Friend,

I'd like to start by reminding you that Election Day is this coming Tuesday, March 3rd. I hope you have a plan to vote! Many of you may know that Voter ID is not required in the NC primary elections, but last week, a decision in state court increased the chance that we will not have a Voter ID requirement in the general election.  
 
In last week's ruling, a Court of Appeals panel unanimously found that Republican legislators passed a photo ID law with "an intention to target African American voters" rather than a desire to comply with the North Carolina Constitution. The court found that this intent to discriminate against African American voters was the "primary motivating factor" behind the photo ID law. The legislature’s past attacks on African American voter participation was a factor in the decision as well.

You can read the opinion at the link below. It was written by Judge Toby Hampson and joined by Judge John Arrowood and Judge Allegra Collins.  
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance.

Sincerely,

Representative Julie von Haefen
Living on $1.00/day:
Prison Pay Scales in North Carolina
During my visits to Central Prison and the Correctional Institute for Women, I heard from prisoners about the challenges they face making $1.00/day or less. I asked the Sanford School of Public Policy and Duke Policy Research Lab to examine North Carolina's compensation system and how it compares to other states.

Read my latest Medium article on our prison compensation system in North Carolina. I don’t have the answers to all the issues that inmates and administrators are facing in our prison system, but I’m looking for them. And I’m trying to start conversations where I can.

If you have thoughts, questions, or experiences of your own with this issue, I hope that you’ll reach out to me and to my legislative office to discuss.
District News:
2020 Census
Election Day is not the only day in 2020 that will decide our future. Census Day, April 1, is our first chance to make a difference. And on Census Day, everybody counts. When we fill out the census form, and we make sure that all of us are counted, we can help our communities get the schools, hospitals, and roads we need. If we don’t get counted, we don’t count. And we’ll miss out for the next 10 years.

"Census data is used to help the Federal government decide where money should go. Over $600 billion per year is distributed to communities across the United States based on census data. This funding includes money on infrastructure and roads, health care, schools, and more.

The more accurate the census count is in your community, the more likely your community is to get the resources that it needs and deserves to serve community
members."
2020 House Page Applications
The application portal for the 2020 Short Session House Page Program is live!
  • Electronic applications may be submitted here.
  • Printable applications may be found here.

The House Page Program is an opportunity for students between the ages of 15 and 18 to learn about and be involved in the legislative process for four days. More information about the Page program may be found in this digital brochure .

Please feel free to forward information about this program to any students in our district that might be interested in or benefit from this opportunity. I am able to sponsor two pages during the short session and I look forward to reading the applications!
COVID-19
My office has started receiving questions about COVID-19, commonly known as the "coronavirus."  I t is important to note that no cases have been reported in North Carolina, and that our Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and NC Emergency Management (NCEM) have been operating a team to coordinate the state’s possible response to any widespread viral outbreak since early January.

In early February, Governor Cooper formalized this effort with the creation of the COVID-19 Task Force. NCDHHS and NCEM are working closely with local health departments, health care providers and others to train first responders and local medical personnel to identify and respond to any potential isolated cases that might occur in the state and prepare North Carolinians to be ready in the event of national COVID-19 transmission.

If you or your loved ones have any questions about North Carolina's preparedness in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, please visit the DHHS website below.
District 36 Office Hours
Rep. von Haefen will hold office hours on  Wednesday, March 25, 9:30AM - 11AM at Bruegger's Bagels, 8204 Tryon Woods Dr Cary, NC 27518
(corner of Tryon Road and Walnut)

Stop by anytime between 9:30AM and 11AM to share your thoughts or ask questions!
Office Updates
Apex Chamber of Commerce Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
This was my second year attending the Apex Chamber of Commerce Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, and it was wonderful once again. I was so happy to see our Apex teachers and teacher assistants of the year being honored and thanked by our business community.

Thank you to our teachers for all that you do for our community!
The Future of Black History
Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend “The Future of Black History” event hosted by Tru Access and Town of Cary, NC at the Mayton Inn.

Keynote Speaker Chief Justice Cheri Beasley encouraged attendees to stand for righteousness and justice because “we are better together.” Host Tru Pettigrew awarded Community Bridge Builders, including my friend Dr. Camille Hedrick, principal of Green Hope High School, and others. As Tru shared, “We are all leaders and all have an opportunity and responsibility to create change.”
6th Annual Public School Forum Eggs and Issues Breakfast
I was pleased to attend the Sixth Annual Public School Forum of North Carolina Eggs and Issues Breakfast last week with over 300 public education policy makers, advocates, teachers and lawmakers hearing about the most important issue of 2020: the need to “take immediate and intentional actions to meet our constitutional obligation to provide each child a sound basic education” in North Carolina.

The General Assembly must take urgent action to establish a plan to monitor progress toward Leandro compliance. We have a lot of work to do. It’s time to stop talking and take courageous action to do what’s right for every child and every classroom in our state.
Upcoming Events
Did you Know?
North Carolina didn't have its first primary election until 1915, when the legislature passed the Primary Elections Act.