A downtown guide for development

(UPDATE BELOW)

Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson and Guilford County Board of Commissioners chairman Melvin "Skip" Alston will spearhead an unusual new relationship aimed at adopting a new joint development guide for downtown Greensboro. Today's News & Record reports both elected officials will make the case to their respective boards (City Council and the Board of Commissioners, respectively) to kick off the process within 30 days.

The plan was revealed during a strategy session held last night at the West Market Street United Methodist Church where Action Greensboro unveiled a so-called new-and-improved action plan. Only problem is, there's no meat in this plan (see my related post on Guilford School Watch).

N&R excerpt:

The community development group Action Greensboro has volunteered to pay $150,000 for the study.

Johnson said she’d like to see a plan that would guide downtown development adopted by the end of 2009.

So...was there any grist to this meeting or simply a gathering to say that construction on the Downtown Greenway will get underway soon and that the Civil Rights Museum will open next year...hopefully?

Did I really miss anything by not going to this meeting last night?

By the way, Action Greensboro's Judy Morton wrote me back yesterday...her response:

Erik – We are sorry you can’t attend tonight’s meeting but certainly understand. The entire reason Action Greensboro came into existence was to try to minimize the jobs crunch Greensboro was heading for with all the off-shoring of manufacturing jobs. Certainly when folks are unemployed—or underemployed—it creates negative ripples throughout every aspect of life in Greensboro and Guilford County. Please know that whatever we can do to improve your situation we are doing. We’re rooting for you!

Judy Morton
Office & Communication Manager
Action Greensboro
317 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
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UPDATE-1/13/09, 11:08AM: Here's the plan from Action Greensboro, just uploaded onto their site (a blurb from SpringBoard can be found here).

I fail to see a lot of grist in here. I also fail to see where the jobs component and recruitment efforts are in this puzzle. A lot of grandiose plans for downtown won't make a bit of good if there are no jobs to support downtown redevelopment.

E.C. :)

No surprise...crime is UP in Greensboro

The N&R once again reports something that really isn't news...crime is up in Greensboro.

If you were living under a rock and had not paid attention to those daily reports of robberies, burglaries, shootings and thefts, that should have tipped you off pretty early.

The FBI's Semiannual Preliminary Uniform Crime Report says while violent crime nationwide decreased 3.5 percent from January-June, 2008, Greensboro's violent crime rate increased 3 percent from the same period last year. While property crime decreased 2.5 percent, Greensboro's rate rose 4.2 percent.

But don't bash City Council or the City Manager or the Police Department...Zack Matheny's had it with you!

E.C. :)

Will it open soon?

It may open next year. That's the sentiment from state Rep. Earl Jones, a founder and a board member of the organization Sit-in Movement Inc., the nonprofit guiding the restoration of the long-awaited International Civil Rights Center & Museum downtown.

The organization is about to receive roughly $10 million needed to finish the project, according to the News & Record.

An excerpt:

It is not certain the renovations will be complete by Feb. 1, 2010 — the 50th anniversary of the sit-ins — but “that’s the goal,” Jones said.

“I’m pretty confident,” he said of the group’s ability to meet that goal.

Jones said the key piece of the puzzle is $7 million to $8 million soon flowing to the project through federal tax credits.

That money is controlled by the National Trust Community Investment Corp., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Trust spokeswoman Corinne Ingrassia could not confirm an amount for her agency’s participation.

But she said $7 million to $8 million would not be out of the question for a project of the museum’s scope.

“I know we definitely have made the commitment to invest in the Civil Rights Museum,” said Ingrassia, the trust’s marketing director.

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It is my hope that this project can conclude and that the museum can open. It has truly been a long-time coming.

E.C. :)

Legal battles ARE getting costly

As it was reported here last week, the legal battles being mounted against the city of Greensboro are getting rather costly.

So how much have YOU shelled out in legal fees thus far?

Yesterday's News & Record:

• In the last 21/2 fiscal years, the city has paid more than $507,000 in private attorney fees to deal with legal issues and personnel complaints surrounding Wray's department.
• In 2008, the city paid $113,000 to resolve two lawsuits involving the police department, and the City Council considered paying $750,000 to settle police officer discrimination complaints; the offer was later withdrawn.
• Since 2005, the city has racked up nearly $415,000 in bills for three different consultants to study, investigate and explain how to fix what has ailed the police department.

Ouch. That's my empty wallet pinching me.

More:

Three years after Wray left, Greensboro is knee-deep in discrimination complaints, criminal trials and civil lawsuits.

"It's really a shame," City Manager Mitchell Johnson said Friday. "It's been an incredibly unfortunate situation and could have been dealt with more effectively a long time ago if people had made the right decisions."

The three most recent lawsuits were filed within the past 10 days - Jan. 2 claims filed separately by Wray and Brady, followed by a discrimination lawsuit filed Friday by 39 black police officers.

None of the lawsuits came as a surprise to the city. Greensboro has already spent more than $135,000 for private attorneys to handle issues with Wray and Brady and $45,600 for private attorneys to deal with the black officers' discrimination complaints.

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It really is a shame, Mitch. It's a shame that part of this was your-doing.

E.C. :)

Wade has choice words for Keith Brown

It's interesting that in a column written by Allen Johnson in yesterday's News & Record regarding the upcoming protest petition vote by Greensboro City Council, City Councilman Trudy Wade had some things to say about the vote itself, and one of its prime cheerleaders and my friend Keith Brown.

See this excerpt:

Mayor Yvonne Johnson said late last week that she has not made up her mind on the issue. So did council members Trudy Wade and Mary Rakestraw. “I want to hear what everybody has to say,” Johnson said.

Yet she added: “I don’t want to be detrimental as far bringing in businesses.”

Wade said she’ll approach the discussion with an open mind but questioned why one of the biggest advocates for protest petitions in Greensboro is a High Pointer, Keith Brown. “I want to know why it originated in High Point,” she said. Noting High Point’s luring away of the La-Z-Boy headquarters from Greensboro in 2006, Wade said she wanted to make sure Greensboro doesn’t lose a competitive edge.

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It shouldn't matter, Councilman, who is leading the charge. It should matter what the charge means.

I support the right of our citizens to speak out, be heard, and launch a protest against runaway development. And for Wade to suggest this has anything to do with a competitive edge is ludicrous...Greensboro has no edge AT ALL RIGHT NOW. We have zero job creation right now, Councilman; what are you all doing about it at City Hall?

E.C. :)

Yvonne's in...and who else?

Time to open up the political watch for this year, as we'll analyze who decides to run for City Council this year.

The Troublemaker's Ben Holder is reporting that Mayor Yvonne Johnson will likely announce a run for a second term this year. Personally, I haven't been too terribly impressed with the mayor's leadership, particularly with what's happening down at City Hall. I would have liked to see her exert more leadership.

Of course, some would say that she has been part of the problem.

Who would you like to see run against her?



And what about the rest of City Council....who would you like to see enter the races this year?

I'm hearing rumblings that there may be some possible opposition lining up for Zack Matheny and Goldie Wells.

And to the commenter who challenged me here recently to run for City Council...

While I'm flattered, I'll say this much...running for City Council is actually starting to sound very tempting, given the current environment that exists downtown. Trudy Wade is my councilman, and she really hasn't impressed me at all in two years. In my honest opinion, she's another ex-Guilford County Commissioner who loves being in power and that's about it. I feel it is time for the ex-commissioner to retire from politics and open up the seat to a citizen who can shake things up downtown.

I feel a change is warranted not only for District 5, but for Greensboro as a whole. Therefore, I will be exploring the issues both in-depth, and in greater detail, from jobs and crime to economic development and taxes. I'm already starting to do that here, via GreensboroMetro. And judging by the number of visitors in the first few days of this blog, I appreciate your support.

I will have to sit down with my family to see if another run for public office is in the best interest of our household right now. And after that conversation, if I feel as though I can be of service of some capacity for the citizens of District 5, then an announcement will be made at the appropriate time. But right now, I'm enjoying writing GreensboroMetro and analyzing the come-what-may around town. And there's no shortage of stuff to cover and comment and write about.

E.C. :)

In-Action Greensboro

This is a noble meeting from Action Greensboro:

We've heard from many folks that they plan to attend the Action Greensboro Groundbreakers meeting on Monday, January 12 from 5:30 - 7:00pm to discuss our Phase II plan of work: Building on Our Strengths. The meeting will be held at the West Market Street United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall, which you enter from 312 West Friendly. A light supper will be served.

In case you've been waiting to make up your mind, there is still time to RSVP yes, that you want to take part in this discussion. In view of the current economic downturn, Action Greensboro's original mission to bring more and better paying jobs to Greensboro is more timely than ever! But this kind of conversation works best with many viewpoints, so please do join us.

Click here to RSVP: jmorton@actiongreensboro.org. Thanks!
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But since I work nights, I'm unable to attend.

Hence, my letter moments ago to Judy Morton at Action Greensboro:

RE: the invitation on the Action GSO Phase II meeting this coming Monday evening

Judy:

Thank you for your invitation regarding this meeting. And while I think this meeting is important, I unfortunately will be unable to attend.

I work a service job at night. I also substitute teach and tutor during the day. I don't make a lot of money, but I work these jobs because our region has failed our young professionals by not bringing in companies that will provide enough professional job opportunities to help sustain this economy and halt the brain-drain.

So despite having a college degree and years of journeymans experience both writing and communicating, it means nothing in this area. I work the jobs I'm asked to do and where I'm asked to do them because my family has to eat...and there are a lack of companies in this area having the kind of work I'm used to doing.

The city's political machine needs to understand that this area cannot and will not sustain its economy on $9/hour service jobs. And this recession we've experienced here in the Triad has gone on for far too long without substantive discussion. Unfortunately, they don't understand that. And since this is a municipal election year, those that hold power locally who continue to have blinders on will find themselves threatened at the ballot box in the fall. And that's not a thinly-veiled threat...that's a promise.

We cannot talk about fixing public education or our crumbling roads or building sidewalks or creating a green economy...until we fix the stagnant local economy we have now.

And while I look forward to helping out in any way I can (especially with regards to public education, as a former Guilford Co. School Board candidate from last year), a LOT remains to be done...and is not getting done.

And now...I'm done. I have to get ready for my 5pm-2am shift.

Erik "E.C." Huey
editor:
http://guilfordschoolwatch.blogspot.com/
http://greensborometro.blogspot.com/
http://triadmediawatch.blogspot.com/

A tale of two Lenovos

Then...

April 17, 2008 (via CBS-2):

Whitsett, NC -- A computer manufacturing and processing company opened a new Guilford County facility Thursday.

Lenovo held a grand opening of its United States fulfillment center in Whitsett, just outside Greensboro.

The 200,000 square foot facility will initially employ about 160 people. Workers will program computers, do light product assembly, custom imaging and other product figurations. They will also distribute computers throughout North America.

"I am delighted to welcome Lenovo to the Greensboro area," said Dan Lynch, president of the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance. "A leading global PC maker, Lenovo is already playing a key part in our strategy to grow jobs locally in the fast-growing technology sector."

Lenovo leaders hired 125 workers already. They hope to expand that to 160 employees but are not hiring for those jobs yet. Leaders say when jobs open, they will be posted on the company's website, www.lenovo.com.

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And Now...

News & Record, January 8, 2009:

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK - Lenovo Group said it will lay off 2,500 workers, or about 11 percent of its work force, as part of a plan aimed at helping the computer maker remain competitive amid the global economic downturn.

About 20 people at an assembly and distribution facility in eastern Guilford County will be laid off, leaving about 100 workers there.

The Beijing-based company, the world's fourth-largest PC maker, also warned late Wednesday it expects to report a loss for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31. The company's global headquarters are in North Carolina.

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What a shame...

Better start thinking higher, Dan.

BTW, how many of the white-collar jobs will be lost at Lenovo in the Triangle? You know, the white-collar jobs we need here in the Triad?

E.C. :)

City's Wish List Readied

The city of Greensboro has unveiled its wish-list of projects that are ready to go should some federal dollars start making its way down I-95/I-85 from Washington to Greensboro. The lengthy list can be found here in today's News & Record.

Lots of public works projects. Don't see a heck of a whole lot in the way of job recruitment, although the projects will certainly return our idled construction workers back to work.

E.C. :)

You know times are rough when the robbers give up

Greensboro's increased crime wave continues...although you have to wonder if times are really getting that bad when the robbers just give up and walk away.

N&R:

GREENSBORO - A robbery suspect left a shoe store empty-handed Wednesday after a clerk ignored him.

Greensboro police said they were called to Payless ShoeSource at 920 E. Bessemer Ave. shortly before 4 p.m.

According to police, a man had entered the business while a store employee was helping a customer. The suspect showed off a pistol, then put it in his jacket pocket. The employee continued waiting on the customer, who was unaware of what was going on.

The robbery suspect, meanwhile, appeared to get nervous and left the store without taking anything. He was gone by the time police officers arrived.

Police described the suspect as a black man in his 20s with a medium build who stands about 5-foot-8. He has short scruffy hair, a medium brown complexion and a goatee, and he wore a navy blue hooded sweatshirt, khaki pants and black shoes with red mud on the back.

Anyone with information about this incident can call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

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E.C. :)