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. :)