Before I begin allow me to let Greensboro know that I was the local blogger who broke the Betty Cone Grassroots Tax Evasion story 2 months to the day before the News & Record. I dig deep and I find the facts the local media won't tell you. And even though I am a raging liberal and will disagree with John Hammer on every political, religious and social issue printed in the Rhino Times the recent articles about Greensboro's non profits have been dead on the money.
My first thought was to read the letter Eric Robert sent to City Council last week, the same letter I posted to my blog, East Greensboro Performing Arts Center but this morning I decided to speak on my own findings concerning Downtown Greensboro Incorporated.
Somehow DGI managed to get themselves slipped into tonight's council agenda after the agenda's deadline. Magic perhaps? Funny, in recent conversations with several council members I've been told they don't even know how one goes about getting a proposal before council and yet DGI can get before council any time they like. Would anyone like to speculate on who runs Greensboro?
No, it's not DGI that runs Greensboro but DGI is one of the names it uses. At my blog Exposing The Greensboro Partnership I point out how the Partnership admits to using multiple names. From their website:
"The Greensboro Partnership was formed in 2005 from the merger of Greensboro Economic Development Alliance, Action Greensboro, and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. The mission of the Partnership is to serve as the principal economic and community development organization in Greensboro and to strategically develop a vibrant community that creates, expands and attracts business while advancing the quality of life for all. The work of the Partnership is guided by a comprehensive strategic plan that focuses on:"
But that's not all, the partnership is also Downtown Greensboro Incorporated, the Bryan Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and over a dozen other "non profits" whose sole business has become the charging of management fees with each movement of City funds from one office to the next office.
As one of the members of the Facebook group, Real Progress For Greensboro put it, "We are essentially being charged $ 257,500 to manage $ 307,000 or if we decide to leave the $103,000 economic development contract out of it...we are being charged $154,000 to manage $287,000..."
The Trolls are angered, Mr Mayor. We were happy to sit under our ramshackle bridges and charge only nominal tolls only to the occasional passing goats of which there are few but that wasn't enough for you and the "non profits." No, you had to have it all. Well enough is enough and the Trolls are fighting back. Say no to DGI, say no to being charged to spend our money, say no to being taxed to be taxed.
See you on the 29th Mr Mayor, at the East Greensboro Summit, aka The Gathering Of The Trolls!
