Adding To Roch's Pile: Part 1

On August 1, 2016, Roch Smith Jr published Greensboro’s new secrecy: Sinister and hostile, a damming account of the activities of the public relations department of the City of Greensboro, Greensboro City Council, Greensboro Police Department, and high ranking City staff. It was indeed a scathing account in which Mr Smith pointed out a number of lies and deliberate attempts to mislead the public.

Since we here at EzGreensboro.com also deal with this issue on an almost daily basis I thought I would put together a series of articles that document our own experiences and prove that what Mr Smith is saying is true.

And as always I'll include plenty of documents and e-mails to prove my case.

Roch writes of his attempt to get body camera videos in the incident involving the shooting and killing of Chris Tokazowskiby Greensboro Police:

"The city was reluctant to give up these records from the start and, sadly, willing to sacrifice personal and institutional integrity along the way. The people involved tried every unlawful, unethical and untruthful means they could think of to get me to give up and go away."

Correction: As sent to me by Roch:

"This is wrong: "Roch writes of his attempt to get body camera videos in the incident involving the shooting and killing of Chris Tokazowskiby Greensboro Police:"

My request was for records of the body camera assignments.

-- Roch"

Thanks Roch, I appreciate it when people actually take the time to make sure I get the story straight. I wish others would do the same.

Now allow me to tell you my own experiences with attempting to retrieve video and other public information from the City of Greensboro Code Enforcement Department and Greensboro Police Department. And please be mindful that all of this was long before North Carolina's latest restrictions on police body camera videos.

On January 2, 2015, Bulent Bediz was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer in front of his Lexington Ave home in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. Being I was there that day I found that to be of particular interest. Knowing Greensboro Police wear body cameras and having been told by a Greensboro Code Enforcement Officer who was on the scene that he had personally filmed Mr Bediz kicking the police officer I took it on my own to get copies of both videos.

Here you can read the official incident report, the GPD arrest report and my January 5, 2015 article, The Arrest Of Bulent Bediz: The Cover-Up Begins.

Oh, and those e-mails I copied and pasted in the original article? Here's screen grabs for those morons who will still accuse me of making it up:

Can you believe it, the Greensboro Legal Department actually attempted to block my request with
§§ 160-1 through 160-521: Repealed and Transferred..
So what happened next?

So what was in that attachment? Look below for a summary of all the reported calls in Mr Bediz's immediate neighborhood for the 24 hours of January 2, 2015. Nothing to be found on Lexington Ave.

Myself and Jeffrey Sykes of Yes Weekly personally saw over a dozen Greensboro Police Officers there but according to Guilford County 911 they were never there. Perhaps Guilford County 911 was never informed the Greensboro Police Officers were there. Perhaps GPD didn't want anyone to know they were there?

So who was the officer who falsely charged Bulet Bediz with attacking a police officer? None other than officer M P Kress, GPD's poster boy for body cameras, pictured here in this News & Fishwrap article, White House: Body cameras could improve public trust.

Wait, it gets better.

On Friday January 15 after having received the pictures and videos from Greensboro Code Enforcement I posted Bulent Bediz January 2 Arrest which included my e-mail to all 9 members of City Council:

That's right, Mayor Vaughan, I can keep copies of sent messages too. No one from the City of Greensboro ever replied. It's looking very much as if the Greensboro City Council and Greensboro Legal Department were all co conspirators in this plot against Bulent Bediz-- a plot to steal everything he owned, charge him with crimes he never committed, force him into bankruptcy and sell everything to the highest bidders who would then resell all of it to UNCG.

To make matters worse, the News & Fishwrap reported that on January 2, 2015:

"The city had 37 cars towed from the backyards of Bediz’s properties and from an area of the 800 block of Lexington Avenue with parking restrictions."

But as I pointed out in my January 17, 2o15 article, Greensboro City Employees Steal 5 Cars

"When I picked up the disk on Friday there were only 32 cars listed. Total. No, I didn't miscount they were numbered 1-32.
What happened to the other 5 cars? Did GPD and/or Code Enforcement officers conspire with Kirk-Sineath towing company employees to steal the cars?
I personally looked at these cars less than two weeks ago. These were running late model automobiles. Did they assume that because towing and storage bills would mount so quickly that Mr Bediz would never come to retrieve his cars and therefore they would never be caught?"

No one from the City of Greensboro ever bothered to reply to my questions as to what happened to the other 5 cars?

In my Friday, February 13, 2015 article, Greensboro Seeks Mediation In Bediz Trial I made the following points:

"Neither GPD nor City Staff ever bothered to answer my entire Public Information Request from over a month ago.
In over a month they never produced the following documents:
*911 CAD Report
I saw over a dozen officers there but apparently GPD doesn't know who they were.
*Use of Force Report
State law requires it be filled out any time force is used.
*Witnesses
*Police Body Camera Videos
*Clarification as to "what parts of § 132-1.4. and 160-168 apply?"
 If you're going to make a claim that a great big statute applies you'd best be prepared to say what part of the statute applies. Otherwise you're just blowing smoke.
GPD claimed they had witnesses. GPD claimed they had videos. I got my hands on one of those videos made by Code Enforcement and gave it to Mr Bediz who gave it to his lawyer. Seems the video wasn't quite what they made it out to be. They never produced documents required by the State of North Carolina. There can only be one reason the City of Greensboro is asking Bulent Bediz to allow them mediation rather than a trial-- The City has no case."

Over a year later they still haven't answered.

On Friday, May 8, 2015 I reported City Of Greensboro Looses To Bulent Bediz.

"The City of Greensboro faced the judge today and lost in 2 cases involving Bulent Bediz. In both instances City Attournys were attempting to block Mr Bediz from going ahead with his lawsuits against the City but in both instances the judge ruled that Mr Bediz had a right to be heard."

On  Friday, July 24, 2015, I wrote: GPD Body Cameras Fail To Pay Off:

"According to a witness who was in the court room there was a court order to produce the police body camera video for Mr Bediz's trial just a few days ago but no such video was made available by the Greensboro Police Department. Supposedly there was a glitch, a malfunction of some sort.
This is the 3rd occasion the Greensboro Police Department has failed to prove accusations against Bulent Bediz-- when is enough, enough? Why didn't the Guilford County District Attorney and the presiding judge dismiss the charges on the spot? Why have the prosecutors not filed charges against GPD and the City of Greensboro on Mr Bediz's behalf? "

On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, I wrote Bulent Bediz Found Innocent in which I said:

"As I reported earlier, GPD was unable to produce in car video, body camera video and the Code Enforcement Video sent to me as proof of the incident showed no such actions on the part of Mr Bediz.
Seth Coen, lawyer for Mr Bediz, was able to convince the court that not only was the 70 year old Mr Bediz incapable of using the martial arts techniques that would have been required to kick the police officer but that the arrest of Bulent Bediz was in-fact unlawful and therefore any actions on the part of Mr Bediz would have legally been considered in self defense."

And as if I needed confirmation,

On Thursday, October 15, 2015, the Greensboro News $ Fishwrap published Judge: Officer didn't have right to remove man from vehicle:

“The officer told the judge ... he tried to remove Bediz from the vehicle to prevent him from driving away in a vehicle he knew was expired,” Neumann said. “The judge apparently felt the officer didn’t have the right to remove him.”

The case was heard by Guilford County District Court Judge Jan Samet.

“Judge Jan Samet did the right thing under the state and federal constitutions,” Bediz’s attorney Seth Cohen said."

To which I replied in my article that day, N&R Confirms Bediz Innocent:

"You want good cops in Greensboro? You have to throw out the City Council to get them."

And that, my friends, is why you need to support Billy Jones for Mayor of Greensboro in 2017 and share this with as many people as possible.

Oh, and stay tuned for Adding To Roch's Pile: Part 2, as that is just one of many such examples I can document of the City of Greensboro lying and hiding the truth from public view.

N&R Confirms Bediz Innocent

A month ago I wrote Bulent Bediz Found Innocent concerning his January 2015 charge for having allegedly assaulted a Greensboro Police Officer. Of course, Greensboro's status quo would prefer you didn't believe me.

Well today the News & Record reports:

“The officer told the judge ... he tried to remove Bediz from the vehicle to prevent him from driving away in a vehicle he knew was expired,” Neumann said. “The judge apparently felt the officer didn’t have the right to remove him.”

The case was heard by Guilford County District Court Judge Jan Samet.

“Judge Jan Samet did the right thing under the state and federal constitutions,” Bediz’s attorney Seth Cohen said."

There is in-fact no law against sitting in your own car which is all Mr Bediz did. By attempting to remove Mr Bediz from his car the officer assaulted Mr Bediz.

Now Brian Clarey of Triad City Beat, where's your ace reporter Eric Ginsburg on this case of police violence? Oh wait, that's right, you and Eric, Shit for Brains Ginsburg work for the same people as the dirty cops.

You want good cops in Greensboro? You have to throw out the City Council to get them.

Bulent Bediz Found Innocent

Bulent Bediz was found innocent yesterday on charges of having assaulted a Greensboro Police Officer outside Mr Bediz's home on January 2, 2015.

As I reported earlier, GPD was unable to produce in car video, body camera video and the Code Enforcement Video sent to me as proof of the incident showed no such actions on the part of Mr Bediz.

Seth Coen, lawyer for Mr Bediz, was able to convince the court that not only was the 70 year old Mr Bediz incapable of using the martial arts techniques that would have been required to kick the police officer but that the arrest of Bulent Bediz was in-fact unlawful and therefore any actions on the part of Mr Bediz would have legally been considered in self defence.

Mr Bediz has now won every case he has brought before the courts involving UNCG, the Greensboro Police Department and the City of Greensboro including the theft of Mr Bediz's automobiles by Greensboro Code Enforcement and the demolition of numerous homes owned by Mr Bediz and his business partners.

Apparently Bulent Bediz never was the real problem in Glenwood after all.

GPD Body Cameras Fail To Pay Off

Here's an interesting note concerning the trial of Bulent Bediz, arrested on charges of having kicked a Greensboro Police Officer.

As you might already be aware, the video provided to me by Greensboro Code Enforcement didn't show Mr Bediz kicking the officer or assaulting anyone in any way. And when I asked for in car camera video from the Greensboro Police Department I was told there was none.

I was refused police body camera video on the grounds that North Carolina State Law considers body camera video to be part of employee records and cannot be released to the public without a court order.

According to a witness who was in the court room there was a court order to produce the police body camera video for Mr Bediz's trial just a few days ago but no such video was made available by the Greensboro Police Department. Supposedly there was a glitch, a malfunction of some sort.

This is the 3rd occasion the Greensboro Police Department has failed to prove accusations against Bulent Bediz-- when is enough, enough? Why didn't the Guilford County District Attorney and the presiding judge dismiss the charges on the spot? Why have the prosecutors not filed charges against GPD and the City of Greensboro on Mr Bediz's behalf?

City Of Greensboro Looses To Bulent Bediz

The City of Greensboro faced the judge today and lost in 2 cases involving Bulent Bediz. In both instances City Attournys were attempting to block Mr Bediz from going ahead with his lawsuits against the City but in both instances the judge ruled that Mr Bediz had a right to be heard.

Have no doubt, when governments attempt to block lawsuits based on petty technicalities such as whether or not Mr Bediz should have hired an attorney or filed suit as a business or an individual there are things about the case they desperately don't want you and I to know.

I think we all now know the real problem in Glenwood was never Bulent Bediz but was in-fact UNCG and the City of Greensboro.

Things Are Looking Up

Rumor has it that the City of Greensboro screwed up when trying to enforce articles 17 and 30 against Bulent Bediz recently. Seems the law doesn't allow the two articles to be enforced together. That and the fact that video evidence of Mr Bediz's arrest contradicts GPD's claim that he kicked a Greensboro Police Officer isn't going well for the City.

Selective enforcement, passing new ordinances designed to target specific persons, automobiles stolen by Greensboro Code Enforcement officials... these are the things lawsuits are made of. Bediz and his attorneys have more than enough ammunition to bring the city to its knees.

And he's got more surprises in store.

Across town we had a successful meeting of Bessemer Aquaponics with several interested people showing up last night, all excited about the possibility of bringing jobs and organic, local foods to Greensboro. Look for an upcoming article about it in the July issue of O'Henry Magazine.

Greensboro Seeks Mediation In Bediz Trial

I was the one who told you the Greensboro Police Department is seeking trumped up charges against Glenwood resident Bulent Bediz just 2 days after his arrest on January 3, 2015. Today I learned that lawyers for the Greensboro Police Department have asked Mr Bediz to accept mediation for his charge of assaulting a police officer.

Neither GPD nor City Staff ever bothered to answer my entire Public Information Request from over a month ago.

In over a month they never produced the following documents:
*911 CAD Report
I saw over a dozen officers there but apparently GPD doesn't know who they were.
*Use of Force Report
State law requires it be filled out any time force is used.
*Witnesses
*Police Body Camera Videos
*Clarification as to "what parts of § 132-1.4. and 160-168 apply?"
 If you're going to make a claim that a great big statute applies you'd best be prepared to say what part of the statute applies. Otherwise you're just blowing smoke.

GPD claimed they had witnesses. GPD claimed they had videos. I got my hands on one of those videos made by Code Enforcement and gave it to Mr Bediz who gave it to his lawyer. Seems the video wasn't quite what they made it out to be. They never produced documents required by the State of North Carolina. There can only be one reason the City of Greensboro is asking Bulent Bediz to allow them mediation rather than a trial-- The City has no case.

I'm not Ben Holder. I'm not out to get the police. Unlike Mr Holder I don't have 20 plus arrests on my record and blame the cops for my own stupidity. My record is clean except for a few minor traffic violations. I believe our police department does the best they can under the circumstances. I really don't like to take on GPD but when politicians use police to do their dirty work I'm left with little choice. I hope our law enforcement officers understand and will work with me to put an end to this practice.

A Better Picture Of What Is Going On In Glenwood

Bulent Bediz, his business partner Nellie Jones and Bulent's son David Bediz own almost every house in the 800 block of Lexington Avenue pictured below. Bulent has restored 30 historic Glenwood homes in the last 40 years and has sold and given away several of them.




This next picture is the City of Greensboro's Glenwood Neighborhood Plan passed by City Council on September 13, 2011. Note that the 800 block of Lexington Avenue is surrounded on 3 sides by properties marked as Mixed Use Residential and Parks Open Space.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Also of note is the fact that according to the Guilford County Property Tax Records, those same properties marked as Mixed Use Residential and Parks Open Space are owned by UNCG, the State of North Carolina and Capital Facilities Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

This information was gleaned from City of Greensboro Public Information Release #4171-- any questions?

Oldest House In Glenwood To Be Destroyed Today

The City of Greensboro has placed DH Griffin Demolition Company under contract to destroy the oldest historic home in the entire Glenwood neighborhood today. Despite the fact that the demolition order being used by the City has expired the Code Enforcement Department of the City of Greensboro is following through on the demolition as more and more homes are destroyed under the guise of cleaning up the neighborhood when in-fact homes owned by Capital Facilities Foundation (UNCG) are allowed to stand even though they do not meet code.

The Lexington Avenue home owned by Bulent Bediz was under repair when Code Enforcement made the decision to destroy it.

A search of the Guilford County GIS System clearly shows how Capital Facilities has surrounded Mr Bediz on 3 sides and is now using the power of the City to steal his properties. As a matter of fact, Capital Facilities Foundation and the State of North Carolina are in-fact the largest owners of unsafe properties in Glenwood and Greensboro.

And yet our City leaders stand idly by and allow the destruction of the oldest historic home in one of Greensboro's most unique historic neighborhoods while blaming it on the man who has personally saved more historic Greensboro homes than anyone in this city.

Update: Before and after photographs of the house taken by Mr Bediz's friend and neighbor Nancy Lenk:

Greensboro's history and Bulent Bediz's dreams forever destroyed as Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan, the Cancer of Greensboro, continues her war on Greensboro's working class.

Greensboro City Employees Steal 5 Cars

On January 2 Greensboro Police, Code Enforcement and employees of Kirk-Sineath Towing removed 37 cars from the properties of Bulent Bediz as reported by the Greensboro News & Record:

"The city had 37 cars towed from the backyards of Bediz’s properties and from an area of the 800 block of Lexington Avenue with parking restrictions."

I then submitted Public Information Request #4205, titled Toad Fog:

"Sarah,
Last Friday, January 2, 2015, the City of Greensboro Code Enforcement and GPD executed a court order against Bulent Bediz ( FILE NO: 14-CVS-7561 ) allowing them to tow cars from the following residential properties: 804, 806, 807, 808,809, 810, 811, 812,814,816, and 901
Lexington Avenue.

I would like a list of all the cars that were towed from the public streets, Lexington and Haywood. Make, model, vehicle identification number and the specific location from where the two truck operator FIRST hooked to each car.

I would also like all photographs and videos taken by Code Enforcement at the above address on Jan 2, 2015.

Thanks
-Billy"

When I picked up the disk on Friday there were only 32 cars listed. Total. No, I didn't miscount they were numbered 1-32.

What happened to the other 5 cars? Did GPD and/or Code Enforcement officers conspire with Kirk-Sineath towing company employees to steal the cars?

I personally looked at these cars less than two weeks ago. These were running late model automobiles. Did they assume that because towing and storage bills would mount so quickly that Mr Bediz would never come to retrieve his cars and therefore they would never be caught?

Guess what? You've been caught. Mayor Vaughan's enforcers have some 'splainin' to do.

Bulent Bediz January 2 Arrest

My Latest E-mail to City Council:

"I did a PIRT request for the Code Enforcement videos from Jan 2 when Mr Bediz was arrested. Apparently the folks in Code Enforcement were not paying much attention to what their own personal including the woman who I think is head of Code Enforcement was saying.

This will come in very handy in Mr Bediz's defense and upcoming lawsuits.

I also found it interesting that the Code Enforcement officer taking the video placed his hand over the lens early on during Mr Bediz's arrest as if he was trying to hide evidence.

No doubt Mr Bediz's lawyer will make the same points in court.

My recommendation would be to cease and desist with all scheduled demolitions immediately.

And as always I intend to post this to my blog now for mine and Mr Bediz's personal safety.

-Billy Jones"

Letter To The Editor: Arrest in Glenwood Neighborhood

By Jacqueline Oates

 

Good folks,

I read in Yes Weekly  that Bulent Bediz was arrested in the Glenwood neighborhood while the city was impounding cars on his property. While I understand that there has been an ongoing issue regarding unregistered vehicles in Greensboro, this is disturbing on another level.

Several years ago amid great fanfare, Greensboro council members brought in Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class to discuss raising the quality of life for people in small cities by concentrating on attracting people rather than corporations. If I remember correctly, the major foundations as well as the city council applauded this concept and it was applied with some success to lower Elm Street. It was wonderful to see hardworking, joy-giving creative people begin to turn the scary-empty buildings near Lee into havens for diverse ideas and artwork. Of course, the inevitable gentrification is now occurring since the the less wealthy made a go of those blocks and the creatives are getting squeezed out by the privileged. But that's ok I guess, that's how things go in business districts.

This leads to why I am so concerned about Bulent. He has concentrated on an area that is not right smack downtown. He has created skilled employment opportunities and re-purposed fine materials that would otherwise end up in land fills. He has concentrated his efforts on an area that would make being an artist or a creative in Greensboro economically plausible. He has taken his artistic vision to a real working poor and middle class area and created bit by bit exactly what Richard Florida spoke of so well. Neighborhoods are people and people who care about communities and dedicate their time/ work/ talent/ lives need to be nurtured. 

I know that collectively you folks can come up with a strategy that won't discourage good folks like Bulent who wish to make better neighborhoods for all of us, not just the monied classes.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline

Glenwood Demolition Gone Awry

I just mailed the following e-mail to the entire Greensboro City Council:

"Mr Bediz just called me. Code enforcement inspectors have arrived at one of his historic houses with demolition orders to destroy the house on Monday morning.

Sharon, these houses were dilapidated for years before Mr Bediz bought them. A search of the Guilford County Register of Deeds shows every house and every property he owns throughout the entire county: http://taxweb.co.guilford.nc.us/CamaPublicAccess/OwnerSearchResults.aspx?OwnerName=BEDIZ,%20BULENT

If you check the tax records you will see that he has owned none of these homes over 5 years. None of these properties became that dilapidated in only 5 years-- fact. Greensboro ignored the problems until Bulent Bediz bought them and started restoring them. This is a land grab no matter how you cut it.

His lawyers are going to prove that in court. My blog post and the documentary film that is being produced by an award winning documentary film maker is going to prove that in the court of public opinion.

The more houses the City of Greensboro tears down the bigger the lawsuits the City has to pay and the worse it looks for everyone involved.

Stop all demolitions now! If City Council really cared you would start the process to save the neighborhood with historic designation. You know it, I know it and now everyone else knows it.

Now I'm going to post this e-mail to my blog."

We now have proof that Bulent Bediz is being targeted by the City of Greensboro. His lawyers will prove that in court. In the meantime city officials keep hidden who is behind this effort while Mayor Vaughan accuses the man who has successfully restored 30 historic Glenwood homes in 40 years as being the Cancer of Glenwood.

Thank You Sharon Hightower

Greensboro City Councilwoman Sharon Hightower and I have locked horns almost since the day she was sworn into office. No matter the subject we almost always take opposite sides. Like myself, she's stubborn and headstrong but time and again she's shown me her heart is in the right place.

Today Bulent Bediz went before the commission that was to determine if 3 of his houses are to be destroyed by the City of Greensboro and to Mr Bediz's surprise, Councilwoman Hightower spoke on his behalf. (See Sharon, I told you I've got spies watching you.)

Thanks to Ms Hightower and Mr Bediz's neighbors who also spoke on his behalf the vote was 3-3 so his houses get to stand a little longer while Greensboro finally learns the truth about the land grab that is going on in Glenwood.

With that said, I'd like to thank Councilwoman Hightower for bucking UNCG and Greensboro's status quo by standing up for the working class. We're hard headed, you and I, and I've no doubt we'll lock horns over something again soon but as of right now I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I only wish we were in the same room so I could do it in person.

The Arrest Of Bulent Bediz: The Cover-Up Begins

As was first reported Friday by Yes Weekly, 69 years old Bulent Bediz was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Greensboro Police Officer.

Over the course of the weekend myself and others submitted numerous public information requests to the City of Greensboro. I asked for all documents pertaining to Bulent Bediz's arrest. I received the Incident Report. I also asked received the Arrest Report.

 I asked for police body camera video as well. As of 5:00 PM GPD has not provided body camera video nor have they replied to my request for body camera video.

One of the documents I specifically asked for was a use of force document as officers are required to fill out after using force to arrest a suspect. The following is the City of Greensboro's reply to my request for such documents:

"Dear Billy:

Thank you for your recent public records request regarding the use of force documents.

In it, you wrote, “Please send me the Use of Force Documents police officers filled out as required when using force to arrest suspects concerning Friday's arrest of 69 year old Bulent Bediz of Lexington St.”

Unfortunately, this document is protected from release under NCGS 132-1.4 and 160-168.

Sincerely,

Sarah Healy"

My reply:

 "Sarah,

Please ask the GPD and/or legal department to note what parts of § 132-1.4. and 160-168 apply?

As a matter of fact: why don't you get them to send me Chapter 160 as I've been unable to locate the existence of any Chapter 160 with the exception of the following link noted as "

§§ 160-1 through 160-521: Repealed and Transferred."

 All that law school education wasted...

Thank you, sorry you have to work with these people.

-Billy"

I called Sarah on the telephone just minutes ago and she said she believed 160-168 should have been 160A-168 but as she was only relaying the information she would have to verify. Either way, there's a lot of stuff there and I'd like to know what part of the rule covers them? Otherwise they could be just making it all up.

Interestingly enough, I also asked for 911 CAD information that should include every officer dispatched to the area. When I was there on Friday I saw well over a dozen police officers present and more driving through. Their reply:

"Dear Billy:

Thank you for your public records request regarding 911 CAD information for Friday, January 2, 2015.

It is difficult to narrow a section down for a search.  This search was completed by Guilford Metro 911 by drawing a large box around the area from Lee Street and McCormick making a square to Richardson and Highland.

Please see the attached document and let me know if you need anything further.

Sincerely,

Sarah Healy"

But the list they sent me from 911 Metro included no such reference to anything taking place at Mr Bediz's home on Lexington Ave where he allegedly assaulted a police officer. Strangely enough, if you search GPD PTP you can find the event on January 2 at 12:08 PM at Mr Bediz's home address.

I'm not doubting Sarah's word on any of this. The Use of Force documents had to come from GPD and the 911 CAD had to come from Guilford Metro 911. Neither Sarah nor Guilford Metro 911 can produce documents that are being kept from them or were never produced in the first place.

There are numerous other PIRTs (Public Information Requests) that are still in the process of being filled. Quite honestly, some I've submitted are huge and go back years and while I've plenty of evidence to support Mr Bediz it never hurts to use the city's own documents and e-mails against them.

Did Bulent Bediz assault anyone? He personally told me he did not. A Greensboro Code Enforcement officer who didn't identify himself to me claimed to have witnessed the assault. Documents made public by GPD thus far list no witnesses. Police body camera videos have yet to be released. The officer who arrested Mr Bediz cannot be accounted for on 911 CAD documents. I cannot prove that Bulent did not assault someone and thus far the City of Greensboro has offered no evidence to show that he did and appears to be orchestrating yet another cover-up.

Is this the end? Hardly. Myself and others know who is behind this and before we are done police officers, city employees and UNCG employees will be rolling over on those responsible. The days of threatening retirements of loyal police officers and rank and file workers to force them to do the bidding of Greensboro's corrupt status quo elites are about to end once and for all.

And finally, don't you find it ironic that in this Associated Press article White House: Body cameras could improve public trust, the News & Record chose to use a photograph of arresting officer and alleged victim, M P Kress. Yeah, it's a cheap shot but with all the hoopla being tossed about how great body cameras would be and GPD's repeated refusal to release them who could resist?

And Come They Did

The following was published in the UNCG student newspaer The Carolinian, December 7, 1999:

"If You Build It, They Will Come

Bulent Bediz is an artist who wants to build a community for artists. Writers, painters, sculptors, filmmakers, potters, woodworkers... — creative individuals who would live and work in close proximity to one another, to energize one another in a charged atmosphere that effects artistic growth and development. No, not in the woods out there somewhere but right here at the edge of this campus, in the Glenwood neighborhood.

The idea for a community for creative individuals evolved as Bediz acquired a number of vintage houses adjoining his house on Lexington Avenue in a solo effort to combat neighborhood decay. Fixing them up, however, proved a much bigger task than he had anticipated. A city program he had hoped would help with the financing of the renovation costs took forever to materialize. Instead of doing the rehabbing one-by-one as he had envisioned, he found himself attacking several construction projects at the same time. Undaunted by the myriad of problems he had to face, he has persisted and persevered in pushing forward towards his vision. Now that the city is helping with the project he expects a faster pace to show results.

Bediz speaks with much enthusiasm and conviction about what he is trying to achieve. It is a unique situation here, to have such a row of houses with the backyards all joined together. You have the feeling of country right in the center city, just a few minutes walk from UNCG. The idea is to have the people who live in the houses use the backyards as a common space, with dependency buildings, vegetable gardens and what have you, to create a community. If this idea works, then it can stand as the nucleus of an expanded project, revitalizing the neighborhood at the same time.

A UNCG graduate of the MFA program in painting and sculpture (1972) who briefly taught here, Bediz is well-acquainted with this campus and its relation to the rest of the Greensboro community. He sees that the University has expanded to the limits of its natural boundaries and that the economically attractive area to the South, the Glenwood neighborhood, will be the next area to develop to cater to the needs of the bigger campus. He hopes that this inevitable development can be a planned, controlled one that will build on the character of the neighborhood and not demolish it.

Bediz is a dreamer. He is also an energetic doer. He doesn't just talk about preservation, he does it with creative innovation. Rebuilding a house to him becomes an art project. A master scavenger and recycler, he turns blackboards from an old school to slate flooring. Bathroom stall panels of pink Tennessee marble from a federal building become countertops for a kitchen. Many architectural artifacts like doors, windows, flooring and the like have come from the houses that were on this campus that were demolished to make room for the UNCG baseball stadium. UNCG students have helped him with the work either as volunteers or slaving at minimum wages, from demolishing to- you name it— carpentry, sheetrock, painting, landscaping, etc. He welcomes anyone with ability, enthusiasm and interest to participate in the project. Check it out. You might even end up a resident of this community."

And Come They Did

Because of the work of Bulent Bediz, people started moving to Glenwood, buying and renting homes in a neighborhood that had long been awash in crime and poverty. They started pushing for historic neighborhood designation to permanently save the neighborhood filled with unique architecture-- some of it rare anywhere in the world. People came to Glenwood, Bulent Bediz started buying and fixing more houses, bankers saw his work was in demand and were happy to loan him money.....

Then Greensboro's developers got scared because unknown to Bulent and the residents of Glenwood there had long been a secret plan for the City of Greensboro to allow Glenwood to fall into decay so that developers could buy the properties at auction and resell them to UNCG at a huge profit. Mr Bediz and the residents of Glenwood were causing property values to go up, not down. The City stopped helping Bulent because developers would have to pay more for the houses after they were repaired.

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan called Bulent Bediz the cancer of Glenwood.

All the while UNCG contended they had no intentions of crossing Lee Street. They lied all along. Are you, the residents of Glenwood and members of the UNCG community aware that UNCG owns an empty 4 year old North Campus just 9 minutes from UNCG that is almost as large as UNCG itself?

That's right, empty. EzGreensboro's Jackie Billeci is the former assistant to the dean there and she assures me the campus is unused and has never been used since it became the property of UNCG several years ago. And yet with over half a million square feet there and on East Lee, UNCG still has the "need" to steal Glenwood and parts of downtown Greensboro away from Bulent Bediz, the rest of the Glenwood Community and Greensboro.

Crime began to increase because the Greensboro Police Department deliberately ignored Glenwood while concentrating their resources on other parts of Greensboro. And police chiefs or division commanders who tried to address the problem were forced out or reassigned to patrol cars relieved of their commands.

The proof is in our hands. The team at EzGreensboro.com and other media outlets has been on this story for months. Books are being written. A documentary film is being produced. All hell is about to break loose! Dozens of us already know the truth! The names you will know from Greensboro's and UNCG's most elite boards. Greensboro's Irving Park will tremble in fear as well certain people all the way to the mountains and the coast. My advice: take your golden parachutes and jump, your flight is about to crash.

Brian Higgins And The Improper Landscape Materials

A few years ago when I first read in the News & Record of Glenwood resident Brian Higgins being cited for improper landscape materials I was somewhat taken back. You see, I have some unusual taste in landscape materials myself with planters made of surplus US Army Rocket Launchers (swords to plowshares) walkways made from old roofing shingles (asphalt, the same material as roads) an inverted chiminea and old racing slicks for planters and chair backs and a headboard from a baby's crib as decorations and borders. And then there the herbs I grow in the front yard that probably look like weeds to most people.

Then there's my pea patch in the front yard and the fact that I sometimes grow crimson clover instead of grass to add nitrogen to the soil. You see, when we moved here many years ago there were farms in my neighborhood and I guess it's just in my blood. I harvest my yard. If I were a wealthy man I'd buy out most of my neighbors, bulldoze most of the houses and return the neighborhood to a farm and preserve while placing the land in an eternal trust so the City of Greensboro could forever sweat the lost tax revenue while having to maintain the streets and such to retain connectivity.

It wasn't that Brian wanted to improve Glenwood so much-- he knew he wouldn't be staying forever-- in that Brian was out to make a name for himself in nationwide forums like Medium.com:

"Brian says that he’s,

More interested in a final solution than pointing fingers at someone. Living in a city is not about just being a tax payer -it’s about building relationship with one’s government. Our neighborhood has a lot of challenges and we need to help each other out. We chose to live in the neighborhood because we wanted to make it better."

But in the case of  Bulent Bediz, pointing fingers is exactly what Brian Higgins did. You see, Brian was a nobody married to a somebody who was going places. His wife, Jill, had been hired by the ever popular children's charity, Victory Junction, associated with NASCAR race driver and local hero Kyle Petty. Brian wanted to be somebody too. Jill has since moved on to Activities Beyond The Classroom, a non profit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brian is still a nobody and will probably attempt to repeat the same thing in Ohio.

Brian didn't know when he saw the old house owned by Mr Bediz that Mr Bediz had already spent the previous 30 years working to save Glenwood and was responsible for restoring Glenwood's finest treasures. All Brian saw was a potential target and a way to make a name for himself.

Brian didn't stop at complaining to the city about broken sidewalks and overgrown city owned right-of-ways-- problems the City of Greensboro was supposed to be looking after all along. Nor did Brian concentrate on the many run down properties owned by UNCG. Oh Brian complained about UNCG but Brian set his sights squarely on Bulent Bediz, the man who over the course of the previous 30 plus years had done more to save Glenwood than any man or woman in the world.

Remember Brian's protest to save the bench on the Downtown Greenway-- the bench the neighbors were complaining the prostitutes were using to give blow jobs? Brian just wanted media attention.

After all, you can't be the hero of Glenwood as long as the Hero of Glenwood is still standing, can you? And now you know why Ben Holder and Brian Higgins don't get along. They both wanted to be the hero of Glenwood but neither cold fill Bulent Bediz's shoes.

Brian and Ben filed complain after complaint against Mr Bediz. Funny thing about Ben Holder is that he doesn't even own the house he lives in but he likes to tell everyone he does. There is no Benjamin or Ben Holder listed as owning property in Greensboro, and 1306 Oak St, the address Ben lists on his Code Enforcement Complaints, belongs to a Mr Jeffery Hatcher.

But wait, I was going to tell you the real story about Brian Higgins improper landscape materials and how it came to be-- I digress.

Someone, it wasn't Bulent Bediz, complained to the City about a pile of logs Brian had dumped in his yard. Only Brian didn't dump the logs, Brian talked someone from the City of Greensboro into dumping the logs. And they didn't dump the logs in Brian's yard, they dumped them onto a property next door belonging to none other than... you guessed it, Bulent Bediz.

When the City dumped the logs they damaged a structure Mr Bediz had built to contain the trash and recycling cans. Brian left a note on Mr Bediz's door saying he would pay for the damages. Mr Bediz went back to the man who had built the structure and asked for a repair estimate but instead of Brian paying the bill the City of Greensboro paid to repair the damages.

And Brian's pile of logs? They're still there all these years later. Bulent Bediz was victimized by Brian Higgins who was out to make a name for himself and you, dear taxpayers, thanks to Brian's coziness with Nancy Barakat Vaughan and other Greensboro City officials, paid the cost.

Better sell that house cheap, Brian, you'll not want to hang around Glenwood long now.

I Wish Bulent Bediz Had Moved To Bessemer

Did Glenwood resident Bulent Bediz really kick a Greensboro Police Officer yesterday? I wasn't there but I've submitted a public information request to the City of Greensboro that includes a request for body camera videos and in-car camera videos. If GPD refuses to provide such evidence you can decide for yourself.

After years of persecution and prosecution by the City of Greensboro in an effort to steal his property you can hardly blame him if he happened to go over the edge. Frankly, I don't think he did it.

I did see Bulent's cars parked under his carport. I found it interesting that the City of Greensboro was towing away classic BMWs and Jags Mr Bediz had parked under a carport. That's right, the City doesn't allow you to keep a classic car under a carport. But the City of Greensboro gladly takes your money and issues building permits for carports. They'll also charge exorbitant fees to give you your cars back then come back and tow them away again.

I understand the need to remove abandoned and junked cars but this wasn't the case.

City code enforcement laws require that cars parked on public streets be stickered and given 10 days before they are towed. Bulent Bediz and his crew were pushing his some of his cars down the block to a commercial property he owns where cars can be legally stored but police and code enforcement towed those cars as well.

Yesterday Glenwood residents watched in shock as one of their most beloved residents, 69 year old Bulent Bediz was arrested by Greensboro Police and his property stolen and damaged by Greensboro Code Enforcement and despite pleas by myself and others to Councilwoman Sharon Hightower and City Attorney Tom Carruthers, nothing was done to stop it. Nothing, as if they don't give a damn.

This city doesn't car about the weak and the old. They don't care about the least among us. Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan called Bulent Bediz the cancer of Glenwood when in-fact Bulent has fixed up more houses and is loved by more people living in Glenwood than anyone.

Of course all of you are wondering why Mr Bediz had all those cars in his yard. Seems crazy, right? The exact details will be made public soon as the story has now become too big for the media to ignore much longer but I will tell you this much: It was the fault of UNCG and the City of Greensboro-- putting the cars in his yard was the only option they left him with. 

I wish that instead of moving to Glenwood in the 1970s, Bulent Bediz had moved to the Bessemer Community where I live. We sure could use a Bulent Bediz here on the east side of town.

What Happened To Glenwood?

Just before the new year while talking with a small group of Glenwood residents I told them I remembered a time when a Bessemer boy from here in what is now commonly called East Greensboro couldn't walk into Glenwood without getting into a fight. The same went for any Glenwood boy who walked into Bessemer.

I'm not condoning our behaviors back then but the old neighborhood gangs that existed in all of Greensboro's working class neighborhoods were all born out of a sense of pride in our own communities-- something we could us a lot more of today.

How did I fare in those fights? If I won one I can't remember it but those old Glenwood boys helped to toughen me up. Knives and guns? Yeah, we had 'em but they stayed in our pockets. There's honor in getting your ass whipped by a worthy opponent-- there's no honor in unnecessary force. There's no honor in taking on an opponent who obviously doesn't stand a chance against you, no honor in beating up little boys or old men. Only cowards do those things.

Fast forward almost 40 years to 2010, Glenwood is a very different place. Bulent Bediz has been there over 30 years buying and fixing up old houses as only a real artist can do. All in all Mr Bediz has bought over 70 properties in Glenwood over the years-- all with the intention of restoring the neighborhood to it's former greatness as was the vision of the Carolina Real Estate Investment Company who started building the town of Glenwood, North Carolina in 1909 and attempted to move the capital of North Carolina here by offering to give the State 25 acres of land free of charge.

Remember: in 1909 Raleigh wasn't any bigger than Glenwood.

In May of 2010 exciting things were happening in Glenwood. Triad Homes, a publication of the Greensboro News & Record, wrote of a roadmap for a comeback:

"The Glenwood Neighborhood Plan that community leaders and the city created lists a number of goals designed to improve the neighborhood’s future:• Increase homeownership and maintenance.• Improve walkability and bikeability.• Promote desirable infill development.• Reduce crime and perceptions of danger.• Promote vibrant, accessible retail and services.• Strengthen the community fabric.

“Glenwood may be a neighborhood at risk, but its leaders have participated eagerly in developing this plan for their neighborhood, and are passionate about improving conditions for present and future residents and property owners,” the plan’s introduction reads.

Implementation of the plan is expected to stretch out over the next decade and beyond, and will take the combined efforts of city departments, Glenwood residents and outside parties, according to Jeff Sovich, neighborhood planning coordinator for the city of Greensboro.

“It is really a multi-pronged approach to improve the neighborhood over time,” he said. “The horizon for that improvement is 10 to 12 years.”

The city has already implemented some aspects of the plan, such as improvements to sidewalks on Grove Street and upgrades of water and sewer lines, Sovich said. Some improvements will depend on future city budgets."

Since that time 60 homes have been destroyed and 40 more are on a city list slated to be destroyed for reasons Glenwood supporters cannot believe could really happen in a free country with government and laws designed to protect private property.

So what happened? The answer came just a few days later when at the request of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the City of Greensboro broke their promise to help save Glenwood and started working to destroy Glenwood piece by piece by enlisting the help of so-called housing advocates to paint horrible pictures of the very people who had spent decades working to save Glenwood:

"Glenwood residents a few years ago came up with a city-approved plan with suggestions for how they wanted to see their neighborhood developed.

It includes mixed-use development near Lee Street, such as retail, restaurant and office space, as well as multi-family housing.

But UNCG’s proposal requires the university to go deeper into the neighborhood than what the plan calls for.

UNCG would have to purchase the property on which it wants to build and could be faced with homeowners reluctant to sell.

In a letter recently mailed to Glenwood residents, Byers said current zoning allows the university to follow its plans for development in the area, with the exception of six residential lots along Haywood Street at Glenwood Avenue and McCormick Street."

Glenwood has no grocery store anywhere near its northeast corner and hasn't had a grocery store for roughly 50 years despite the fact that well over 10,000 UNCG students, Greensboro College, College Hill and other heavily populated communities are all close by. Bulent Bediz had entered into negotiations with the Aldi  grocery chain to place one of their stores into the planned mixed use development mentioned above. Aldi was receptive to the idea. Again, Mr Bediz was stopped by the powers that be from doing the very things Glenwood had been promised by Greensboro leaders-- the very things those same leaders claim to be doing for our communities today but never seem to accomplish.

You should be ashamed Nancy Vaughan. You should be in tears. You should be balling your eyes out in front of the television cameras begging Bulent Bediz for his forgiveness and announcing your resignation as Mayor of Greensboro effective immediately. How could you in good conscious preside over what has gone on? You've gone out of your way to trash Mr Bediz even going so far as to stage a mock display (Click on #14) against Mr Bediz when you knew all along he wasn't buying the property you and Brian Higgins claimed to be denying him. Bulent Bediz is a victim and you punished him for it:

"So, two weeks ago, UNCG demolished them. All except one.

Bulent saved it. To him, he sees that house as an example of working-class art, worthy of saving, despite the expense.

Crazy? Depends on who you talk to. But one thing’s certain: At 66, Bulent sees his legacy and it’s Glenwood.

He believes his longtime neighborhood off West Lee can become a haven for artists, writers, musicians, just any creative types who believe inspiration lies along the streets of Lexington and Haywood.

So, for nearly 20 years, Bulent has played a real-life game of Monopoly in Glenwood by buying houses. At one time, he owned 70 properties in a three-block area. Today, he owns half that.

The economy clocked Bulent. Since 2008, he’s lost 24 residential properties and four commercial properties to foreclosure. That’s not all. Since then, he’s lost his dogs, his mom, his money — he declared bankruptcy — and at least $300,000 in equipment and materials to thieves.

And he got beaten with a hammer.

It happened in May 2008, right after 5 p.m. on a Haywood Street sidewalk. Bulent caught the guy stealing copper pipe from one of his houses across the street from his home. When the guy walked out, Bulent tailed him.

He followed him for about a block. Then, the guy turned around.

He hit Bulent in the jaw, right elbow and right side before Bulent wrestled him to the ground and waited for the police to arrive. The thief got an 18-month stint in jail; Bulent got a swollen jaw and welts the size of half dollars riding up his right side. For two months, he could only open his mouth an eighth of an inch.

And Bulent stayed.

He’d been in Glenwood since 1976. There, in a house along Lexington Avenue, he took care of his son, David, during his early years, and he took care of his mother, Samime, during her later years. She died at age 91.

Now, Bulent is trying to take care of Glenwood."

The job of our elected leaders and city officials is to help and serve our citizens, not kick us when we're down. You, Nancy Barakat Vaughan, are the lowest of the low. And you cronies like Ben Holder and Brian Higgins who are all too happy to dirty their hands for you are just as lowly.

And Nancy, about Don... The secret is out. It's only a matter of time.

908 Highland Avenue, The House That Haunted Greensboro

Here's an interesting story, the story of 908 Highland Avenue, a home in the Glenwood Community of Greensboro. 908 Highland was once owned by Bulent Bediz who was proclaimed by then Greensboro City Councilwoman Nancy Barakat Vaughan as the Cancer of Glenwood.

Surprisingly, Bulent Bediz has spent the last 40 years restoring, remodeling, reclaiming and sometimes moving entire homes located within the Glenwood Community in order to save them. As a matter of fact, Mr Bediz has saved over 30 homes in the Glenwood Community. Here's some of the homes Mr Bediz has saved:

1009 Haywood Street 116 photographs.

1017 Union Street 59 photographs

1019 Union Street 48 photographs

1007 Haywood Street 59 Photographs

901 Lexington Avenue 28 photographs

Moving 714 Highland Avenue to 1012 Haywood Street, March 2012. 73 photographs

Is this the kind of remodeling done by slumlords? Looking at those photographs I think it is safe to say most anyone would be proud to live in a home remodeled by Bulent Bediz, a former UNCG art instructor turned home restorer.

Bulent Bediz was a man with a real dream for Glenwood and Greensboro. He was doing for our city what our city leaders claim they want to do for our city.



But all that was before Ben Holder, Brian Higgins, Nancy Barakat Vaughan, the City of Greensboro, the University of North Carolina and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro along with various others came to Glenwood's "rescue." While a Google search for Bulent Bediz will result in lots of media reports telling the City's side of the story not one single Greensboro media outlet has ever taken the time to investigate and tell Mr Bediz's side of the story-- why?

For example, take the curious example of 908 Highland Avenue. Unlike the 60 houses the City and UNCG have already destroyed and the 40 more that are on the Glenwood demolition list, 908 Highland survives.

And let's not forget the 160 giant 80 to 100 year old hardwood trees Mayor Vaughan so graciously allowed to be cut down in 3 blocks in Glenwood without so much as uttering a word-- Mayor Vaughan, the champion of west Greensboro trees who doesn't give a damn about anyone else's trees.

Mr Bediz purchased 908 Highland from Housing and Urban Development in 2005. He completely restored the home. When UNCG and the City of Greensboro pushed Bulent Bediz into bankruptcy, Carolina Bank paid $35,000 to win the bid to buy the house. That was 2009.

Carolina Bank sold the house to Gate City Company in August of 2010 for $30,500-- a $4,500 loss. The Gate City Company is owned by the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. The registered agent for the Gate City Company, according to the NC Secretary of State, is none other than Walker H Sanders, the same man who is responsible for paying $586,000 in taxpayer dollars to David Hagan without the approval of the Greensboro City Council. Just how someone who doesn't work for the City runs up bills on the City's behalf and gets away with it is another mystery yet solved.

In July of 2012, Gate City Company sold 908 Highland to Housing Greensboro, Inc for $500. Housing Greensboro, Inc was incorporated by Donald R Vaughan. Sound familiar? He should, he's married to Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan. Housing Greensboro, Inc is in-fact, Greensboro Habitat For Humanity. 

In August of 2013, after extensive remodeling and a room addition, Greensboro Habitat For Humanity sold 908 Highland to Jonathon O Neese and his wife, Madison for $105,000. Interestingly enough, the assessed value of 908 Highland is only$76,500-- a loss of $29,000.

Remember, this is Glenwood we're talking about. As far as I know the Neeses are just a couple who got suckered into paying too much for a house by another of Greensboro's "non profit" organizations.

According to Guilford County records the taxes were never behind at 908 Highland. and while the Neeses paid far more for the house in 2013 than Mr Bediz had paid for the house years before  their combined City-County tax bill at $677.41 was less than Mr Bediz had paid $725.58 when he bought the house in 2005.

Make sense to you? Me neither.

So what does this prove? It proves that the story of Bulent Bediz isn't exactly as Greensboro Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan, Brian Higgins, Ben Holder and others have made it out to be. But then have any of their stories ever turned out to be what they claimed them to be?

And what does 908 Highland Avenue look like today? It's a good home, just like all those other cookie cutter Habitat for Humanity Homes.

Photo, Guilford County Register of Deeds.

In the weeks to come you can expect to read more about Bulent Bediz and why he is being persecuted and prosecuted by the City of Greensboro, UNCG and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. You'll come to rethink who the real heroes and villains are when it comes to who is destroying and saving our communities. And you'll understand how close each and every one of you are to losing the very homes you've worked your lives to keep.