Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Complete Story Of The $750,000 Oops!

Note: I might not have it all right but I've done my best to sort out the story while others are doing their best to keep parts of the story hidden. Remember: If those in power were telling the truth there would be nothing for me to do here. Begin original post:

It was just a few weeks ago that we learned that President Obama had appointed Greensboro City Manager, Denise Turner Roth to serve as General Services Administration deputy administrator but not before leaving behind scandal in Greensboro.

Earlier this week it was learned by Greensboro City Councilman, Tony Wilkins that a contract for a $750,000 loan by the Greensboro City Council to the International Civil Rights Museum and Center in November had gone unsigned even though the $750,000 check had already been cashed.

All of this took place while Denise Turner Roth remained at the helm of the City of Greensboro.

Then, to add insult to injury, last night, Councilman Wilkins announced on his Facebook page:

"Sue, seems this is heading toward being a BFD. And to your comment about the contract being signed- signature is notarized June 14, 2013- which can't be."

He's right it can't be because the City Council didn't vote until November. September. As I noted in Greensboro Civil Rights Museum Debacle Might Mean Jail Time For Some:

"Also, if the contract was not signed then obviously the notary did not actually witness any signing. Therefore, according to section 1.9:


"The following actions by a notary are Class I felonies:

*Taking an acknowledgment or administering an oath or affirmation without the principal appearing in person before the notary if the person does so with the intent to commit fraud.

*Taking a verification or proof without the subscribing witness appearing in person before the notary if the notary does so with the intent to commit fraud."


But wait, it gets bigger still. George Hartzman gives us this video from the City Council meeting where council voted to give the International Civil Rights Museum and Center not 1 but 2 loans for $750,000.



George Hartzman also writes that according to Mayor Nancy Vaughan, the notary seal was cut-and-pasted and altered. That, my friends, according to North Carolina State law is in itself, a Class G Felony.

What is the involvement of former Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston who is running for state office and North Carolina Representative Earl Jones who are both owners of Sit-In-Movement Inc, the museum's landlords and founders of the museum? And why was the audit twice late and why did Denise Turner Roth deliberately overstep her authority and extend the deadline without informing City Council?

If the contract was not signed then obviously the notary did not actually witness any signing. I'm no lawyer but I am a notary. Unlike the old days where you just paid a fee and became a notary, these days you actually undergo training here in North Carolina. And to me this looks very much like conspiracy to commit fraud.

Update: I now have a Copy of the Contract. You'll notice the notary is none other than Melvin Alston, aka Skip Alston. North Carolina state law prohibits notaries from notarizing documents in which the notary will receive financial benefit from the contract. On the 14 of June 2013, the date the contract was notarized, Melvin "Skip" Alston was still on the board of directors of the musieum and even today he remains one of the museum landlords.

Update 2:  Answer me this: Why is the city legal department cutting and pasting notary seals when lawyers are also notaries with their own seals?

Secondly, I'm being now told by someone who has witnessed Skip Alston's signature, hundreds, perhaps thousands of times that the signature appears to be forged. This person suggested comparing the signature to the hundreds or thousands of copies of Mr Alston's signature on hand in Guilford County offices.

Update 3: George Hartzman posts NC G.S. 10B-31 which clearly indicates it was illegal for Skip Alston to notarize the contract. And remember: $750,000 makes the crime a felony.

 Update 4: Roth denies having done anything illegal.

Update 5: More problems as pointed out by Paul Clark: 

"The contract given to the councilmembers contained strict conditions.  But it was clearly not a contract executed between the city and the civil rights museum. Aside from being unsigned, it had City Manager Jim Westmoreland’s name typed in below where the signature should have been, and referred to Denise Roth as the “former city manager.”  Westmoreland became city manager on Feb. 1, so the contract could not have been prepared before them."

Have no doubt, this is fraud. The question remains on who's part.

Update 6: Because Councilman Tony Wilkins or someone has taken to removing comments made by George Hartzman and myself from the Facebook thread I went back and asked my old friend, Attorney Samuel Spagnola a question: 

"Cutting and pasting of the notary seal would explain the June 14, 2013 date-- would it not? As a matter of fact, cutting and pasting of the notary seal would be the most logical explanation of the June 14, 2013 date."
 And just to be sure I did a screen grab. Click on the image to view full size:





I'm not saying Tony Wilkins is censoring comments though I did accuse him of that in another thread yesterday as I was pretty pissed off at the time but someone is and more and more the case is being made that Facebook is a poor medium for these exchanges.

Update 7: A News & Record online poll shows results overwhelmingly against giving more money to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum as evidence continues to mount in the scandal leaving long time supporters like myself troubled that we put our faith in all the wrong people for all the right reasons. One needs to remember Greensboro is majority Liberal and majority African-American and yet still polls numbers like this. Skip Alston is most hated in the district where he long served as County Commissioner after he attempted to steal a shopping center away from a community owned co-op with a majority of African-American members.

 Update 8: I ask yet another question on Councilman Wilkin's Facebook thread:

"As George Hartzman wrote: "Denise didn't remember giving an extension or signing the contract. She doesn't recall signing the contract." I read it in the Rhino as well.  So who did grant the extension? Did the media not report a contract extension? Did we all not read of it in the News & Record? All these questions and City Council members still contend it was a simple clerical error? Does City Council still intend to just "fix the contract" or will a state level investigation be called for?"

And another screen grab:


This will not be covered up and simply made to go away.

Update 9: The News & Record is now reporting that museum’s board member, Doug Harris has identified Denise Turner-Roth as having given permission to turn the audit in a month late. No mention of the botched paperwork, incorrect dates or possibility that the notary seal was forged.

WFMY TV is reporting that International Civil Rights Center and Museum board chairman, George Clopton has stepped down because he is too busy with his full time job. Apparently everyone involved with the ICRCM has been too busy with other things for a very long time. Still no mention of the paperwork.

Guilford County School Board member Dena Hayes will replace Mr Clopton.

Why are the media outlets not talking about the problems with the paperwork?

Update 10: More questions. I recently asked the City of Greensboro for a copy of the ICRCM audit and posted it online but in looking at it again, the audit sent to me is for Sit In Movement Inc-- the landlord and not the ICRCM itself. I realize it says Sit In Movement Inc and Affiliated Entities but shouldn't there also be a second and separate audit of the ICRCM as they are separate legal entities?

After all, if management of Sit In Movement Inc and the ICRCM are shuffling money around between the two companies as if the two companies are 1 company then you may have found a very large part of the money problems there.

Update 11: Jeff Martin takes on the audit and finds so many holes you could pilot a submarine through it.

In this video from WFMY 2, new Museum Director Dena Hayes infers that the loan from the City of Greensboro wasn't needed in the first place.



So which is it?

Update 12: From today's News & Record Editorial:

"Hayes’ election was itself a well-kept secret that followed the resignation of outgoing Chairman George Clopton, who stepped down suddenly after only four months at the post. Or so it seemed.

Longtime museum board member and attorney Doug Harris said Monday that Clopton had intended all along to serve temporarily. But nobody bothered to tell the public.

Further, Harris said Hayes had been elected to succeed Clopton a month ago. The rest of us found out Monday."

They continue:

"As for Hayes new role as the board leader, it will breed more suspicion. Some will see this as a bait-and-switch tactic — that Clopton, a well-respected Ralph Lauren vice president, served only long enough as chairman to secure the loan and now makes way for the outspoken Hayes — who at times can be a lightning rod — to take the helm."

More lies, nothing but more lies. And still no mention of the notary seal, the incorrect date or the fact that Skip Alston committed a felony in notarizing contracts that would benefit him personally. To contact the North Carolina Secretary of State with concerns about notaries... Well, that was the link to their web page. The document in question can be found by clicking here.

 Update 13: I e-mail the entire Greensboro City Council demanding answers:

"Members of Greensboro City Council,

Who among you has seen the actual unsigned original contract between the City of Greensboro and the International Civil Rights Center and Museum (ICRCM) upon which a $750,000 check was issued and cashed?

More importantly: Was the notary seal copied and pasted or was it stamped to the original document?

Was former Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston the notary? If not, who?

I expect actual replies to this e-mail in a very timely fashion (like yesterday, you usually ignore me altogether) and have posted the questions online here: http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/02/obamas-new-greensboro-girl-in-trouble.html and in other places around the web.

Greensboro voters are awaiting your individual replies which will also be posted to the same page. Any delay will only look bad on your part.

Thank you -Billy Jones"
It's time the rest of the story was told.

 Verification that I did send the e-mail:

"citycouncil.Email@greensboro-nc.gov             9:06 AM (0 minutes ago)
to me
Thank you for contacting the City of Greensboro City Council. If you are making a comment or suggestion, please be assured your message will be read and referred to the appropriate representative(s) to assist you. Due to the large volume of email we receive, please understand that you may not receive a reply to your message. We appreciate your interest in Greensboro!
=======================================================
Please note that email sent to and from this address is subject
to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. "

We await answers from City Council.

Update 14: So now that it has been established that George Clopton was no longer the Chairman of the Board of Directors, why was he listed as chairman and why did Skip Alston notarize Clopton's signature as chairman?

If the City Council members don't start talking soon, voters are going to see them as being complicit-- perhaps juries will too.

 Update 15: In a Facebook thread by Ed Catalano,  Mayor Vaughan gives her explanation. Ed copies and pastes the Mayor's explanation further down the thread because Mayor Nancy BaraKat Vaughan has blocked me from viewing ANY AND ALL CONTENT SHE WRITES and has done so for over a month since I started posting screen grabs of what she and I had posted to her Facebook page to my blog before she could delete what she and I had written:

"Ed, the June, 2013 date was an error. The loan wasn't even being talked about in June. It was passed in September. When the contract was prepared, the boilerplate language of a standard Notary statement, (just the language -- NOT notary seals or signatures) appears to have been cut and pasted into the document. I say that because the Notary language was for the "Piedmont Triad Film Commission". The June date refers to that contract. The Museum personnel crossed through the "Piedmont Triad Film Commission" and wrote in the correct name. Unfortunately they overlooked the date. The contract was signed last Friday. You, and others, are right the delay is unacceptable and should not have happened."

Notice Mayor Vaughan used the phrase, "appears to have been cut and pasted into the document." She appears not to want to be pinned down to anything. Gutless, inept or complicit, you make the call?

This brings back the point Roch Smith Jr made yesterday when he wrote, Greensboro's Off Limits Mayor.

This thing is far from over.

Update 16:  Back to Roch Smith Jr. Roch believes the Greensboro City Council is attempting to divert their own share of the blame in his article entitled It's not about the Civil Rights Museum. In the comments Dang writes,


"Amen!... So, who authorized the check? and, when will Mujeeb be terminated?"

I cannot disagree.

 Update 17: "The museum appears to have defaulted on the loan to Carolina Bank, again."

Why give them money if they're going to default anyway? Does anyone have the e-mail address for the District Attorney? I want to send this page to the DA's office.

Update 18: More lies of omission from Nancy Barakat Vaughan? The board voted to put Deena Hayes at the top a month ago but the Mayor kept it a secret. Mayor Vaughan and the City Manager both have seats on the board of directors. Roch demands meeting minutes.

Update 19: From a public Information request I sent last week, delayed no doubt by the snow that closed city offices, are some e-mails concerning the subject sent to me by Sarah Healy of the city's communications department:

E-mails discussing the extension of the audit.

E-mails between the City Attorney, staff and City Manager. 

The check for $750,000 signed by Richard L Lusk, Finance Director for the City of Greensboro.

These documents and more can be found at this page on the City of Greensboro website.

I can't help but think that if Sarah were running the city we'd be a lot better off.

Update 20:

"The very idea that a city manager and mayor were both seated on that board and Council didn't know what was going on makes it quite plain that neither were living up to their responsibilities as members of the museum board or as civil servants and elected representatives.

It's time we saw some resignations tendered starting with Nancy Barakat Vaughan.

The smoking gun. It was Greensboro City Attorney, S Mujeeb  Shah Khan who authorized payment of a $750,000 check without a contract.

Classified Ad:

Wanted: City Attorney. Prefer applicants with real law degrees. Those who are interested should contact the City of Greensboro Human Relations Dept.

History Lesson



Update 21: Proving their own lack of common sense, the City Council passes a resolution banning the cutting of checks without signed contracts in an effort to absolve Shah-Khan of responsibility for having lost $750,000. Councilman Tony Wilkins was quoted as saying:

"I think this is the first time on City Council that I have voted to legislated common sense."
Get used to it Tony, you're working with morons and thieves.

Well, at least no one will be allowed that loop hole again. In the real world there are jobs where a $100 mistake will get you unemployed but when you're at the top you simply can't screw up badly enough. Blackmail perhaps? What does Mujeeb know about our Greensboro City Council members that I have yet to find out?

RecycleBill@gmail.com 

Update 22: Wednesday morning the Lies from City Council continue with the following reply to yesterday's e-mail to City Council"

"Justice, Cathy - Public Affairs 10:14 AM (7 minutes ago)
       
to
Thank you for your recent e-mail expressing concerns or requesting information about the status of the ICRM.  The City of Greensboro has established a web page, www.greensboro-nc.gov/CivilRightsMuseum,  that lists the public records regarding the City’s agreement with the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. Among the records are Museum audits from 2010-2012, the City’s audit reviews, the contractual agreement, the Museum’s sustainability plan, and emails between staff and Museum officials.

 Cathy Justice, Community Relations Specialist
Human Relations Department
City of Greensboro
Phone: 336-373-2723; Fax: 336-373-4656
PO Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 27402-3136
www.greensboro-nc.gov
=======================================================
Please note that email sent to and from this address is subject
to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. "

I fired back in response to the obvious evasion of the truth:

"Ms Justice,
Perhaps you didn't understand my questions. They certainly were not answered in your response or on the web page you sent me. I will be adding your reply along with this e-mail to what has now become one of the most popular web pages on my blog: http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/02/obamas-new-greensboro-girl-in-trouble.html I expect actual answers to THE QUESTIONS I ASKED, not the questions Council wants to answer.

Thank you -Billy Jones"

Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan continues her reign of lies.
Update: 23 Jeff Martin notes conflicts of interest: 

"Skip Alston can step down as chairman, but since he and Earl Jones own Sit-In Movement and the subsidiary LLCs, it continues to be their retirement fund."

And:

"According to the article, councilwoman Yvonne Johnson is a manager of ICRCM, LLC. Is that not a conflict of interest?"

Zack Matheny is faking his displeasure to gain support.

"Matheny thinks outrage translates into popularity. Sometimes it does, when displayed appropriately. Otherwise, it just makes him look like a dick."

Wilkins Wants Roth Probed.  A classic!

And no one from the Greensboro City Council has answered these simple questions:

"Who among you has seen the actual unsigned original contract between the City of Greensboro and the International Civil Rights Center and Museum (ICRCM) upon which a $750,000 check was issued and cashed?

More importantly: Was the notary seal copied and pasted or was it stamped to the original document?

Was former Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston the notary? If not, who?"

Why? Who are you covering for?

Update 24: From JoeyG at TriadConservative, Why is Greensboro a Laughingstock?

"I would argue that a couple of groups merit nearly all the blame for what has happened.  First, look at all the local media that, in continuous denial, reliably prop up this squalid political status quo.   And second, look at those past and current mayors and city council members who have been machine participants.

By the way, we are supposed to be reassured that Deena Hayes is now chairman of the museum board.  No kidding."

David Pferdekamper of Yes-Weekly reports:

“This council has approached this much differently than I think other councils would have in the past,” said Mayor Nancy Vaughn at last night’s City Council meeting. “We have opted toward transparency and looking at this issue head-on. We didn’t do it in small group meetings, we gave out the public documents and we’re not hiding from this.”

But the "transparent" Mayor and City Council have yet to answer my simple questions. 

 Update 25: City of Greensboro Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Khan talks without answering questions:  

“In my role as City Attorney, I provided counsel regarding the legal aspects of the issuance of the first payment to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. I advised the former City Manager that the Museum had met the terms approved by City Council during its September 3, 2013, meeting and that the City was legally permitted to provide the payment. In this capacity, I was fulfilling my role of providing legal guidance to the former City Manager.”

I ask you, would you trust any attorney whose advice it is to give away $750,000 without a signed contract? Mujeeb must think a law degree from Duke makes him smarter than everyone else in Greensboro. Mujeeb, I know a con man when I see one and if I were dying of thirst in the middle of a desert I wouldn't buy the drink you're selling.

 Update 26: Roch says, Not so fast, pally. Council shares responsibility:

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean they weren't informed."

Some of them, like Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan and former Mayor Robbie Perkins know a lot more then they've been telling.

Update 27: From the News & Fishwrap: Greensboro council will hold emergency meeting on 'personnel' matter:

"The exact subject of the meeting is unclear. However council members have been dealing with the outcry over how the city staff handled a loan to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum."

It's been in the news for 7 days but still Mayor Vaughan and Council are unwilling to discuss the notary seal. If the seal is copied and pasted then someone committed a felony, if the seal is stamped the Skip Alston notarized documents upon which he could potentially draw financial benefit. Both are crimes.

Update 28: Jeff Sykes reports:

"The Greensboro city attorney Mujeeb Shah-Khan resigned today, ending a tumultuous week in which his decision making was called into question.

The Greensboro City Council met in closed session at 4pm on Friday. After emerging from closed session without taking any action, a statement announcing Shah-Khan's resignation was released about 6:30 pm."

It's certainly good to see Mr Sykes working as a journalist again. I hear McDonalds still hires clean cut types like Mujeeb.

Jeff Martin writes in The Right Guy for the Wrong Reasons:

"Mujeeb Shah-Khan fell on his sword when he agreed to accept the risks of approving a $750K check to the ICRCM without a signed contract, which they desperately needed by 11-1-13. With this act, Mujeeb trusted that council would want the ICRCM funded, even if their Byzantine demands had yet to be codified and signified.

So, here we stand: with a city manager who broke the rules before leaving to give the ICRCM a chance to carry on. And now we have a city attorney leaving in disgrace because he acceded to the same greater good. Wherever Roth or Shah-Khan go from here, some of us will remember the price they paid to keep this particular dream alive."

In The Greensboro City Attorney's "Resignation"': Zack's Ping-Pong Ball and the Fall Guy, JoeyG writes:

"We learn over at Billy Jones' site that the city council had ample reason to know months ago that the check was being sent to the museum without a contract.  There were at least a couple of representatives of the city who were supposed to be serving on the museum board.  It is also doubtful that Turner-Roth and Shah-Kahn would have proceeded unless that were the clear intent of the mayor and city council.  Finally, Roch Smith revealed an e-mail from the city manager addressed to the city council that revealed the check was being cut even though the agreement had not been finalized.

Mujeeb Shah-Khan did the wrong thing; but he now serves as the fall guy or scapegoat on behalf of city council members who bear much greater responsibility.  He is the sacrificial lamb whose blood atones the sins of past and current city council members who have spent all or part of their respective political careers representing the Simkins PAC.  This includes Robbie Perkins, Nancy Vaughan, Zack Matheny, Yvonne Johnson, Jim Kee, Nancy Hoffman and Marikay Abuzuaiter.

We are witnessing quite a charade.  Are these politicians going to accept responsibility publicly for what they have done, and for what they failed to do?"

And Eric Robert says, Buy Local:

"Being a good human being and being a good city attorney should not be mutually exclusive.

While exotic and somewhat rare, I believe that such individual is already working for the city, its leadership and its citizens."

It's long past time honesty was again considered a virtue in government employees. For too long now those at the top have only been there because they were willing to lie to protect those in power. S. Mujeeb Shah Khan just learned where it got him-- ruined in the prime of his life with a very expensive house and a wife and family used to lots of expensive things.

And the Mayor and City Council still ignore my questions days later-- why?

 Update 29:   It's not often Greensboro's most prominent bloggers from the left and right all agree. The last time this happened Greensboro City Manager Mitch Johnson was fired. This time we're gunning for Council members.

Update 30:  February 22, 2014 From Jeff Martin in The Vote to Fire Mujeeb:

"I’m told the vote yesterday in secret Greensboro city council to fire the city attorney broke down among racial lines with Vaughan, Barber, Matheny, Wilkins and Hoffman voting yes. That left Hightower, Johnson and Fox voting no. Abuzuaiter claims she isn’t white and probably voted no."

Is our City Council deliberately dividing our city along racial lines or simply trying to cover their asses? Remember: Mayor Vaughan was/is on the of directors of the civil rights museum, Fox and Hightower are new to Council and had no prior knowledge and Wilkins and Abuzuaiter remain the eternal outsiders of the council clicks.

Roch Smith Jr points out that the decision to dismiss the city attorney was in fact, illegal:

"That makes sense, especially in this case. Working at the discretion of City Council, the city attorney essentially works for us, the public. We should, therefore, have every expectation that we know how our representatives voted in acting to keep or remove that employee. Whether or not the city attorney ultimately decided to resign, as he did, it seems to me the statute requires that the votes to remove him prior should be made public."

Looks like we'll be seeing yet another law suit against the City of Greensboro. Turns out Mujeeb was smarter than anyone gave him credit for being.  Mujeeb gets the last laugh. 

 Update 31: The Mayor responds and Jeff Martin calls her into question:

"I suspect that each councilperson had their say, and it was apparent to Mujeeb that a white majority of council had lost confidence in his ability. "

Mayor Vaughan's credibility and thus, her popularity, sinks with every passing minute. Mujeeb knows that while the City of Greensboro will continue to keep the proceeding secret, he can always get the records for trial.

Update 32:    Sunday, February 23, 2014 Reese Coble writes The city must require more accountability:

"Elected City Council members, along with city staff, should be held accountable for their actions. Why does the council not pass an ordinance requiring staff to submit all contracts in writing and requiring council members to sign off before one red cent is paid out? There have been too many giveaway programs passed by this and past councils. It is very easy for someone to give something away that is not theirs.

To sum it up, the staff well as council must be held accountable for their actions."

He also writes:

"Billy Jones that I cannot answer. You will have to ask Tony Wilkins, that question?"

And so it is, Retired Deputy Coble is absolutely right.

Update 33: Monday February 24, 2014 Did The ICRCM Ever Try? 

"It would appear the International Civil Rights Center & Museum never even tried..."

Nor has the Greensboro City Council answered my questions.

Update 34: Tuesday, February 24, 2014 Jeff Martin writes in The ICRCM Contract:

"The forced resignation of Mujeeb Shah-Khan was not warranted by his actions regarding the ICRCM. Rather, it was a politically-motivated stunt by a bunch of clowns who know not what they do. T-Dub can hang the city attorney’s scalp on his lodge pole, but it was a dirty deed abetted by council members drunk with power."

Drunk with power or something to hide?

George Hartzman publishes Hello Mr. Hartzman: Below are some of the answers to the questions you have regarding the Civil Rights Museum. 

"Does the Museum’s Landlord stand to earn income from the property under any scenario?

"Possibly, if their museum tour/ticket sales increase."

Just so you know, Skip Alston is one of the museum landlords. Therefore it was illegal for Mr Alston to notarize the contract under North Carolina General Statute G.S. 10B-31. So did Skip Alston really notarize the contract? Councilman Tony Wilkins gives us his answer to the questions I've been asking for 7 days.

Councilman Wilkins is also calling for a criminal investigation but Mayor Vaughan seems intent on blocking any investigation saying,


“was just stupid. I don’t think it was criminal.”

It's not the job of any may to determine if actions were stupid or criminal-- that is the job of law enforcement. Of course, anyone who was complicit would say the same, would they not? Wilkins said,

“I’ve heard some things now that I couldn’t discuss in case there is an investigation."

I think Mayor Vaughan has heard some things as well.

 Update 35: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 In T-Dub on the GPAC, Jeff Martin writes:

"I chased Robbie Perkins around for a few years, but ended up mistaking him for a great pol. Of course, I was wrong.

However, I still reserve the opp to be right. T-Dub is our man on city council. The mayor knows it and has been allowing him to take the lead. Read it again, because T-Dub’s comment is a manifesto for voices of reason and a warning from those of us who stand against this mad exercise in Reagonomics, trickle down theory and neoliberalism.

Nancy Vaughan may turn out to be as articulate in the moment as Wilkins, but for now, the blogger we have known is becoming the pol we love. "

Indeed, Tony has proven himself worthy of a leadership position.

In  his first column at Yes-Weekly, George Hartzman writes:

"Greensboro’s City Council owes our community an apology."

Greensboro's City Council, including Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan, owes us several resignations.

Update 36: Tuesday, March 12, 2014 A month later and still questions are yet to be answered. From  Amanda Lehmert:

"The information, including employee salary data and the status of the museum’s tax credits, was requested by council members in light of the discovery that the city staff gave the nonprofit $750,000 without a signed loan agreement.

"Supplying this information should not be taken as an agreement to amend the already negotiated and final contract," Hayes wrote to Westmoreland.

In response, Westmoreland sent the museum a round of follow up questions. He reminded Hayes that the council instructed him not to sign the loan agreement until all of its questions were answered."

"my my my, once bitten twice shy babe..." --White Shark

Update 37:   Thursday, March 13, 2014 From Was Mujeeb Fired? Is He Hiding Something?

"Here's the employment contract he signed when he was hired, It indicates he began the job with a guarantee of 6 months severance pay in contrast to what the News & Record reported:"

"Send lawyers, guns and money, the shit has hit the fan" --Warren Zevon