeopardy-themed conversation on the political landscape. Way more innovative than standard campaign events, the fundraiser served as an evidence-based dissection of the most critical policy issues facing North Carolina and the nation, from structural failures in the healthcare system to coordinated threats against the judiciary and voting infrastructure.

The forum underscored a singular theme: true leadership does not distort the facts for comfort; it empowers communities by confronting brutal truths with an actionable strategy for progress. The evening kicked off with audience members selecting policy categories to guide the discussion. The first critical issue raised concerned the North Carolina State Health Plan and the state’s obligation to provide affordable, accessible healthcare to public employees and retirees without shifting the burden to them through increased premiums and co-pays.

Leader Batch addressed the crisis directly, pointing to fifteen years of fiscal management under opposing legislative leadership that failed to protect the state’s infrastructure. “We waited over a decade to have Medicaid expansion,” Batch stated, drawing a direct line between systemic policy delays and rising costs for private policyholders. “It isn’t about the fact that it’s going to just go down because all of a sudden we remove people from the rolls. All of us with private insurance are going to continue to pay the price because the uninsured are the most vulnerable.”

Batch, a cancer survivor who received treatment at UNC, shared a profound personal perspective on the geographic disparities embedded in the healthcare system, noting she met patients traveling from Nash County and the coast because vast swathes of North Carolina have become medical deserts.

The policy conversation grew sharper when analyzing the raw data of the current state budget. Batch highlighted the stark economic reality of a state maintaining a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, amounting to just $15,080 a year for an individual working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks without a single day off. Despite this, she noted, the legislature’s current budgetary trajectory imposes higher co-pays and premiums on the expansion population and state employees.

Stacey Abrams echoed these concerns by providing data from Georgia, a state that spent $80 million on a partial Medicaid expansion model, two-thirds of which was swallowed by administrative costs rather than direct patient care. “Medicaid expansion is life-saving care,” Abrams urged, noting that Georgia’s refusal to fully expand Medicaid has left it with some of the worst maternal mortality rates in the nation and led to the systemic closure of rural and metropolitan hospitals alike.

In North Carolina, Batch noted that while progress has been made, such as extending postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant women from 60 days to 12 months. New hurdles, such as retrogressive three-month lookback periods and complex work requirements, threaten to deter families from seeking care. “When you are turned down once, you are unlikely to ever sign up again,” Batch warned. “That is not going to reduce the cost of medical care and treatment; it’s only going to increase it.”

The dialogue shifted to the legal and community protections necessary to combat stringent voting laws, including the strategic removal of polling places from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority communities. When asked what concrete measures can prevent voter intimidation at the ballot box, Leader Batch called for radical civic participation and the deployment of human infrastructure. She recalled past election cycles where voters in her own district faced intimidating displays, including oversized Confederate flags and armed individuals at polling sites. Batch emphasized the necessity of trained, nonpartisan observers and volunteer attorneys. “What we need to do as a people, and so many of you in this room with privilege need to do, is be there at these polling places,” Batch asserted. “You need to be those nonpartisan observers. You need to be the line that holds… We are doing our very best to make sure that we are hiring and we have a lot of volunteer attorneys to be on this line.”

Abrams contextualized this fight by emphasizing the practical, block-by-block mechanics of election security. “Help people make a plan to vote, make certain they know what day the election is,” Abrams advised, reminding the audience that working-class voters often carry logistical burdens that obscure election timelines. “We owe it to our ancestors. They’ve been through worse. So now it’s our turn.”

A central focus of the evening was a granular breakdown of what it takes to break the legislative supermajority in North Carolina and protect the judiciary from hyperpartisan overreach. The financial and strategic calculus laid out by Leader Batch presented a compelling argument for the efficiency of investing in state legislative races:

The U.S. Senate Math: A competitive, top-of-the-ticket statewide race in North Carolina can easily command a staggering $800 million in collective spending.

The NC Senate Math: By contrast, the entire Senate Democratic Caucus can mount a highly competitive battle to build a working majority for roughly $12 million.

“That is 1.5% of the entire U.S. Senate spend,” Batch calculated, demonstrating how direct financial resources go significantly further in targeted local legislative districts. To break the current Republican supermajority, the Senate Democratic Caucus needs to net just one seat to reach 21, while a “great year” could push the caucus to 23 or 25 seats, securing a functional tiebreaker alongside the executive branch.

Abrams backed this strategy by pointing to historical data from her 2018 gubernatorial run in Georgia. While she narrowly missed the executive mark by 53,794 votes, the targeted, down-ballot investment successfully flipped 14 legislative seats and broke a devastating supermajority. “All of the evil that they do that they cannot get through an impotent Congress is coming to a state near you,” Abrams warned, framing state legislatures as the primary battlegrounds for modern policy warfare.

Furthermore, both leaders stressed that legislative majorities are the ultimate defense mechanism for the judiciary. Batch raised the alarm regarding partisan maneuvers across the country, such as the introduction of recall mechanisms targeting independent judiciaries, and warned that maintaining seats like Justice Anita Earls’ on the North Carolina Supreme Court is crucial to preventing the systematic dismantling of democratic oversight.

Closing the night under the banner of “Keeping Hope Alive,” Abrams shifted the perspective from defensive posturing to a proactive framework for civic engagement. She contrasted the mechanics of authoritarianism, which she defined as taking power, hoarding power, and avoiding accountability. Democracy, which requires sharing power, leveraging power for the collective benefit, and maintaining strict accountability. Abrams challenged the audience to push back against the weaponization of language, specifically the targeted attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) frameworks. “They see DEI for what it is: Diversity is people, Equity means fair access to opportunity, and Inclusion means respect for belonging,” Abrams declared. “In a democracy, that’s the DNA… We can’t let them seize our language and scare us into not calling the truth out. When they do that, we lose. When we refuse to let them take our language, we win.”

To counter structural voter fatigue, Abrams directed attendees to the 10 Steps Campaign, an action-oriented initiative designed to provide everyday citizens with an explicit plan for local resistance. The strategy hinges on executing practical steps: hosting and sharing informational narratives, organizing locally, litigating in both the courts and the court of public opinion, utilizing nonviolent disruption, and consistently engaging elected officials up and down the ballot.

As the standing-room crowd dispersed, the mandates left behind by both leaders were clear: fundraising is not merely an aggregation of dollars, and democracy is not a passive experiment. It is a continuous, disciplined application of hope, labor, and strategy.

Based on reporting by The Carolinian.

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Four Tips to Help You Plan a Holiday “Staycation”

“A great staycation starts when you treat your hometown like a destination – book one ‘anchor’ experience, stay somewhere that changes your scenery, and leave room for a little spontaneity,” said Steve Orens, President of FROSCH by Chase Travel, a leading travel agency. “My favorite staycation tip is to make it easy on yourself: choose a walkable area, plan one highlight each day, and let the hotel do the heavy lifting – warm beds, quick breaks, and fewer logistics.”

Published

22 hours ago

October 13, 2026

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By Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Holiday travel can be exciting, but between costs, crowded airports and packed schedules, sometimes the idea of staying home can be much more appealing.

If you still want to get away without the hassle of an actual getaway, consider a holiday staycation.

By remaining close to home, you can experience your city from a fresh perspective without the stress of a long trip. Whether you book a night at a local hotel, check out a new neighborhood or just finally get around to seeing that landmark attraction that’s been on your to-do list, you can make staying at home feel like a real getaway.

Here are four tips you can use to create an amazing holiday at home this season:

1. Treat your hometown like a destination

One common theme surrounding area attractions is that they’re more likely to be packed with tourists than locals. If that popular museum, tour or other institution is always “there,” it can be easy to avoid it and say you’ll get there eventually.

A staycation provides a great opportunity to approach those kinds of places like a tourist. Start by making a short list of places or experiences you’ve always wanted to try but never seem to prioritize. You might include a museum, holiday market, historic site, restaurant or neighborhood, or you might attend a holiday-related performance that’s an annual late fall or winter tradition in your area.

2. Spend the night away

A hotel stay can provide a change of scenery that makes you feel like you’re enjoying a getaway.

Consider a traditional hotel, bed and breakfast or rental property where you can walk to restaurants, shopping, entertainment or holiday activities. An upscale hotel can also be the centerpiece of your staycation, allowing you to enjoy fine dining, a fitness center, spa services or other on-site experiences.

If you want a quieter, more relaxed experience, find a hotel “off the beaten path,” but still close to home, to enjoy the rhythms and sounds of nature.

3. Be flexible

If your schedule allows, plan your staycation for a weekday or less crowded period — like the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve — rather than a peak weekend. Hotel rates in the middle of the week tend to be cheaper, and it might be easier to grab a restaurant reservation or performance tickets. Locations might be less crowded as well during the week, making it easier to get around.

Book some experiences in advance to save money but stay open to spontaneous opportunities once you arrive. You might find some great last-minute deals.

4. Try something new

Even if you think you’ve seen everything your hometown has to offer, there’s always something new to explore or discover.

Check out a neighborhood you usually drive through and visit the local shops and other businesses. You can also try a new cuisine at a neighborhood restaurant or kitchen.

Sometimes what’s old can be new again during the holiday season, so if you want to go back to your favorite restaurants and other popular spots, do so with fresh eyes. Order from the eatery’s holiday menu or take a walk when lights, decorations and seasonal programming transform many communities.

Other helpful tips

Although staying at home can eliminate major travel costs, expenses can still add up quickly. Make a staycation budget and then consider ways to help keep costs down.

“A ‘smart’ staycation is one you can pay for comfortably: choose dates with better rates, book flexible options, and keep a small buffer for surprises,” added Orens. “The goal of a staycation is a real reset. Even if you’re close to home, give yourself permission to unplug and find moments to treat yourself – say yes to room service, a spa hour, or a new restaurant you’ve been saving for ‘someday.’”

If you have rewards points from credit cards or loyalty programs, put them toward your hotel to get a free or cheaper night’s stay. Local museums, cultural institutions and attractions often have resident discounts, reduced-price admission days or seasonal offers. Community calendars can provide information about free or low-cost events like holiday concerts, light displays, markets, park activities and other events. If a performance doesn’t normally sell out, wait until the day before or day of to buy tickets, as prices are often reduced and you can find great seats.

With a little creativity, you might find everything you’d want in a holiday vacation. You can enjoy good food, new experiences and an escape from your daily routine – all right at home.

For more financial health tips, visit https://www.chase.com/travel/guide.

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

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Jendayi Arrest Raises Community Concerns Regarding Sheriff’s Chain of Command

Judge Sandra K. Bean ordered a legally inherited home to be taken from beneficiary Jendayi, citing “undue influence,” and gave it to Court Administrator Phillip Campbell, who Jendayi believes will quickly sell the house and pay himself more than $600,000 in court fees. The disinherited sisters will get the remainder of the proceeds of the sale.

Published

23 hours ago

October 13, 2026

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Supporters continue to gather outside the home of Zakiya Jendayi a week after sheriff’s deputies boarded up doors and windows, changed the locks and fenced off the property. Photo by Lindsay Imai Hong.

By Tanya Dennis

Last Thursday, Zakiya Jendayi parked on the side of the René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland to file an emergency stay request in what Jendayi asserts was the “legal” theft of her home of 13 years by a court administrator in her ongoing battle for her rightful inheritance in a probate battle.

But before she could fully emerge from the car at 12th and Oak streets, she was arrested by Alameda County Sheriffs for disobeying a court order and obstruction.

According to observers who have read the transcripts, the Hamlin v. Jendayi case, now in its sixth year, has resulted in what they describe as a gross miscarriage of justice.

Dr. Laura Dean Head named Jendayi as the beneficiary and executor over her estate after Jendayi took care of her during the last months of her life. Head’s disinherited sisters, Della Hamlin and Helaine Head, challenged the validity of Head’s will and trust, despite not being able to recognize Head in a photo during the trial, and Della stating she hadn’t spoken to her sister since 1997 or 1998 and would not have taken care of her during her hospice.

The appellate court upheld Bean’s ruling, which Jendayi asserts was based on a failure to fully consider the transcripts. “They never read the transcripts because if they had, they would have seen the truth,” Jendayi said.

Accompanied by Alameda Couty Sheriff’s Department deputies, Campbell arrived unannounced at Jendayi’s home on Oct. 1 – at the same time Jendayi was being arrested – to change the locks, board up the windows, and place a fence around the property.

Neither Jendayi, nor her supporters who had been in touch with Alameda County leadership and the Sheriff’s Department and been given the impression that nothing would happen without warning had been told Campbell was coming.

“I went to the courthouse to file an emergency stay document, and while getting out of the car, a sheriff immediately approached me and put handcuffs on me before I could stand up,” Jendayi said in recounting the events of Oct. 1. “I asked him if he had a warrant. He said ‘yes,’ and seven other officers immediately approached and surrounded me, with an additional three sheriffs standing back observing.

“I asked why it was necessary to have 10 officers to arrest me. They would not answer. I asked if the sergeant was there and asked if I could speak to him, but the sergeant refused to approach while another officer started taunting me over and over, stating, ‘I was at your house. I was at your house when you refused to surrender. We got you now.’

“The officer put the handcuffs on tight. I asked him to please loosen them. He refused and said they weren’t too tight. Then a Black, female deputy named Lewis, came over and asked him to loosen the handcuffs. Three times the white male officers were overly aggressive with me, and each time Deputy Lewis would step up and they would fall back. They said I was under arrest for refusing to surrender the house on Aug. 25.

“I asked them if I could file my paperwork, and they said, ‘No.’ Several officers asked me if I was on drugs. I felt like my life was in danger. I asked to speak to Deputy Lewis, and she came. I said, ‘Please tell my mother and Joyce Gordon that I would never kill myself.’ I did not want to end up like Sandra Bland, who was murdered by police officers in a Texas jail.”

Zendayi said they then took her to a section in the basement of the courthouse, placed her in a holding cell, and confiscated her belongings around 3 p.m. “They went through everything, took both cell phones, and asked if they could turn off my phones. I said ‘no,’ so they placed them in airplane mode.”

Then she was taken in a van to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, which, because of traffic took almost two hours. “They asked me if I was on drugs and asked me to give a urine sample. I refused. They took a mug shot, and I was told it would be Monday before I could go to court. They put me in a cell with feces on the wall.

An hour after being detained, a deputy asked Jendayi if she knew someone who worked for the county and then asked if knew someone from the Sheriff’s Office and answered ‘no’ to both questions. He said, “You must know someone because we received orders to release you immediately. You’ll be out of here in about 40 minutes.”

“Rev. Raymond Langford of the Oakland Private Industry Council has been helping me to negotiate for more time to stay in my home,” Jendayi said. “I have an appeal with the Northern District Court of Appeals, where I’ve been promised they will review my case based on its merits. I was hoping to stay (in my home) until they reached a determination.

Rev. Langford reached out to Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunata Bas and Chief Administrator David Brown, and they’ve been in contact with Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez.

“They weren’t going to give me the time I requested, but they did say that I would have time to move my belongings and would also be notified when they were coming,” Jendayi said. “None of that occurred.”

Langford said he spoke to Brown, Fortunato Bas and Sanchez right after the first attempt to evict Jendayi on Aug. 25 as well as the Alameda County Counsel and others to negotiate a time for Jendayi to move her belongings.

“There is no truth to the statement that there was no contact [with court and law enforcement officials.] There was an obvious miscommunication between Sanchez and her officers. They don’t have to inform the public of their actions, I understand that, but Zakiya and the community were concerned after they confiscated her guns.”

(Jendayi relinquished her weapons on Aug. 25 when sheriff’s deputies came to forcibly evict her while her petition for bankruptcy was still pending and should have interrupted the eviction process.)

“The Sheriffs have their own trust issues, and they need to work on that. They are not following the chain of command. David Brown, Fortunato Bas’s chief of staff, was puzzled also. He was told they would be informed when they would be returning. He was also blindsided like all of us.”

“(The Sheriffs’ Department) can come to the supervisors and get millions of dollars, but they can’t exhibit the courtesy to inform a citizen when she needs to move.”

“We, our group, ‘Friends of Zakiya,’ took a letter to Sanchez’s office citing Zakiya’s health issues, asking for more time just last week. Sanchez was a person who ran on the platform that she would not run the Sheriff’s Department on a military strategy, which they did on an African American senior in a comfortable, safe community.

“We understand they have to do their job, but we don’t want them targeting and profiling seniors. There has to be some accountability to the community,” Lankford said.

Supervisor Nikki Bas, deeply concerned with what has occurred, is joining with Supervisor Nate Miley to request a meeting with Attorney General Rob Bonta to request an independent investigation.

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AC Transit Labor Unions Back Director Joel Young

ATU Local 192 Vice President Nathaniel Arnold stated “our support reflects confidence in Young’s leadership and experience as the longest-serving member of AC Transit’s current Board of Directors. His experience is particularly important as AC Transit confronts serious fiscal challenges while working to preserve and strengthen service.

Published

24 hours ago

October 13, 2026

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Joel Young with bus union workers. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

In the AC Transit Ward 3 election, AC Transit’s labor organizations have recently expressed their endorsement for Director Joel Young, recognizing his longstanding commitment to public transportation, workforce investment, and the employees who keep AC Transit moving every day.

Those unions include the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3916.

“At a time when difficult decisions lie ahead, Young brings institutional knowledge, longstanding relationships, and a demonstrated commitment to public transportation.

“Since joining the board in 2009, Young has served in key leadership roles, including president and vice president, helping guide AC Transit through periods of growth, innovation, and change.

During his tenure, he helped AC Transit secure more than $600 million in funding to support critical transportation investments. Young has also helped advance workforce development initiatives, support transit technology improvements, expand AC Transit’s zero-emission bus fleet, and strengthen the District’s national presence on transportation policy issues.

His leadership has extended beyond the Bay Area.

Young has represented AC Transit on the national stage, including participation in the White House Roundtable on Clean Bus Manufacturing, where transit leaders and policymakers discussed the future of clean transportation and domestic manufacturing.