Will Trump Bail Out Downtown Greensboro?

I recently read that President Trump is sending $100 Million Dollars to what would be named Opportunity Zones to help impoverished communities become well... less impoverished. Not knowing where these Opportunity Zones might be I started doing some searches.

As reported by the New York Times:

"The zones are urban, rural and suburban census tracts, designated by governors and approved by the Treasury Department, that either are high in poverty or border high-poverty areas."

Let's not forget that Downtown Greensboro borders more than one high poverty area in East and South Greensboro.

 And let's not forget that the Greensboro City Council has close ties to our Democratic governor in Raleigh who will decide which Greensboro neighborhoods are most eligible.

Leaving us to wonder just how much Greensboro's noted Downtown Developers donated to both the Trump and Cooper campaigns.

Moving The Homeless Is Not An Option!

On Monday, September 11, 2017 I penned Move Homeless Services Away From Downtown? in response to Amy Murphy's story, Move Homeless Services Away from Downtown? in which she writes about her conversation with a homeless resident from Raleigh who doesn't seem to object to moving Greensboro's homeless resources out into the fringes where the homeless can more easily be forgotten about.

As is usually the case when these kinds of pieces are widely shared, the focus is on anything but real solutions to problems.

Over the weekend the Greensboro News & Record republished Ms Murphy's story.

As is typical, the News & Record is advocating the line of Greensboro's development crowd. "Out of sight, out of mind."

This morning I sent the following e-mail to Ms Murphy and am awaiting her thoughtful response.

"Ms Murphy,

On your blog post you link to the "Raleigh Solution" to homelessness but are you even aware that the address of the project 1430 S. Wilmington St is in Downtown Raleigh?

Perhaps you should consider the facts about the "Maple St Solution" you are advocating: http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/09/move-homeless-services-away-from.html

We cannot continue to push the poor away to fulfill the desires of the well-to do as their real intent is out of sight and out of mind. As a resident of Greensboro for the last 60 years I witnessed it happen before. Stop allowing them to fool you.

-Billy Jones"

I also included a link to this post.

Ms Murphy fails to realize that in terms of homeless services, Greensboro is years ahead of Raleigh. Raleigh currently has nothing like the Interactive Resource Center that Ms Murphy wishes moved out of Downtown. The problem for Greensboro is that our Ineptocracy isn't capable of managing our city's economic needs making unemployment and homelessness in Greensboro far higher in Greensboro than in Raleigh.

Why isn't Ms Murphy advocating that we fix the problems instead of pushing the problems off on someone else?


I will not and cannot support pushing the homeless from downtown. Gentrification is destroying communities and families all across America while creating more and more poor people and more poor communities as it goes. As Mayor of Greensboro and a poor resident of District 2 who was briefly homeless myself some 20 or so years ago, I will fight this with my every breath. Greensboro must not bow down to those who would push us out.

Now when Ms Murphy begins to advocate moving homeless services to Irving Park I might change my mind.

Remember: Write in BILLY JONES FOR MAYOR OF GREENSBORO

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

Fun Fourth, Zack and Mike Barber; “It’s a perfect mix in building up to what they will have in August,” Matheny said. He declined to reveal the [Wyndham Championship] sponsorship amount.

"Downtown Greensboro Inc., the economic development organization focused on center city, has taken over managing the free July 4 celebration and secured a new sponsor: the Wyndham Championship.

Barber's First Tee income is dependent on the City of Greensboro 

via the Bryan Foundation and the City of Greensboro funded Gillespie Golf Course 

and Jim's Bryan Foundation funds the Wyndham Championship via Mark Brazil, 

who sits on both the Wyndham and First Tee of the Triad's boards,

both funded by Jim Melvin's Bryan Foundation.

...DGI will take over Fun Fourth and December’s Festival of Lights from Grassroots Productions Limited, which is winding down operations.

...The festival budget is more than $100,000, not counting close to $20,000 for fireworks, Matheny said.

To manage the festival, Matheny hired Shayla and Desmond Sharpe of Sharpe Pursuits Inc. The Greensboro-based business handles event planning, management and production.

Longtime Grassroots employees Peggy Hickle and Brenda Studt work as consultants, bringing years of festival experience.

What are the costs of the four employees?

Are the employee costs in the $100,000?

...Matheny is excited about Wyndham Championship’s sponsorship, and returning the concert and fireworks to downtown. The Wyndham, part of the PGA Tour, will be played in August at Sedgefield Country Club.

Mike Barber didn't disclose his financial interest

in Wyndham subsidized First Tee of the Triad's use of free City funded services

on his Council Economic Interest Disclosure signed on February 24, 2014,

while funding police and emergency services for the Wyndham Championship

while/after recieving monies from the Wyndham Championship to fund his income

via First Tee of the Triad, and tonight he's going to vote to have Zack Matheny run DGI

with taxpayer monies he also uses to fund his personal income

“It’s a perfect mix in building up to what they will have in August,” Matheny said. He declined to reveal the sponsorship amount."

Why wouldn't Zack want to disclose how much money the Wyndham is putting up?

How much is the Bryan Foundation putting up?

It's all the same group of friends

http://www.greensboro.com/blogs/gotriad_extra/fun-fourth-fireworks-concert-to-move-back-downtown/article_27e22050-c61e-5974-8806-aed64426dee3.html
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$150,000 more for the Civil Rights Museum? $10,000 plus police for the Wyndham which funds Mike Barber's First Tee?

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/05/150000-more-for-civil-rights-museum.html

Mike Barber and Zack Matheny; "Greensboro group pressured to hire new CEO"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/04/goodbye-mike-barber-and-zack-matheny.html

Dear Mike Barber and Zack Matheny; North Carolina Law § 14-118.4. Extortion; Favoritism and Crony Capitalism

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/04/dear-mike-barber-and-zack-matheny-north.html

DGI, Mike Barber and Zack Matheny; "Extortion"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/04/dgi-mike-barber-and-zack-matheny.html

How are Zack Matheny and Mike Barber not guilty of violating § 14-234.1; Misuse of confidential information, in his pursuit of the DGI job?

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-are-zack-matheny-and-mike-barber.html

"Wyndham Worldwide donates $100,000 to [Mike Barber's] First Tee [of the Triad, whose Board Member is Mark Brazil]"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/04/wyndham-worldwide-donates-100000-to.html

As Mike Barber's First Tee of the Triad receives money and benefits from both the City of Greensboro and Jim Melvin's Bryan Foundation, Mr. Barber needs to recuse himself from the DGI mess

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/05/as-mike-barbers-first-tee-of-triad.html

I just received a phone call from City of Greensboro Councilman Mike Barber on First Tee of the Triad

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/05/i-just-received-phone-call-from-city-of.html

Charitable Compensation and Mike Barber's First Tee of the Triad

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/04/charitable-compensation-and-mike.html

Wyndham Championship 2013 Federal Form 990: Part 1

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/05/wyndham-championship-2013-federal-form.html

Wyndham Championship 2013 Federal Form 990: Part 2

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/05/wyndham-championship-2013-federal-form_16.html

Jeff Sykes on Mike Barber; "RECORDS SHOW COUNCILMAN’S NON-PROFIT SALARY"

"Expenses for camps and clinics, the rationale for the organization, amount to $23,193, or six percent of total revenue."

http://yescurrent.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/records-show-councilmans-non-profit-salary/

Councilman Mike Barber Takes City Funding, Refuses Transparency

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/04/councilman-mike-barber-takes-city.html

Mike Barber Lied On First Tee Federal Form 990s

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/04/mike-barber-lied-on-first-tee-federal.html

Mike Barber Shows City Subsidies First Tee

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/04/mike-barber-shows-city-subsidies-first.html

Wyndham Championship offers scholarships to First Tee

http://www.jamestownnews.com/sports/article_070abfb2-a94d-11e3-9589-0019bb2963f4.html

Mark Brazil: Teaching Golf Is More Important Than Treating Autism

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/04/mark-brazil-teaching-golf-is-more.html