"Greensboro's most pressing issue, living wages, and police-community relations are in reality, one in the same issue.
Greensboro's recent crime spike, the fact that most of this crime is in lower income neighborhoods, and the fact that most of the issues between police and citizens occur in these same low income neighborhoods are not circumstantial.They are in-fact intertwined.
History has shown us that poor communities generally have more crime. And because these poor neighborhoods have more crime, police departments must become more aggressive to maintain law and order. But more aggressive policing-- even if and when justified-- always leads to more resentment in the communities most effected by crime. It's a never ending spiral that neither police nor citizens can control.
The solution, at least in-part, is more jobs and higher wages. This is the job of elected leaders at every level. And already myself and others are putting together a plan. Myself and the rest of the board of directors at the Piedmont Center for Sustainability have come up with the following plan.
We are current researching the hardest hit areas of Greensboro to determine what kinds are businesses will most benefit the community-- what kinds of businesses will bring the highest economic return to the community. Then we weigh in what assets are available and put off those ideas that are far beyond our means in the hopes that we might get back to them in the future.
Once the venture is up and running we will spin it off as a for profit corporation that will be owned by the Piedmont Center for Sustainability. As much of the profits as the law allows from the for profit venture will be donated back to the Piedmont Center for Sustainability so that we may start the next local venture. The rest of the profits will be paid to employees as bonuses taking into account money to grow the business.
We intend to locate in and hire from the hardest hit areas. We intend to concentrate on the long term unemployed. Each business we create will be bound by its corporate charter to forever remain in Greensboro. As more jobs are created wages will rise across every sector city wide.
Now just in case people are wondering about the legality of this model you need look no farther than actor Paul Newman, Newman's Own Salad Dressings, and the Newman Foundation. Our attorney has signed off, we've dotted our Ts and crossed our eyes and will be beginning fund raising soon. ☺
Oh, and we will not be accepting funding from the City of Greensboro because should I lose the election the politicians would surely screw the whole thing up. You take the City's money, you wear the city's noose."
Did I mention I've been endorsed by none other than retired Greensboro Police Chief Anita Holder?
If you believe my ideas are best then share this message with everyone you know. Tell them to read my platform, write-in Billy Jones for Mayor of Greensboro and demand the local media cover my campaign, and not just pay lip service. And remember: my ideas are your ideas, the more you share with me the more ideas I have to make Greensboro that city where everyone wants to live their lives.
And please continue reading If I Were Mayor Of Greensboro: Part 42, Historic Tax Credits As Economic Development
