Ed Wolverton Leaves DGI: Nothing Changes

DGI Chairwoman Dawn Chaney, announced today that Downtown Greensboro Incorporated President, Ed Wolverton will be leaving July 1st in an "amicable" arrangement. This comes from the same news report that states:

"The decision comes after a months-long, highly public squabble between the city of Greensboro and DGI, in which the City Council publicly stated that the organization and Wolverton did not have the necessary vision for future downtown development."

Seriously, Ms Chaney, do you take Greensboro citizens for stupid? Ed Wolverton did exactly what the Downtown Greensboro Incorporated Board of Directors directed him to do for 15 years and now that Dawn Chaney and others on the DGI board have been caught with their fingers in the piggy bank, Ed Wolverton gets the boot.

You see, it's evidenced in this statement:

"While the City Council and Perkins have been vocal in their criticism of DGI’s vision, they have been relatively vague about specifics of what kind of new vision and direction they would like to see. Perkins has emphasized that downtown Greensboro needs to up its “cool” factor, citing Greenville, S.C., as an example, but has provided few other details.

Chaney said that the new vision for downtown could include examining the potential for development of vacant land in downtown Greensboro for additional walkways, retail shops and office buildings."

But you see, no DGI director will have control over what gets built in downtown Greensboro. The Mayor, City Council, DHG Board and Downtown property owners determine what gets built there, not Ed Wolverton or any other DGI employee.

You can be sure that Ed Wolverton's replacement will research Downtown Greensboro Incorporated and that no one as dedicated as Mr Wolverton will ever be found to replace him. Those who are hired will only see DGI as a stepping stone to other cities. With the help of the Tast Force, the DGI board has indeed sealed its own fate.




Don't forget: Billy Jones told you this would happen.

And why would Rite Aid buy a Downtown Greensboro drugstore with intentions of closing it? It certainly wasn't because Downtown was a better place to do business than Uptown in East Greensboro, was it?

Ed Wolverton Takes The DGI Fall

Just as has been predicted on this blog and others, Edwin Wolverton is about to go job hunting. Prospective employers will no doubt find much criticism of Mr Wolverton on blogs throughout Greensboro, North Carolina but please understand that we've all had jobs too and understand that some bosses, like those Ed Wolverton has been forced to spend the last 15 years working for, make it very hard to do the right thing.

So please, before you refuse to hire Mr Wolverton, please read, Eric Robert On Ed Wolverton. If Eric and I who have long been some of Ed's worst critics can come out and publicly say these things about Mr Wolverton then surely he deserves better than Downtown Greensboro Incorporated-- a lot better.

I've been there, I know what it's like to take the blame and be forced out the door, even blackballed so that my crooked bosses could save their own hides. I've been very hard on Ed Wolverton and while we'll probably never be friends I've experienced the nightmare Ed is experiencing right now. Mr Wolverton, don't be ashamed and should you feel the need for a top notch therapist I know the best in Greensboro. Hell, even if you don't feel the need, hire her anyway and make DGI pay for it as part of your package. She's not hard to look at and it would serve them right to have to pay her bill.

Eric Robert On Ed Wolverton

Like I've said before, Ed Wolverton will take the fall for his bosses, of which Mayor Robbie Perkins is one. My friend, Eric Robert from the comments at Jeff Martin's post, DGI Board:

"... Edwin Wolverton is not an evil guy. He certainly lacks social skills, charisma, elegance and competence, but he is not evil. He is conveniently doing his boards bidding, and therefore was doing his job. Milton could not be seen giving money to himself…that would not be proper. Oh wait…it just happened.
Betty could not be seen transferring money from one organization she used to chair, to another she used to chair and is still a board member of… wait, that just happened as well.

Either way, Ed will most likely be gone when his contract expires at the end of June because he is the fall guy. He is the patsy. He has been loyal to his board, lied on its behalf, deceived on its behalf, misreported numbers on its behalf and most likely committed fraud on its behalf. I know that fraud is a big word but the recently uncovered BUDD group contract illustrates the fraudulent behavior I am talking about.

DGI signed a three year contract with The BUDD group for “Clean and Green services”…the annual amount is $304,750. This is a service contract, and, as such, all of the agreed upon services are provided by a third party (BUDD) . DGI reported to the city that the line item costs it $334,000 in FY2011/2012 and $338,00 in 2012/2013 (this time the number was split across two categories “Clean and Green” and “public services”) No one on council was aware of this, no one on city staff was aware of this.

We also found out about the undisclosed management fees taken out of the center city park pass through funds .No one on council was aware of this, no one on city staff was aware of this. Only Action Greensboro knew. DGI clearly disclosed all other legitimate approved management fees to council and staff during the budget process…they did not disclose a few others as they thought that the contracts were not subjected to the public record laws and therefore would remain secret. I have all documents supporting what i am saying in case anyone is interested.

So…to paraphrase Elizabeth Warren:
How much unethical/fraudulent behavior is acceptable before penalties and sanctions can be applied?
How many thousands of dollars do you have to steal from the constituency you are supposed to represent before the organization is shut down and participating individuals banned from serving in other city ‘s board or commissions?
How many lies and deceptions does it take?
Where is the line?” I hope council weighs in at some point ."

Let it be known that when future employers google Ed Wolverton's name that they will find among my many criticisms of him, the truth that the Board of Directors of Downtown Greensboro Incorporated and the Mayor of Greensboro, a Mr Robert V Perkins III, along with numerous rich and powerful local developers forced Edwin Wolverton to commit crimes against the citizens of Greensboro, North Carolina at the risk of loosing his job or more. Believe me when I tell you, Greensboro's elite always have ways of making people disappear and ruining their lives. Anyone who has seen Mr Wolverton in recent months will have little doubt his crooked bosses have pushed him to the brink of mental, physical and emotional collapse. My recommendation for Mr Wolverton would be to seek out an excellent lawyer in the labor relations field. If you should also feel the need for a therapist I know the best private therapist in the entire city and will happily put you in touch. She will be more than happy to work with your lawyer. You have more than enough evidence to sue the life out of DGI and its executive board members.

Again:

"How much unethical/fraudulent behavior is acceptable before penalties and sanctions can be applied?
How many thousands of dollars do you have to steal from the constituency you are supposed to represent before the organization is shut down and participating individuals banned from serving in other city ‘s board or commissions?
How many lies and deceptions does it take?"

Dear Ed Wolverton, DGI, City Council and City of Greensboro Staff

An e-mail sent by George Hartzman to City Council members, several non profits, city staff, myself and others in the community:

"Why would Ed Wolverton send me a DGI Foundation 990 stating not much other than DGF owning than $78,560 worth of "Equipment", which matches the $78,560 worth of of ice rink filed in the Audit - FY Ending 2011 filed to the NC Secretary of State, after I asked DGI to provide information detailing where the money came from that paid for the ice rink in FY 2010/11?

The question was where did the money originate?

The question does not appear to have been answered.

If the question was answered within the financial statements, please provide clarification.
.
.
.
If the contracual yearly total compensation to the Budd Group for the "Clean and Green Program" was $304,750 from 3/1/2010 to 2/28/2013, why is the 7/1/2011 to 6/30/2012 DGI buget allocation for "Clean and Green Services" $334,000?"


I can't answer George's questions as I have not yet been appointed to the Board of Directors at DGI as I have requested but were I on the board I would allow George access to the real books so that he could find the answers he seeks. After all, DGI is required by law to have open records.

Ed Wolverton, (#1 Google search result) in case you happen to be reading this, are you aware that you will never be hired by anyone else again unless you come clean? No amount of backroom dealing can erase these records and I cannot be bought. You don't look like the type that would fare well at manual labor.

How Is This Non Profit?

Here's the contract between Downtown Greensboro Incorporated and the Budd Group for Downtown's Clean and Green services, something that could have been done by the City of Greensboro at cost, $304,000 but which DGI charges us $323, 500 each year. A mark-up of $19,500. What? You thought Ed Wolverton was actually picking up trash and watering plants? Maybe they'll have him doing that at Central Prison in Raleigh sometime in the future.

And here's DGI's total mark-ups for 2012-2013. A total of $284,000 on top of the actual costs of the services provided by DGI.

And then when we learn that DGI board members like Milton Kern are pocketing public monies. How is DGI even considered a non profit?



I've made it no secret to the Greensboro City Council that I want to help bring an end to these practices by being appointed to the DGI Board of Directors. DGI brought this on themselves. Since their very inception there have been complaints from the public that what they do is shrouded and veiled in secrecy but DGI chose to keep it that way for all these years. There are no accidents and it's looking very much as if this was meant to be.

DGI Gives Grant Money To Board Member

Eleven year Downtown Greensboro Incorporated board member, Milton Kern, owner of the Biltmore Greensboro Hotel was given $5,000 to replace windows and carpet and upgrade outside lighting according to the Greensboro News & Record.

Oh what a tangled web we weave.

Painting Different Pictures On The Same Canvas

In today's Greensboro News & Record, UNCG Professor, Keith Debbage is quoted as saying, “I think I see some green shoots in the seed bed,” and says Greensboro is going through a  “fledgling” recovery as part of his annual, State of the City Report paid for by the Greensboro Partnership.

But as I noted in Too Many Mixed Messages just a few days ago, Action Greensboro who is merged with the Greensboro Partnership and is in-fact the same company, did another study that according to Ed Wolverton of Downtown Greensboro Inc, Downtown Greensboro alone has lost over 7000 jobs.

Why are 2 different studies coming from what is in effect the same organization saying 2 different things?

The 2010, Action Greensboro Moser, Mayer, Pheonix Associates, Greensboro Downtown Economic Development Strategy

Ed Wolverton on Downtown jobs.


Of course, this is nothing new for the Greensboro Partnership, last year the Partnership spent your tax dollars to pay for and then hide the Garner Economics LLC. Local Specialization, Competitiveness & Growth Study which said all kinds of things the "non profits" and the City of Greensboro don't want you to know.

I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here.

Too Many Mixed Messages

While Roy Carroll and Robbie Perkins continue to promote investing $Millions of Greensboro's tax dollars 10 miles outside the Greensboro City Limits, Action Greensboro seems to lament the fact that 40% of Greensboro's jobs are over 10 miles away.

And while Ed Wolverton of Downtown Greensboro Inc was recently proud to point out that downtown employs 21,000 workers, according to Action Greensboro that's a loss of 7,000 workers since 2010.

Now here's a funny one: Action Greensboro claims that "the City of Greensboro (and Guilford County?) has contributed far less funding for capital projects downtown than it has in suburban areas" but all their numbers are blank. That's right, blank.

Did you know there have been at least 11 plans and 100 projects produced for Downtown since 1995? How many have been completed? How many of these plans were just money thrown away? They talk a lot about promoting Greensboro's brand but didn't we just read several discussions in the local media where Action Greensboro and the rest are still trying to figure out what Greensboro's brand is?

Action Greensboro talks about attracting high paying jobs then they go pitching minimum wage jobs in restaurants and performing arts centers.

They talk about Greenways, corridors and connective sites but don't talk about easier ways for the rest of us to get to Downtown. And then they wonder why those of us in the burbs don't support Downtown shops. And no, I'm not talking about driving cars.

Action Greensboro claims the City and the Foundations should be providing more free parking and yet the proposed downtown performing arts center plan calls for raising the price of existing parking without making any more parking available.

Action Greensboro admits that the cost of repairing old buildings in Downtown Greensboro exceeds their retail rental values and yet Mayor Perkins is currently attempting to force downtown property owners to repair these same buildings. Can you say, Land Grab?

I could say a lot more but it's late and I'm tired so I'm just going to repeat something I said 30 years ago that remains true today: If you just let it die then when it's value finally hits rock bottom someone will come in and rebuild it with their own money. But as long as you continue to artificially inflate the market you will always be throwing money downtown a hole.

And for those who think me a liar, the 2010, Action Greensboro Moser, Mayer, Pheonix Associates, Greensboro Downtown Economic Development Strategy courtesy of George Hartzman.

DGI And City Council Screws Downtown Businesses Again

From the Greensboro News & Record:

"Musicians and other street performers are now welcome on the streets of downtown Greensboro.

Late Tuesday night, the council agreed to allow buskers on certain streets, with a permit.

The privilege license tax is $10 and requires a background check."

Background check... So in other words it will be impossible for local club owners to send touring acts out onto the streets prior to shows to generate interest for their upcoming shows. Good way to stick it to your downtown restaurant and club owners once again.

Someone want to explain to me again why the City of Greensboro and Downtown Greensboro businesses pay extra taxes to keep Ed Wolverton and Downtown Greensboro Inc. in business? I really don't get it.

You know, what I do isn't really character assassination. What I'm really doing is reporting on character suicide. These guys are killing themselves. I'm just telling their stories.

Setting The Record Straight On Greensboro Busking

It was not Downtown Greensboro Inc or Ed Wolverton who started or pushed through the effort to bring buskers (street performers) to Downtown Greensboro. It was in fact the buskers, Katie Southard and the former South Elm Alliance that brought this great idea to Greensboro. But as usual, Greensboro's elites try to steal the credit for things they originally opposed and were too stupid to think of in the first place.

Who knows, maybe in a few years, Greensboro will be represented at one or more of the many international and world buskers festivals  or maybe we could even have our own if we can get the stupid elites to go away.

Correction: Katie says, "...I had nothing to do with that." Some of us just think her too modest.

Ed Wolverton's PAC of BS

Downtown Greensboro Inc and Ed Wolverton have decided to weigh in on the GPAC push taking a bit of a different approach which I shall soon rip to shreds. From yesterday's News & Record:

"Downtown is our nerve center

A Dec. 30 News & Record editorial identified issues to address in 2013. Several items focused on downtown, and rightly so. With the ongoing work of Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI), city leaders and a wide range of supporters and volunteers, the center city continues to set the pace to transform our community."

Might I point out this was repeatedly accomplished at the expense and destruction of working class Greensboro neighborhoods. Of course, what the hell would Ed know, he wasn't living here then, he just moved here to take mine and your money after bouncing back and forth between Greensboro and Charlotte, Chandler, Arizona, Mississippi and some place in Kansas where he left amid political controversy. Wolverton doesn't care about Greensboro and will jump ship the next time some city waves more money at him.

"Why the focus on downtown? In short, downtown Greensboro is the region’s most important neighborhood. While a few may disagree, the facts are indisputable. The latest figures estimate that downtown attracts 10.8 million visits during a year. Few neighborhoods draw this many people."

There's a play on words here, can you figure out what it is? While Mr Wolverton isn't lying when he refers to 10.8 million visits a year he wants you to think that means 10.8 visitors a year. What it really means is that 10.8 million trips are made to Downtown Greensboro every year by everyone who must travel to downtown for whatever reason. A real snake there, Ed, forked tongue and all.

"More businesses are in downtown than any other commercial center in Guilford County. More people — more than 21,000 — work downtown than in any other district. Property owners downtown pay more property taxes than those at Friendly Center, Four Seasons Town Centre, the Wendover and I-40 area and even various strip centers along Battleground Avenue."

You'll notice Mr Wolverton doesn't include borders for Downtown. I mean, we all know where Friendly Center, Four Seasons Town Centre, the Wendover and I-40 area and even the various strip centers along Battleground Avenue all begin and end but where does Mr Wolverton consider Downtown's borders to be?

"For all of its economic prowess, downtown is also the community’s living room. People from the entire community and all walks of life regularly visit downtown for events, festivals and gatherings. They also come to shop, dine, stroll and enjoy other amenities."

Now Ed, it may well be true that "people from the entire community and all walks of life" visit Downtown but the vast majority of Greensboro's residents only go downtown when they get a summons be it to appear in front of a judge or to be seated on the jury. You know it, I know it and everyone else in Greensboro knows it. And as I told you in my last e-mail to you, as long as you are too stupid to include adequate benches so that my 80 year old mother can site down and rest, she won't be coming downtown. You see, Shit for Brains, like most working class families, Mother is the only one in our family who can afford to shop. The rest of us are struggling just to get by.

"Looking to 2013, the performing arts center remains a critical community issue. Most everyone agrees that War Memorial Auditorium is past its prime and can no longer serve the community. After two failed bond referendums to address this building, DGI worked with the Community Foundation, the city and almost 100 volunteers to craft a new approach."

We knew this was coming. Let's not forget that War Memorial Auditorium was deliberately allowed to fall into disrepair just like the Grimsley Swimming Pool and World War I Memorial Stadium.

"Using national experts and studying other communities, a new plan emerged that for the first time brings private donations to help fund an innovatively designed and right-size facility that can host everything from Broadway shows to comedy performances to graduations. While some details are still being ironed out, we need to pull together as a community to proactively address this glaring deficiency rather than wait for something to happen that will force us to act."

Show us the money! Rabbi Fred Guttman told us in a comment thread at Greensboro & Guilford County Politics that only $15 Million Dollars had been pledged but the figure you and Walker Sanders like to toss about is $20 Million-- who should we believe, a rabbi or two paid hucksters.

"Downtown housing is another key area mentioned in the editorial. DGI’s visionary approach cast a spotlight on this issue six years ago when we put together a privately funded incentive program to help build more homes in downtown. Last year, downtown drew on this momentum to add 275 new residences. This is astonishing growth of almost 20 percent! Investors have already announced plans for more new units in 2013."

Who is we? Is DGI paying incentives to developers? I don't think so. Greensboro taxpayers are paying incentives to developers. Again, downtown grows at the taxpayers' expense and you try and take the credit. Why not give us some credit for working our asses off and paying the taxes you so love to spend.

"The potential university district is another key for growth. By creating a shared district that can bring together our area col-leges and institutions, downtown is uniquely poised to provide a stimulating urban laboratory that will foster collaboration and efficiencies like nowhere else. DGI is working collaboratively with Opportunity Greensboro to make this idea a reality."

Let's talk about the "potential university district." I agree, it's a very good idea. So why in the hell did you and DGI lead the push to turn downtown into an alcohol fueled entertainment district all those years ago when myself and others were warning you of noise issues and the other problems? Were you stupid then and suddenly smarter now? I don't get it. And somehow, I don't think you get it either.

"The editorial also brought up nightclub safety and the noise ordinance. Although many people mistakenly associate these issues with downtown, the facts show otherwise. In 2012, due to the excellent work of the Greensboro Police Department and more involvement from club operators, downtown had no major nightclub safety incidents. Zero. Every major incident of nightclub violence happened in other areas in the city."

That's nice Ed. But you know what. My neighborhood has the same problem downtown has when it comes to violent crime. My neighborhood was once a very dangerous neighborhood but now it's on par with New Irving Park. The problem is: No one in Greensboro believes it. And with Downtown being Greensboro's most dangerous neighborhood of 2011 it just might take a few good decades to change public perception.

"Similarly, the overwhelming majority of noise complaints came from outside the center city. While more must be done for nightclub safety, and the noise ordinance might need a few tweaks, these are community-wide issues."

Again Ed, you were part of the driving force in bringing an alcohol fueled economy to downtown, have you never set foot in a bar before? Did no one get drunk in your Mississippi sorority? Seriously, how could you not know this would happen. And then you goofballs screwed up and got a noise ordinance passed that was louder than what we had before? What kind of drugs are you selling? Out here in the burbs the noise ordnance was working until Roy Carroll, Robbie Perkins and you conspired to screw it all up. Morons, the lot of you.

"Downtown is the economic engine and social center for the community. These big projects, once completed, will do more than help just downtown. They will help the entire region grow and prosper.

When you add in other projects like the South Elm Redevelop-ment Project, the Downtown Greenway and the steady interest of entrepreneurs opening new businesses, our downtown is on the cusp of something truly amazing. DGI is proud to help lead the way.

Ed Wolverton is president of Downtown Greensboro Inc."

If all of that is true then why are you setting your sights so low? Why are you selling our downtown for pennies on the dollar? Why are we talking about a performing arts center with 300,000 visitors a year and a supposed $7 Million Dollar annual economic impact when we could be building a Downtown Greensboro Aquarium with 3 Million VISITORS a year (no word play there) and $70 Million Dollars a year in economic impact?

$284,000 Profit For A Non Profit?

From ONE + one GSO Click to enlarge.

Might I remind you that wages, taxes, insurance and other expences are already covered by the charges for Economic Development Development Funds, BID Funds, City Project Funds, etc... The $284,000 in management fees is pure profit being paid by GReensboro taxpayers to a registered North Carolina "non profit" corporation.

This is SOP for DGI, Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Partnership, the Greensboro Chanmber of Commerce, the High Point Chamber of Commerce, Grassroots Promotions, the Community Foundation and dozens of other taxpayer funded organizations in Greensboro including the GPAC Task Force. Read about it at Greensboro Partnership Exposed and join me on Tuesday night at Melvin Municipal Plaza to bring this to an end.

The Rest Of The GPAC Story?

Funny how no one told us about this part of the plan to build the Greensboro Performing Arts Center until now. Another privately owned downtown park no doubt to be maintained by the City of Greensboro at taxpayers' expense with lots of management fees, pass through fees and more new non profits to be formed to rip-off the working class just as is being done currently with Center City Park which is owned by the same cast of characters. And whose behind this little scheme? None other than Walker Sanders of the Sanders-Lomax Scandal which, by the way, when given the opportunity to prove their innocence, his wife, Dabney, refused to do so:

"Sanders did not respond to my request for the minutes from the meeting at which the committee decided to recommend Lomax." -Roch Smith Jr. September 24, 2012

While in the meantime, Ed Wolverton is wasting time hanging baskets. It might have been that Joey Medaloni was a crook but at least he never ripped-off the taxpayers and he did pay back the bank. Walker Sanders and Ed Wolverton have never paid back a dime.