Greensboro Metro

Goodbye GreensboroMetro...Hello Vegas Valley View

2009-09-22T22:00:00.003-04:00

It's time to hang the "Closed sign" up on GreensboroMetro.

Hello Vegas Valley View. Yes, Vegas...as in Las Vegas!

Visit and bookmark the all-new Vegas Valley View on http://vegasvalleyview.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Greensboro, for the memories.

E.C. :)

Why I resigned from the city's Planning Board

2009-07-15T11:13:00.002-04:00

It is with deep sadness and regret that I tendered my resignation
from the Greensboro Planning Board effective immediately. Sadly,
recent personal events in my family have ultimately led to this sudden
and untimely decision.

One of which is the personal, yet-shocking discovery that several of
my maternal family members are victims in the recent and
widely-publicized disinterment of deceased individuals at a
Chicago-area cemetery. While the true horror of this discovery is
starting to settle in, I suddenly now find myself becoming immensely involved in working
with family members and both law enforcement officials and legal
experts in finding answers, which will be a time consuming effort.

In addition, my family is one of many in the Triad that struggles to
survive paycheck to paycheck, working in a service-oriented economy.
While I consider myself part of Greensboro's dwindling "creative
class," I'm finding myself needing to rededicate more time to securing
better employment, even if it is outside of the Piedmont Triad. While
I would hate to relocate, our family may not have much choice if our
local economy fails to improve quickly, nor if an adequate number of
jobs that I'm degreed for are not brought into the area.

Because I'm involved with these two pressing issues, it is unfair to
the citizens of Greensboro to provide the necessary leadership
required when pressing family concerns warrant my immediate attention.

While my tenure was short, I appreciated serving the citizens of this city.

May God truly bless the citizens of Greensboro and Guilford County.

E.C. :)

Out of tragedy comes triumph

2009-07-14T10:38:00.004-04:00

Out of tragedy comes triumph.

It's been a few years since I've flown back home to Chicago (I moved away permanently back in late 1997). But after a relative passed away on my father's side of the family, I found myself flying up late last week. It was good to see my old hometown, even if it was only for a short period.

And while I was well-prepared to blog about seeing my old hometown again and discuss the creative class being very much alive and well in the Windy City and discuss comparisons and contrasts, I got side-tracked.

For the "tragic" part was not the event itself that I flew up for, but what was waiting for me as I opened up the Chicago Sun-Times on my US Airways (shameless plug) flight back to CLT (and ultimately to GSO). It nearly made me sick to my stomach.

A front page story last Thursday reported that over 300 bodies at a southwest Chicago-area cemetery were dug up. Bodies unearthed, like weeds in a field. Burial records destroyed. Plots resold in a massive scheme. Four arrests were made and the FBI has joined the investigation. Chicago Tribune coverage here. The latest from the Cook County Sheriff can be found here.

Normally, I would have read a story like this and would have shook my head...but this was different. See, there is a problem: I have personal ties to this cemetery. And at last count, according to family, I have at least eight relatives buried in this cemetery. Our family counts are continuing.

I shudder the thought of printed pictures like this below (Sun-Times courtesy) where officers from the Cook County Sheriff's Office are combing over the now-shuttered cemetery grounds, hallowed grounds that house remains of my great grandmother and great great grandmother. As of now, we have no information as to if those remains are intact or untouched. We are uncertain if the cemetery's records are intact or destroyed. My family back in Chicago has no information at all.

Talk about a unique kind of stress.

The cemetery, now closed due to the gruesome crime scene that exists there today, is home to many families of color on Chicago's South Side. And as I am quickly educating myself on the history of Burr Oak Cemetery, and its unique relationship to predominantly black funeral homes on Chicago's South Side, I'm constantly reminded that out of tragedy comes triumph.

Triumph in the sense that even though my family is scattered across the country, we're brought together in times of tragedy such as this. And we're made stronger.

While the shock hasn't quite hit yet, the anger is starting to grip me. How could human beings with a conscience do this? How could something like this be allowed to happen? It is my hope and prayer that these questions will be answered in time.

But for now, I'm left to wonder what is happening 600 miles away. We're all left to wonder why and how. And we're left to ask questions...hoping to get answers.

Answers will come. I'm hopeful and prayerful.

E.C. :)

Tax increases? Because she's the governor, dammit

2009-07-08T11:17:00.002-04:00

She actually said that...well, not the "D" word, but in defending why she wants to raise taxes to attempt to plug a shortfall in the budget, she said:

"Because I'm the governor."

Moron...

E.C. :)

Still stuck on stupid...

2009-07-07T09:42:00.004-04:00

Undoubtedly, this post is going to offend some of you...I apologize in advance. I mean no harm.

But this really has me agitated...the Triad's local economy has been stuck (on stupid) for the past decade, and yet, our so-called economic developers continue the madness of promoting this area (even to out-of-state honchos) as a big aerotropolis. Another article in today's N&R points this out.

An op-ed than ran over the weekend by Dan Lynch shows us that we still don't have the crown jewels to think high...no. Instead, we race to board a developer's private plane in an effort to build a multi-million dollar site in the southern part of downtown for a school system that's broke, building a hotel and office complex for a city that has no jobs...and I don't mean service jobs.

Remember, I work a $9/hour service job in Winston-Salem; it barely pays the bills, we struggle, but we're surviving. And yet, I continue to get frustrated when I see empty websites (ones I frequent) like this:

Companies may advertise a position opening in the PRSA Job Bank. The charge is $75 for members and $100 for non-members. The available position will be e-mailed to chapter members, listed in the next monthly chapter newsletter and in the job notebook available at every chapter meeting. It will also be posted on the Web site two weeks after the initial e-mail to members.

For more information on our Job Bank, contact our Job Bank chair, at jobbank@prsatarheel.org. Also be sure to check the PRSSA JobCenter for more job hunting resources.

Position

City

State

*************************************************
that's right....empty.

It makes me question my future...and my role in this area.

This area cannot survive on a service-based economy. It cannot. If you think it can, look to articles like this, where we continue to play 3rd fiddle to Raleigh and Charlotte, with a population loss.

And for those of you planning a run for City Council, heed this now...think higher, think broader, think jobs...GOOD jobs, so that this area can survive. Otherwise, you will not get my vote.

E.C. :)

PTI E-fares for 7/2/09

2009-07-02T11:53:00.003-04:00

After some well-deserved days away from the Triad, I'm back...and it is good to be back.
*******************************

Fare Deals

ACT NOW Many fares have time limitations for response and are removed from this site as the special fare offer time expires. Many fares are only available for 48 hours. If you are interested in a specific fare, you should inquire as soon as possible because seats and availability are limited. Many fares are for online purchase only. You may also check with your travel agent for other low fares from PTI.

EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Low Fare information is provided to PTI by individual airlines and is subject to airline conditions. We make our best effort to keep the information current and accurate, but cannot guarantee all fares are available at all times. Please use the Airline Links to check specific airline fares, availability and conditions. All fares are subject to change without notice.

United Airlines

	Chicago (Same Day Return Special) ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Same Day Return" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart before 11:00 a.m. CT and after 4:00 p.m. CT Sat., July 4, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$134.00

	Cleveland ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Domestic This Week" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart Sat., July 4; return Mon., July 6 or Tues, July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$140.00

	Columbus ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Domestic This Week" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart Sat., July 4; return Mon., July 6 or Tues, July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$140.00

	Dayton ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Domestic This Week" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart Sat., July 4; return Mon., July 6 or Tues, July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$140.00

	Knoxville ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Domestic This Week" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart Sat., July 4; return Mon., July 6 or Tues, July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$140.00

	St. Louis ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Domestic This Week" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart Sat., July 4; return Mon., July 6 or Tues, July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$178.00

	Tampa ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Domestic This Week" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart Sat., July 4; return Mon., July 6 or Tues, July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$172.00

	Washington, DC ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Domestic This Week" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart Sat., July 4; return Mon., July 6 or Tues, July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$186.00

	Washington, DC (Same Day Return Special) ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at united.com, click "E-Fares Specials" and select the "Same Day Return" tab by Fri., July 3. Depart before 11:00 a.m. CT and after 4:00 p.m. CT Sat., July 4, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$134.00


US Airways

	Charlotte ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at usairwayscom, click "Specials" and select "e-saver specials" by Sat., July 4 at 9 p.m. PT. Depart Sat., July 4; return Sun., July 5 through Tues., July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.	$138.00

	Washington, DC ROUND TRIP. Purchase online only at usairwayscom, click "Specials" and select "e-saver specials" by Sat., July 4 at 9 p.m. PT. Depart Sat., July 4; return Sun., July 5 through Tues., July 7, 2009. Price does not include taxes or fees.

$150.00

Welcome to Winston-Salem?

2009-06-12T11:07:00.001-04:00

So the Piedmont Triad Research Park lays off staff, including its executive director and marketing director (guess not a whole lot of research is going on right now)...at the same time a baseball team wants more money from Winston-Salem coffers.

Ahh, the irony.

Welcome to Winston-Salem.

E.C. :)

Welcome to Greensboro?

2009-06-11T10:49:00.002-04:00

So another 121 workers in this city get pink slips, only days after your city council increased water rates for city residents...simultaneously while"synerG" staff promote a new welcome brochure to the city's rapidly dwindling pool of young professionals.

Ahh, the irony.

Welcome to Greensboro.

E.C. :)

PTI E-fares for 6/10/09

2009-06-11T10:38:00.001-04:00

TO	ROUND TRIP FROM PTI:
Albany	$168	See this fare
Atlanta	$118	See this fare
Boston	$190	See this fare
Chicago	$202	See this fare
Cleveland	$150	See this fare
Nashville	$150	See this fare
Rochester	$150	See this fare
Syracuse	$158	See this fare
Washington, DC	$150	See this fare
Click here for more special fares

Use the links provided in this e-mail or visit the PTI website FlyFromPTI.com and use the Fare Deals links from the PTI web site to see this and other special fare offers when possible. Some airlines will have a special button called, "Special Fares, or Promotional Fares" that will link you to fares not found through the regular booking or search process.

It is important to book a fare early because fares are subject to change and availability and go very quickly. You can also check with your travel agent to assist you with special fares from PTI.

Low Fare information is provided to PTI by individual airlines and is subject to airline conditions. We make our best effort to keep the information current and accurate but we can not guarantee that all fares are available at all times. Listed fares are for one adult, round trip and do not include applicable taxes and fees.

And remember flying from PTI is the best way to keep the air service we have and to attract new service. In other words, we need to use it or we will lose it.

Thanks for flying from PTI

Confirmed: NC is the Land of the Lost

2009-06-11T10:26:00.002-04:00

I had this back on May 26 where I grew concerned about the median lighting along I-40 was out in several long stretches during the evening hours. Now, CBS-2 WFMY has the "developing story" over just why this has happened.

The state is broke. Gee, so what else is new.

All that money spent putting the lights up...just for decoration. Sad.

E.C. :)

Knight rules the Day

2009-06-11T10:21:00.002-04:00

...yesterday, that is, when the former one-time city council candidate announced his run for mayor of Greensboro. Tony Wilkins has some shots on Knight's presser yesterday. I think the momentum is there for others around town to make strong inroads inside City Hall.

The time is right.

E.C. :)

Stimulus money may fund new tower at PTI

2009-06-04T09:36:00.002-04:00

Airport officials at PTI reportedly want to use federal stimulus money to build a new control tower at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.

State Sen. Don Vaughan (D-Guilford) told local freelance journalist/blogger Erik Huey in an interview that PTI brass recently met with the Greensboro area legislator to explore the possibility of tapping some of the $6.1 billion coming into North Carolina from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Sen. Vaughan, who sits on the Select Senate Committee for Economic Recovery, said the current control tower's height is of concern to airport officials because of the lack of a clear vantage point and sight lines toward the airport's new runway and associated taxiways.

"I met with [PTI executive director] Ted Johnson, and also brought in NCDOT Secretary Gene Conti and DOT Board chairman Doug Galyon...we toured the new runway, the new FedEx and HondaJet facilities and I sent a letter on behalf of the airport requesting what stimulus money that could be used for the airport and how it can best be used," Vaughan said. "The height of the [existing] tower is a big concern to airport officials, you can’t see the traffic. It will be a critical need for the airport."

It is uncertain what the timeline would be for constructing a new tower, or if one would be funded using federal stimulus money. Vaughan said his committee is hosting at least 2-3 hearings a week while mulling through various stimulus money requests from municipalities statewide.

PTI E-fares for 6/3/09

2009-06-04T09:34:00.000-04:00

TO	ROUND TRIP FROM PTI:
Albany	$166	See this fare
Boston	$188	See this fare
Charlotte	$138	See this fare
Chicago	$202	See this fare
Cleveland	$140	See this fare
Columbus	$140	See this fare
Dayton	$140	See this fare
Indianapolis	$130	See this fare
Knoxville	$140	See this fare
Milwaukee	$186	See this fare
Nashville	$140	See this fare
New York / Newark	$119	See this fare
Orlando	$158	See this fare
Pittsburgh	$140	See this fare
Rochester	$150	See this fare
St. Louis	$176	See this fare
Syracuse	$156	See this fare
Tampa	$172	See this fare
Washington, DC (Same Day Return)	$134	See this fare
Washington, DC	$186	See this fare
Click here for more special fares

It is important to book a fare early because fares are subject to change and availability and go very quickly. You can also check with your travel agent to assist you with special fares from PTI.

And remember flying from PTI is the best way to keep the air service we have and to attract new service. In other words, we need to use it or we will lose it.

Thanks for flying from PTI

Goldie Wells engages in a little race hustlin'

2009-06-02T12:14:00.002-04:00

From today's N&R:

“For a person running for the district, particularly for the predominantly African American district, if the first person who declared is a white fellow, it is a Herculean feat (to win),” said Goldie Wells, who will leave the seat this year. “That person has to be someone who the citizens feel will fight for them and keep them from falling backwards,” Wells said of her potential successor.

Some things are better left unsaid.

E.C. ;)

More candidates come out

2009-06-02T08:24:00.003-04:00

Local activist Ben Holder will announce today his intent to run in D-1 against likely opponent T. Dianne Bellamy-Small. A natural decision by Holder. And judging by his recent statements in front of City Council, Holder is a fan of transparency and accountability; something this Council desperately needs. Good move. This one bears watching.

Other names likely for D-1 include a rematch with Luther Falls, who challenged Small two years ago, along with political unknown Daron Sellars.

Meanwhile in D-2, N&R hears the name of Jim Kee, co-chair of Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro, who may challenge Ryan Shell for the D-2 seat. And school board rep Deena Hayes' name is still alive and active out there.

Finally, Mayor Yvonne Johnson formally kicked off her campaign over the past weekend.

yawn...

This is funny:

If re-elected, she will aggressively pursue bringing businesses to Greensboro to get people to work, Johnson told family members and supporters at the Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

I'm sorry, but did I miss something? Johnson has a record, and it is dismal. Where has she been? There has been almost no job creation in this city during her tenure...none. I'll betcha a dollar to a Krispy Kreme donut that more businesses have LEFT than have come.

Coverage from N&R and YES! Weekly.

E.C. ;)

PTI to JetAmerica: we WANT you

2009-06-02T08:16:00.003-04:00

PTI officials, of course, are interested in this start-up...just one thing though, to PTAA chairman Henry Isaacson: don't open your wallet just yet, puhleese!!!!!!!!

E.C. ;)

It's done

2009-05-27T10:44:00.003-04:00

It's just about to ready to open...a soft opening, I guess.

FedEx will unveil it's new hub beginning next week, the N&R reports. It appears that the aircraft service PTI already will simply shift over to the new facility first before flights are added. The new runway/taxiways aren't quite ready yet.

N&R:

FedEx , which expects weak demand through 2009, is delaying the start of overnight sorting operations at PTI for a few months and with a much smaller work force than anticipated.
By fall, depending upon the economy, the hub will begin its sorting operations with 200 additional workers, mostly part-time with benefits.
The company has not begun hiring those workers and will not announce its hiring process until it feels confident the economy can support the expansion.
The total of 350 workers is far lower than the 600 to 800 workers the company had predicted earlier that it would need when the hub opens.

Troubling...

E.C. :)

JetAmerica possibly to serve PTI?

2009-05-27T10:28:00.003-04:00

Not your father's JetAmerica...the airline's original namesake was a victim of deregulation in the 1980s, based in Long Beach, Calif. flying MD-80s, and eventually being absorbed by Alaska Airlines.

The "new" JetAmerica kicks off in July with $9 fares, and has the Triad in its radar scope.

Another SkyBus? Another failure with its hands out? Hope not. (but its website doesn't seem to be working)

N&R:

Clearwater, Fla.-based JetAmerica said on Tuesday that 34 nonstop passenger flights a week will start July 13 at Toledo, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; Melbourne, Fla.; Newark, N.J.; Minneapolis and Lansing, Mich. Twenty-eight flights start or end at Newark Liberty International Airport. The carrier will add six more flights — from Toledo to Minneapolis — starting Aug. 14.

And in its news release announcing the new service, the airline stated it could expand to the Triad. Among its "future focus cities under consideration in 2009" are Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

John Weikle, chief executive of JetAmerica, said the subsidies from some of the cities it will serve in July will help insulate the new carrier from spikes in jet fuel prices. Higher fuel prices have contributed to the failures of at least four major airlines since 9/11. Smaller carriers have also been hurt.

Good luck...God bless...

E.C. :)

PTI E-Fares for 5/27/09

2009-05-27T10:23:00.002-04:00

As a public service, GSOMetro will begin forwarding the weekly PTI E-fares published every Wednesday. I'm not getting any kick-back from this, it's simply a public service. I've been using PTI a lot lately and like they say, we need to use it or we will lose it.

TO	ROUND TRIP FROM PTI:
Albany	$166	See this fare
Austin	$230	See this fare
Boston	$188	See this fare
Chicago	$202	See this fare
Cleveland	$140	See this fare
Columbus	$140	See this fare
Dayton	$140	See this fare
Houston	$179	See this fare
Indianapolis	$130	See this fare
Knoxville	$140	See this fare
Milwaukee	$186	See this fare
Nashville	$140	See this fare
New York/Newark	$119	See this fare
Norfolk	$140	See this fare
Pittsburgh	$140	See this fare
Philadelphia	$174	See this fare
Rochester	$150	See this fare
San Antonio	$232	See this fare
St. Louis	$186	See this fare
Syracuse	$156	See this fare
Tampa	$172	See this fare
Washington, DC	$150	See this fare
Click here for more special fares

It is important to book a fare early because fares are subject to change and availability and go very quickly. You can also check with your travel agent to assist you with special fares from PTI.

And remember flying from PTI is the best way to keep the air service we have and to attract new service. In other words, we need to use it or we will lose it.

Thanks for flying from PTI

Speaking of DOT...

2009-05-26T11:42:00.002-04:00

...do they know that only about 1% of the fancy new median lighting on I-40 between the I-40-Bus. 40 split in western Guilford Co. to about High Point Rd. is actually working? Why have lights down the middle of an urban expressway if they don't work?

I don't want to turn this into a DOT blog, but I'm seeing a lot of things during my late-night commute that really get under my skin, and this is one of them.

E.C. :)

Beltway/I-40 Signage Solution

2009-05-22T10:58:00.002-04:00

There was a simple fix to the Beltway/I-40 signage mess...make the ENTIRE Urban Loop signed as 840, not just the northern part of the loop. Make it 840 Inner Loop and 840 Outer Loop. If the idiots at DOT would've done that from the start, the signage fiasco would've never have happened.

440 is signed all the way around Raleigh, 485 is signed all the way around Charlotte...again, things have to be done differently in the good ole' Triad. And if it's starting to make you wonder why the Triad continues to be the ugly stepchild of the state, stupid things like this should enlighten you as to why that's the case.

Just venting...

E.C. :)

Ryan goes for 2

2009-05-13T15:02:00.002-04:00

City Council candidate Ryan Shell announced today that he will seek the nod for Dist. 2 instead of at-large. So far, Shell remains the only announced candidate for D-2. Smart move.

Shell tells GSOMetro:

"We are one step closer to doing what some call 'impossible.' By having a clear vision I firmly believe we can completely transition Greensboro in to the city we all know it can be...This campaign is about transparency (not the talking point - the actual thing), collaboration and uniting others."

It will also set up an interesting saga if School Board member Deena Hayes decides to change her mind and run. Rumors continue to swirl about her possible candidacy. She publicly denied the rumors recently, but some speculate that she may deliberately leave the door open for a possible D-2 run. We shall see.

E.C. :)

Another day...another announcement of major layoffs

2009-05-07T10:57:00.002-04:00

American Express announced this week it will close its Piedmont Centre travel office in North High Point, laying off 103 employees. Many of them were handed pink slips on the spot. Tragic.

We are no longer a manufacturing-based, textile-based, tobacco-based economy...we are a service-sector-based economy now. And now that we're losing our service-sector jobs, are we relevant? Is our area losing its relevance? And if so, how do we get it back?

E.C. :)

Beltway bull

2009-05-07T10:41:00.002-04:00

This could have been avoided. But now, it appears as though this will become another unwelcome and unwanted issue that has the potential to surface in this fall's municipal elections, along with the lawsuits, the Dept. of Justice investigation, and _____ (name your city hall scandal here).

It appears as though developers didn't realize a multi-lane superhighway would traverse through one day. Well, it will. And since this was highlighted in this week's News & Record, it is causing a crap-storm.

City Council candidate Joel Landau:

The tragedy of errors that is resulting in several northeast Greensboro residents losing their homes and being relocated at taxpayer expense (“In the Bull’s-eye,” May 3) shows the consequences of our elected officials’ failure to connect the dots and consider all the ramifications of their actions. The City Council in 2000 OK’d what became known as Quail Oaks, a housing development immediately adjacent to the Urban Loop’s future interchange with U.S. 29. Lots continued to be sold there five years later, even after it was known that the highway interchange would need to be rerouted right through the new neighborhood.

As a result, the dreams of many new homeowners have been thwarted, and large sums of taxpayer dollars wasted, while the developers and real-estate company are getting off scot-free.

Elected officials should balance the interests of developers with those of the community as a whole. One reason I am running for council is to make sure that our city better manages its growth.
Ironically, Quail Oaks represents the kind of urban sprawl that is perpetuated by planning centered around building roads like the Urban Loop. Zoning policies should encourage smarter development that takes advantage of existing infrastructure, reduces dependence on cars and enhances the livability of our neighborhoods.

Wow...

E.C. :)

W-S takes it up the keister

2009-05-07T10:18:00.002-04:00

I'm enjoying the antics over in nearby Winston-Salem from my armchair...some notables:

1. W-S mayor Allen Joines being named this week to the state's Economic Development Board (what is that???) by Gov. Bev "no-clue" Perdue.

Heh...funny.

The comments in a Winston-Salem Journal article today apparently show how unpopular he seems to be around that town. This, coming in the same week as it was revealed that their minor-league baseball team (DASH) will not play in their new stadium this year because it won't be ready yet (hat-tip: Piedmont Publius).

City residents suspect the stadium simply has become a boondoggle.

Beware, the Dell and Dash man Joines crooking for good ole Bev now. That should make a good pair and clean the citizens clocks good with lots of losing propositions. "Local economic-development officials said that Joines' chairmanship would benefit the Triad.' just like it did the taxpayers with baseball and Dell investments!!!. What a joke!!

Nothing like having "Tin Cup" Alan on your team. Rattling his cup, begging for tax dollars for pet projects. As for "green jobs", his first project should be the grass on the infield of the Dash stadium. Looks like a big dirt pile right now. Maybe he can make that green.

Ouch!

2. So if the honorable Allen Joines will be pitching "economic development," I wonder what he can do to attempt to save the gutted Hanesbrands, one of the so-called crown jewels of Winston-Salem. I swear, if that company lays off any more people, it will be the security guards looking for work.

Local commentator Jim Longworth has some strong (and poignant) words about Hanesbrands in his column in this week's YES! Weekly:

But unlike Dell, which cloaks its layoffs in secrecy, Hanesbrands openly and unashamedly continues to fire Americans in broad daylight, and send their jobs to third-world countries. Last week’s announcement by Hanesbrands added particular insult to injury by not directing the layoffs to come from its foreign plants first, before further decimating the local workforce. And through it all, after two years of this unpatriotic crap, Hanesbrands management seems to be getting a free pass from just about everyone, which is very strange, given the anger most Americans feel toward greedy corporations these days. That Hanesbrands keeps profiting and pillaging in today’s post AIG environment is almost surreal. In fact, this saga has evolved into a full-blown morality play, featuring five distinct groups of actors: A-holes, apologists, apathists, academics and antagonists.

Classic.

But Longworth goes for the jugular:

Among the apologists, Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce President Gayle Anderson is the most vocal. Anderson’s best apology to date was last week when she told Richard Craver of the Winston-Salem Journal that Hanesbrands continues to support the local economy with “leadership and volunteerism.” Leadership and volunteerism? First of all, corporate greed is not leadership; stripping retirees of their subsidized medical benefits is not leadership. Second, what exactly is the economic value in having thousands of unemployed volunteers living in the community? When it comes to apathy, no one excels better than the electronic media.

TV news departments continue to broadcast whatever lame, diversionary statement is made by Hanesbrands spokespersons without even taking time to challenge those statements. Yes, I realize that corporate-owned news gatherers are short on staff these days, and that a reporter is not supposed to render opinions, but that doesn’t justify not probing the story or the source.

1. Charlotte
2. Triangle
3. Triad...but people wonder why this area continues to play third fiddle?

E.C. :)

City Council candidate Nancy Vaughan: someone to watch

2009-05-06T12:27:00.002-04:00

Former two-term Greensboro city councilman Nancy Vaughan is about to make another go at it, this time for an at-large position this fall...and she wants you to know why:

"I'm displeased at the inaction of our Council and the lack of civility."

That should say it all.

In an interview with GSOMetro, Vaughan said for these reasons and more (along with the blessing of her family), she had to begin prepping to get back in. She said the waffling on "protest petitions" were the catalyst of her itching to run again.

Make no mistake, Ms. Vaughan, whose husband is Guilford County state Sen. Don Vaughan, has strong opinions about the direction of Greensboro.

Take for instance:

On the city's economy and jobs:

"Our quality of life is hurting. Quality of life is a motivator. We need to focus on small business retention. This city has a lot going for us that we need to capitalize on."

On public safety:

"We don't live in 'Dodge City' but if there's a problem, we need to fix it," she said. "We need to gain our reputation back. We've gotten used to Greensboro taking a back seat to Charlotte and Raleigh. Greensboro has some good bones and we need to rebuild."

On all-things-Simkins:

"I'll sit down and meet with them, but I won't sell my soul to them."

On privatisation of the Coliseum:

"I don't see why we can't revisit [the idea]. But unless there's an anchor tenant there, then there's no money coming in. Our coliseum does bring in a good deal of business to local restaurants and hotels."

On the racial polarization of the city:

"Our boards and commissions need to take the lead on this. And our elected representatives need to set a better example. We need to face this head on."

And what about those board and commissions:

"There needs to be more equity. Are there professionals on some boards? Yes. Are our boards completely stacked with them? No. I think we need to have boards and commissions that are more professional in nature, with a set of professional standards."

On accountability:

"The city manager is accountable to us as a city council. Thus, the manager should report back to us. In addition, the city attorney needs to report to council on a regular basis. Important information shouldn't be filtered through the city manager."

On the Time-Warner fiasco:

"I was surprised it took Council so long to issue a response. They should have had Time Warner executives summoned almost immediately to explain what it was they were doing. On this, we need to do long term planning for the future."

Vaughan tells GSOMetro her campaign will begin ramping up in the coming weeks, with fundraisers planned soon after. Feeling confident of her chances for victory in a crowded at-large field, Vaughan said she is using this time to begin reaching out to key people and supporters citywide.

E.C. :)

Shell may prove formidable for D-2

2009-04-29T10:35:00.004-04:00

After a brief hiatus, it's good to be back...

...And right on time...for I just woke up this morning to the news that my friend Ryan Shell has publicly announced his long-rumored intentions to run for City Council for the city of Greensboro. .

But for which region? Shell apparently will make that decision shortly, either for an at-large spot or on District-2.

From his new campaign website, VoteShell.com:

“I have a ton of passion around helping District 2 because it’s where I live, and after doing work in the community I know it has opportunity for improvement,” said Shell. “On the other hand, as an At-Large representative I would be able to help unite the city - and do my part in bettering the lives of all our residents, something that I have a huge aspiration to do. At the end of the day I’ll run for the position that allows me to best serve Greensboro.”

Personally, I think he should run in D-2, and if Deena Hayes decides to run in D-2, this could very-well be a marquis match-up. In confirming recent rumors about her political future, Hayes recently told the News & Record that she likely would not run for City Council, but her "no" did not appear to be a hard "no" to me.

N&R:

Hayes said she’s been approached by “people in the community” to run for city council but said she is happy where she is. She added, however, that community urging got her to run for school board.

GSOMetro will be watchin' this one.

GM will also be watchin' the formidable D-4 race as Teresa Jobe begins ramping up her campaign. With Councilman Mary Rakestraw bowing out of the at-large field to run for the district, it could be an interesting one. Joel Landau is putting together a strategy as well.

And did I read this right...David Crawford is going to run again?

And I must admit I was a little saddened to hear Cyndy Hayworth will not be challenging Zack Matheny in D-3. Matheny in recent days has become more of a listener, a crucial trait to being a public official in this county. Time will tell if this will be a benefit to Matheny this fall.

But no matter who decides to run, they will need to hit the ground running, and attack our economy, our lack of jobs, our lack of relevance, and attack our public safety problem. GPD have had to deal with lots and lots of stick-ups, push-in robberies, and shootings over the past couple of days. They will also need to deal with an image problem, as evidenced in the recent survey giving City Council "low marks."

Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words.

E.C. :)

Lack of a "Creative Class" in GSO???

2009-04-17T14:53:00.003-04:00

If this recent Time Warner saga has proven anything, it shows that Greensboro lacks a creative class.

And the "real" mayor of Greensboro, my friend (and real former mayoral candidate) Billy Jones says this about our lack of a creative class:

While Greensboro’s "city leaders" continue to see development and new construction as the only way to build a world class city, more grown up cities like San Diego, California are showing the way by providing residents with the ways and means to convert to alternative energy thereby reducing San Diego’s dependence of imported sources of energy and propelling California’s economy over that of North Carolina and the rest of the nation.

As Roch Smith says today, new construction and development don't build world class cities.

And Guilford County Commissioner Paul Gibson's comment to the News & Record (in remarks regarding new Guilford County manager Brenda Jones Fox seals the deal:

"We aren't going to attract the best and brightest," Gibson said. "People are staying away from Guilford County. We're not going to be able to attract top talent."

Bam.

City Hall, are you listening?

E.C. :)

Political briefs for 4-16-09

2009-04-16T09:48:00.004-04:00

1. Mike Chats with Ryan...City Councilman Mike Barber chatted online recently with Greensboro Politics' Ryan Shell. In this exchange, he's sounding more and more like a mayoral candidate instead of an outgoing city councilman.

An excerpt:

We must get out of anything that the private sector can do. It will happen over the next 10 years out of necessity; we will be ahead of the curve if we are visionary and proactive.

We should not build or buy another gov’t building that does not generate economic impact or fill a quality of life void.

We should get out of the amateur sports business and let communities and Y’s run our kids leagues.

We should reopen the landfill and plan for a future privatization of trash collection and other services. Staff will mention this tomorrow at our meeting.

We must differentiate all fees and pricing to benefit city taxpayers and charge a greater amount to those that use our services, e.g. coliseum parking, sports leagues (until eliminated), etc.

We must eliminate any program that makes decisions based on gender or skin tone, e.g. MBWE, some of the human relations dept functions etc.

He could very well be a force to be reckoned with. He bears watching.

************************

2. Nancy seeks old digs...Former City Councilman Nancy Vaughan tells the News & Record she will form a committee to run for Greensboro City Council once again, this time on the at-large ticket. She will join a crowded field.

Her intentions seem to be simple...and attractive:

"I've been displeased with the direction of the city," she said Tuesday. "We've lost our edge. That is very concerning to me."

Vaughan, who is married to North Carolina Sen. Don Vaughan, called for greater transparency and accountability in city government.

She too bears watching...

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3. From disappointing, to bad...to worse...speaking of Ryan Shell at Greensboro Politics, he is also reporting this morning that the District 2 seat being vacated (thankfully) by Goldie (not-so-golden) Wells will NOT be sought by Ray Trapp. Trapp, of the Triad Apartment Association, TREBIC and the city's Planning/Zoning Commission is rumored to pass on the chance to run.

But guess which name is now surfacing...school board loudmouth Deena Hayes. See my sister blog, Guilford School Watch, where Hayes has been covered extensively.

To think she will bring that firebrand-style politicking over to the City Council is frightening, but I did say a while back on GSW that her activism on the school board, along with her County Board-style side-show antics would be more well-suited on City Council. Sadly, it appears this may be the case.

Shudder the thought...can District 2 get some decent representation, puhleeezze?

E.C. :)

Mixed successes and failures

2009-04-13T12:39:00.002-04:00

Greensboro inked a success by landing the upcoming Skating Championships, announced recently. But the city missed an opportunity by not landing the Bicycling Hall of Fame, which decided to go west to Davis, Calif. Coverage from the N&R.

Is Greensboro ready for "prime time?" It manages to do a good job with the NCAA and ACC tournaments annually, despite the constant issues surrounding the Coliseum. But Hall of Fames and museums are high profile, notwithstanding the Civil Rights Museum on S. Elm. I contend we need to focus on our economy and clean our "house" up a little before we do any promoting. With Skip and Johnson and Bellamy-Small and Wells running the show locally, we don't exactly have the best ambassadors for Guilford County right now. And that's not a good thing with our area suffering with double-digit unemployment.

Just a thought...

E.C. :)

The "whites" are coming...oh my god

2009-04-08T08:57:00.002-04:00

(via YES! Weekly)

How can the following LTTE in today's N&R even justify a response?

Yet, I felt the need to show you the mentality of some in our fair city. But we wonder why we have double-digit unemployment...why companies won't even look at this town...why we continuously have a brain-drain? Letters like this do our city a disservice. When we continuously look at color through a prism, we do our own citizens an injustice:

GC athletics disrupts neighborhood

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Margaret Pinnix

I read the Counterpoint written by Otis Hairston on March 18 in the News & Record. Kimmerly Milner, a Greensboro College alumna (March 28), misrepresented the facts in her rebuttal by stating that Hairston accused President Craven Williams and Greensboro College of racism. He made absolutely no mention of racism.

But since you want to inject racism into the conversation, Ms. Milner, I will say you are absolutely right. We are seeing in our community environmental racism.

The predominantly white Greensboro College has come into my community and destroyed the peaceful environment I have grown accustomed to over the past 40 years.

I listen to the yelling by Greensboro College athletes and whistle- and horn-blowing by the coaches, a majority of whom are white.

There is illegal parking on our streets by white students. There is yelling in our community by the Greensboro recreation department’s soccer program, which is predominantly white.
There are bright lights shining in my windows at night by this predominantly white college. White athletes are coming into our private yards to retrieve balls.

All of the above has destroyed the peaceful environment of our community by a private white, predominantly United Methodist college. This is called environmental racism. Every United Methodist should be ashamed of their support of Williams and Greensboro College in their attempt to destroy our community.

Not only does Otis Hairston oppose the project by Greensboro College, but more than 90 percent of this community also opposes this intrusive sports park.

Ms. Milner, look at the plans of your alma mater and ask if you would want this in your front or back yard.

If your answer is yes, please speak to Williams and invite him to begin planning his sports park for your community. Then, this issue will be resolved.

************************

Again, this shouldn't even justify a response.

E.C. :)

LTTE promotes "Green Jobs"

2009-04-08T08:50:00.002-04:00

A letter-writer in today's N&R promotes green jobs AND gets it write about our local leadership:

The “Triad’s silver linings” of new jobs the editors tout (editorial, April 3) are tinged with tarnish.
While it is true that practically any job is a good job in a deep recession, a disconcerting lack of forward-thinking local leadership is reflected in the fact that none of the industries mentioned as bringing employment to the Triad are in the fields that will drive the reshaping of our economy for the 21st century.

Having a green economy is only part of the discussion. The next part is actually initiating the discussion in the first place. Maybe when our unemployment rate reaches 15%?

E.C. :)

Ryan catches Robbie sleeping on the job

2009-04-08T08:45:00.001-04:00

Good catch, Ryan.

E.C. :)

Consumer Tips to fight Time-Warner's Predatory Pricing Scheme

2009-04-07T08:14:00.000-04:00

Cross-posted with Triad Media Watch...

The case with Time-Warner's new predatory pricing scheme with its Road Runner internet service has two issues...one, complaining to the proper individuals themselves...and two, the tepid response by those supposed to represent us.

First, the response, and Roch Smith has been all over this, doing a heck of a job with his citizen journalism. See his two-action plan here and here.

Second, the delayed and albeit-terrible reply by Greensboro City Council. N&R story today explains some of their responses, but it was Smith that broke the story that the city no longer has a franchise control over Time Warner.

It puts Greensboro (and the larger metro area) at a terrible disadvantage economically.

Sue Polinsky had a good point recently...she worked so hard to bring ConvergeSouth to Greensboro all those times, and yet it seems as though only one Greensboro City Council member embraced it.

Sad. The lack of progressiveness of this area is really disheartening.

E.C. :)

It's not just about cable

2009-04-03T15:04:00.002-04:00

The ongoing saga of Time Warner Cable instituting a metering pricing scheme for its residential Road Runner internet service prompts an even bigger discussion. And one Roch Smith already initiated over on his site...will someone downtown at City Hall please wake up? Quickly?

Because it seems as though some who are politically connected in Austin, Texas (where a similar scheme is going into effect) are thinking of the larger picture, suggesting this move will hurt businesses and industry.

Austin City Council member and mayoral hopeful Lee Leffingwell tells the Austin Business Journal:

“This approach, and Time Warner’s specific plan, should be of grave concern to Austin,” Leffingwell said in his statement. “Right now we need to be encouraging, rather than stifling, economic recovery and growth in Austin. This plan moves us in the wrong direction.”

“Introducing an economic disincentive for Austin businesses to use the Internet to communicate, collaborate, innovate, and deliver services is very worrisome at best, and catastrophic at worst,” Leffingwell said. “It potentially puts Austin at a disadvantage as we compete against other communities to attract, retain, and grow prosperous businesses.”

This is the kind of brethren we need on our council. I have yet to hear the kind of tough talk we need to hear about our city's economy, and for them to be so silent on this back-door consumption tax is beyond me.

I'm demanding that our city councilors hold hearings on this issue. They need to summon Time-Warner executives and call them on the carpet, relative to the city's franchise agreement.

11.5% unemployment in Greensboro. I still have YET to hear any city councilmen comment on this also. I mean, look again at what Leffingwell says:

“It potentially puts Austin at a disadvantage as we compete against other communities to attract, retain, and grow prosperous businesses.”

What is Greensboro doing to attract, retain and grow prosperous businesses?

Oh, that's right...we're building a greeneway.

E.C. :)

Ignorance is bliss

2009-04-03T11:39:00.002-04:00

Mega-kudos to my friend Keith Brown over at TriadWatch for uncovering and exposing a $5,000 illegal donation to the George C. Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee by in-Action Greensboro last fall to help the non-profit's get out the vote effort for citywide bond referendums.

Adam Ragan a state campaign official tells the News & Record:

Action Greensboro is prohibited from donating to North Carolina political committees or candidates...
...The PAC has turned the money over to the N.C. Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund.

But wait, this gets better:

“We weren’t trying to hide anything. Somebody complained, so we just did what was right,” said Steve Bowden, co-chairman of the PAC.

...Bowden said the money was used to help support the bonds. He said the PAC did not know the nonprofit was prohibited from donating.

Wow...isn't ignorance bliss, counselor? You're a lawyer, you're the co-chair of this PAC, and you don't know the law of operating your own PAC?

Astounding.

More Coverage:
Joe Guarino
FEC
Spag Report
Yes! Weekly

E.C. :)

What do the unemployed do during the day? (musical interlude)

2009-04-02T11:26:00.006-04:00

...they blog, the job-hunt, they engage in domestic affairs (dishes, laundry, errands, etc.)...

An AP story describes how one laid-off communications executive copes:

A few days after she was laid off last month, Dina Schipper's husband asked if she could make sure the dry cleaners came to pick up his shirts.
It was a perfectly routine domestic request, something she'd have done without thinking twice while she was working. But now it sent Schipper, who'd been media relations director at a New Jersey science museum for a decade, into a tailspin of self-doubt. "I was thinking, 'Oh no, is this what I have become?'" she says.
The recession claimed more than 650,000 jobs for a record third straight month in February, and similar painful losses are expected when the government releases March figures on Friday. Unemployment, already at a 25-year peak at 8.1 percent, is expected to rise to 8.5 percent. More than 4 million have lost jobs during the downturn.
For all but the very luckiest ones, the overriding question is, "How will I support myself and my family?" But along with that comes another immediate question, more mundane but vexing nonetheless: "How do I spend my time?"

Very typical of what's going on around town...again, in the face of 11.5% unemployment. Isn't it interesting how we have not heard from any of our city leaders on these damning numbers? Related to this, look at what UNCG Professor and local economist Keith Debbage says:

Debbage said local governments in Forsyth and Guilford, where about 44,000 unemployed workers live, won’t be much help as the recession squeezes their budgets.

“You’ve got this collision of forces ... when you’ve got a great need for local services,” he said.

Beyond that, Guilford County and Greensboro have political and staff turmoil at the worst possible time, he said.

“For our community, it doesn’t help that we don’t have a permanent county or city manager in place at this very, very crucial time,” Debbage said. “That exacerbates the problem. It’s the worst possible time to have instability in our local government leadership.”

*************************
There must be better days ahead. Better days, sing the Goo Goo Dolls:

E.C. :)

Pave-it Perkins Gets Paved

2009-04-02T11:08:00.002-04:00

My friend Keith Brown has a good analysis of this week's bombshell YES! Weekly article explaining the lawsuit filed by a former partner of Greensboro City Councilman Robbie "Pave-it" Perkins.

YES! Weekly reports local real estate mogul Richard Maxwell is suing Perkins for "breach of contract and unfair trade practices. The lawsuit contends that the former partners are embroiled in a “controversy” over a 2005 land deal in Davidson County to build a shopping center that remains saddled with more than a dozen vacant storefronts."

Not exactly what Davidson County needs with its record unemployment rate.

Neither litigant is speaking nor commenting on the record, no surprise. But it is another shining example of the secrecy among our local electorate that really must stop.

And to think Bellamy-Small doesn't want ethics?

These blogs write themselves, folks.

E.C. :)

More development in the face of 11.5% unemployment

2009-04-01T13:36:00.003-04:00

All the development downtown does no good in the face of 11.5% unemployment.

You can put 20 buildings downtown, but if there are no companies going into those buildings, what good does it do? Nonetheless, the local development crowd and city planners want you to join them for a workshop on the future look of downtown Greensboro coming up on Tuesday, April 28, 6-8pm at the Downtown Depot.

As stated in Greensboro’s adopted comprehensive plan, Connections 2025 (to which, as a newly-installed member of the Greensboro Planning Board, I'm excited to be a part of), the draft Downtown Greensboro Design and Compatibility Manual aims to encourage high quality design and infill development.

But the build-it-and-they-will-come-attitude in this town must cease. Trader Joe's will not come to town if our citizens can't find jobs and have no income to support a Trader Joe's. We must balance physical development with effective economic development. We're still a long way from that.

(More from Ryan Shell, N&R)

E.C. :)

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

2009-03-31T13:57:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-31T11:20:00.002-04:00

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."

************************

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

E.C. :)

Another Forbes ranking

2009-03-30T11:54:00.003-04:00

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.

*************************

E.C. :)

2009: the year of the idiot politicians

2009-03-30T11:26:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-26T11:56:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-26T11:43:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-24T10:58:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-24T10:49:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-23T11:31:00.005-04:00

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

2009-03-20T14:37:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-20T14:19:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-19T11:06:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-19T10:32:00.004-04:00

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

2009-03-13T13:50:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-13T13:46:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-12T14:54:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-11T13:47:00.004-04:00

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

2009-03-11T11:38:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-11T11:28:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-10T15:04:00.004-04:00

...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

2009-03-09T14:48:00.002-04:00

(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

2009-03-06T14:58:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-06T14:51:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-05T07:48:00.003-05:00

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

2009-03-04T14:09:00.000-05:00

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

2009-03-04T11:51:00.003-05:00

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

2009-03-04T10:19:00.002-05:00

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. :)

Higher thinking on creative businesses

2009-03-03T13:16:00.002-05:00

The Piedmont Triad Partnership has finally recognized there is a good enough creative talent in this area...enough to warrant a report, which was released to the media last week. NC's top business leaders said last week that creative businesses and the arts employ 29,000 people in the Piedmont Triad and their growth will help the region create more jobs, this from a N&R article last Friday.

At one time, these businesses probably employed more. Remember, there are a lot of unemployed (or underemployed) journalists, PR folks and other creative talent in this area.

But the talent that is here needs to be cultivated so that they can remain here.

Nonetheless, the report is welcome, and I am hopeful it will be set in motion and a plan put into action to create more of these types of jobs in our state, and particularly in this area.

E.C. :)

Perkins is now an economic developer

2009-03-03T12:58:00.002-05:00

News & Record reports today that City Councilman Robbie Perkins will now play the part of an economic developer...well, sort of.

I'm setting this up a certain way...follow me, if you will.

N&R:

Despite the loss of two key economic developers last Friday, city and county leaders say the governments won’t skip a beat as they work with companies that want to bring jobs to the area.

And one Greensboro City Council member says those changes are a chance to consider even more aggressive economic development. Robbie Perkins said he’ll begin putting pressure on business leaders today.

Hmmm...okay.

Last week, Rob Bencini, Guilford County’s economic development coordinator, was laid off and Jim Westmoreland, Greensboro’s assistant city manager for economic development, left his job to work for the N.C. Department of Transportation.

You know things are tough when the economic developers are laid off.

At the moment, the flow of corporate inquiries is slow because of the recession, and Perkins says Lynch may need another mission for the moment: That of political activist.

Dan Lynch, president of the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and Pat Danahy, president and CEO of the Greensboro Partnership, ought to step up pressure on those boards to improve the county, Perkins said.

That involves building water and sewer lines, schools, and other projects that are more affordable than ever right now.

“You’ve got to get the business community to show some leadership,” Perkins said. “And you’ve got to let them step forward and articulate the vision.”

So we have three things afoot here.

One, we have a long-time economic developer laid off. And while I don't wish this on anyone, economic development has lagged in this region for a long time.

Two, Robbie Perkins stepping in this role. Why now? Why all of a sudden? Could it be that this is an election year and a ripe deflection of the troubles inside City Hall is in Perkins' best interests? Or could it be that Mr. Perkins is a developer...and that any new development that comes into the county is beneficial for Mr. Perkins?

And three...what does he mean exactly by "getting the business community to show some leadership?" This quote is very cryptic.

This story bear watching...and commenting.

E.C. :)

GSO goes skating

2009-02-27T09:45:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-27T09:38:00.002-05:00

(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

2009-02-25T12:08:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-23T08:43:00.002-05:00

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."
********************************

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.

******************************

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.

*************************

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?

2009-02-20T07:53:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-17T13:04:00.002-05:00

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.
*************************
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

2009-02-13T13:58:00.002-05:00

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.

****************************

They'd better plan for a busy day.

E.C. :)

Arrest in Old Navy homicide

2009-02-10T14:58:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-10T10:29:00.003-05:00

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?

2009-02-09T13:00:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-08T13:09:00.006-05:00

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

2009-02-06T09:34:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-05T10:51:00.003-05:00

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

2009-02-05T10:44:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-04T07:57:00.003-05:00

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

2009-02-02T12:13:00.002-05:00

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?
*********************
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. :)

I will NOT be running for City Council...there; I said it

2009-01-28T11:37:00.002-05:00

This is an on-the-record statement...I will not be running for Greensboro City Council this year.

After much thought and consultation with my family, and for many other reasons that I will keep close to the vest, I feel as though another lengthy run for local political office is just not possible right now.

I appreciate many of you who wanted to see me enter the District 5 race. I have a good deal of respect for Trudy Wade and I wish her the best as she has stated previously that she will run again for reelection. But I would like to see a bit more from the elected representative of D-5. I would like that representative to be more visible in the ward, to communicate better among its constituents, to take more of a proactive focus among public safety and crime, attacking our local economy and jobs, creating sustainable-not runaway/reckless-development, and doing what needs to be done to put Greensboro back on the map. I would like to see water rates frozen, not increased. I would like to start hearing of a tax cut, not tax increases, I would like to see and hear more about how we're going to diversify Greensboro's economy further, and lessen the focus on manufacturing.

I would not mind seeing new leadership in this post. Trudy Wade is a political powerhouse. But in my opinion, this city NEEDS fresh leadership with new ideas and new visions to move this city forward. We're here, and we're ready to step up to the plate on our local Boards and Commissions to make that happen...we just need a chance to do just that.

There are many who want me to consider running again for School Board next year (at-large). As I just did, I will make the appropriate evaluation at the appropriate time, and if I feel the citizens will benefit from new leadership in that position, then an announcement will be made. But not anytime soon.

Instead, I tend to continue nurturing my flagship blog, Guilford School Watch, continue growing Triad Media Watch, and make this blog, GreensboroMetro a part-time blog-with a full-time focus on the come-what-may around town.

I thank all of you for your readership and support, both past, present and future.

E.C. :)

Local names line up to challenge GSO City Councilmen; mine is NOT one of them...yet

2009-01-27T15:13:00.003-05:00

(photo credit N&R)

Courtesy of YES! Weekly: a rundown as to who will be entering this year's City Council races thus far:

At-large:
Julie Lapham, Mayor Yvonne Johnson's former campaign manager
Marikay Abuzuaiter, who was beaten two years ago by a nose

Dist. 2:
Councilman Goldie Wells (who was a big cheerleader of the protest petition vote) will retire; Triad Apartment Association interim executive director Ray Trapp announced plans to run for her seat. TAA is part of the TREBIC lobby.

Dist. 3:
Councilman Zack (I hate bloggers) Matheny will run again; he will be challenged by Cyndy Hayworth in a rematch of two years ago.

Dist. 4:
Councilman Mike Barber intends to run again, but continuing speculation abounds as to whether he will challenge Mayor Johnson for the top spot.

Teresa Jobe and Joel Landau are ramping up plans to run.

And Dist. 5:
I can confirm that speculation is mounting as to whether or not I will challenge Trudy Wade in Dist. 5. To cease any ongoing speculation, I will not have any pending announcements before March, as to my political plans for this year.

I appreciate your ongoing support of me and my blogs, and your anticipated confidence in me to serve the citizens of Greensboro's Dist. 5.

Teresa Jobe makes a good point to YES! Weekly...she said: "I don’t think that because of where they [city council] are and how long they’ve been on council, they’re able to come up with fresh ideas, and we need more youth and more ordinary people on the council."

She's right.

E.C. :)

Chief Bellamy addresses gun violence

2009-01-27T13:32:00.003-05:00

GSO Police chief Tim Bellamy goes on the defense as he will address the current wave of gun violence around the city in a news conference this afternoon.

Not only does he need to address gun violence, he needs to say something about the rising rate of robberies and burglaries around town, which has increased at alarming rates.

E.C. :)

Meet Zack...in the parking lot

2009-01-26T15:41:00.002-05:00

No, there's no subtle joke here...City Councilman Zack Matheny will be in the parking lot at 5:30 this evening at S. Elm and McGee Streets to discuss the proposed S. Elm development and to answer questions; this from The Inside Scoop.

E.C. :)

City crime wave continues with murder of aspiring A&T student

2009-01-26T12:32:00.003-05:00

This is tragic. The third homicide of the year in Greensboro claims the life of an aspiring NC A&T University student.

Twenty-two-year-old Dennis Hayle, just months from graduation, was gunned down in front of his A&T area apartment. The shooter remains at large.

Continuing coverage:
News & Record
Doug Clark

Clark asks "What's it going to take the prevent the next shooting?"

It will take an urgent effort on behalf of our so-called elected establishment to mount pressure on the City Manager and Police Department to halt the crime wave by putting every available officer on the street, an effort on crime enforcement instead of petty traffic enforcement and a no-tolerance attitude on behalf of our city. An effort must be mounted that says from larceny to burglaries, from robberies to homicide...this behavior will not be tolerated in our city. Sadly, because City Hall (from the mayor to the City Council to the City Manager) is remarkably tone deaf, this behavior will undoubtedly continue.

My condolences to the victim's family.

E.C. :)

Special Council meeting to deal with downtown project

2009-01-26T11:44:00.002-05:00

Continuing coverage of the proposed mixed-use development downtown on S. Elm Street...a special City Council meeting will be held tomorrow to deal with just how to smooth over relations between the developer and the adjacent property owners. Parking seems to be a big stumbling block.

The developer/TREBIC (Zack, Robbie) wing of the City Council want this to be a done deal already.

Continuing coverage:

GSO Politics
Old Greensborough
The Inside Scoop

E.C. :)

What to make of this local jobs report

2009-01-23T14:02:00.002-05:00

A cock-and-bull story. adj: a fanciful and unbelievable tale.

The News & Record's Dick Barron writes today about a newly-released report touting Greensboro workers are getting the best jobs and incomes they have had in a decade.

It's nothing more than pure cock and bull.

These workers are probably getting the best jobs...if they like service work in a local service-oriented economy.

But Barron also writes:

The problem is, the report uses 2007 statistics — the most recent available — and doesn’t reflect the impact of an ongoing national recession.

That's more believable than the rest of what is said in this article.

N&R:

“The only concern I have, of course, is while we turned the corner in ’07, what has the fiscal crisis and the recession done to our community in the meantime? That is the $64,000 question,” said Keith Debbage, a professor of urban development at UNCG. He wrote “2009: The State of the City Report” for the Greensboro Partnership economic development group.

Without hard government figures for the local economy, Debbage and other officials can only hope that hiring growth at such companies as Honda Aircraft Co. and Tyco Electronics can keep the city’s economy from waning dramatically.

In addition, prospects of an 800-job aviation company now considering this area are keeping spirits high, he said.

Debbage’s report showed that the city has made progress in creating a more diverse economy that does not rely as heavily on manufacturing. But it also showed that the trade-off is a higher poverty rate.

The lowest-paying manufacturing jobs are gone, he said. And it’s likely that growth in retail jobs, which typically pay less, is putting more families below the $21,000-a-year poverty line.

Debbage said that his report offered continuing proof, however, that the city is developing industries that will grow when the economy improves.

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Cock and Bull.

With all due respect to Prof. Debbage, I don't think neither he, nor anyone downtown have a good sense of what's going on around town, from an economic standpoint.

And interestingly enough, I can't find this report anywhere online. If anyone finds a copy, sound off.

E.C. :)

Hatin'...on the Farm

2009-01-23T13:56:00.002-05:00

Jordan Green over at YES! Weekly passes this on in this week's issue:

Some haters

Flyers wrapped around recycled pages of the News & Record and sealed in blue plastic bags proclaiming the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to be “a national disgrace” turned up in the driveways of residents in the Adams Farm section of Greensboro on Monday morning. The flyers advertise the Knights Party of the Ku Klux Klan, an Arkansas oufit run by Thomas Robb that advocates for “white Christians.” The flyers accuse King of slandering the military, attempt to link him to communist groups and assail his purported “anti-women behavior, his ‘secret’ homosexual lifestyle, and his subversive actions towards American and its traditions of Christian decency.” The Knights Party has been sued by The Rhinoceros Times in the past for using its pages to package racist propaganda. The flyer distributed Monday contains the proviso, “The attached newspaper/magazine is for weight purposes and should not be considered an endorsement of either this flyer [or] the Knights Party.” — JG

And you know...I was wondering why my driveway didn't have a blue bag on Monday morning whereas my neighbors had one; I didn't know what to make of it.

Kind of scary...

E.C. :)

Work on public safety delayed, Zack mouths off on downtown development

2009-01-22T12:10:00.002-05:00

While your City Council was doing yeoman's work on attempting to bring protest petitions back to Greensboro, some necessary items involving public safety and downtown development were pushed aside.

Council apparently tabled a scheduled debate about a legislative charter change that would put the council in charge of the police chief.

News & Record:

City Councilwoman Trudy Wade, who recommended the change as part of the council's 2009 legislative agenda, said it would bring more trust and accountability to the police department.

"The police chief will be accountable to the people much more than he is now," Councilwoman Trudy Wade said. "What we are doing now is not working."

Councilman Mike Barber said the lawsuits against the city and recent discipline issues involving police employees show that the police department could use additional oversight.

But other council members disagreed.

"Some of those were created by internal problems that we have tried to deal with. You can't blame that on the current chief or the operation of the police department. We need to not muddy the waters here and act like it is caused by the management of the police department," Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small said.

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IMHO, this needs to play out...and soon. The city is experiencing a public safety emergency, and anything to do with making our police department better, I'm all for. I also think a review board is a good idea provided it is not stacked with Simkins/TREBIC disciples. It needs to be balanced, fair, and seated with citizens who are committed to making this city better.

Zack's at it again...on the same evening he voted in favor of restoring protest petitions, Councilman Zack (I hate Greensboro bloggers) Matheny wants more downtown development...at any cost. Never mind that a current project in the works to take up part of a downtown parking lot will make people angry. Never mind that many downtown art galleries are going out of business...never mind that more and more business are shutting their doors downtown, we MUST have downtown development at any cost.

N&R:

Councilman Zack Matheny asked that the council approve the incentive request, and work to resolve the parking issues for area businesses quickly.

City Council members turned down his motion, instead deciding to take the issue up again at their next regular meeting.

Matheny said after the meeting that he will work to make sure the city does not lose the opportunity for new development downtown.

It's humorous.

E.C. :)

Protest Petitions return

2009-01-22T08:23:00.002-05:00

I learn this morning that pending the details to be worked out, protest petitions will return to the City of Greensboro.

With a unanimous vote at last night's City Council meeting, city officials will apparently work out the terms of how protest petitions will affect local rezoning cases.

N&R's Allen Johnson:

Marlene Sanford, president of the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition, called the law "the tyranny of the minority" while other opponents, all of whom represented the building and real estate industry, called it "un-American" and a threat to the economy.

...wow...I'm sorry, but I just lost what respect I had left for Marlene. That statement alone shows that runaway development is welcomed in Greensboro, despite the local unemployment rate nearing double-digits. Marlene says 'to hell with property owners who care deeply about the direction of the neighborhoods.'

Speechless...

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N&R's Amanda Lehmert:

Representatives of local real estate organizations spoke against restoring the protest petition, arguing it would deter development and job growth and increase the cost of building in the city. They also argued it takes away the rights of a property owner who wants to rezone.

City Council members struggled with the decision to restore the protest petition. Some council members indicated they were concerned that 5 percent of property owners is a very small number of people to block a rezoning.

Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat, a former builder, said she was concerned that protest petition would hurt affordable home building and in turn, first-time home buyers.

Councilman Robbie Perkins said development could move to the county, which has no protest petition.

"My hope would be we would further discuss this," Perkins said. "We can offer something that would be more comprehensive and fit Greensboro's needs."

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Despite the ongoing unholy alliance between developers, builders and Greensboro City Councilmen, the elected body made the right move last night.

And while we'll hear the particulars in the coming days, I think a word of congratulations are in order to our own Keith Brown, who was an early champion on this issue. He deserves kudos for a job well done.

E.C. :)

$25 gets you dinner with Zack

2009-01-21T13:27:00.002-05:00

From Action Greensboro:

Making Connections Around the Table with City Council Member Zack Matheny

Tuesday January 27, 2009 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Proximity Hotel

Tickets are $25 for young professionals and $40 for general admission. Tickets include a three course meal and one drink coupon.

Tickets will be on sale from 12/11/08 to 01/22/09.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Zack Matheny, Greensboro City Council Member, will speak on attracting young professionals to fuel a more creative, knowledge-based economy, nurture entrepreneurial activity, and ensure that Greensboro has the kind of workforce to attract major investment in our targeted clusters.

Making Connections Around the Table, a bi-monthly dinner program, offers young professionals the unique opportunity to enjoy an evening of good conversation, company, and food while getting to know the inner workings of the Greensboro community. Each dinner program features a local "guests of interest" who speaks about pertinent issues and topics of life in Greensboro.

The 2009 events will use Tim Rice's remarks at the 2008 State of the Community luncheon as the center point for conversation - using Rice's recommendations for nurturing a better quality of life in Greensboro. The 2009 speakers are:

Tickets were made affordable through the assistance of the synerG Fall Ball.

For more information on Making Connections Around the Table and to purchase tickets click here.

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E.C. :)

The little airport that could...

2009-01-21T10:48:00.002-05:00

A story in this past Sunday's News & Record touts the continual turnaround over at the little airport that could...PTI.

I'll give this to you...Piedmont Triad Intl. is a very nice airport, it is convenient and security lines are almost non-existent.

But what will save PTI is not FedEx alone, not HondaJet, not TIMCO, not GTCC, not Cessna...it will be more passenger flights and more passenger service. A little less courting of airlines that are one-step-shy of going bankrupt (a la SkyBus), and more courting of airlines that easily recognize the ease and convenience of getting in and out quickly.

But airport authority chairman Henry Isaacson slightly misses the point in the article (and Dan Lynch for that matter):

Isaacson continues to push for better passenger service after the failure of Skybus. It has always been tough to make the case for airline expansion to PTI because of the region's position between the bigger and busier urban airports in Charlotte and the Triangle.

That tough sell has become even tougher with the bad economy.

It's a continual tough sell because our area is becoming more and more depressed, with so many people out of work. Before we start recruiting airlines, we need to be recruiting companies.

It's a domino effect. I get it. They don't. We all suffer because of it.

E.C. :)

Another day...another police assault allegation

2009-01-21T10:36:00.003-05:00

This is becoming irritating.

The Greensboro Police Dept. has another black mark with an off-duty police officer charged with assault.

The News & Record reports that a summons was issued yesterday charging A.J. Blake, 32, with misdemeanor assault on a female.

According to the article, GPD said the alleged assault occurred early Saturday at the Greensboro Police Club at 524 Air Harbor Road.

And who broke the story? Greensboro's own Ben "The Troublemaker" Holder. Holder has wall-to-wall coverage both here and here and here. Yep...a blogger.

Those pesky bloggers that Zack Matheny has such disdain for.

Is it me, or is it time for a new police chief?

E.C. :)

N&R, Allen Johnson support Protest Petition vote, TREBIC speaks out in opposition

2009-01-21T10:01:00.002-05:00

(TREBIC.org)

While yesterday's News & Record spoke poetically in favor of tonight's Protest Petition vote (along with a positive comment by Allen Johnson today), TREBIC's Marlene Sanford (pictured) spoke out against it.

A disclaimer...Marlene and I had a lot of interaction while I was on staff with the High Point Enterprise. But on this I respectfully disagree. I think property owners, who have invested a great deal in their property despite the Triad's recession, have the right to have a say as to what comes into their neighborhoods that will affect their property values.

Marlene says:

Protest petitions are a bad idea that gets worse the more you think about it.

Their purpose is to make it harder to rezone property. In this recession, the last thing Greensboro needs is to signal that we don't want development and job growth.

But even more troubling is that protest petitions are just plain undemocratic.

No, Marlene...what's troubling is that you want to limit a neighbor's say...that's undemocratic. And no one is talking about limiting job growth...our so-called economic developers are doing a very good job of that right now by not properly diversifying our local economy. It seems our crack-pot economic development staff downtown still think we can keep a sustainable economy on $7-$8-$9/hour service jobs while calling this area relevant.

So since real job growth isn't taking place right now in Greensboro (and hasn't taken place for months now), have an open mind this evening.

And I hope our City Council will have an open mind also.

Allen Johnson is right...anyone thinking about running for Mayor (or even City Council this year) that opposes this measure will be remembered this Fall.

E.C. :)

Another violent weekend in the 'boro

2009-01-19T17:28:00.003-05:00

Two area hotels top off the list of robberies that occurred this weekend in Greensboro, which included a shooting at the Four Seasons Theater and a violent hold-up at a popular area restaurant.

N&R:

GREENSBORO - Police are investigating two robberies at hotels in Greensboro on Sunday night.

About 8:42 p.m., a man walked into the Comfort Suites at 7619 Thorndike Road and implied he had a weapon. He demanded cash and fled after getting an undisclosed amount from the clerk, police stated.

About 13 minutes later, a man walked into the Best Western at 7800 National Service Road and implied that he had a weapon. He motioned the clerk toward the counter area, but she screamed for help and the suspect fled without getting any money.

Nobody was injured in either incident.

The suspect in both cases was described as a black man in his 30s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall. In one robbery he is described as wearing a tan hat with a white bandana covering his face; in the other he is described as wearing a brown full brim hat with a white surgical mask covering his face.

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Shooting at a theater:

(N&R)

GREENSBORO - A 32-year-old man was shot twice in the abdomen during an argument and an estimated 700 people were evacuated when gunfire broke out at a Greensboro movie theater Friday night.

The sound of a gunshot echoed throughout the lobby of the Grand 18 at Four Seasons Station just after 9 p.m. as moviegoers waited to get into opening night showings of "Notorious" - the life and death story of the rapper Notorious B.I.G.

Greensboro police Lt. James Hinson said the victim, identified early Saturday morning as Clive O’Connor, was rushed to Moses Cone Hospital, where he underwent surgery. His medical condition was not immediately available.

No suspects were in custody late Friday night.

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Violent Armed Robbery at Zaxby's

(HPPD)

HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Police investigated an armed robbery on Friday at a High Point fast-food restaurant.The robbery happened at Zaxby's at 3895 Brian Jordan Place just after 10 a.m. Thursday.Police said three men armed with pistols entered the restaurant and robbed it prior to opening for the business day.

The men stole an undetermined amount of money and then fled on foot from the store.
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Is it me? I mean really...is it me or is our area getting more and more violent?

Is it me? Someone help me understand...

E.C. :)