Greensboro's City Council
is going to put the Downtown Marriott in jeopardy of a debt default
to benefit some of their campaign contributors
by subsidizing Roy Carroll, Randall Kaplan and George House
While a Greensboro City Councilman, Zack Matheny, a former US District 6 Congressional Candidate, voted against financial incentives for a company looking to bring jobs to Greensboro. The two votes contradicted most of Matheny’s voting history, especially as chairman of the city’s Economic Development Committee.
A plan to spend $56 million in public funds
to build two parking decks in downtown Greensboro
is raising concerns about corporate welfare and gentrification.
Jordan Green
Triad City Beat, November 22, 2017
One Matheny no vote which contradicts his current stance on downtown Greensboro and taxpayer subsidization of Greensboro's elite, came at a special meeting the day before Robbie Perkins was to leave office. That package would have given Randall Kaplan and George House among others $7.85 million of taxpayer money to help pay for replacing a parking deck with one suitable for a hotel.
The hotel developers provided a feasibility study years ago
paid for and sought out by the developers
which the city supposedly saw, which the city returned without making copies of,
and now, as Jordan Gr
Now it's $28 million, and the developers, now including Roy Carroll can skim money off the top as they have been chosen to be 'reimbursed' for construction costs.
The council has already agreed to pay Carroll $2 million
for the design of the Eugene Parking Deck
Jordan Green
Triad City Beat, November 22, 2017
Then News and Record’s Kelly Poe reported Matheny saying at the time: “We have studies up the wazoo on the fact that we need (a parking deck), whether there’s a hotel on top of it or not.” The proposed taxpayer funded parking deck would have increased parking by 100 spaces, which could be reserved by the hotel when needed.
Operating expenses and debt service for the two decks is expected to total $4.6 million per year
— an amount covered by revenue from fees, existing parking funds and the city’s general fund
Jordan Green
Triad City Beat, November 22, 2017
Matheny received in October 2013 a contribution from Randall Kaplan, a principal of the group who asked for the $7.85 million from Greensboro’s taxpayers. On November 15, 2013, Matheny wrote Kaplan and others in response to the public disclosure and my criticism of the incentive request: “Don’t sweat this, we knew it would come. Let’s stay focused on creating the best plan possible in order to create an opportunity to make some real positive investment in Downtown Greensboro.”
Lewis Pitts, ...lambasted the plan to spend public funds on the parking decks
as a “giveaway to the crony developers.”
Jordan Green
Triad City Beat, November 22, 2017
Randall Kaplan wrote back “Much thanks to Robbie and Zack and the other members of city council who work tirelessly for the benefit of the city with little reward and great personal sacrifice.” Perkins publicly endorsed both Tony Wilkins and Mike Barber before 2017's election.
The investors behind the planned hotel and renovated Elm Street Center
...are Randall Kaplan, the CEO and chairman of the real-estate website Listingbook
[and] George House, a partner with the Brooks Pierce law firm
who previously represented the city in an aborted attempt to reopen the White Street Landfill
[who works with Justin Outling, who should recuse himself from the vote]
Triad City Beat, November 22, 2017
Justin Outling needs to recuse himself from voting taxpayer monies to a Brooks Pierce partner, who can affect his future with the firm.
Robbie Perkins received contributions from Randall Kaplan, and another Kaplan family member, before the end of October 2013.
The email exchanges sounded like Perkins and Matheny worked “tirelessly for the benefit” of their campaign financiers, and now he is their taxpayer funded lobbyist.
Greensboro's City Council is picking local cronies
who, along with friends, family and STPAC supporters
funded a great deal of local elections,
to unfairly compete with a relatively unconnected business owners down the street
Randall’s wife, Kathy Manning, gave an in-kind contribution for a fundraising event for Nancy Hoffmann, who voted for a $1.97 million incentive for the hotel deal at the location for the new project in Matheny’s district, which Zack voted against.
Greensboro's City Council picked Roy Carroll, Randall Kaplan and George House
to put the Downtown Marriott and others out of business,
without bothering to find out what the impact would be before doing so
Matheny was the lone Councilman who didn’t speak for or against the project. The Rhino’s Paul Clark wrote:
“Matheny, usually a vocal supporter of incentives, voted against this one without comment.” The News and Record’s Amanda Lehmert reported: “Matheny’s opposition to the incentive was particularly strange, since he had spoken in favor of the project in the past. He’s also been an unabashed cheerleader for the council’s economic development ventures. ...”It was out of my comfort zone,” Matheny said, “It’s too much for me personally.”
Greensboro's City Council is violating the idea of free enterprise,
by altering what should be an even playing field to benefit a select few
who put many of them in power
After local blogger Billy Jones asked for any city business-related text messages sent to and from Councilman Matheny during the Greensboro City Council Meeting when the vote took place, the city responded: “I am sorry but Mr. Matheny does not have any records that match your request.” Matheny later replied in emails involving local bloggers: “I have not sent any texts about the proposed hotels.” The issue remains unresolved, as Matheny subsequently provided some texts about the proposal, contradicting his statement. Matheny declined to provide his text and phone log.
Robbie Perkins is Roy Carroll's local real estate agent,
who towed Roy's line and funneled Carroll taxpayer money
until it was Nancy Vaughan's turn, all from the Greensboro Country Club crowd
In striking contrast to Matheny’s no vote, Matheny voted for a $150,000 incentive to relocate a corporate headquarters to Greensboro. The offer was higher than what the city’s guidelines say should be offered. Matheny attempted to push through a change to the city’s incentive policy to allow the monies to be allocated. “The reality is, we have got to be as flexible as possible to recruit business to Greensboro,” Matheny said.
Most of this happened within private meetings not under public records laws,
just for Randall and Roy to pilfer the public purse
for the benefit of themselves and their real estate holdings downtown
Matheny received contributions from John Lomax and DGI Board Chairman and Real Estate Broker Sam Simpson, who both stood to benefit from the deal. Lomax, who also donated to Nancy Hoffmann, owns the building that would have received the taxpayer funded benefits.
Private businesses intensely involved in convincing City Council
with words and money
to build an $80 million performing arts center that Roy and Randall can profit from,
and they want everyone else to cough up more money
to go directly into their pockets.
City Council Give Away; June 16, 2015; $188,280.87 of water and sewer for Roy Carroll hidden in item 9 of the consent agenda for Greensboro's City Council meeting
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/06/city-council-give-away-june-16-2015.html
An email to former City Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Khan stated: “Under the current structure of the incentive, Mr. Lomax is not “creating jobs”. ...Its possible that Council could, in its discretion, find a way to make an incentive for Mr. Lomax, but it will be exceeding its own guidelines to do so.”
Randall Kaplan and Kathy Manning are married, to each other
Tammi Thurm was "Chief Financial Officer and Human Resources Manager, Listingbook, LLC 2006–2013,
and Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations, Capsule Group, LLC 2002–2013",
Both owned by Randall Kaplan, which is why Tammi should recuse herself from voting
for Randall Kaplan personal financial interests
City Manager Jim Westmoreland followed up with an email entitled “City support programs” informing Lomax “Per our conversation, provided below are two possible support options the City could provide to help you ... Downtown Building Improvement Grant Program (new program – pending City Council endorsement in early January, 2014). Downtown Job Creation Parking Assistance - free parking in a City owned parking deck or transit via GTA for a term of 1 year for each new qualifying job created. Must go before City Council for approval.”
Performing Arts Center: "[Notable]...Task Force Members"
GPAC Development / Marketing Task Force; Kathy Manning, co-chair
GPAC Economic Impact / Feasibility Task Force; Randall Kaplan
GPAC Development / Marketing Task Force; George House, one of Randall's partners
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/02/performing-arts-center-notabletask.html
A follow up Westmoreland email to Lomax, Sam Simpson and former Greensboro Partnership Lobbyist, and now City of Greensboro’s Economic and Small Business Development Manager, Kathi Dubel said “please do be very sensitive with your communications on the Downtown Building Improvement Grant Program." That's how it works in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Current Greensboro City Council Members and Candidates for local elected office, especially the Chair of the City’s Economic Development Committee, should be prohibited from accepting campaign contributions from board members of organizations, developers, contractors or their lawyers or agents who have or may receive taxpayer funded contracts or monies, for 12 months before and after doing business with Greensboro’s government.
Remember when the News and Record's Margaret Moffett threw Kathy Manning under a bus on Greensboro's Performing Arts Center?
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/03/remember-when-news-and-records-margaret.html
STPAC Control Fraud enabled by Greensboro's News and Record and the City of Greensboro
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/12/control-fraud-enabled-by-greensboros.html
Remember when Greensboro's City Council and its Community Foundation lied about how the STPAC debt would be paid for?
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/12/remember-when-greensboros-city-council.html
Kathy Manning, Randall Kaplan's wife, lobbying for a GPAC and their new hotel, with some Nancy Hoffmann, Dawn Chaney and Nancy Vaughan
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/kathy-manning-randall-kaplans-wife.html
On GPAC; If AMS projected 149 events, why is the City of Greensboro saying 180 with 100% sold premium parking at every show?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/on-gpac-if-ams-projected-149-events-why.html
65 plus 10.2 = 75.2, so where did the $78.1 million STPAC number come from?
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/01/65-plus-102-752-so-where-did-781.html
Why would Greensboro Performing Arts Center Parasite Kathy Manning give Nancy Hoffmann $1,000?
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/08/why-would-greensboro-performing-arts.html
Nancy Hoffmann's Mid Year Campaign Finance Report; How much taxpayer money has she voted for...
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/08/nancy-hoffmanns-mid-year-campaign.html
Nancy Hoffman's post election filing take from Roy Carroll via the Triad Good Government PAC
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/03/nancy-hoffmans-post-election-filing.html
Randall Kaplan's payoff for Nancy Hoffmann's votes for his hotel money and the Performing Arts Center
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/03/randall-kaplans-payoff-for-nancy.html
"Key downtown property owners [who have received a great deal of Greensboro taxpayer money] back DGI for contract" [for their lobbyist, Zack Matheny]
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/key-downtown-property-owners-who-have.html
How much did the city spend to get the sewer line installed under I-40 for Roy Carroll's AMEX backup data center project?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-much-did-city-spend-to-get-sewer.html
Sharon Hightower's Roy Carroll take via the Triad Good Government PAC
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/03/sharon-hightowers-roy-carroll-take-via.html
Roy's John Hammer is full of Siht on Tammi Thurm's election strategy
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/11/roys-john-hammer-is-full-of-siht-on.html
Congrats to Roy Carroll and Randall Kaplan; Your names appear nowhere on $56 million in taxpayer handouts
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/11/congrats-to-roy-carroll-and-randall.html
On "new" jobs created by the proposed Wyndham and lack of the project meeting incentive criteria
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/02/on-new-jobs-created-by-proposed-wyndham.html
From the 2010 Greensboro funded study for the Elm Street Center hotel, of which the Rhino can't seem to investigate
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/from-2010-greensboro-funded-study-for.html
How can a 180 room hotel create more than 3 times the economic impact of a 3,000 seat performing arts center?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/how-can-180-room-hotel-create-more-than.html
On the IMPLAN analysis tool used to gauge $29.3 million economic impact of the Wyndham hotel
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/on-implan-analysis-tool-used-to-gauge.html
From a few emails I recieved late last night on the Wyndham deal etc..., and Sam Howe's LTE
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/from-few-emails-i-recieved-late-last.html
Downtown Wyndham Hotel Economic Impact Math
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/downtown-wyndham-hotel-economic-impact.html
Proposed legal theft of taxpayer money; "developers want $8 million in taxpayer money from City of Greensboro"
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/proposed-legal-theft-of-taxpayer-money.html
City Council Agenda Item 11; Investment Grant for a hotel and parking garage for the Elm Street Center Hotel, LLC.
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/city-council-agenda-item-11-investment.html
From 2011; Downtown Hotel: Some words George Hartzman intends to deliver to Guilford County’s Commissioners on September 16, 2010
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/from-2011-downtown-hotel-some-words.html
Performing Arts Center: "[Notable]...Task Force Members"
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/02/performing-arts-center-notabletask.html
George Hartzman on the hotel deal and Crony Capitalism
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/02/george-hartzman-on-hotel-deal-and-crony.html
2 Guilford County Commissioners Tell Randall Kaplan from Downtown Greensboro Hotel What They Think About Economic Incentive's in Future
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2010/09/2-guilford-county-commissioners-tell.html
Proposed legal theft of taxpayer money; "developers want $8 million in taxpayer money from City of Greensboro"
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/proposed-legal-theft-of-taxpayer-money.html
Downtown Wyndham Hotel Economic Impact Math
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/downtown-wyndham-hotel-economic-impact.html
Letter to the Editor; "Hotel decision should wait for new council"
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/todays-letter-to-editor-hotel-decision.html
George Hartzman on the hotel deal and Crony Capitalism
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/02/george-hartzman-on-hotel-deal-and-crony.html
