It's hard to figure out what really goes on at Greensboro City Council meetings and even with the agenda in hand it can sometimes be difficult to figure out just exactly what everything means. Apparently it's all explained in the attachment that is given to council members and referred to in the agenda but I've yet to find out how to get my hands on the attachments or if the attachments are even made public.
Anyway, here's a few I picked out from the upcoming agenda that I recognize and think readers should be made aware of before Tuesday night.
Excuse me, is this the same "non profit" Nussbaum Center that recently went into competition with local for profit companies by renting space to an established, foreign owned furniture maker? So much for creating local entrepreneurship.
"27. Resolution authorizing extending the repayment start date an additional twelve months on a $1,275,000 loan to the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (Council District: 1) (roll call vote) (Attachment #27 to Councilmembers"
I found #29 to be of interest. The Redevelopment Plan places a lot of emphasis on the old mill property owned by Eric Robert but says nothing about what will actually be built in the property being sold. Why are they working vigorously to sell a property that isn't for sale and is already being redeveloped? Are you aware that the City of Greensboro attempted to illegally use eminent domain to take Eric Robert's property on 3 separate occasions? I know, I know, the plan is a little dated. So how hard would it be to update the plan and quit trying to sell Eric's property out from under him? The mill was also the first building in Greensboro required to have a water backflow preventer valve. When Eric mentioned that it wasn't required by the City building code the Inspections Department rewrote the code so that roughly $30,000 Dollars is added to the cost of every new or retrofitted building in Greensboro. And we wonder why it's so hard to recruit businesses to Greensboro?
"29. Resolution authorizing the sale as recommended by the Redevelopment Commission of Greensboro of the land generally known as the South Elm Street Redevelopment Site consisting of 700 South Elm Street, 702-714 South Elm Street, 724 South Elm Street, 728 South Elm Street,730 South Elm Street, 734 South Elm Street, 121 West Lee Street, 123 West Lee Street, 125 West Lee Street, 104 East Lee Street, 124 East Lee Street, 508 Arlington Street, 725 South Elm Street, 727 South Elm Street, and parts of 518 Arlington Street, 741 South Elm Street, 113 East Bragg Street to South Development Group LLC for redevelopment in accordance with the South Elm Street Redevelopment Plan. (Council District: 2) (roll call vote)(Attachment # 29 to Councilmembers)"
So the question becomes, was someone trying to break Eric Robert's bank account or is a high ranking City employee heavily invested in the backflow preventer business?
Looks like we're giving more money to Matt Brown, manager of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. How much has he gotten so far this year?
"31. Resolution authorizing purchase in the amount of $1,400,000 for property located at 2210, 2220-2222 High Point Road for the Coliseum Complex Improvement Plan Project. (Council District:4) (roll call vote) (Attachment #31 to Councilmembers)"
So we're still talking about giving TREBIC $25,000 in corporate welfare to pay for their company president to lobby the NC state legislature on TREBIC's behalf. The Greensboro City employee who put this on the agenda should be fired immediately as this is obviously an attempt to pull off a kick back.
"32.Resolution authorizing contract between the City of Greensboro and TREBIC (Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition) to assist with the Jordan Lake Rules legislation. (Council District: all) (roll call vote) (Attachment #32 to Councilmembers)"
Seriously Folks, are we going to pay corporations to lobby State government?
Perhaps when you look at this week's agenda you'll have questions of your own?
By the way, the website, southelmstreet.com where the redevelopment plan is hosted is owned by Forcefield Web Development, 301 S. Elm St. Suite 511 Greensboro, NC 27401. I assume Forcefield Web Development bought the website on behalf of South Elm Street Redevelopment who claims the copyright on the website but the NC Secretary of State has no listing for "South Elm Street Redevelopment" which makes it appear to be a fictious company. Perhaps someone from the City of Greensboro would like to reply and explain what it is that we are missing and why the City is linking to a redevelopment website whose ownership is suspect?
Look folks, I'm also a poet and a fiction writer but I include hyperlinks to prove I'm not making this shit up.
Anyway, here's a few I picked out from the upcoming agenda that I recognize and think readers should be made aware of before Tuesday night.
Excuse me, is this the same "non profit" Nussbaum Center that recently went into competition with local for profit companies by renting space to an established, foreign owned furniture maker? So much for creating local entrepreneurship.
"27. Resolution authorizing extending the repayment start date an additional twelve months on a $1,275,000 loan to the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (Council District: 1) (roll call vote) (Attachment #27 to Councilmembers"
I found #29 to be of interest. The Redevelopment Plan places a lot of emphasis on the old mill property owned by Eric Robert but says nothing about what will actually be built in the property being sold. Why are they working vigorously to sell a property that isn't for sale and is already being redeveloped? Are you aware that the City of Greensboro attempted to illegally use eminent domain to take Eric Robert's property on 3 separate occasions? I know, I know, the plan is a little dated. So how hard would it be to update the plan and quit trying to sell Eric's property out from under him? The mill was also the first building in Greensboro required to have a water backflow preventer valve. When Eric mentioned that it wasn't required by the City building code the Inspections Department rewrote the code so that roughly $30,000 Dollars is added to the cost of every new or retrofitted building in Greensboro. And we wonder why it's so hard to recruit businesses to Greensboro?
"29. Resolution authorizing the sale as recommended by the Redevelopment Commission of Greensboro of the land generally known as the South Elm Street Redevelopment Site consisting of 700 South Elm Street, 702-714 South Elm Street, 724 South Elm Street, 728 South Elm Street,730 South Elm Street, 734 South Elm Street, 121 West Lee Street, 123 West Lee Street, 125 West Lee Street, 104 East Lee Street, 124 East Lee Street, 508 Arlington Street, 725 South Elm Street, 727 South Elm Street, and parts of 518 Arlington Street, 741 South Elm Street, 113 East Bragg Street to South Development Group LLC for redevelopment in accordance with the South Elm Street Redevelopment Plan. (Council District: 2) (roll call vote)(Attachment # 29 to Councilmembers)"
So the question becomes, was someone trying to break Eric Robert's bank account or is a high ranking City employee heavily invested in the backflow preventer business?
Looks like we're giving more money to Matt Brown, manager of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. How much has he gotten so far this year?
"31. Resolution authorizing purchase in the amount of $1,400,000 for property located at 2210, 2220-2222 High Point Road for the Coliseum Complex Improvement Plan Project. (Council District:4) (roll call vote) (Attachment #31 to Councilmembers)"
So we're still talking about giving TREBIC $25,000 in corporate welfare to pay for their company president to lobby the NC state legislature on TREBIC's behalf. The Greensboro City employee who put this on the agenda should be fired immediately as this is obviously an attempt to pull off a kick back.
"32.Resolution authorizing contract between the City of Greensboro and TREBIC (Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition) to assist with the Jordan Lake Rules legislation. (Council District: all) (roll call vote) (Attachment #32 to Councilmembers)"
Seriously Folks, are we going to pay corporations to lobby State government?
Perhaps when you look at this week's agenda you'll have questions of your own?
By the way, the website, southelmstreet.com where the redevelopment plan is hosted is owned by Forcefield Web Development, 301 S. Elm St. Suite 511 Greensboro, NC 27401. I assume Forcefield Web Development bought the website on behalf of South Elm Street Redevelopment who claims the copyright on the website but the NC Secretary of State has no listing for "South Elm Street Redevelopment" which makes it appear to be a fictious company. Perhaps someone from the City of Greensboro would like to reply and explain what it is that we are missing and why the City is linking to a redevelopment website whose ownership is suspect?
Look folks, I'm also a poet and a fiction writer but I include hyperlinks to prove I'm not making this shit up.
