Formal Complaint Alleges Systemic Conflicts of Interest at The Assembly, DGI, and CFGG

GREENSBORO, N.C. June 28, 2025 — A detailed formal complaint filed by government watchdog George Hartzman accuses The Assembly, a North Carolina-based news outlet, of systemic conflicts of interest involving its Greensboro coverage, funders, and local institutions including Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI) and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (CFGG).

The complaint names The Assembly’s Greensboro editor Joe Killian, his wife Amanda Lehmert Killian, and multiple institutions whose financial and professional entanglements allegedly compromise the outlet’s ability to report independently on local government and economic power players.

Allegations of Conflict: Marriage, Money, and Media

At the heart of the complaint is Joe Killian, a veteran journalist who previously worked for the News & Record. Killian is married to Amanda Lehmert Killian, who served as a Senior Communications Specialist for the City of Greensboro for eight years under Mayor Nancy Vaughan, who served on DGI's board of directors. Amandda also held a leadership position with the Guilford Green Foundation while Vaughan was Executive Director, a nonprofit that received a $2,500 sponsorship from DGI earlier this year, paid via CEO Zack Matheny’s taxpayer funded credit card.

DGI used taxpayer funds to provide gifts and favors to public officials and contractors, potentially violating N.C. Gen. Stat. § 133-32 (gifts and favors regulated) and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138A-32 (State Ethics Act). These gifts were not reported, suggesting willful concealment and potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 201 (federal bribery) and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-217 (state bribery).

Hartzman argues that these connections, combined with Killian’s relationships with city officials and prior affiliations with open government groups, create an environment ripe for bias—one in which scrutiny of DGI and city government is systematically avoided.

A Closed Loop of Influence?

More broadly, the complaint paints a troubling picture of a media ecosystem influenced by those it’s supposed to cover. The Assembly receives funding through the Greensboro Community Journalism Fund, hosted by CFGG. CFGG itself is a financial partner of DGI and is led by Walker Sanders, who appears on DGI’s internal expense records as the recipient of multiple meals purchased with public funds.

According to the 23-24 DGI ledger obtained by Hartzman on May 21, 2025, Matheny’s DGI credit cards were used three times between August 2023 and February 2024 to purchase meals labeled as meetings with Sanders—totaling $279.24. Meanwhile, CFGG funds both DGI and The Assembly's Greensboro coverage, raising serious concerns about journalistic independence and potential “excess benefit transactions” under IRS rules for nonprofits.

“This isn’t journalism, it’s a closed loop of mutual backscratching,” said Hartzman.

“Taxpayer money flows to DGI. DGI spends it on influencers like Sanders. Sanders' network funds The Assembly, and then The Assembly runs interference for DGI. The public is left misinformed.”

DGI’s expenditures, funded by city contracts, include questionable uses of taxpayer money, potentially constituting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-90 (embezzlement of public funds) and IRS Private Benefit Doctrine violations for 501(c)(6) organizations.

Questionable Reporting and Correction Requests

Hartzman also accuses The Assembly of misrepresentation and failure to meet basic journalistic standards in its coverage of his efforts to uncover irregularities at DGI. He specifically takes issue with statements in Joe Killian’s June 2025 article, “A Conflict Over Conflicts,” including a claim that “none of that was true” in reference to emerging allegations against DGI.

“That conclusion is not supported by facts and presumes the outcome of an unresolved situation,” Hartzman wrote in a June 27 letter to The Assembly. “The financial records are real. The program existed in secret. The lack of accountability is evident.”

Further, he alleges that The Assembly’s reporter Gale Melcher failed to contact him for comment despite referencing him directly in a recent article about DGI’s controversial homeless relocation program involving Greyhound bus tickets. Records show that 32 ticket purchases were made using DGI’s credit card—before the program had any public oversight.

Institutional Silence, Public Trust Eroded

Hartzman argues that The Assembly’s refusal to acknowledge or correct these issues is part of a broader pattern of journalism serving power rather than holding it accountable.

“This is how power protects itself—by attacking those who ask questions, dismissing evidence without examination, and manufacturing narratives to discredit critics,” he wrote.

The complaint also highlights The Assembly’s founder, Kyle Villemain, and his background in strategic communications. Hartzman argues that Villemain’s dependence on maintaining relationships with North Carolina’s nonprofit and political elites further undermines the outlet’s claim to editorial independence.

Demands for Accountability

Hartzman is requesting formal corrections to past reporting, transparency about funding sources, and a commitment from The Assembly to avoid conflicts of interest in its coverage of DGI, CFGG, and Greensboro’s city government.

The Assembly has not yet publicly responded to the complaint.

Hartzman says he has filed formal complaints with the City of Greensboro, The State Ethics Commission, Auditor, Local Government Commission, North Carolina Secretary of State’s Lobbying Compliance Division, IRS and FBI regarding the DGI ledger and related issues. He maintains that watchdog efforts like his are essential when traditional journalism fails.

“The public deserves better than sanitized press releases masquerading as news,” he said. “We need a press that investigates, not one that protects the powerful.”

STATE ETHICS COMMISSION AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S LOBBYING COMPLIANCE DIVISION COMPLAINTS ON LOBBYING LAW AND OTHER VIOLATIONS BY AT LEAST ZACK MATHENY, NANCY VAUGHAN, NANCY HOFFMANN, CITY ATTORNEY CHUCK WATTS AND ROY CARROLL

 "The State Ethics Commission has the authority to investigate complaints against those persons covered by Chapter 120C of the North Carolina General Statutes, “The Lobbying Law,” for alleged violations."

"Complaints involving allegations related only to potential reporting and registration violations should be reported to the Secretary of State’s Lobbying Compliance Division."  

Signed complaint form attached.

Key Allegations:

1. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest & Improper Influence

DGI's 1/30/2025 Bi Annual report (attached) states;

"The Bellemeade Parking Deck is another area where DGI has been instrumental in working with all business owners impacted by its imminent removal. This includes relocating existing tenants and working to identify new development opportunities."

And;

"DGI engaged with City staff, Boards, Commissions, and City Council on issues that impact the BID area stakeholders, including Depot activation and renovation, public safety, road construction, Bellemeade Parking Deck demolition, persons experiencing homelessness, parking and transportation, GPD, BHART, city ordinances and codes, and items related to our 2030 Strategic Vision Plan."

On February 18, 2025, Zack Matheny moved, voted and signed for GENERAL BUSINESS AGENDA item I.1; "2025-130 Resolution Approving Bid in the Amount of $2,354,000 and Authorizing Execution of Contract 2024-0610 with D. H. Griffin Companies, LLC. for the Demolition of the Bellemeade St Parking Deck".

https://www.youtube.com/live/5KWl3t1ia1U?si=xc-NQJfwe6XK-cum&t=12041

Zack Matheny voted on June 3, 2025, to approve the transfer of city-owned Bellemeade property to Roy Carroll’s company, despite clear conflicts:

https://www.youtube.com/live/oc73M2bFEpg?si=iZzjqexaj2f_o3GA&t=11978

In the Bellemeade Street Deck deal, Roy Carroll's company essentially received a $570,000 windfall by purchasing property appraised at $2,420,000 for only $1,850,000, while simultaneously leaving taxpayers to absorb a $504,000 loss when the city paid $2,354,000 for demolition but only recovered $1,850,000 from the sale. This arrangement effectively transferred over half a million dollars in public value to a private developer while also forcing the city to eat additional costs, creating a double benefit for Carroll at the expense of Greensboro residents who saw their tax dollars used to subsidize a profitable real estate transaction.

Roy Carroll and his wife each donated $5,000 to Matheny’s 2022 campaign.

Craig Carlock, a Carroll Companies executive, sits on DGI’s Board, while Matheny serves as DGI’s President—creating a direct financial and political relationship.

https://www.downtowngreensboro.org/about-us/board-of-directors/

I was forwarded Downtown Greensboro Inc.’s FY 2023–2024 financial records released by the City on Greensboro May 21, 2025 (attached). I don't have FY 22-23 or 24-25. The City and DGI have not released the other information to date, in non-responses to information requests. It appears the ledger was released by mistake.

https://www.youtube.com/live/oc73M2bFEpg?t=3156s

Greensboro Public Records Request #29695 Ledger Attached.

DGI (under Matheny’s leadership) has Carroll affiliated expenditures of $4,313.53 in taxpayer-funded grants and expenses (FY 2023-24), attached, including:

$2,500 façade grant to Park View Development LLC (Carroll-owned).

$1,762.96 for a "Carroll meeting" at Postino.

$50.57 for "Lunch Roy Carroll" at Green Valley Grill.

2. Potential Bribery or Quid Pro Quo

The sequence of Carroll's campaign donations in 2022, followed by taxpayer funded DGI spending in return and favorable city council votes reveals a clear pattern of reciprocal influence that raises serious questions about money's role in municipal decision-making.

Matheny’s failure to recuse himself from Carroll related votes appears to violate NCGS § 14-234 (Conflict of Interest) and possibly NCGS § 14-217 (Bribery of Public Officials).

3. Unregistered Lobbying & Misuse of Public Funds

DGI (led by Matheny) used taxpayer money to wine and dine city officials who later voted on Carroll’s projects:

$43.08 for City Manager at Liberty Oak (9/27/23).

$62.49 for Mayor Nancy Vaughan at Car Bar (9/29/23).

$55.53 for Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann at Print Works Bistro (3/7/24).

Matheny, Rob Overman or Downtown Greensboro aren't registered as lobbyists, yet DGI actively shapes policy benefiting Carroll and other donors, violating NC lobbying disclosure laws.

There are no entries under lobbying within DGI's available IRS form 990s (attached).

4. No-Bid Contracts & Lack of Transparency

The Bellemeade property transfer handed Carroll a $570,000 windfall through a no-bid deal that bypassed competitive processes, violating public trust and procurement laws while forcing taxpayers to absorb an additional $504,000 loss on the demolition costs.

Requested Actions:

Criminal Investigation into potential violations of:

NCGS § 138A-32(e): Prohibited gifts to public officials.

NCGS § 163-278.12: Undisclosed lobbying. Secretary of State’s Database Confirms Noncompliance. Searches for "Matheny," "Downtown Greensboro," and "Overman" (DGI VP) return zero registrations

North Carolina law (N.C.G.S. § 14-234) prohibits public officials from voting on matters that financially benefit their associates.

NCGS § 14-234 (Public officials benefiting from contracts).

NCGS § 14-217 (Bribery of public officials).

NC lobbying disclosure laws (DGI/Matheny failed to register and report).

DGI's IRS form 990, attached, states; "FUNDS ARE USED TO POSITION THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AS AN ATTRACTIVE, VIBRANT DESTINATION FOR THOSE WHO WORK, PLAY AND LIVE HERE THROUGH PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, MARKETING SERVICES, SPECIAL EVENTS AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES."

Misuse of public funds (DGI’s questionable expenses without explanation of who and why).

Attached;

DGI's 1/30/2025 Bi Annual report proving lobbying activities which states;

"DGI has been instrumental in assisting with the navigation of various City departments as this project has unfolded."

"Ongoing assistance with the Carroll Companies and the anticipated Marriott AC Hotel"

"Our Economic Development Staff-comprised of the President/CEO, Vice President and our Economic Development Analyst-held 242 economic development and planning meetings in Q1 and Q2."

"DGI is currently working in conjunction with the City Manager’s Office, Parks and Recreation, GDOT and various other city departments on a major placemaking project at the J. Douglas Gaylon Depot..."

"DGI is always working to recruit new businesses to downtown through various avenues, including ...advocacy, serving as a liaison with city departments... Currently, DGI is working with several developers to facilitate ongoing development in the center city."

"DGI continues to serve in an advocacy capacity for our downtown business owners. Most recently, we provided valuable feedback to GDOT on the proposed fee increase for downtown parking and cited potential concerns related to the impact of those increases."

"In our role as a connector, DGI serves as a liaison between builders, developers, and investors and the appropriate stakeholders and governmental departments, including Economic Development, Permitting, Water & Sewer, Planning, GPD, GDOT, and GFD. Our economic development staff continue to meet regularly with developers and investors, helping them navigate the development process and connecting them with critical resources to advance their projects."

It was made clear at the meeting that illegal gifts have been flowing to City staff and elected officials from DGI and Matheny;

Greensboro City Council Meeting 6/3/2025

I said; "Their ledger shows over $40,000 in spending on perks: Haunted House tickets, Oyster Roast tickets, Swarm, Tanger, Grasshoppers, and Wyndham events. Then there’s meals with city officials, nonprofit leaders and Matheny political donors at Green Valley Grill, B Christopher’s, Pura Vida, Natty Greene’s, Undercurrent, Lucky 32, Print Works, Sushi Republic, Postino, Inka Grill and more. All on the public’s dime, paid for with our tax dollars."

https://www.youtube.com/live/oc73M2bFEpg?t=13206s

https://www.youtube.com/live/oc73M2bFEpg?t=14655s

If Zack Matheny and DGI spent a total of $60,000 on event tickets over the last three years, with tickets averaging $65 each, they could have distributed approximately 923 tickets ($60,000 ÷ $65 = 923.08). This represents a significant volume of event access that could influence relationships and create networking opportunities between public officials and private interests.

Matheny has been CEO of DGI since July, 2015.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-matheny-27473613/

Zack Matheny has been a City Councilman since for the second time after resigning in 2015 to take his DGI position in 2015 to avoid a conflict of interest;

"A few months ago, I expressed interest in leading Downtown Greensboro Incorporated and have interviewed to become the organization's next President and CEO. Due to the nature of the discussions and my desire to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest, as of today, I plan to resign from City Council at the June 16 meeting."

https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/greensboro-councilman-zack-matheny-resigning-wants-to-be-head-of-dgi/83-223918723

And then;

"At the time, Matheny was advised by the city attorney that he could not serve on the City Council and as president of a nonprofit organization that received funding from the city."

"Chip Roth has announced he is running for the District 3 seat, and when it was rumored that Matheny was going to run for his old seat, Roth sent out a press release attacking Matheny for having a conflict of interest as the head of DGI."  

https://www.rhinotimes.com/news/zack-wants-his-old-city-council-seat-back/

Meaning;

Violation of North Carolina Gift & Ethics Laws

A. NCGS § 138A-32 (Gift Ban for Public Officials & Employees)

Prohibition: Public officials and employees (including city council members and staff) cannot knowingly accept gifts from a "person" (including organizations like DGI) that:

Do business with the city (e.g., DGI receives taxpayer funding).

Lobby the city (if DGI advocates for policies benefiting specific developers).

Have financial interests affected by the official’s duties (e.g., Carroll’s property deals).

B. NCGS § 14-234 (Conflict of Interest for Public Officials)

Prohibition: Officials cannot participate in votes or decisions that financially benefit themselves, family, or business associates (e.g., Matheny voting as a Councilman on Carroll projects while a Carroll employee sat on DGI's board, while DGI funds Carroll’s ventures with taxpayer money after accepting campaign contributions).

Penalties: Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 120 days jail) or felony charges if corruption is proven.

C. NC Lobbying Laws (Unregistered Lobbying)

If DGI (under Matheny) is influencing city policy without registering as a lobbyist, it could violate NCGS § 120C-101.

Gifts to officials from unregistered lobbyists are explicitly banned.

If DGI is a city contractor (receiving taxpayer funded grants or managing downtown projects with public money), its meals for officials could be expressly forbidden.

3. Potential Criminal Implications

A. Bribery (NCGS § 14-218)

If gifts were given to influence official actions (e.g., DGI wining/dining officials coincident with Carroll-related votes), this could constitute bribery (a Class F felony).

On December 5, 2023, Zack Matheny charged a $300 lunch at Undercurrent Restaurant to his DGI American Express card for a meeting with powerful real estate developers and city contractors including Samet, Dick, Carroll, Hoyle, Baxter, Waldeck, and Smith, suggesting DGI was facilitating access between these private interests and the city councilman who votes on their projects.  

B. Misuse of Public Funds (NCGS § 14-254)

If DGI used taxpayer money (e.g., city grants) to pay for officials’ meals, this could be embezzlement or fraud.

Zack Matheny misused taxpayer-funded DGI resources to wine and dine key city employees - spending $42.30 on December 21, 2023, to take Parks and Recreation's Josh Sherrick to Mellow Mushroom, and $44.30 on February 22, 2024, for a meal with Parks and Recreation Director Phil Flieshman at Cille & Scoe, essentially using public money to cultivate relationships with the very city staff who implement policies he votes on as a councilman.  

Key Takeaway:

The repeated pattern of DGI (led by Matheny) funding meals for officials who later vote on Carroll’s projects creates a strong appearance of quid pro quo corruption. At minimum, this violates ethics laws; at worst, it could justify criminal charges.

If DGI staff, friends, or family members used event tickets purchased with taxpayer or organizational funds;

A. Misuse of Public Funds (NCGS § 14-254)

If DGI receives city funding (taxpayer money) and uses it to buy tickets for personal use (e.g., staff, friends, family), this could be considered embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds.

Example: If DGI used a city grant to buy concert/sports tickets and gave them to employees’ relatives instead of for official business, this could be illegal.

B. Violation of IRS Rules (Taxable Income)

Gifts of tickets to employees/friends may count as taxable income (IRS "fringe benefit" rules).

If DGI didn’t report these as income on W-2s/1099s, it could face IRS penalties.

Nonprofit Compliance Issues (If DGI is a 501(c)(3) or (c)(6))

Private Benefit Doctrine: Nonprofits cannot use funds for private gain (e.g., giving tickets to board members’ friends without a valid business reason).

IRS Form 990 Reporting: DGI must disclose related-party transactions (e.g., tickets given to insiders), which appears to not have happened if so.

If City Attorney Chuck Watts (who accepted at least $64.17 DGI-funded meal on 11/9/2023) advised Zack Matheny that he could vote on a Carroll-related matter—despite clear conflicts—this raises serious concerns about:

If Watts knew Matheny had a conflict (due to DGI’s financial ties to Carroll) but still approved his vote, this could be obstruction.

Obstruction of Justice (NCGS § 14-221)

Violation of NC State Bar Rules (Legal Ethics)

Rule 1.7 (Conflict of Interest): Watts had a personal conflict (he took DGI gifts) but still advised Matheny—a clear ethical breach.

Rule 8.4 (Misconduct): Knowingly giving bad legal advice to enable corruption violates attorney ethics.

Conspiracy to Violate Ethics Laws (NCGS § 14-223)

If Watts and Matheny colluded to bypass ethics rules, they could face felony conspiracy charges.

DGI’s Financial Ties to Carroll = Clear Conflict

DGI (led by Matheny) gave Carroll $4,313.53 in grants/meals.

Carroll donated $5,000 to Matheny’s campaign.

Carroll’s employee sits on DGI’s board.

Matheny voted to give Carroll city property (Bellemeade) at a loss to taxpayers.

NCGS § 138A-32 prohibits officials from voting on matters benefiting donors/business associates.

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Watts' inaccurate comments at the end of the meeting;

https://www.youtube.com/live/oc73M2bFEpg?t=18028s

Watts’ Own Conflict (DGI Meal) Disqualifies Him

He cannot impartially advise on DGI/Matheny ethics issues because he took taxpayer funded gifts from the same organization.

He should have recused himself and let an independent attorney review the matter.

The Greensboro City Council should have hired an outside attorney (not Watts) to investigate.

When a city attorney has a conflict of interest due to receiving gifts from an organization under ethical scrutiny, yet fails to recuse himself and instead provides legal advice that clears that organization, it raises serious questions about;

Article 30 - Obstructing Justice (N.C.G.S. Chapter 14)

Various obstruction statutes could apply if Watts knowingly provided biased legal advice to impede proper investigation of ethics violations.

https://www.youtube.com/live/oc73M2bFEpg?t=8994s

https://www.youtube.com/live/oc73M2bFEpg?si=L-yfOdA-yZsShc1v&t=9926

The second link covers items G.11 and G.12.

N.C. General Statute 14-234 (Self-Dealing/Conflicts of Interest)

If Watts received gifts from DGI while providing legal advice that benefited them, this could apply.

N.C. General Statute Chapter 138A (State Ethics Act)

The Ethics Act establishes conflict of interest standards, a ban against the acceptance of certain gifts by covered officials, and restricts the use of official positions for private gain. This would cover the gift acceptance and potential misuse of official position.

Article 31 - Misconduct in Public Office (N.C.G.S. Chapter 14)

This covers misconduct in public office Chapter 14 - Article 31 and could apply to a city attorney failing to perform duties impartially due to personal interests.

Professional Conduct Rules

North Carolina has special conflicts of interest rules for current government officers and employees Special Conflicts of Interest for Former and Current Government Officers and Employees that could create attorney disciplinary issues for Watts.

The most directly applicable would likely be N.C.G.S. 14-234 for deriving benefit while administering government matters, and the State Ethics Act for gift acceptance and misuse of position.

The Pattern of Misconduct;

Watts received gifts from DGI, then provided legal advice clearing DGI and Matheny of ethical violations, while failing to disclose his conflict or recusing himself. This creates an appearance that he used his official position to protect an organization that provided him personal benefits, potentially obstructing proper oversight of public officials.

The city council's failure to recognize this obvious conflict and hire independent counsel suggests either negligence or complicity in allowing a compromised attorney to clear his own benefactors.

If the less detailed DGI meeting minutes show Zack knew he was lobbying, it suggests he deliberately began concealing his activities to avoid documentation that could expose illegal lobbying conduct. The sudden reduction in detail after his reelection indicates consciousness of guilt - he recognized that his dual role as both councilman and DGI leader created lobbying violations, so he started hiding the specifics of DGI's interactions with city government to avoid creating a paper trail of evidence. This pattern of concealment actually strengthens the case that he was aware his conduct violated lobbying laws and was attempting to cover his tracks.  

Thanks,

g

Doom on Zack Matheny; "Bond money would strengthen Elm Street's 'spine'"

"...Zack Matheny is the leading advocate for the $25 million in downtown projects but said he is far from the leading expert on what comes next if the money is approved.

For now, the CEO of Downtown Greensboro Inc. is working with a consultant to begin a three-month campaign to present a vision for the city...

At what cost?

Was the cost of the consultant included in City Council's approved DGI budget?

In recent weeks, Matheny has said the city should focus on Davie, Church and Greene streets — all of which run parallel to Elm.

Since then, he’s changed his mind.

Perhaps a small grounp of people changed Zack's mind

I wonder whom?

“When we talked about this with some private industry folks and the city and the community, I thought originally ‘Let’s utilize these funds ... to get beyond Elm Street,’ ” Matheny explained. “And everyone came back and said ‘You’ve got to take care of your spine.’ The spine’s what holds the body up. And the spine is Elm Street.”

Fuck Zack Matheny

Zack should register as a lobbyist

Matheny is a paid for pawn of Roy Carroll and friends

...Downtown’s construction boom includes the $60 million Carroll at Bellemeade hotel and apartment development, the $78 million Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, the $10 million LeBauer Park and the $34 million Union Square Campus anchoring the south end.

Richard Barren didn't bother to report why STCPA cost so much more

Richard Barren didn't bother to investigate 

the bullshit math used to justify the debt revenue

for the borrowing by City Council without a referendum

...renovations or future projects that will need improved sidewalks and landscaping to offer a better setting.

How much have Greensboro's taxpayers already dumped downtown?

The News and Record won't report it.

If Elm Street and those extensions bear fruit, his vision of parallel prosperity will happen, Matheny believes.

...As the November vote nears, Matheny said he’ll work to make the case that “you get the biggest bang for your buck investing in downtown.”

“I have a job to do,” Matheny said, “for the betterment of our center city.”

For the betterment of Zack and the rest of City Council's owners,

to be paid for by everyone else

Taxation is theft

Contact Richard M. Barron at (336) 373-7371, and follow @BarronBizNR on Twitter.

http://www.greensboro.com/business/local_business/bond-money-would-strengthen-elm-street-s-spine/article_d3a5ebf6-4478-578f-8186-b53f471c8b79.html

Who would be stupid or smart enough 

to put Zack in charge of blowing $25 million?

Probably those behind the curtain who stand to gain

from stealing from the rest of Greensboro's taxpayers

Tony Wilkins is going to have lunch with David Parrish and Zack Matheny before he votes for DGI's contract on the 7th

"If you can read this you are invited to lunch on Wednesday (25th) at TunaZilla, 223 S. Elm St. between 11:30 and 1:00. Just a gathering to help promote a new business downtown and we can talk politics or food or whatever. Scheduled to be there- Councilmembers Nancy Hoffmann and Justin Outling and Tony Wilkins- Asst. City Managers David Parrish and Chris Wilson, DGI President Zack Matheny, and others will be posted as they confirm attendance."

Tony Wilkins

Greensboro's News and Record's Margaret Moffett misleads readers for Mike Barber and Nancy Vaughan

Whether the council’s actions were legal

depends on whether a majority of members continued to discuss the contract issue privately...

...They didn’t, reported the News & Record’s Margaret Moffett.

Doug Clark and Allen Johnson

John Hammer; "Speaker Drives Council into Kitchen

As a result of deliberations at what was clearly an illegal private meeting, the Greensboro City Council postponed action on awarding the contract to allocate the downtown Business Improvement District (BID) funds at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 17, in the Council Chambers.

The problem is that the deliberations on how to handle the contract were not done in the Council Chambers with the public present and in front of the television cameras, or even with the city clerk taking minutes.  It was done in the backroom with only councilmembers and two reporters present.

The fact that the reporters were welcomed into the meeting doesn’t meet the definition of a public meeting according to the North Carolina open meetings law.  The meeting in the hallway outside the council offices and in the small kitchen area was clearly held to make a decision in private rather than in public, as is required by law.  It’s not enough to simply allow two reporters to attend the meeting; the public has to be invited and have access, and they did not.

Whether the council’s actions were legal

depends on whether a majority of members continued to discuss the contract issue privately...

...They didn’t, reported the News & Record’s Margaret Moffett.

Doug Clark and Allen Johnson

The public, the city clerk, the city attorney and Councilmember Tony Wilkins were all left in the Council Chambers when seven councilmembers (Councilmember Yvonne Johnson was absent) and two reporters went in the backroom to make a decision.

...Robert said that he had been told about an hour before the meeting that Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI) was allowed to revise its proposal five days after the deadline.

Zack Matheny cheated with David Parish's help

DGI used David Parish as a reference in the proposal

...Once they got back to the council offices, Barber said in response to a question from Banks about what was going on, “Based on the history of litigation, I think we need to postpone this for two weeks.”

Mike Barber violated North Carolina open meeting laws

by discussing the issue

...the other councilmembers did discuss the matter among themselves.

Margaret Moffett lied

It was certainly not a formal meeting in any fashion since most of the deliberation appeared to take place in the small kitchen where there were chicken wings and pizza, so there was a crush around the food, but in that crush the councilmembers were discussing what to do about the contract to award the downtown BID money.

Right after Barber made his statement, Councilmember Sharon Hightower asked if there were a time element involved in awarding the contract.

Margaret Moffett lied to News and Record readers

Mayor Nancy Vaughan said that DGI was funded through the end of the fiscal year, June 30, so delaying the contract for two weeks shouldn’t be a problem.

Nancy Vaughan discussed and deliberated illegally

Then councilmembers discussed rebidding the contract, since questions had been raised about the bid process.  But the decision made in the backroom was to have the staff go over the proposals and make certain that everything was in order and then award the contract at the next meeting, scheduled for June 7, the date of the congressional and state Supreme Court primaries in North Carolina.

City Attorney Tom Carruthers was late arriving at the backroom meeting and warned that no deliberations should be taking place.

Doug Clark and Allen Johnson misled News and Record readers

The councilmembers who were in the midst of deliberating said none were, but were still discussing whether to rebid the contract or not while they ate pizza and chicken wings..."

http://www.rhinotimes.com/Content/Default/One-Click-Reading/Article/Speaker-Drives-Council-into-Kitchen/-3/6/1222

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Allen Johnson and Doug Clark; "Whether the council’s actions were legal depends on whether a majority of members continued to discuss the contract issue privately, Jonathan Jones of the N.C. Open Government Coalition said in an email to blogger Roch Smith Jr. that was copied to media and council members. (They didn’t, reported the News & Record’s Margaret Moffett.)

...It gives the appearance of backroom discussion even if there was no violation of the open meetings law or if there was perhaps a relatively minor violation.

Doug Clark and Allen Johnson misled News and Record readers

...The question of DGI is especially sensitive. Its CEO, Zack Matheny, is a former council member. What’s more, before Matheny got the job in 2015, a DGI administrator alleged that a councilman — Barber — had pressed the nonprofit’s board to hire Matheny or risk losing city funding.

...Appearances do matter. And right now, our City Council isn’t looking so good."

http://www.greensboro.com/opinion/n_and_r_editorials/our-opinion-a-pregnant-pause/article_f086e976-4e4b-5904-8549-efe352a8d512.html
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Margaret Moffett; "Council halts discussion on downtown contract amid allegation

In previous years, the council didn’t have to let other groups compete with DGI to get that contract. But a vote by the General Assembly changed that last September...

Councilman Mike Barber then asked for a recess. Council members left the chamber and walked back to the common area outside of their offices. John Hammer, editor of the Rhino Times, and I accompanied them.

Barber told council members they needed to stop the discussion until the city’s legal staff could investigate the matter.

“Based on the history of litigation, 

I think we need to postpone this for two weeks.”

Mike Barber

The council returned to open session a few minutes later, then voted to postpone its decision on who should get the contract.

Barber said afterward that he stopped the meeting after “hearing an allegation from one of the legal bidders that completely put the process in another context.”

The move was necessary, Barber said...

...Mayor Nancy Vaughan said the council needed to stop the meeting to make sure there is no hint of controversy when the council finally does vote on awarding the contract.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan said that DGI was funded through the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 

so delaying the contract for two weeks shouldn’t be a problem.

John Hammer

When someone with a history of litigation against the city makes an allegation, “you want to make sure you get it right,” she said."

http://www.greensboro.com/news/council-halts-discussion-on-downtown-contract-amid-allegation/article_b0dc63cc-a825-5901-8437-f9ed5e561e33.html

Margaret Moffitt lied for Nancy Vaughan, Mike Barber and the rest of council

Margaret should be removed from her position covering Greensboro's City Council
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News and Record's Margaret Moffett; "Council halts discussion on downtown contract amid allegation"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/news-and-records-margaret-moffett.html

On DGI at this evening's Greensboro City Council Meeting; This is what non-transparency looks like

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/on-dgi-at-this-evenings-greensboro-city.html

The City of Greensboro shafted their own employees; "401(k) Fees, Already Low, Are Heading Lower"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-city-of-greensboro-shafted-their.html

News and Record's Margaret Moffett; "Council halts discussion on downtown contract amid allegation"

"The City Council abruptly ended a discussion Tuesday about who should run downtown’s business district after a bidder accused the city of giving an unfair advantage to Downtown Greensboro Inc.

Zack Matheny and DGI obviously had an unfair advantage

as Zack's cronies pay City Council members in exchange for taxpayer funded largess

It happened as council members were listening to a presentation from downtown developer Eric Robert. His company, Qub, submitted a bid to manage the district — and get the $600,000 a year that comes with the contract.

Zack Matheny's proposal for Greensboro's downtown improvement district proposal 

has become a great example of how corrupted the City's staff and Council have become.

...DGI, lead by former City Councilman Zack Matheny, also submitted a bid to manage the downtown business district.

Zack is City Council and City Council's donor paymaster's pawn and lobbyist.  

In previous years, the council didn’t have to let other groups compete with DGI to get that contract. But a vote by the General Assembly changed that last September.

Now, via a clearly rigged RFP process, as Zack came in with a $999,771 proposal 

when the limit was $600,000, 

the game's outcome appears clearly predetermined and rigged for the inside elite crowd.

During his presentation, Robert said he learned Tuesday that city staffers let DGI modify its bid after the process had been closed.

Zack Matheny had a direct financial interest in applying for a job he voted to fund, 

and now Tom Philion and David Parrish and the rest of Council 

are in on getting Zack a new contract with an incorrect and overpriced proposal 

which violated the RFP rules of engagement, without consequence.

Assistant City Manager David Parrish explained that the modification didn’t change the substance of DGI’s bid.

After listing Assistant City Manager David Parrish as a reference, 

who is said to be involved in determining who gets the contract, 

Matheny also listed ArtsGreensboro's Tom Philion, 

whose organization has is and continues to gain from City Council votes, 

making Tom a 'yes man' along with Parrish for references 

as Tom serves on DGI's board and takes money from taxpayers with Zack's help 

and the News and Record's complicity and profitability, 

as ArtsGreensboro pays the paper, literally, 

for positive press with the help of Margaret Moffett, 

who is in Mike Barber's back pocket, and has been for years. 

Councilman Tony Wilkins started questioning city staffers. He said he knows someone connected to a third group, the lowest bidder on the project, that didn’t get such special favors.

Councilman Mike Barber then asked for a recess...  Barber told council members they needed to stop the discussion until the city’s legal staff could investigate the matter.

Mike Barber is a known liar 

who tried to extort the DGI job for Zack Matheny out of Cyndi Hayworth 

after Zack leaked Hayworth's lack of education credentials, leaving her ineligible for the job 

after Matheny helped get Jason Cannon fired to get the same job 

and the News and Record and the Rhino Times didn't report it 

and endorsed Mike Barber as he personally profits from taxpayer owned properties

and has City of Greensboro employees fix and deliver golf carts to his residence

so his kids can play on them.

The council returned to open session a few minutes later, then voted to postpone its decision on who should get the contract.

Barber said afterward that he stopped the meeting after “hearing an allegation from one of the legal bidders that completely put the process in another context.”...

Mayor Nancy Vaughan said the council needed to stop the meeting to make sure there is no hint of controversy when the council finally does vote on awarding the contract...

Zack Matheny, Nancy Vaughan and Mike Barber 

put their own interests of power, income and reelection in front of the best interests of City of Greensboro taxpayers, 

and the News and Record and the Rhino Times didn't report it, as they are in on the pay to play.

Vaughan said the council will talk about it at the next meeting. That’s scheduled for June 7, but Vaughan said the date likely will change since it is election day for Congressional races."

Mayor Vaughan and Zack Matheny are Roy Carroll etc...'s pawns, along with most of council

as declared by multiples of high ranking City of Greensboro employees behind the backs 

of their crooked/fucked up/corrupt/crony leadership who are sick of being abused with lies told to the public

Contact Margaret Moffett at (336) 373-7031, and follow @MargaretMoffett on Twitter

http://www.greensboro.com/news/council-halts-discussion-on-downtown-contract-amid-allegation/article_b0dc63cc-a825-5901-8437-f9ed5e561e33.html
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Something is very wrong with Zack Matheny's DGI proposal, which just won approval by the City of Greensboro

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/something-is-very-wrong-with-zack.html

DGI proposal crookedness personified by conflicted references and connected cronies

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/dgi-proposal-crookedness-personified-by.html

DGI At Any Price? Or Blackmail?

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/dgi-at-any-price-or-blackmail.html

DGI At Any Price? Or Blackmail?

When your car breaks down do you call your accountant and ask him to fix your car?

If the roof on your house were leaking would you call a plumber? What if the plumber was willing to hire a roofer, get your roof repaired and mark up the bill by 50%-- would you call your plumber then?

If you needed surgery would you ask a first year med school student to cut you open and offer to pay him 50% more than an experienced and successful surgeon was willing to do the job for?

So why is the Greensboro City Council, who budgeted $600,000 for marketing downtown Greensboro, willing to pay Downtown Greensboro Inc. and Zack Matheny $900,000 to do the job?

Eric Robert, who submitted a competing bid, had the following to say. Click on any image to view full size.

So why should the City Council pick Eric Robert over Zack Matheny and Downtown Greensboro Inc? I mean, besides the fact that Eric didn't exceed the budget and Zack exceeded budget by 50%.

Well for starters, Eric is experienced in marketing running his own marketing and design firm called QUB. Zack has zero marketing experience and plans to hire a 3rd party company to do the marketing for him. Besides having previously created DGI's most successful marketing campaign in its history, Eric is also among the creators of the wildly popular Project Runway television show originally on Bravo and now on the Lifetime network. Eric has worked in marketing and design for years. Look at some of the photos of what he has done with the Old Mill.

Zach promoted a DGI online selfie campaign that went nowhere. Eric is still drawing royalty checks from Project Runway, Zack is only drawing taxpayer dollars.

Eric Robert, whose last name is pronounced Row Bear, was born in France, grew up in Africa and educated at UNCG and Elon. He speaks about 6, maybe 9 languages fluently and is very proud of the fact that he is an American Citizen. So much so that one of the rooms at the Old Mill has become his Flag Room. The picture really doesn't do justice to his creative work.

You can check out The Mill's Facebook Page for lots more stunning photos of Eric's creative work there.

Eric managed to bring Duck Head and Prospect Brands to downtown Greensboro, even opening there flagship store there,  after Zack Matheny and the Greensboro City Council failed to do so. And while Zack and company were offering taxpayer funded incentive packages, Eric brought them here using nothing more than good old fashioned honest business sense and modern creativity to fill their needs. At no cost to the taxpayers.

So what has Zack done? Well if you ask Zack he'll no doubt name a long list but all of Zack's accomplishments all involveing spending taxpayer dollars in one form or another. And when it comes to creativity the best Zack has done to date is a Twitter selfie promotion and a few months without yet another DWI.

But the Greensboro City Council will vote to renew the contract with Zack Matheny and DGI anyway.

Despite years of complaints from council members including Mayor Vaughan herself that DGI has failed to do its job.

Despite years of overwhelming complaints from downtown business owners that DGI has repeatedly failed to do its job.

Despite the fact that the last time DGI's contract came up for renewal, Mayor Vaughan promised to cut funding to DGI but increased funding instead.

Despite the fact that Zack Matheny illegally funneled the falsified personnel records of previous DGI president Jason Cannon to this writer as part of Zack's efforts to steal Jason's job.

Despite the fact that just a few months ago Zack Matheny was found drunk, passed out in his car, in the early morning hours in the parking lot of a methadone clinic near the corner of North Church St and Cone Blvd.

And to prove the methadone clinic is where I said it is, I give you  from Google maps Crossroads Treatment Center, 2706 N Church St, the very parking lot identified in the media reports with the abandoned grocery story right behind. There's no denying this one, People, this is where Zack was found in the parking lot.

And despite all that the Greensboro City Council will again contract with Zack Matheny and Downtown Greensboro Inc paying $300,000 over budget instead of hiring Eric Robert. Why? To finance Zack's drug habits? How are the merchants of downtown Greensboro, taxpayers and even the casual observer to believe this is anything more than payoff for blackmail to Zack Matheny and other connected individuals who know the secrets our leaders most fear the world learn?

DGI proposal crookedness personified by conflicted references and connected cronies

Zack Matheny's proposal for Greensboro's downtown improvement district proposal has become a great example of how corrupted the City's staff and Council have become.  After listing Assistant City Manager David Parrish, who is said to be involved in determining who gets the contract as a reference, Matheny also lists ArtsGreensboro's Tom Philion, whose organization has is and continues to gain from City Council votes, making Tom a 'yes man' along with Parrish for references as Tom serves on DGI's board and takes money from taxpayers with Zack's help and the News and Record's complicity and profitability, as ArtsGreensboro pays the paper, literally, for positive press with the help of Margaret Moffett, who is in Mike Barber's back pocket, and has been for years. 

Zack is City Council and City Council's donor paymaster's pawn and lobbyist.  Now, via a clearly rigged RFP process, as Zack came in with a $999,771 proposal when the limit was $600,000, the game's outcome appears clearly predetermined and rigged for the inside elite crowd.

These folks have no problem pulling fictitious numbers out of their asses, as the local news industry is going to back them up without investigation or question.

Margaret Moffett is complicit, as her salary is partially paid for by ArtsGreensboro who pays the News and Record for propaganda



Here's the latest example of Tom Philion's take from the City of Greensboro budgeted handouts for nonprofits in in exchange for his reference for Zack's continued take from City taxpayers, written by none other than Margaret Moffett;

http://www.greensboro.com/gnr/inside-scoop-city-suggests-for-nonprofits-in-budget-proposal/article_aa1a2256-35ea-52b5-b4c9-18c4d0faa575.html

Previously;

Something is very wrong with Zack Matheny's DGI proposal, which just won approval by the City of Greensboro

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/something-is-very-wrong-with-zack.html
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Mayor Vaughan and Zack Matheny are Roy Carroll etc...'s pawns, along with most of council
as declared by multiples of high ranking City of Greensboro employees behind the backs of their crooked/fucked up/corrupt/crony leadership who are sick of being abused with lies told to the public by the News and Record and the Rhino Times 

Zack Matheny had a direct financial interest in applying for a job he voted to fund, and now Tom Philion and David Parrish and the rest of Council are in on getting Zack a new contract with an incorrect and overpriced proposal which violated the RFP rules of engagement, without consequence.

Zack Matheny, Nancy Vaughan and Mike Barber put their own interests of power, income and reelection in front of the best interests of City of Greensboro taxpayers, and the News and Record and the Rhino Times didn't report it, as they are in on the pay to play.

Mike Barber is a known liar who tried to extort the DGI job for Zack Matheny out of Cyndi Hayworth after Zack leaked Hayworth's lack of education credentials, leaving her ineligible for the job after Matheny helped get Jason Cannon fired to get the same job and the News and Record and the Rhino Times didn't report it and endorsed Mike Barber as he personally profits from taxpayer owned properties.
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City Of Greensboro Subsidizes News & Record via ArtsGreensboro


http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/06/city-of-greensboro-subsidizes-news.html
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Still no word on Mike Barber's golf cart delivered to his home by a City of Greensboro employee, as Margaret Moffett has her head so far up his ass she won't investigate or report anything negative on her patron saint.

Something is very wrong with Zack Matheny's DGI proposal, which just won approval by the City of Greensboro

On May 4, 2016, the City of Greensboro approved the selection of DGI's proposal as "the sole Vendor of Choice" to manage downtown with City of Greensboro taxpayer monies;

. .
From the Request for Proposals;

Says the budget is to be $600,000, and "Activities proposed in excess of the program budget will not be accepted;

The budget is $600,000;

If 80% of the total budget is supposed to go to "program expenditures", only 20% is supposed to go to "Administrative and Maintenance Operations"; 

From Zack Matheny's DGI proposal submitted to the City, which David Parrish is said to be directly involved in the selection process.  Note Nick Piornack, who was in on Revolution Mill's incentive take and the South Elm parking lot loss etc...;

Zack's references, which includes David Parrish, the Greensboro Assistant City Manager involved in the selection process for the RFP = Conflict of Interest;

Zack's proposed budget is more than $600,000;

$81,157 + $84,805 = $165,962 for Admin and Maintenance, is supposed to cover all the employees salaries and rent etc...?

David Parrish and Jim Westmoreland have some questions which need answering.

Why was the proposal accepted if it was more than $600,000?

How is DGI going to be able to pay all it's ongoing overhead with $165,962?

John Hammer on Mary Vigue and Say Yes to Education and Zack Matheny and Andy Zimmerman's play for tapayer money; Same things only different

As downtown grows....Developer has asked Greensboro for grant to assist Lewis Street projects https://t.co/Tu9d8Xl939 via @NewsandRecord

— Zack Matheny (@zackmatheny) November 11, 2015

"One of the selling points for Say Yes to Education was that it wasn’t going to cost the City of Greensboro anything to support it.  The representatives of Say Yes said all they wanted was Greensboro’s support.

If you graduate and get accepted to college, 

your tuition will be paid to the last dollar.

You just won a free college education. All of you. 

Susan Ladd

Greensboro's News and Record

September 17, 2015

It turns out that’s not entirely true.  All Say Yes wanted was the support of the City Council and free office space.

After Mary Vigue was tasked to lead the committee

for the City of Greensboro Say Yes to Education initiative,

and then after being hired by Say Yes to Education

to run the local program,

Vigue and Say Yes are now asking for City of Greensboro

taxpayer funded hand outs.

An item on the agenda for the City Council Community Services Committee meeting Thursday, Nov. 12, concerns 1,000 square feet of office space rented to Say Yes for $1 a year – well below the market rate."

http://www.rhinotimes.com/Content/Default/Columns/Article/Rhino-Shorts-Nov-12/-3/7/770
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This is no different from taxpayer funded Zack Matheny

using his position at taxpayer funded DGI

to get taxpayer hand outs for DGI board member Andy Zimmerman

who was a 2015 City Council campaign contributor

and overall supporter of the current City Council

in their election bids

"Zimmerman and Zack Matheny,
who is a former council member
and president and chief executive officer of Downtown Greensboro Inc.,
met Tuesday night in closed session with council members."

http://www.greensboro.com/business/developer-has-asked-for-grant-to-assist-lewis-street-projects/article_7b1b48e2-7d82-5c56-a5da-0b4d73bb4d12.html
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Now that Andy is officially a Greensboro taxpayer profiteer, taking payments from taxpayers after backing Zack Matheny's 'mistake' as a member of the board of DGI after being appointed by Nancy Barakat Vaughan, and then letting Zack lobby for $150,000 of everyone else's money to be transferred into Andy's pockets, he should be so very proud of himself for transforming from an independent business owner/capitalist into a corrupt, rentier fascist, sucking off the public teat with the help of some of the most crooked politicians in Greensboro's history.

Andy's patron's will be parking in a taxpayer funded for profit parking lot build by partners of Nancy Hoffmann, near a building Hoffmann sold to Zimmerman.  I'm sure Andy will get Nancy Hoffmann's vote for the $150,000, and it will be determined that there is no conflict of interest by the rest of our corrupt city council. 

Mike Barber should definitely vote for the give away, as he wouldn't want to make his money making deal out at Gillespie Golf course with First Tee of the Triad look like it's not a good thing. 

One parasite voting for another, while our poor population doesn't have benches at bus stops and who gets overly harassed by the police protecting Zimmerman's properties and profits.
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Look what you've turned into Andy. 

You are one of them now.

I wish you the best of luck taking food off my table with the help of Nancy, Nancy, Zack, Jamal, Justin, Tony, Yvonne, Marikay, Sharon and Mike 

What's it like to have been a entrepraneur who became a leach?

Congrats Andy.

Andrew Zimmerman's donation to Jamal Fox

http://candidatereports.myguilford.com/files/1703_FOX_JAMAL.PDF

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"Downtown Greensboro Inc. got two new board members this week

The Greensboro City Council’s appointment of high-profile downtown developers John Lomax and Andy Zimmerman could mean the embattled nonprofit agency may escape the cut in city funding that it has been threatened with this budget season.

“You could assume that,” said Mayor Nancy Vaughan, who appointed the two men at Tuesday’s City Council meeting."

Nancy Vaughan put Andy on the board of DGI

to help cement Zack Matheny into the driver's seat

to shovel everyone else's money to DGI board members

Andy is joined at the hip with Vaughan and Matheny.

"Lotus Lounge building under contract

by Eric Ginsburg

The prospective new owner of the Lotus Lounge property in downtown Greensboro is a familiar face on West Lewis Street. Andy Zimmerman, who does business as AZ Development, has the 120 W. Lewis St. building (housing Lotus Lounge nightclub) under contract as of today, according to a statement from Downtown Greensboro Inc. released this afternoon.

Zimmerman owns the buildings directly across the street that houses Gibb’s Hundred Brewing, the Forge makerspace and the newly opened HQ Greensboro co-working space. He also owns the building on the northwestern corner of South Elm and West Lewis streets, which is under development, as well as the property on the northern side of downtown where Crafted: the Art of Street Food and Preyer Brewing are located.

...Downtown Greensboro Inc. President Zack Matheny said. Matheny, a former Greensboro city councilman [and now professional lobbyist for DGI board members], said he — and by proxy, DGI — was integral to pulling together building owner Paul Talley and Zimmerman for the deal.

...Matheny declined to elaborate on what Zimmerman might do with the building. Paul Talley couldn’t be reached for comment, but Zimmerman gave a few details via phone.

“My ass is going to work really hard to ensure that this deal goes through,” Zimmerman said.

...“In order for me to make the deal, I’ve got to fill the space,” Zimmerman said, adding that he’s open to other ideas for the building.

In the statement, Zimmerman said he expects to close on the property in November.

Zimmerman and Talley both serve as new members on the board of Downtown Greensboro Inc. Matheny is also new to the organization, having been there for approximately two months. Zimmerman said Matheny worked very hard to help the deal happen."

http://triad-city-beat.com/lotus-lounge-building-under.../
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That's what parasites do.

Sounds great doesn't it, until Zack goes back to his funders at City Council to ask for money to line Zimmerman's pockets.

Greensboro's taxpayers are funding Zack, a lobbyist for City Council's campaign contributors, to get money for entrenched interests from Greensboro's taxpayers.

Same thing for Marty Kotis a few weeks back.
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On October 3, 2015, Guilford County's Board of Education was shown a "Full Tuition Scholarship Incentive" plan, for every GCS graduate who goes to college

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/on-october-3-2015-guilford-countys.html

How the Triad Business Journal got played for chumps by Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/how-triad-business-journals-reporter.html

Economic Development discussion @tangeroutlets @mkotis @KouryCorp and Roy Carroll leading discussion… https://t.co/5Go7fvbrEB

— Zack Matheny (@zackmatheny) November 5, 2015

#GSO business developer Marty Kotis eyeing new project near downtown GSO. http://t.co/15K08dHRvQ

— News & Record (@NewsandRecord) October 5, 2015

Marty Kotis has a lot going on in a most unlikely place beside the railroad tracks. http://t.co/GhZf63xvWf

— Richard M. Barron (@BarronBizNR) October 5, 2015

Good story on one of our latest projects in #soGSO. About time that Greensboro gets a Bier Garten. #DTGSO #beer https://t.co/CCFf7Hr19S

— Jeff Nimmer (@JeffNimmer) October 5, 2015

Marty Kotis plans new destination development under Eugene Street bridge http://t.co/EWTfiyp37z pic.twitter.com/ZzNjEQUPgG

— Greensboro NC (@GreensboroNCRR) October 5, 2015

Approximately 1 Million Unemployed Childless Adults Will Lose SNAP Benefits in 2016 as Greensboro builds a performing arts center and a basketball facility

"Singles in the Piedmont, with no children, will no longer get food stamps next year

Davidson, Guilford and Randolph are among 23 counties in the state where people ages 18 to 50, who are unemployed and don't have children, will be limited to three months of food stamps every three years.

Expect crime to spike, 

meaning more need for police enforcement,

obviously unexpected by our country club mayor etc...

To get benefits, a person would have to be part of a work program or work at least 20 hours a week due to new United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines.

The changes are expected to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016."

http://myfox8.com/2015/10/28/singles-in-the-piedmont-with-no-children-will-no-longer-get-food-stamps-next-year/
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Guilford County, NC Current Unemployment - 6.3%

An unemployment rate which isn't accurate

as the recovery from 2008 was/is a facade to placate the lower classes

for the benefit of the Roy Carroll's and Marty Kotis' of our community

via low interest rates transferring wealth 

from poor savers to real estate developers and the top 1% of investors

http://www.homefacts.com/unemployment/North-Carolina/Guilford-County.html
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"3—number of months childless adults aged 18-50 are eligible for federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps, unless they are employed or in a work training program for at least 20 hours a week—a program that most states, including North Carolina, does not provide (Up to 105,000 childless adults in North Carolina would lose food aid in 2016 if legislators prohibit new waiver, Progressive Pulse, September 25, 2015)

Think the News and Record will report this?

Has the News and Record reported this to date?

Ever been lied to but didn't know until it was too late?

77—number of counties with high unemployment for which North Carolina officials applied for a federal waiver in July so low-income adults could continue to receive their federally-funded food aid benefits (Up to 105,000 childless adults in North Carolina would lose food aid in 2016 if legislators prohibit new waiver, Progressive Pulse, September 25, 2015)

11.7—unemployment rate in Scotland County, one of the 77 counties where low-income adults would no longer receive food assistance if House Bill 318 that forbids federal waivers is enacted (N.C. Department of Commerce)

11.7— unemployment rate in Graham County, one of the 77 counties where low-income adults would no longer receive food assistance if House Bill 318 that forbids federal waivers is enacted (Ibid)"

http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2015/09/28/monday-numbers-268/
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"Roughly 1 million of the nation’s poorest people will be cut off SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) over the course of 2016, due to the return in many areas of a three-month limit on SNAP benefits for unemployed adults aged 18-50 who aren’t disabled or raising minor children.  These individuals will lose their food assistance benefits after three months regardless of how hard they are looking for work.

If it take the New York Times

to tell us about our police related problems,

who is going to tell us before the News and Record does

about this problem?

...Because this provision denies basic food assistance to people who want to work and will accept any job or work program slot offered, it is effectively a severe time limit rather than a work requirement, as such requirements are commonly understood.  Work requirements in public assistance programs typically require people to look for work and accept any job or employment program slot that is offered but do not cut off people who are willing to work and looking for a job simply because they can’t find one.

In the past few years, the three-month limit hasn’t been in effect in most states.  The 1996 welfare law allows states to suspend the three-month limit in areas with high and sustained unemployment; many states qualified due to the Great Recession and its aftermath and waived the time limit throughout the state.  But as unemployment rates fall, fewer and fewer areas will qualify for waivers.

Our elected leaders just don't give a shit

and the News and Record let's them get away with it.

Maybe they will vote for and pass a meaningless resolution

as they didn't vote or budget for the ball team

without telling anyone.

...The loss of this food assistance, which averages approximately $150 to $200 per person per month for this group, will likely cause serious hardship among many.  Agriculture Department (USDA) data show that the individuals subject to the three-month limit have average monthly income of approximately 19 percent of the poverty line, and they typically qualify for no other income support.

Meanwhile, our tax dollars are allocated to DGI,

whose members use Zack Matheny as a lobbyist

to discriminate against the homeless 

and allocate everyone else's money 

to City Council's biggest campaign contributors 

The indigent individuals at risk are diverse.  About 40 percent are women.  Close to one-third are over age 40.  Among those who report their race, about half are white, a third are African American, and a tenth are Hispanic.  Half have only a high school diploma or GED.

...Many in this population, which generally has limited education and skills and limited job prospects, struggle to find employment even in normal economic times.

Think Greensboro's paper of record

could bother to find out how many of our citizens

are going to go hungry next year

before the TPAC crowd asks for more money

after sliding David Hagan $586,000 in real estate commissions

while he 'volunteered' on the committee

lobbying City Council for the money?

...local charities that work with this population need to prepare for the return of the three-month cut-off provision on a large scale.  States need to be prepared to reinstate this complex rule properly and to engage stakeholders and prepare them for the consequences as substantial numbers of indigent individuals in their communities lose food assistance....

http://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/approximately-1-million-unemployed-childless-adults-will-lose-snap-benefits