This could be your city too.
Recent events have lead me to the conclusion that Greensboro, North Carolina, under the leadership of Mayor Robbie Perkins has crossed the final barrier into becoming a dying city. Plagued by many years of scandals, out of control spending and a government that has long proven itself not to be responsive to the people, lacking in transparency and without accountability, Greensboro is now beyond saving.
No, the problems didn't begin with Mayor Perkins, he simply sealed our fate.
Can you imagine the audacity of a city council that would vote in December to give the voters the right to decide on an elective public works issue-- a performing arts center-- and would come back in February and revoke the public's right to vote and fund the project even though the city budget is said by council and staff to be operating at a deficit?
Can you imaging a city attorney being caught lying to city council about a records release that city staff, police and the city attorney all agreed was a simple mistake? If nobody broke any laws then why cover for them?
Can you imagine a city that funds development outside the city limits for rich connected developers to build empty industrial parks and then signs contracts stating that the city will not annex the properties and increase the city tax base?
Can you imagine a city that orchestrates land grabs that allow wealthy developers to take homes, businesses and properties away from the working class because of torn awnings, bars on windows or a boarded up window in a neighborhood with the highest crime rate in the city?
Can you imagine a city that spends millions to build roads no one wants but refuses to widen 1 block of a road that desperately needs widening-- the road that already carries the traffic the new road is slated to carry? Roughly 270,000 out of 270,000 citizens are against the road but they still push to build it.
This, my friends, is Greensboro, North Carolina, a dying city where I hope you survive to rise from the ashes.
Recent events have lead me to the conclusion that Greensboro, North Carolina, under the leadership of Mayor Robbie Perkins has crossed the final barrier into becoming a dying city. Plagued by many years of scandals, out of control spending and a government that has long proven itself not to be responsive to the people, lacking in transparency and without accountability, Greensboro is now beyond saving.
No, the problems didn't begin with Mayor Perkins, he simply sealed our fate.
Can you imagine the audacity of a city council that would vote in December to give the voters the right to decide on an elective public works issue-- a performing arts center-- and would come back in February and revoke the public's right to vote and fund the project even though the city budget is said by council and staff to be operating at a deficit?
Can you imaging a city attorney being caught lying to city council about a records release that city staff, police and the city attorney all agreed was a simple mistake? If nobody broke any laws then why cover for them?
Can you imagine a city that funds development outside the city limits for rich connected developers to build empty industrial parks and then signs contracts stating that the city will not annex the properties and increase the city tax base?
Can you imagine a city that orchestrates land grabs that allow wealthy developers to take homes, businesses and properties away from the working class because of torn awnings, bars on windows or a boarded up window in a neighborhood with the highest crime rate in the city?
Can you imagine a city that spends millions to build roads no one wants but refuses to widen 1 block of a road that desperately needs widening-- the road that already carries the traffic the new road is slated to carry? Roughly 270,000 out of 270,000 citizens are against the road but they still push to build it.
This, my friends, is Greensboro, North Carolina, a dying city where I hope you survive to rise from the ashes.
