GSO goes skating

Congratulations to the city for landing the 2011 US Figure Skating Championships.

So start saving up that parking money...maybe now is the right time to discuss privatizing the Coliseum. Because if we start gouging these visitors to this event...upping the price tremendously on hotel rooms, restaurants, parking, rental cars (like we do with the furniture market twice yearly), they'll never come back.

Time to get our house in order.

E.C. :)

The face of the Triad's jobless

(N&R)

Reports point to as many as 2,000 job hunters showing up at this week's job fair at Four Seasons Mall.

Haunting...

E.C. :)

Beltway not shovel-ready

Perhaps if we root out and weed out the corruption at the state DOT, we can actually get roads built in this state. Sadly, one major road project in our area, the Greensboro Urban Loop/Beltway/Painter Blvd./the 840...whatever we're calling that thing these days...is not on the short-list of shovel-ready projects as part of the stimulus.

Ed Cone has some thoughts on this today.

E.C. :)

A new face in the war on the brain-drain

Erin Stratford is the new face in Action Greensboro's war on stopping the brain-drain. In a new video posted on its blog, Springboard, Stratford (in her own words) describes why she returned to her native Greensboro from New York City where she lived for 12 years. She works in nonprofits and philanthropy.

"A young person is welcomed," Stratford says of Greensboro, adding "The city cares about nurturing that population here."
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Contrast that to the typical newcomers experience here, such as Lana Lopez, wife of News & Record reporter Robert Lopez, who briefly and publicly described his wife experience of moving here and settling in since almost this time last year; I profiled Lopez in a brief mention back in January:

My job here has treated me well, my paycheck having grown a little fatter when I made the move. But my wife, Lana, and I still took a financial hit, mainly because I'm the only breadwinner in the house -- well, apartment, as we're still trying to save for a down payment and waiting for the housing market to bottom out.

Lana joined me in Greensboro in March and has been looking for a job since. She's tried applying at schools, government offices, call centers, stores, restaurants and staffing agencies, the last of which I wouldn't recommend for anyone unless they enjoy jumping through hoops for a chance at a mediocre-paying job. She's received a few callbacks, but thus far no wages.

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And then contrast that to my situation where I moved here in early 2000, got laid off after 9/11, moved away in early 2002, moved back in late 2004, and after teaching for a couple of years, suddenly finding myself underemployed.

Not fun.

Here's what I said back in early January:

I work a $9/hour service job...at night. I substitute teach and tutor during the day to supplement my income.

I blog and strategize about local city and county politics and communication projects...in my spare time...for free.

I have a communications/journalism background, previously taught in the public schools, previously worked in Washington and Las Vegas...and I work a $9/hour service job. I work there because my family has to eat. And right now, there are no other professional opportunities in this area. It is sad because I'm here to make a better life for my daughter...to give her the opportunity like I had growing up to be raised in a neighborhood, where she can ride her bike and socialize with her friends from school, etc.

And yet I worry because if she decides to matriculate through school here, she may not have a job waiting for her here; she may do like all of our other young professionals...and leave. It is sad.

This is very typical of many many households across our city, our county, our area...even our state.

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Quality of life will bring our young professionals back, quality of life will keep our college grads here. Jobs is a quality of life issue.

E.C. :)

Vote Max?

Max Benbassat, a Burlington native who moved back to the area from New York City to work in his family business, has formed a campaign committee and announced his intentions to run for City Council (at-large).

Amanda Lehmert profiles him in the Inside Scoop.

Despite the interesting YouTube videos on his website (viewer discretion advised), Benbassat's platform is serious, including working with our schools and what he describes as "fighting for the working class of Greensboro."

He certainly brings an interesting twist to the election season.

E.C. :)

Groat's in, Perkins serves up baloney to Forbes

Mayor Pro Tem and developer Sandra Anderson Groat will run for reelection for one of the at-large seats, the News & Record reported last week.
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This, while City Councilman Robbie Perkins calls a recent Forbes article calling Greensboro an "empty city": baloney.

Greensboro/High Point apparently is now the fourth-emptiest city based on vacancy rates collected from the U.S. Census Bureau for the fourth quarter of 2008 (see Forbes article here).

City Council member Robbie Perkins tells the News & Record, "I think we need to say that they're full of baloney."

That's real professional, Robbie.

Quite easy to discount an article when it possibly...possibly...may be factual.

From the comments posted under the N&R article, many seem to agree.

E.C. :)

Upcoming Job Fair

From today's N&R:

The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce will hold a special Spring Job Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Four Season Town Centre.

The Chamber is hosting the Job Expo in partnership with the Guilford County JobLink, Triad Careers, and the Employment Security Commission. An assortment of employers will be represented at the job expo representing a variety of industries.

A range of positions will be available from professional to unskilled work. Both part-time and full-time options will be offered. The HR Group also will be available to assist job seekers with resume development, job searches and career exploration. The unit is equipped with ten computers, a television monitor, and a satellite connection that allows for wireless Internet.

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They'd better plan for a busy day.

E.C. :)

Arrest in Old Navy homicide

Kudos to the GSO Police for apprehending the suspect in the homicide case of a Brinks Armored Car guard before Christmas. N&R has more.

Coupled with last night's apprehension of the suspects in the attempted Wachovia Bank heist yesterday, GPD is to be commended.

E.C. :)

More irony

The last time I talked "irony," Red Mike's Grocery was hit again with another unfortunate robbery, just mere months after its owner was gunned down in a brutal robbery/homicide last November. Both cases remain unsolved.

Simultaneously on that same evening last month, Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson gathered only a few blocks away to discuss plans for downtown.


(N&R)

Now comes last night...in which a brazen bank robbery at a south Greensboro Wachovia Bank branch turns into a chase, which then turns into a "Hollywood"-style shootout off I-40 and Patterson; leaving both suspects and a police officer injured (see N&R story).

[UPDATE...One of the suspects has now died; N&R has more]

Simultaneously, your City Council met to discuss possible methods of change and needed reform to our Police Department. None of them were considered last night (see N&R story). None of them. Wiped off the table.

Unfortunate and shameful.

Unfortunate for the victims who were robbed. Unfortunate for the officer (who was only doing their job--God bless that officer and that officer's family). Unfortunate for a city that must deal with another public relations nightmare.

E.C. :)

Guilford County Police Department?

Hey, some may say it works. Some may say that it may save money while attacking the county's major crimes head-on, including the sharp rise in robberies and burglaries...and now, homicides.

But this idea of a combined city/county PD is just one thing city leaders will begin looking at. They also want to see expanded powers of the city's Complaint Review Committee.

Time will tell...I support this kind of review, simply because in this point in time, it is needed.

But the plan has resistance. Councilman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small lectured us about this last week...remember that?

"This is not the right way for the City Council to micromanage the city," she tells the N&R.

I don't think anyone's trying to micromanage the city...we only want to the city get better, and grow...and learn from its mistakes.

E.C. :)

Downtown merchants need to organize

One of the things I would like to see (and encourage) as part of my appointment to the city's Planning Board is for a real organization of downtown merchants, particularly, among our small businesses.

The recent squabbling between city leaders, developers and small businesses up and down Elm Street over the new development (and associated incentives package passed by the City Council) may be the stimulus for this kind of dialogue. Some say there are groups already formed to address issues in the center city. But if they were organized, it didn't provide the mechanism for mediating the concerns between all parties involved.

I would like to see a vibrant downtown. The kind of development that's coming needs to spur jobs in our center city. We have a lot to revere about our downtown. But we have some gaping holes that need to be addressed about our downtown.

I want to see responsible development. And anything that can be done to help encourage that will be the true catalyst for long-term development to help guide responsible growth in our center city.

E.C. :)

Forward thinking on our brain-drain problem

We need a school of architecture. Someone has just figured that out. It may be the savior to our brain-drain problem. Or will it?

Today's News & Record reports local heads would like to plant a new school of architecture right here in the Gate City. The article says the city's architecture firms "are tired of losing promising young candidates to other cities with accredited architecture schools, so they’re hoping for a school in the Triad."

Brain-drain 101.

N&R:

An architecture school would not have the research impact of a pharmacy school or the economic impact of a law school, [Ken] Mayer [of Moser Mayer Phoenix] said. But it would be a push toward building the affluent “creative class” that the city has been seeking since author Richard Florida came to Greensboro several years ago to outline the benefits of having creative, educated workers and business people in a community.

“If you think back a few years, there was an effort to grow a creative class here in Greensboro,” Mayer said. “This fits right into that effort that Winston(-Salem) is on top of and Greensboro is trying to pursue. So, you try to group these things together and you can really begin to have some significant impact.”

The article says a focus group from the Piedmont Triad Partnership has been formed to...oh god...study the issue. This means another white paper-style report, another community meeting, press conference....

Just do it. That's all...just do it.

E.C. :)

Business owners had a right to object

While I think more responsible development does need to occur downtown (and hopefully, new development downtown would help create new jobs downtown), I think local property owners and business owners had a right to air their concerns about the new development just approved by City Council for S. Elm Street.
I'm not so sure the incentive price tag was worth it though.

N&R:

The proposed development hit hurdles, first from historic preservationist who didn't like the contemporary design and then from small business owners and property owners in the area.

Opponents said it was unfair for the city to give away a piece of the parking lot and use city money when other businesses downtown did not get the same opportunities.

"These are the people who came down here without incentives," said Simone McClinton, an area business owner. "They are the people without $3.6 million dollars to invest."

It appears that small businesses downtown have a number of concerns that apparently are not being addressed (Where's DGI in all of this?).

I would be interested in hearing those concerns.

E.C. :)

Protest Petition bill introduced in Raleigh

It was only a matter of time before a Protest Petition bill was introduced in Raleigh. Since Greensboro couldn't fully restore the power to file protest petitions by property owners in rezoning cases, lawmakers on the state level will take up the issue.

Read more in the Inside Scoop.

GreensboroMetro will be following it.

E.C. :)

Erik Huey appointed to city's Planning Board

It is with great pleasure, honor and privilege to announce that I was appointed to the Planning Board for the City of Greensboro. The appointment was advanced by Councilman Trudy Wade (D-5) and was made official during last night's City Council meeting.

I fully understand both the depth and the scope of this appointment. It is certainly not one I will take lightly, nor take for granted. Helping to guide the effective, responsible development of this city will be my top priority during every meeting and vote.

I'm proud to be in a position to help make decisions from a citizenry-perspective. I have no ties to any developer, realtor, bank nor law firm.

My pledge to you and to the citizens of this city is that I will be fair and non-biased, that I will consider all sides of an argument, but more importantly--that I will be an effective listener.

And while I may not blog on immediate issues forthcoming before the Board, either by choice or by request, I will continue to have an open mind...and an open door.

I appreciate, value and treasure your support, past, present and future. We will not always agree, but civility and common respect is treasured more than anything.

E.C. :)

GSO has lost its relevance..here's how to gain it back

Blog after blog, example after example, article after article, we're seeing the ongoing, gentle and not-so-subtle decline of the Gate City.

It's taken a BusinessWeek article, a public safety emergency (that's growing day by day by day by day)...and articles suggesting corporate donors on the decline for people to start waking up around town.

Suggesting Greensboro is the new Gastonia is an understatement...I'd say that the Gate City has lost its relevance.

We have City Councilmen who in one breath bash bloggers...and in another breath, ask those same bloggers what needs to happen in the city to change things around?

The occasional spark of good news of new jobs and false reports is trumped by an economic crises that has been ongoing for 10 years. We have a City Manager that's clueless, a mayor that's uninspiring at best, an economic development staff who still thinks manufacturing will be our savior even as Raleigh and Charlotte (who seem to be weathering their economic storms a lot better than we are) continue to pass us by.

Lexington and Asheboro recently named among tops in the nation for poverty. Rockingham County's unemployment rate at a record 10%...could Guilford County be far behind?
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We know what the bad news is...but how can this area jump back? Bounce back? Recover? Become relevant again?

Greensboro's Bill Knight may have said it best when he told Roch Smith:

I prefer to think Greensboro has a lot going for it that will be enhanced when a new slate of leadership steps forward and establishes a new direction for city policy making. This is an election year for City Council, and a wholesale change in its makeup will help bring forth much needed leadership, direction and decision making that has been sorely lacking for several terms.

Mr. Knight makes sense. The direction not only includes new leadership at the elected level, but on an administrative level...a new city manager, a new police chief, a new attitude by our economic development staff.

And from the latter, I have one word...diversify, diversify, diversify. Manufacturing, the long-time life-blood of this city, is no more. If we do not start diversifying our economy, the rut we've been stuck in for the past 10 years, will continue to grow. I continue to stand by my premise that you cannot sustain an economy on $9/hour service jobs while continue promoting this area.

And you cannot create a sustainable area with runaway development, slapping a CVS or a Walgreens on every corner.

And while green jobs are good, green jobs will not be our primary savior either.

We need professional job opportunities, among a diverse range of industries...communications, marketing, finance, engineering, etc. The HOT project (Heart of the Triad) is too little-too late. We do need to recognize our strengths, but work on retooling our weaknesses and rebuilding them into strengths. Do not send me another report, not another survey, do not invite me to another community meeting...just do it.

Quit talking about it and just do it.

This area swells every August with several thousands of college students. Just a small percentage of those students remain in this area after June...and after graduation. They will not remain here working $9/hour service jobs. Long-time residents like me, who work a nightly service job (despite having a college degree, skills and years of journeyman's experience), will not remain remain in this area if things do not change around.

Remember, our problems existed LONG BEFORE this past Summer. Here is our chance to write the wrongs and correct the problems. New leadership will do just that.

E.C. :)