Inside the Black Political Structure of Guilford County (an idea...and a call for interviews)

I'm about to ruffle some feathers with this one.

I'm looking to do a story, or a blog post...or heck, I may have enough grist at the end of this thing to write a book or a multi-series piece like Jerry Bledsoe is doing for the Rhino Times...but I'm looking to write about the black political structure of Guilford County. From Greensboro to High Point to the county itself (even on the state level), we have a number of elected officials in our county who are black...some are doing a fair amount of good for its citizens; others have questionable ties according to some, questionable relationships according to others. Some vote against ethics legislation, some perceive racism, others consider their "struggle" as a "historical struggle."

I'm looking to dive head first into this struggle.

Some questions...

Q--Is this a separatist project?
A--Let me first say that I'm not looking for this project to be a separatist project...it's not.

Q--Why don't you write about the "white political structure" in Guilford County?
A--Is there such a thing? If you're referring to the political structure that runs Greensboro from Action Greensboro to the developers, then there must be. And GSOMetro will continue to focus on the good (and the shady) aspects of these other organizations. But it is time to explore the major players within the black political structure of Guilford County. Separately, we need to define if it is a true power structure.

Q--Is it?
A--Greensboro has a black mayor, a black police chief, Guilford County Schools has a black superintendent of schools, Guilford County is being run by a black county executive...that's a lot of power. It's likely not a deliberate power structure, but some things said recently and actions made in the public eye among some of these elected officials prompt a major and swift cause for concern.

Q--Such as?
A--Recent on-the-record statements by Guilford County Board of Commissioners chairman Skip Alston and Greensboro City Councilman Goldie Wells. Recent votes by Greensboro City Councilman T. Dianne Bellamy Small. Past votes and public statements by Guilford County Board of Education member Deena Hayes...these are all examples. Moves such as a reported lack of transparency and secret meetings not held in accordance with sunshine laws are other examples.

Q--Where do you go from here?
A--I'm issuing a call for interviews. I'm looking for those who would be willing to sit down, perhaps over coffee, to do one-on-one interviews, let's approach this subject with an open mind and let's bring everything to the table. I'm looking to interview bloggers, citizen activists, established media figures in our county, even citizens themselves. I would like to interview some of the major political players in the county although I will not be at all surprised if no one responds for any requests for interviews or comment to this story/project. I would also be interested in meeting with up-and-coming political figures in this county.

Q--Will this be an opinionated piece?
A--I really want this to be objective. Some of the figures shown above obviously bring a perceived notion among some of us. I've commented on some of these figures posted above, some positive, some negative. But all opinion aside, this is a subject that I feel needs some exploration, needs some ink (or bandwidth) and needs to be told.

If you're interested in being a part of this project, drop me a line and let's talk further. If you feel this is a project that could be much more than a simple blog posting, let's talk. This is something merely on paper for now, but I would love to get this off the ground and get it moving.

E.C. :)

Skip Gone Wild

He's gone rogue...or gone wild. Either way, the man you and I know as the chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, has literally lost it.

And Melvin "Skip" Alston, is not through talking (and bad mouthing) the News & Record.

Today's Inside Scoop, with which today's post has so many good quotes, it must be re-run in its entirety for the point to be exploited:

Alston seemed to have a lot on his mind Monday, and he first got to his definitions of the public and the press.

"I had no obligation to inform your newspaper," he said, "and you took it upon yourself to say that the newspaper is the public."

He was going back to an earlier statement he made about not feeling any responsibility to tell me what is going on in the county. And by me, he meant me, Gerald Witt, News & Record employee. I also happen to live in Greensboro.

"I said specifically you," he said, "and your newspaper and you know to what extent I was talking about. And I’m saying there’s no obligation to inform them."

"I talk to my constituents," he said, "and I know what my constituents are saying to you. And I don’t have to talk to you and I don’t have to talk to Allen Johnson. Just because I don’t talk to you all, and it does not mean that I’m not talking to the public."

He said that he doesn't have to include us in on his thought process, or brainstorming when it comes to spending public funds.

"I don’t appreciate that you have to think (we're) thumbing our noses to the public," he said.

We chatted a little more, and he said that the public he speaks with supports his tax-cutting measures and that the only ones that seem to have any problem with anything are at the News & Record.

Then we asked how many phone calls he fields in a day.

"That’s for me and the public to know," he said, "and I think you're being sarcastic."

We asked how he logs his contact with the public.

"Again, I think that you're being facetious. My job is to bring about efficiency, not to explain to you how I act as an elected official," he said.

"I’m bouncing a few things off my constituents," he said, "not with the News & Record."

So then we asked his definition of constituents.

"My constituency is all the citizens that are paying their tax dollars and every citizen of Guilford county ... not just the constituents in my district, and I’m not saying that I talk with every person in the county," he said. Alston said he talks with residents who call him, business people and plenty of others.

"You are a reporter, and you are trying to get a story. The average citizen is trying to get it for average information. And you take what I say and then twist it. That’s what makes you different, and these people are doing it out of concern for their neighbors and themselves."

Commissioner Billy Yow accuses Alston of being a liar:

"The chairman has not come out with any mission statement," Yow said, and he’s promised transparency. And he lied to the public and he lied to you, the media, and he’s not bringing the transparency."

Alston said when he was named chairman that he would be more open to the public.

There's been a number of accounts to the contrary.

"And if his memory fails him that much," Yow said, "you should blister his ass for not telling and doing what he said he’s going to do."

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The circus that is...Guilford County, part 77.

E.C. :)

Another Forbes ranking

Another day, another ranking, another wake-up call.

In the new normal of 10% record unemployment, Greensboro ranks near the bottom and Winston-Salem doesn't even crack the top ten in a new Forbes ranking of the top 50 “Best places for business and careers” metro areas. The Business Journal reports the Gate City is at number 41, but Winston-Salem is number 18. These set of ranking include the overall cost of doing business, projected job growth, educational attainment and population.

BizJournal:

Greensboro actually topped the ranking in terms of the cost of doing business from labor, energy, taxes and office space. Winston-Salem ranked number seven on that list. Both areas did much more poorly in Forbes’ ranking system in terms of job growth and educational attainment.

Winston-Salem edged out number-19-ranked Charlotte, but other North Carolina metros came in higher. Raleigh topped the list at number one. Durham ranked number three, Asheville number six and Wilmington number 13.

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E.C. :)

2009: the year of the idiot politicians

I hate to say it, but 2009 is really shaping up to be the year of the stupid politician, local and statewide. And last week alone may have been the peek week.

Let's recap:

1. State Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) and two others in the State House of "so-called" Representatives introduces a bill to ban...plastic bags (via N&R). Pricey, I appreciated what you did on Protest Petitions, but you blew it on this one.

2. State Rep. Larry Womble (D-Forsyth) introduces a bill to require companies that do business with the state to disclose their historical ties to slavery (see previous post here).

3. State Sens. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin, and co-idiots Tony Rand, D-Cumberland, state Senate majority leader, and Dan Clodfelter, D-Mecklenburg, co-chairman of the state Senate Finance Committee introduce a bill effectively prohibiting any and all athletics at any school where a majority of students score below the 50th percentile on end-of-course tests for two or more consecutive years (see Guilford School Watch post here).

4. Skip Alston doing what he does best...being Skip Alston (previous coverage here and here).

5. Greensboro City Councilman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small voting against ethics in government. Does she really expect to win again?

If the trend continues, this may become a regular feature, sad to say.

E.C. :)

Skip Skip Skip...blah, blah, blah

Some call our Guilford County Board of Commissioners, "a circus." Well if it's a circus, then Skip must be the Ringmaster. Because to me, it is the laughing stock of the state.

Commission chairman Melvin "Skip" Alston speaks candidly to the News & Record this week.

The Inside Scoop:

First, the layoffs, which he and others say ultimately come from interim county manager Brenda Jones Fox.

Tuesday he couldn't say when the layoffs are coming.

"I know when Brenda tells me, because it’s her decision to do RIFs," Alston said Tuesday.

Then, this morning, he seemed to know more than yesterday.

"I know what’s going on, I just ain’t told you yet," he said.

It gets better.

Y'all are going to continue to report what you report, and we’ll just have to agree to disagree. And I’m not going to adhere to you-all’s version of it and I don't have have no problem with that."

oh my god...

"I’m more of best friend of the public than a news reporter is," Alston said Tuesday. "I have volunteered as a public service. I have more commitment and accountability to the public than the newspaper does."

"I don’t see y’all as the public," Alston said of the News & Record. "I see myself and elected officials as the public. We have been sent here, not you all, to do a job on their behalf, after consultation with them, not after consultation with the press."

Well that works both ways...because many don't see you as a commissioner representing the entire county.

John Robinson is discussing this also.

The answer to this nonsense? My friend Keith Brown suggests a smaller Board of Commissioners; I mentioned this a few days ago:

...let's talk about having a real accountable county commissioners. First get the number of them down from 11 to 9. Then have a true representation and accountability to have 5 districts and 4 at large so that each area can vote out 5 people if they are not satisfied with them instead of only 3 in the current make up.

E.C. :)

FedEx preparing to cancel jet orders

This, from yesterday's Wall Street Journal...FedEx is preparing to cancel billions of dollars in new aircraft orders over a bill pending in Congress to make unionizing easier. It raises the stakes with rival UPS and the Teamsters, who reportedly have been trying to organize FedEx for a number of years, the article says.

This, combined with its financial problems, combined with possible layoffs, and you've almost got a dinosaur sitting out at the airport.

E.C. :)

Mega-project on hold

This big huge monster aviation mega-project that continues to be bantered about in the News & Record that reportedly may bring as many as 800 jobs is now on hold. Moreover, today's article mentions that four major projects that allegedly may bring as many 2,000 jobs to the area are also on hold.

Well there's some dynamite economic development for ya!

I contend this...and I'm sorry if this is blunt, but we don't need another mistake in this area. Our citizens can't handle any more disappointments, either from companies who promise the world (and only deliver pocket change) or from our elected officials.

Skybus went Sky-bust. Promised the world, was promised corporate welfare, went belly up months later.

Dell, promised the world, was promised corporate welfare, gladly took corporate welfare. Announced an unknown number of layoffs only months later.

Lenovo, promised the world, was promised corporate welfare...professional staff in the Triangle, manufacturing staff hired in eastern Guilford County...months later, professional staff remain in the Triangle, manufacturing staff in Guilford County laid off.

FedEx...

I won't start.

We can't handle anymore bad news. If your company is not strong enough in this weird economic environment, then please don't do any grandiose announcements or hire so many people, only to fire them seven months later. If your company isn't strong enough to come in here to put the Triad's workforce back to work, then don't even bother coming.

E.C. :)

Raleigh bureaucrats = Raleigh idiots

Thanks to my friend Sam Hieb over at Piedmont Publius for discussing this the other day...thanks for allowing me to point out yet another example of idiots in Raleigh...thanks for the opportunity to prove once again why it's becoming more and more difficult to raise my daughter in this state.

State Rep. Larry Womble (D-Forsyth) introduced a bill to require companies that do business with the state to disclose their historical ties to slavery.

According to a recent Winston-Salem Journal article, companies entering into contracts with the state would have to search their corporate records for evidence that they participated in slavery or profited from it.

A company would have to publicly disclose any records of ties to slavery, including the names of any enslaved workers or slaveholders contained in the records, the article said.

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It's good to see our lawmakers have so much time on their hands.

E.C. :)

Unchecked power

Lots of examples lately where unchecked power is adding to the status of Guilford County becoming the laughing stock of the state.

1. Too much alleged secrecy in our county government is making some question the power of Guilford County commissioner Skip Alston and vice-chairman Steve Arnold.

An excerpt from a LTTE in today's N&R:

Where are, and who has, the checks and balances over your authority as leaders of the Guilford County commissioners? We believe you have turned this fine county of Guilford into a county of chaos and disruption in a most secretive way. Where is the transparency in government? It is our belief that you have overstepped your authority by being arrogant and most secretive (yes, we are using that terminology again to describe your actions). We believe you are attempting to be dictators.

I would contend that for a county our size, our county board is too thick. Likewise, with our school board...does it take these many commissioners to represent us (or not represent us--in some cases?)
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2. County commissioner Billy Yow refers to the ongoing secrecy in county government in The Inside Scoop:

Commissioner Billy Yow is fed up with the secrecy in the county lately.

“Tell me what you see happened in the open,” he says, referring to layoffs and the way in which the county lost a manager, attorney and deputy manager — all suddenly and quietly — in December. “Did you see the manager in the open, the deputy in the open, the attorney in the open?”

Can you argue with him? I can't.
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3. The ongoing scandals down at City Hall have resulted from unchecked power by some elected officials. And some want the practice to continue.

Reference my friend Dr. Guarino's post yesterday, in which he discusses the op-ed piece printed in yesterday's N&R by Susan Schwartz of Action Greensboro; Chuck Cornelio of the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance; and Chuck Burns of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.

The op-ed is startling.

Excerpt:

However civic-minded and conscientious as they are with their constituents, elected officials are most effective when they respect this division of responsibility and give their professional staff the authority to manage day-to-day operations. This provides local government with the skills and institutional memory to transcend the turnover that occurs with election cycles.

But it's the unchecked power that's part of the problem. And it's the unchecked power that's ruining Guilford County right now.

What's more incredibly ironic is that in-Action Greensboro issues these thoughts, when they themselves still can't properly explain the recent and questionable donation to the local Simkins PAC.

Guarino:

We need to remember that Action Greensboro, a non-profit organization, gave $5,000.00 to the Simkins PAC during the last election cycle, in likely violation of the law. The president of this organization was one of the authors of today's N&R article. Recall that Action Greensboro is one of the three components of the Greensboro Partnership.

We won't forget, Doctor G.

William H. “Bill” Carstarphen, former Greensboro city manager, even inked a recent op-ed in which he discussed the issue of local government management allegedly being under attack.

Mr Carstarphen writes:

Why is this of concern? Someone once said, “Over forms of government let fools contest; whatever governs best is best!”

There is truth to this. The overwhelming evidence of history and experience in American municipal and county government supports the “council-manager plan” as the best way to insure the honest, ethical and equitable delivery of services. Until recently, Guilford County and the city of Greensboro would have been held up as outstanding examples of that evidence.

I contend government is too big in this state, it is too big in this county, and has unrepentantly contributed to the mess we're in today.

Last I checked, I thought we lived in a democracy, not a dictatorship. Remember, some on our City Council don't even want ethics...it is disgusting.

This comment, under yesterday's op-ed, is striking:

How many jobs have Ms Schwartz, Mr Cornelio, or Mr Burns brought to Greensboro? . They are as big a failure as Mitch and his gang. We need jobs. The key to bringing the jobs is the WATER in Randleman Dam. After thirty years you would wonder when if ever we'll have that water. What are they doing about this? They congratulate each other how great things are, yet I believe they are all part of the problem. This town is eroding daily and our leaders are blind. They hide behind their damn POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. Until our leaders realize this and have the courage to stand up to pacs and political agendas, nothing much will change.

It's not the bloggers. And once we get beyond the do-nothing PACs and the other idiotic alphabet groups running this town (and ruining this town), maybe some substantive changes in the direction of this city can be made.

E.C. :)

Wade supports ethics in government, B-S doesn't

Distinct differences between City Councilwomen Trudy Wade and T. Diane Bellamy-Small (TDB-S) with regards to ethics in government this week.

Wade proudly initiated an ethics addendum during this week's City Council meeting in support of some pending legislation in Raleigh having state ethics laws brought to the local level. The resolution passed by a 7-1 vote. Guess who voted "nay"?

Yep, you got it! (more coverage from Keith Brown and Tony Wilkins)

Enough said.

E.C. :)

Sell the Coliseum now

Is Coliseum director Matt Brown serious? Does he think that another bond for War Memorial Auditorium will pass? (coverage from Allen Johnson, Greensboro Politics)

I don't think so, not in these tender economic times. He's crazy.

If anything, the discussion needs to begin about selling this dinosaur...and fast. The Coliseum Complex is an asset to the city, and with the right fixes and the right venture to run stadiums and theaters, it can be an even better asset to the city.

Sell it and privatize it, explore naming rights, if necessary. The city is not in the business of running stadiums, the city is in the business of nurturing (and retaining) both its residents and businesses. Unfortunately, wasting taxpayer money, such as the Coliseum does so well, does not help nurture nor retain residents and businesses.

I support Bill Knight's original proposal:

Make the booking of a greater number of events a top priority for the coliseum staff. As it now stands (2007 fiscal year), coliseum parking revenue exceeds its direct events revenue. Further, the coliseum’s bottom line loss (excluding bond repayment) is greater than its top line direct event revenue. We pay 1.6 million dollars annually to park at the coliseum and another 2 million dollars to subsidize the loss. Let’s stop glossing over the fact the coliseum loses money. It is a great asset for the city, but only if it shows better financial results than has been the case for the past fifteen years. Its cumulative operating losses since the early nineties approach $30 million dollars.

Who can argue with that?

By the way, whatever happened to the plans a long time ago for an Opera House and Performing Arts Center originally planned for downtown?

E.C. :)

Regaining relevance means learning from our past, and moving toward a future

One thing Greensboro can do to regain its relevance is to appreciate its past, learn from its present and make strides towards its future. In this example, it's time for Warnersville residents, including Otis Hairston, to work with Greensboro College officials on the J.C. Price complex.

I've been following this back-and-forth for some time now, and somewhere, somehow, I can't see where Greensboro College is the "Mr. Charlie" in this fight.

But this is the Peoples Republic of Guilford County, where everything is racial, and of course, racial politics were dragged in this ongoing feud.

Yesterday's N&R Counterpoint by Hairston, a community activist representing Warnersville, throws more gasoline on the fire. Hairston accuses the college of "raping" the community.


Hairston:

[GSO College president] Craven Williams referred in a September Counterpoint article in this paper to “a new sports park 'near’ the historic Warnersville neighborhood.” He does not acknowledge destruction of the historic Warnersville community, where he is planning his sports park.

Williams and this wealthy Christian college see it easy to attack and destroy a community of many widows who worked hard with their husbands to buy the homes and property that will be destroyed by his actions.

It does not surprise us that Williams has been able to get a few blacks to support him in the raping of our working-class community. The tactic is to bring out blacks who claim kinship to the community and use their testimony against the wishes of residents.

James Griffin, who continues to publicly speak for our community in support of Williams and the college, does not reside in Warnersville or Greensboro. More than 90 percent of Warnersville residents are opposed to this raping of our community by Greensboro College.
We are calling on Williams and Greensboro College to repent for this sinful act of attempting to destroy the investments of the widows, widowers and working-class families of our historic African American community. Donate this land and the historic J.C. Price School to Guilford County Schools to educate the young people in our community.

Live up to the college’s founding virtue as a Christian college, founded on the principles of the great humanitarian Jesus Christ.

The comments that follow his Counterpoint are equally impressive. I particularly am fond of this one:

Evil is never satisfied when he has his own agenda.
It amazes me how many in the black and progressive community otis has hindwink and bamboozled with this spectacle of lies and half-truths. He can definitely teach a master course in manipulation and vindictiveness.

I expect little from otis, but I am disappointed by the black leadership for not speaking out about the division otis has created and there are black leaders who are well aware of this division. They know that everything in Warnersville isn't the way that otis is trying to portray to the greater Greensboro community.

Doesn't seem as though this fight will be over for some time.

E.C. :)

Regaining our relevance in the era of 10% unemployment

In early February, I discussed Greensboro losing its relevance. Comments, both positive and negative came in.

Now we have 10.5% unemployment in Greensboro. 10.5%.

Makes me appreciate my $9 and change night gig.

In a similar story, we see another example of the Triangle passing us by. Newly-released Census data shows the Raleigh-Cary metro area is the fastest growing in the country (more from the AP, via the N&R). And while Wake County proper has had its share of troubles (with its county schools set to make drastic cuts and threatened layoffs), it, along with the larger Triangle area, seems to weather these storms better than we can. Remember, the Triad has had a 10-year recession.

Local economist and UNCG professor Keith Debbage points blame recently at the national media and says the negative stories don't help the Triad's situation. Debbage also blames a revamped metropolitan statistical area (MSA) that no longer includes Winston-Salem, but now includes Randolph and Rockingham Counties, both of whom have double-digit unemployment numbers. Of course, lumping those two counties in an MSA with Greensboro and High Point means bleak numbers.

Debbage:

At the top of our region’s agenda should be figuring out ways to put Greensboro and Winston-Salem together again and persuading OMB to consider relaxing the MSA-based commuting thresholds that tie the region’s metropolitan counties together.

Back in the early 2000s, the Triad was caught off guard by new metropolitan standards and definitions that were ill-suited to our region. Rather than being left out in the cold this time around, the area needs to quickly put together a regional working group to develop alternative metropolitan definitions for OMB.

One approach might be to form a coalition with other metropolitan areas that have been similarly impacted by the 2003 definitions, such as the Raleigh-Durham and Greenville-Spartanburg areas. We need to act quickly because OMB will only consider feedback submitted before April 13.

One thing is for sure: If we do nothing, we are guaranteed to be hamstrung with metropolitan definitions that continue to hinder, not help, the Triad’s long-term competitive advantage. The time to act is now before it is too late.

We must redefine ourselves as a community, not only in labels, but in economic relevance. And fast.

No longer are we a manufacturing or a textile-dependent economy. Are we a green economy? Are we a service-based economy? Are we a transportation-based economy? (Note to self...FedEx fiscal 3Q profits down 75%, pay and job cuts are inevitable--is the PTI hub in trouble...)

What are we? Who are we?

If we don't act, we'll be the bulls-eye of central North Carolina, with double-digit unemployment.

E.C. :)

Stand Up founder sounds off

In response to yesterday's unveiling of a new PAC targeting a better Greensboro, despite its subtle partisan undertones, Stand Up Greensboro founder Andrew Murphy tells Ryan Shell from Greensboro Politics:

I think Greensboro suffers from a leadership vacuum. And while some commentators have insinuated that Stand Up Greensboro hopes to create unanimity on the city council, nothing could be father from the truth. What we would like to see is city council members who work collaboratively together, and try to compromise to move Greensboro forward. Some of us don’t think that can be done with Trudy Wade and Mary Rakestraw on the council. While some people are of the opinion that firing Mitchell Johnson will help the council move on, others think that it will only empower council members to obstruct city business more until they get what they want.

Guarino has continuing coverage.

E.C. :)

Operation Tax Refund: Story Links for 3/13/09

Six weeks after I filed my incomes taxes, I finally received my long-awaited refund. For someone who doesn't make a lot of money, it couldn't have come at a more urgent time.

But many North Carolinans are still waiting. And your state government remains silent on the issue.

See this LTTE in today's N&R:

Regarding the story, “Money crunch forces N.C. to delay release of tax refund checks” (March 6):
Isn’t that nice? Raleigh is pretty unforgiving when you are late with your taxes or had taxes under-withheld. Penalties and interest are due for sure. I will be adjusting my W2 to make sure neither state nor federal owes me any money.
Sadly, you cannot trust your government anymore to keep its household in order.

Peter Zurcher
Greensboro

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E.C. :)

The raw tape...and a new PAC to stop the raw tape

This is damning....



I could only stomach 20 minutes of this mess...

I am appalled, disturbed and disgusted at the leadership of our city. And while it seems fashionable lately by some to bash the ones on Council actually trying to better this city, it is Wells and Bellamy-Small that continually attempt to tear this city apart and divide this city as much as possible. 1979 was 30 years ago! My God....

I can't wait for this fall's elections.
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And apparently some others aren't waiting either. Stand Up Greensboro, a new political action committee just formed, aims to stop the divisiveness.

Area bloggers today have been pounding the pavement, attempting to find out who Stand Up founder Andrew Murphy is.

See this excerpt from his site:

Stand Up Greensboro was established in response to the leadership vacuum in Greensboro. Many of Greensboro's elected officials have increasingly abandoned their responsibilities of setting policy and long-term goals, leaving our city without a clear voice or vision for the future. While council members engage in overheated rhetoric and rehash the same tired arguments over and over again, Greensboro languishes and further falls behind competing cities around the nation, threatening to derail our city's social and economic vibrancy.

...but then releases its first ad targeting at-large city councilman Mary Rakestraw:

Isn't there already a partisan PAC in town? (I'll give you a hint...it starts with the letter "S").

This will keep us bloggers busy for a while.

E.C. :)

Operation Tax Refund: story links for 3/11/09

Following the money that apparently doesn't exist...here are select story links for 3/11/09 tracking the state's delayed income tax refunds:

1. WRAL: The state Department of Revenue has until the beginning of June to issue tax refunds to North Carolina taxpayers without penalty, an agency spokeswoman said Monday.

Kim Brooks said state law provides the department 45 days after April 15 – or after a late return is filed – to issue a refund before interest starts accruing on the refund.

2. The Greenville Daily Reflector: The fiscal pressures building upon her [Gov. Bev Perdue] are starting to test that goodwill.

Lottery proponents and critics panned her recent decision to shift some lottery profits to help pay other government bills and narrow a $2.2 billion budget shortfall — even after Perdue said during the campaign she wanted to protect lottery funds to spend on education.

Her administration is dealing with frustrated taxpayers waiting for delayed tax refund checks.

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E.C. :)

Unemployment nearly 10%, Dell lays off

That beautiful building may become a dinosaur soon. Dell announced sizable cutbacks in personnel today at its still-new Winston-Salem area plant.

The stinging news hits simultaneously as the state, which is unable to send out tax refunds to it citizens, reports the unemployment rate has hit 9.7%.

N&R reports on the Dell news.

I can only think of two things...all that money. All that money spent:

In North Carolina, Dell received an incentive package from the N.C. General Assembly in 2004 with up to $225 million in tax credits spanning 15 years.

In return, the company was expected to create at least 1,500 jobs and invest $100 million over five years.

...and all that money lost:

In February, Dell says, its profit dove 48 percent in the fiscal fourth quarter as the recession has taken a toll on the computer market.

E.C. :)

Operation Tax Refund

It's not funny anymore.

That's why I'm launching Operation Tax Refund. Too many people in the Old North State are waiting for their money. And your money is being held hostage by Raleigh bureaucrats who didn't know how to budget then, and who don't know how to budget now.

Recession or no recession, the state knew ahead of time that tax refunds were going to have to go out and that funds would be needed to cover these refunds. The state knew that if refunds don't go out on time, the state will owe interest to refund recipients. Interest...on your money.

When you make $9 and change an hour, when you are forced to decide which bills get paid and which cannot, when your family budget is cut to the point where you can't cut anymore, you deserve to have your government to make those same decisions...they don't. And by covering up the mess in Raleigh, it only adds to the frustration being felt by many families across this state, mine included.

GreensboroMetro will be following the mess in Raleigh, reporting as many updates as possible on the delayed tax refund scandal.

It's your money, not theirs. You have a right to be pissed off.

E.C. :)

Delayed state tax refunds prompt charges of corruption, lying, even cover-ups

...I don't usually blog about state politics, unless it's education-related (for my sister blog, Guilford School Watch). But strangely, I didn't hear Gov. Perdue talk AT ALL last night about the state's inability to process 2008 state income tax refunds. I blogged about this recently on Triad Media Watch. At least it's in the news now.

But I still thought we'd hear something last night. We didn't.

And the delayed tax refunds scandal is prompting charges from corruption, to cover-up, even to outright lying by NC Dept. of Revenue officials.

It's all over the news now, across the state:

News & Observer:

Secretary of Revenue Ken Lay described the problem as a temporary backlog, because the department is having to tap special accounts to pay refunds, he said.

"Everyone who is due a refund will get a refund," Lay said in a prepared statement, saying he expects progress in the coming weeks.

The disclosure of the refund logjam this week has angered some taxpayers who called the Revenue Department in recent weeks and were told that there were no delays, that checks were taking several weeks to process.

"Don't lie, and that's what I felt like they’ve done," said James Stephenson, who works for a specialty contractor in North Charlotte and was told in two recent phone calls that refunds were now taking four to six weeks. "You call into the state and they tell you one thing and then their boss says, 'We have the money, we’re just slow paying it out.'"

Rocky Mount Telegram:

Gov. Beverly Perdue announced last week she was taking $300 million from four dedicated pots of money and putting them in the state's general account as a precautionary measure to ensure there was enough to pay bills through mid-April.

The delay has created an inconvenience for taxpayers waiting for checks or electronic refunds.

"A lot of people were relying on this money to get some bills and stuff paid off, and it's like the money is being held hostage," James Barefoot of Raleigh told WRAL-TV. Barefoot said he's been waiting more than a month on his refund, which he plans to use to pay medical bills from a recent surgery.

WRAL:

WRAL.com has received more than 145 complaints from taxpayers since first reporting the refund delay. One person wrote, "People's homes, cars, food and medicine depend on it." Another said, "This isn't your money and never was."

Niya Brown said she has called the Department of Revenue and gone online but has been unable to get any answers about the delay.

"If you could call the Department of Revenue and speak to a representative instead of an automated line, that would help," she said.

ABC-11 WTVD:

Last year by this time, the Department of Revenue says it had already sent out 1.4 million checks. This week, only 1.1 million will have gone out. A spokesperson admitted the state is hundreds of thousands of checks behind schedule - and that it's being forced to take money from special accounts just to keep up.

The sour economy is to blame, and it's leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of taxpayers.

"I felt like they should let us know," said Cotton. "It's just pretty scary. It lets you know the economy is far worse than what you may have thought."

State officials say if you're one of the many expecting a state refund, don't worry, you'll get it. But, instead of taking two weeks, it could take up to six.

Mark Binker, News & Record:

Look, no one - and I mean NO ONE - is going to have any sympathy for the revenuers. I'm certainly not one of them, especially since I was lied to twice by a state employee on the topic.

But I'd rather have the state delay payments than be bouncing checks from here to the Outer Banks.

I e-filed mine on January 31, got my federal refund back two weeks later. Still waiting for my state refund.

Stay tuned...

E.C. :)

Some are questioning the Greenway

(via Action GSO)

Melissa Wolverton and Ed Wolverton, president of Downtown Greensboro, Inc. gives the lowdown this past weekend to Greensboro City Council Member T. Dianne Bellamy-Small on the grand unveiling of the city's new Greenway.

Actually, she's not the only one that has questions regarding this massive undertaking.

Guarino has this from Diane Davis, author of Greensboro Peer Pressure, who publicly wonders about the size, scope and details of this project:

I looked at pictures taken at the "big celebration" of the start of the cement "greenway" around Greensboro.
I have some questions:
Who is so excited about this project?
Were there any folks there from the Warnersville community?
How safe will a trail be that runs behind industrial areas, and backyards and along deserted rail road tracks?
Will people on the trail be visible or behind high fences and dumpsters?
Will it be lighted?
Who will patrol the greenway?
Will there be benches for resting?
Will there be areas where the homeless will live? What about panhandlers?
Who will clean it and do general maintenance?
What is the "real cost" of building and maintaining it? Who will pay?
Where does it go?
Is it for recreation or for access to shopping, parks, restaurants, schools and other places where people want to go?
Will constructing this path use money that should be used for sidewalks?
Should Greensboro City Council continue to approve the use of so-called stimulus money for such a frivolous project?
How many long-term local jobs will it provide?
How many trees will be cut down to make room for this paved greenway?
Should Greensboro focus on solving real problems such as transportation and housing and green space and tree cover and water quality and clean air OR on feel good projects?
Can we afford it, now?
Should government money (our tax money) be used for this project?
Should it be totally financed with private money contributed by private citizens and groups that can afford to donate?

And my last question: Where can I find real answers to the questions above? Please don't suggest Action Greensboro.
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Her questions make sense.

E.C. :)

Goldie isn't so golden on Greensboro

Councilman Goldie Wells, in her own words, on the search for a new city manager (via the N&R):

“I’m pushing for a national search. Let’s find out who’s out there, if they have enough nerve to come here,” Councilwoman Goldie Wells said Wednesday. “You’ve got to have nerve to come here.”

Some things are better left unsaid.

E.C. :)

CCL layoffs

The Greensboro-based Center for Creative Leadership announced 140 layoffs, the N&R is reporting today. Most are GSO-based jobs.

Sad. Good jobs paying good salaries. No $9/hour service jobs here.

N&R:

About half those cuts came in Greensboro, the headquarters for the executive training institute.

Stephen Martin, the center's global public relation's manager, said layoffs totaled 40 people worldwide, but added that most of those were local.

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E.C. :)

Protest petitions back...fully

Protest petitions have been fully restored for the city of Greensboro, thanks to your legislators in Raleigh. The bill passed the House unanimously this past Tuesday, and it passed the Senate via a voice vote (see N&R article here).

This is a victory for property owners in the city.

E.C. :)

Kindly report any posting problems

Cross-posted on GreensboroMetro, Guilford School Watch and Triad Media Watch:

It has been brought to my attention that some of you may be encountering problems with posting comments on my blog(s). To this end, I will be sending out test comments over the next day or so. If you have had problems posting to me or anyone else on the Blogger network, please let me know. My forums are uncensored and unfiltered, so your comments should be posting okay. Nonetheless, I want to know if anyone else has had any problems.

Thanks,

E.C. :)

More area layoffs announced

Making cell phone parts and fire alarms is either getting harder or more expensive...or it's just not profitable anymore.

One of the city's major employers, RF Micro Devices, announced 45 more layoffs, this in addition to the 150 announced this past December (see N&R article here).

And today, Tyco Electronics announced an undetermined amount of Triad-area layoffs, from Greensboro to Winston-Salem (see N&R article here).

Tyco owns ADT, the burglar-alarm company and Simplex, the fire alarm company. Many of their alarms are heard in public buildings throughout our area, including many of our schools. Another day, another layoff...another fire alarm silenced. Only this alarm won't be 'reset.'

E.C. :)

Time for GSO to move forward

Last night, your city council made a bold step for the future of the city of Greensboro by ousting its city manager, Mitch Johnson.

And while the issue is being hotly debated among our other local bloggers (Guarino, Spag, Ed Cone, Ben Holder, Tony Wilkins, Ryan Shell, and the N&R itself--from today's article to Allen Johnson), I feel it is the appropriate time for this city to move forward. Last night's vote was a vote to do just that.

Scandal after scandal, lawsuit after lawsuit, crisis after crisis...it doesn't do a city well. For a city whose economy is extremely fragile right now, the distractions were costly and becoming too burdensome.

I applaud those councilmen who voted in the affirmative to remove Mitch. It is unfortunate that Wade, Barber and Rakestraw are being criticized on other forums for their vote last night. In my opinion, they are the ones that have this city's best interest at heart. I'm also elated about the "aye" votes among Councilman Matheny and Groat. It is an election year. Matheny and Groat knew it was political suicide to vote to keep Johnson.

But others on Council, including your Mayor, voted to keep him. T. Dianne Bellamy-Small, Councilman Robbie Perkins and Councilwoman Goldie Wells voted to keep him. Wells isn't running again. She's a lame duck. But TDB-S and Perkins, along with Mayor Johnson practiced political suicide last night. Their futures this fall will now be in your hands. Better punch the right button.

I'm actually a little shocked that some think this is a racial issue. As you know, everything in the Peoples Republic of Guilford County is a racial issue...why should this be different, right? But there is absolutely nothing here that is racial. This city has successfully been run into the ground. It will take a monumental feat for us to dig out of this mess. It will happen. Last night was a step in that direction.

I also think it is time to take a second look at the council/manager form of government. For a municipality like ours, is it effective? In my opinion, I think it is too much government. And I believe it is one of the reasons how we found ourselves in this mess.

And finally, the scandals down at City Hall were a distraction from what needs to be a clear focus on the city's direction, including its primary focus on public safety and its economy. An article in today's N&R touts 1,558 jobs recruited by The Greensboro Economic Development Alliance. Not a lot if you ask me.

N&R:

According to the report, the alliance recruited 1,558 jobs in 2008, and those jobs led to 2,479 secondary jobs.

For the five-year period the group calls the “Forward Greensboro III Campaign,” the group recruited 6,307 jobs which led to another 9,696 secondary jobs. All those jobs create a total annual payroll of $624.5 million, which includes retail and service jobs citywide.

Those new jobs recruited by the alliance are typically better paying at $46,440 than the city per capita income of $27,968.

And that's good. But the service jobs paying $9 and change, a sustainable economy cannot be created on that salary. Ask me...I know.

I'm glad the city decided to move in a different direction last night. This can only be a good thing for the city.

E.C. :)