A comment awaiting moderation at Triad City Beat's "Say Yes says maybe to undocumented Guilford students"

"Steve Sumerford chairs the board at the Cone Health Foundation, which contributed $1 million to the endowment."

Jordan Green

More like pledged $1 million over a series of years, 

along with the other big pledges like Duke Energy's, 

which over the long term makes the endowment unsustainable.

"[Kevin Gray, ...holds a position on the scholarship board as the executive director of the Weaver Foundation] ...whose foundation contributed $1.25 million to the endowment with an agreement that some of the money could cover operational expenses.

Why isn't Say Yes to Education, 

who pledged $15 million to "cover operational expenses"

covering operating expenses, and letting local money go to scholarships?

...the High Point Community Foundation and the Cone Health Foundation made significant contributions to establish an endowment. Many of those funders, who now have a voice in Say Yes’ governance through positions on the scholarship board and operating committee..."

Jordan Green

Jordan, do you realize the High Point Community Foundation 

and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro 

are making money from the endowment?

"Meredith Archie, a spokesperson for Duke Energy, noted that the energy giant’s $1 million grant to Say Yes-Guilford is specifically earmarked for “wrap-around services” like tutoring, mentoring, health, social services and after-school activities that are available to all students in the Guilford County Schools system..."

Jordan Green

It's a grant over a series of years Jordan.  

The money hasn't all been granted yet.

It's news Duke Energy's money isn't going to scholarships.  

So how much of the money pledged to Say Yes to Education-Guilford 

isn't going to scholarships?

"Say Yes-Guilford has raised $41 million towards a goal of $70 million set for the endowment."

Jordan Green

No they have not.  

Skip Moore told the operating committee at the last meeting 

Say Yes Guilford actually has a little over $10 million in hand.  

The rest is pledged over 4 to 6 years.

"Considering that the endowment provides scholarship funding through an interest yield of roughly 4 percent per year..."

Jordan Green

If Say Yes has about $10 million in hand, 

are they only paying out about $400,000 this year?

https://triad-city-beat.com/2016/11/say-yes-says-maybe-undocumented-guilford-students/#comment-70066
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Tuesday, November 15, 2016; An email sent to Say Yes to Education folks this morning;

Skip said there is a little more than $10 million in hand and a little under $41 million pledged.

Correct me if I didn't hear that, but that's what it sounded like Moore said, but didn't show up in the News and Record article. I told Donnie that's what I was operating on unless I heard different, and I haven't.

Still haven't 

Walker Sanders told me the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro was charging its normal rates to manage the money

That's inexcusable. Skimming like that off of money meant for poor kids.

Jordan Green and Triad City Beat don't seem to have any problem

with Greensboro and High Point Community Foundation's 

skimming money off an endowment set up to fund scholorships 

for Guilford County's students, with Skip Moore's blessings

One of the speakers told the audience Guilford County was the third Chapter which doesn't appear to be true

I heard about 5 times the money is coming in over the next 4 to 6 years.

Say Yes has misled the public by giving the impression it's got the full $41 million.

And Jordan Green repeated the lie

Still don't have any numbers on how much was given out.

If Say Yes gives $2 million, $1,000 each for the whole school year, they just gave out 20% of the money in hand.

Leaves $8 million.

At 0% return, another $7.5 million comes in ($30 million / 4) next year, but the students double.

Say Yes pays out $4 million on the new class on top of the first one, leaves about $11.5 million, not counting what the 'foundations' and whomever else takes out of the pot.

Same math plus another class the next year with 2,000 more scholarships leaves about $13 million.

Same math plus another class the full 4 classes going at the same time leaves about $12.5 million.

See the problem? If another $7.5 million doesn't come in the next year, Say Yes is left with $4.5 million, which wouldn't cover the following year.

If a whole lot of new money doesn't come in over a long period of time, Say Yes runs out of money in less than 10 years, so don't go around telling grade school kids their college tuition is going to be covered, because it's probably not, which is most likely how all those other Say Yes chapters went under, and why the state stepped in for Syracuse.

So good luck to undocumented students, 

as Say Yes doesn't appear to be able to fund the scholorships

of the students they have already said would get them

It's time for some adults to step up and tell the truth, which Skip and friends have been hiding for more than a year.

It starts with actual numbers to crunch.
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Now the time has come to get some answers from Say Yes now that the operating committee etc... is in place, and most know what the issues are.

Then the answers need to be reported by our local news outlets, which has a 80/20 chance of not happening.

Which Jordan Green and Triad City Beat just proved

Triad City Beat Lying to their readers and Guilford County's rising seniors about Say Yes to Education

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/12/triad-city-beat-lying-to-their-readers.html

I handed out about 100 fliers of this at the meeting; "Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford Unanswered Questions"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-handed-out-about-100-fliers-of-this.html

Hey George,

I haven’t had a chance to write about Say Yes yet really, 

but these are good questions. 

I saved them in my email news folder for when I can cover it. 

Sorry for the delayed response,

Eric Ginsburg

Triad City Beat associate editor

Mon, Oct 26, 2015 at 9:34 PM

Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey; President at Say Yes to Education, Inc.; Professional Fundraising Organization

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/mary-anne-schmitt-carey-president-at.html

Say Yes to Education Independent Contractor Compensation the News and Record's Susan Ladd failed to report

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/say-yes-to-education-independent.html

Say Yes to Education, Inc. (Say Yes), and Say Yes Guilford appears to be a legal Ponzi scheme and/or a Racket

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/say-yes-to-education-inc-say-yes-and.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

City of Greensboro Public Information Request on Say Yes to Education; "Say Yes to Education designee on the Operating Committee, Scholarship Board and Community Leadership Council"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/08/city-of-greensboro-public-information_23.html

Ponzi? From Say Yes to Education's 7/1/2014 to 6/30/2015 IRS 990 tax form

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/10/from-say-yes-to-educations-712014-to.html

Dear Donnie Turlington and Mary Vigue; Please explain why Say Yes to Education's money is in Central America

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/02/dear-donnie-turlington-and-mary-vigue.html

The new investigative reporting by Triad City Beat; "City eats: How city council spends money on food"

"When the Greensboro City Council members are hungry, it’s usually for pizza.

Triad City Beat culled through the 63 most recent food receipts for city council meetings, work sessions and retreats to figure out where the city’s leaders spend public funds on food. Most of the time it came from restaurants (49), though 13 receipts are from grocery/retailers and one is from a catering company..."

https://triad-city-beat.com/2016/09/city-eats-city-council-spends-money-food/

No Mike Barber making money off taxpayers from Gillespie

No unauthorized water and sewer

Not much of anything,

as they keep asking for City money for a Coliseum ad

like Yes Weekly and the Rhino Times get

Eric Ginsburg was named 

in a Guilford County Superior Court lawsuit filed against the City

for refusing to comply with public records law

and didn't report it

16 cvs 6934

Eric doesn't appear to really give a shit about Greensboro

WILLIAM BAKER JONES v. THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NANCY VAUGHAN and JIM WESTMORELAND

1. Pursuant to Rules 3, 7 and 8 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, complaining of the defendants, Plaintiff alleges and says; This is an action pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Law, Chapter 132 of the General Statutes which seeks to compel the City of Greensboro to disclose public records under North Carolina Law.

...2.  Plaintiff William Baker Jones is the proprietor of EZGreensboro News and Record, an investigative local news and opinion outlet covering North Carolina, Guilford County and The City of Greensboro at EZGreensboro.com...

3.  In the course of gathering information about the policies and actions of Greensboro's government, Plaintiff and his staff regularly make use of and rely on North Carolina Public Records Law to gain access to government documents, records and information owned by the public.  Compliance with Public Records Laws on the part of the defendants and other public officials is critical to the Plaintiffs' work advocating for the best interests of our community, county and state.

...We have been thwarted in our aim to provide readers with accurate, timely and thorough information and comment concerning Defendant’s decisions, actions and policies.

Plaintiff's alternative online news outlet received over 242,630 page views between January 1, 2016 and July 31, 2016, which equates to 34,661 per month or about 1,155 per day at EZGreensboro.com.  Plaintiff's best guesstimate of actual readers, considering 8,087 page hits per week, is probably somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000 readers every seven days.  Considering 7,157 Greensboro residents voted in October 6, 2015's City Council primary, if there are only 1,500 local EZGreensboro News and Record readers per week, EZGreensboro.com appears to be in a position to reach and inform somewhere in the 20% range of the total 2015 primary voters within the City.

...10.  Since October 19, 2015, Mayor Vaughan and Manager Westmoreland, sometimes in league with former Greensboro Assistant City Manager Mary Vigue and former Greensboro Communications Director Donnie Turlington, violated Public Records Law repeatedly on multiples of instances in response to public information requests for the benefit of former City Assistant Manager Mary Vigue and former City of Greensboro Communications Director Donnie Turlingon, among others.

11.  These violations include, but are not limited to:

a.  failing or refusing to furnish requesters with copies of requested public records "as promptly as possible" on multiples of requests;

b.  failing or refusing to permit the inspection and examination of public records at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision;

c.  denying or concealing the existence of public records on multiples of items.

12.  The defendants' behaviors suggest, and therefore Plaintiff believes and alleges, that some or all of the violations described above are consequences of concerted policies and practices adopted and followed by the defendants for the purpose of avoiding or circumventing the Public Records Law and discouraging or intimidating public records requesters.

13.  These policies and practices include, but are not limited to:

...14.  PIRT #5180, submitted by EZGreensboro staff as directed by Plaintiff on October 19, 2015 stated “please provide all communications and documentation between city councilman Tony Wilkins and anyone else for the last 90 days.  Please look at both Mr. Wilkins' private and public email addresses”, has not been fulfilled.

Plaintiff has also requested the following from the City;

a.  Triad City Beat’s PIRT #5309, "Civil Emergency" by Eric Ginsburg, which has not been fulfilled since 12/4/2015.

b.  Downtown property owner Eric Robert's PIRT #5418, "dgi", which  has not been fulfilled since 1/24/2016.

c.  Yes Weekly’ PIRT #5754, "Zack Matheny" by Jeff Sykes, which has not been fulfilled since 5/18/2016.

d.  Jeff Sykes’ PIRT #5619, "Cascade Saloon", which has not been fulfilled since 4/5/2016.

e.  Plaintiff's PIRT #5782, "Marty Kotis", which has not been fulfilled since 5/27/2016.

f.  PIRT #5181, submitted by EZGreensboro staff as directed by Plaintiff on October 19, 2015 stated “please provide all communications between Zack Matheny and anyone at the city including city council members private email addresses for the last 90 days”, which has not been fulfilled.

g.  PIRT #5226, submitted by EZGreensboro staff as directed by Plaintiff on November 2, 2015 stated “Please provide any documents and/or communications between anyone in the City's executive office area and anyone from Say Yes to Education for the last 120 days”, which totaled 1,108 emails according to the City of Greensboro, which has not been fulfilled.

15.  To Plaintiff's knowledge, Plaintiff's review of Say Yes to Education's publicly available IRS form 990's indicates the 'non-profit's' investments are located in "CENTRAL AMERICA  AND THE CARIBBEAN", and invested in Say Yes to Education founder George Weiss' Weiss Multi-Strategy fund, from which Say Yes Guilford has been promised $15 million.  Plaintiff's review of Weiss' publicly available asset returns for Weiss' Multi-Strategy fund found investment returns which didn’t correspond to returns found within Yes to Education's non-profit IRS filings.  Plaintiff recently filed complaint #16SEC093 with North Carolina Secretary of State's Securities Division concerning Say Yes Guilford and Say Yes to Education.

16.  On October 26, 2015, Triad Business Journal's Katie Arcieri wrote "After a career with the city of Greensboro that began in 2006, Mary Vigue was recently tapped as the executive director of the local chapter of Say Yes to Education..."

17.  To Plaintiff's knowledge, Say Yes to Education and Greensboro City Manager Jim Westmoreland, who along with Nancy Vaughan and City Council, coordinated low cost publicly funded office space for Say Yes Guilford, whose staff includes former City Assistant Manager Mary Vigue and former City of Greensboro Communications Director Donnie Turlingon, who have declined to provide EZGreensboro News and Record with 2014's Say Yes to Education's 990 tax return after being asked for the document in writing on October, 20, 2015 and again on July 19, 2016.  Say Yes Guilford was also asked for the 2014 990 and its conflict of interest policy and ethics code on October 20, 2015, which has not been provided with Westmoreland and Vaughan's knowledge.

18.  On Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 11:12 AM, Plaintiff received an email from City of Greensboro Public Records Administrator Katherine Carter, stating "Dear Mr. Jones, Thank you for your public records request.  Per your request, I have made a note in our system to send you a copy of the response to PIRT 5180, 5181, 5226... upon their completion. I will be in touch with you once these requests have been finished", which have not been concluded in a reasonable amount of time, on top of unreasonable terms beforehand on multiples of requests.

19.  To Plaintiff's knowledge, part time City of Greensboro Public Records Administrator Katherine Carter was Say Yes Guilford's Director of Communications Donnie Turlington's former employee directly before and/or after Turlington was City of Greensboro's Communications and Marketing Director in a similar time frame as former City of Greensboro Assistant Manager Mary Vigue was identified as a member of the Say Yes to Education Planning Group for Greensboro before resigning her City post to become Say Yes Guilford's Executive Director for Say Yes to Education.

...these instances disclose patterns and practices of delay, obfuscation, non-responsiveness, foot-dragging and stonewalling on the part of Vaughan, Westmoreland, Vigue and Turlington concerning former employees Vigue and Turlington and a select few City Council campaign contributors who are now personally profiting from their former and current positions which effectively defeats and defies the public policy of transparent and open government underlying Public Records Law.

21.  Based on the patterns and practices described above, Plaintiff believes and alleges the defendants' concerted and repeated violations of the Public Records Law constitute willful and contumacious failures by the defendants to carry out the mandatory and prescribed duties of their respective...

WHEREFORE, the plaintiffs respectfully pray that the court:

23.  Set the matter down for an immediate hearing pursuant to G.S. § 132-9(a);

24.  Enter an order in the nature of a writ of mandamus to inferior government officials ordering the government officials to properly fulfill their official duties or correct an abuse of discretion requiring the defendants and all persons acting at their direction or in concert with them to comply with North Carolina Public Records Law, including G.S. § 132-6(a), (See, e.g. Cheney v. United States Dist. Court For D.C. (03-475) 542 U.S. 367 (2004) 334 F.3d 1096.);

25.  Enter an order pursuant to G.S. § 132-9(a) compelling the defendants to make available any and all public records requested by Plaintiff and others that are determined by the court to be within the City's custody or control, and that have not been previously made available in compliance with G.S. § 132-6;

26.  Enter an order declaring that certain policies and practices adopted and followed by the defendants are in violation of the Public Records Law;

Plaintiff further prays the court provide him with such further and additional relief as the court shall deem to be just, proper and authorized by law, and that the costs of this action be taxed against defendants Westmoreland and Vaughan.

Signed this the 16th day of August, 2016;

William Baker Jones
Pro Se

Update: Scanned images of the 3 envelopes showing the lawsuit was sent by Certified Mail.

Court documents as filed with Guilford County Superior Court.

Richard (Skip) Moore's misleading statements; "8 Things to Know About "Say Yes To Education"

Hey George,

I haven’t had a chance to write about Say Yes yet really, 

but these are good questions. 

I saved them in my email news folder for when I can cover it. 

Sorry for the delayed response,

Eric Ginsburg

Triad City Beat associate editor,

forever ago, along with the News and Record

..."Say Yes to Education"..., a program that would pay the college tuition for all Guilford County School graduates and possibly charter schools down the road. Free money? Sounds almost too good to be true. So, WFMY News 2 took your questions to a local planning committee member, Richard (Skip) Moore, and got answers.

1) What is "Say Yes to Education"?

"Say Yes" is a non-profit based in New York. It all began when a businessman promised 112 students in Philadelphia that he would pay for their college tuition if they graduated from high school. Then the program expanded and it first started in Syracuse followed by Buffalo. Guilford County is the number one candidate for the third location.

Not true, meaning Richard (Skip) Moore misled Guilford County

Why did the Philadelphia Chapter close in 2000?

Why did the Cambridge, MA Chapter close in 2008?

What happened to the New York, NY Chapter which opened in 2004?

2) How would it work in Guilford County?

The community must raise the money to pay for the students' college tuition. Guilford County's ultimate goal is $70 million and the fundraising will have to go on forever to keep the program alive.

"A lot of the money that we're getting will be endowed," Moore said. "It will be invested and we'll only take out four or five percent a year. And that's what we'll spend and the rest of it will stay invested so, what we want to do is build up a reserve.

from: Carr, Nora  @gcsnc.com> to: Geo

date: Wed, Oct 21, 2015 at 7:10 PM

subject: RE: FW: Say Yes to Education information request for Guilford County Schools 

mailed-by: gcsnc.com

I believe the Weaver Foundation provided funding for the delegation to Buffalo. Guilford Education Alliance coordinated the trip.

Guilford Education Alliance, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, and the High Point Community Foundation have been involved in developing the partnership and assisting with planning, project coordination and fundraising for this effort.

GCS is part of the partnership but this is not a GCS-only initiative.

There are a number of private individuals and foundations that have contributed to the scholarship endowment fund.

The list of donors has been included is provided below:

Phillips Foundation: $5 million

The Edward M. Armfield, Sr. Foundation: Up to $5 million

Earl and Kitty Congdon family, High Point: $2 million

Anonymous family in High Point: $2 million

VF Corporation: $2 million

United Guaranty Corporation: $1 million

Weaver Foundation: $1.25 million

David R. Hayworth, High Point: $1 million

Rob and Susan Culp family, High Point: $1 million

Anonymous individual in High Point: $1 million

Anonymous couple in area: $1 million

Cone Health Foundation: $1 million

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro: $1 million

Lincoln Financial Foundation: $500,000

Nora K. Carr

Chief of Staff

Guilford County Schools.

3) Will that money really be enough?

The money only pays tuition other scholarships and grants won't cover...

4) Besides covering tuition, what are the other benefits of "Say Yes?"

The program will keep track of student's absences, missed homework assignments and other signs a child is falling behind. Based on what the child is struggling with, they'll get help from services like mental health clinics, tutoring, and after school programs. The "Say Yes" initiative calls those wraparound services.

"So it's just trying to find a kid where he or she is along their academic career and being sure that if there's a red flag, we remove that red flag," Moore said.

5) Who does the program benefit?

...only Guilford County Schools students who attend sixth grade through graduation will get their full tuition covered. The amount you get goes down the later the student enters the district...

"We didn't think it was right that you could just transfer into the Guilford County Schools spring semester of your senior year and your eligible for a full scholarship," Moore said. "That's not the point of the program. It's not a scholarship program, it's a whole preparing and passing through and being ready for post-secondary education."

6) What does it cost me?

All of the fundraising will be private money, unless a public group decides to make a donation. The "Say Yes" program is also working with different agencies to rearrange current resources to support the wraparound services without spending more money. The "Say Yes" foundation based in New York will pay to hire staff to run offices in High Point and Greensboro..."

http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/8-things-to-know-about-say-yes-to-education/223556463
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"from: Richard Moore
to: hartz
cc: Abbey Johnson <ajohnson@guilfordeducationalliance.org>
date: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 3:00 PM
subject: Questions about Say Yes

Mr. Hartzman:

your questions were forwarded to me. I can give you some information.

Where will the money be invested, and at what cost?

———— funds will be invested and managed by the two community foundations. Fees will be normal and customary,

The Weaver Foundation's Richard Moore, 

and the High Point and Greensboro's Community Foundation

have yet to disclose what the assets will be charged, 

and in what the money is to be invested, 

and in what the monies are currently invested in now

What will the salaries be of Say Yes Guilford employees?

———— there are twi components to the organization — a 501c3 that will do the fundraising and management. This is a volunteer program thus far except for one administrative assistant. The Say Yes guilford staff is hired by the Say Yes Foundation of New York. I am not sure that their salaries are released but you will have to ask them about that.

What percentage of the total amount will be directly given to students each year?

———— there will be a normal endowment distribution.

Still unknown unknown, 

not cleared up by Skip Moore, an advocate

What are your expected yearly fundraising costs?

———— undetermined

What will the money be invested in?

———— will be managed professionally

Is Say Yes Guilford to be considered a fiduciary?

———— you will have to ask the Say Yes national folks about this. The local organization will be a 501c3

Will the investment manager be considered a fiduciary?

——— investment managers will be professionals who are in this business.
____________________
Richard (Skip) Moore"

Mr. Moore has betrayed our community

by not providing transparency over millions for Guilford County's families

Sunday, July 10, 2016; Oblivious Buffalo News Editorial Board "Say Yes is leading a vital improvement in the number of college-bound students"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/oblivious-buffalo-news-editorial-board.html

Monday, July 11, 2016; Say Yes To Education-- The E-Mails, Part 5

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/say-yes-to-education-e-mails-part-5.html

Harriet Tubman On Say Yes To Education

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/harriet-tubman-on-say-yes-to-education.html

Tuesday, July 5, 2016; Why did the Hartford Chapter of Say Yes close in June 2005?

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/why-did-hartford-chapter-of-say-yes.html

Thursday, June 30, 2016; Say Yes to Education's amazing, quite unbelievable investment performance; This is a George Weiss special

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/say-yes-to-educations-amazing-quite.html

Thursday, June 30, 2016; John Hammer on new Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras and Say Yes to Education

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/john-hammer-on-new-guilford-county.html

Wednesday, June 29, 2016; Please ask Greensboro's City Council, Guilford County's Commissioners and School Board a version of the following questions

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/please-ask-greensboros-city-council.html

Wednesday, June 29, 2016; New Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras' = Say Yes to Education, Say Yes Guilford and Say Yes Syracuse = Say Yes now owns Guilford County Schools

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/new-guilford-county-schools.html

Wednesday, June 29, 2016; WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH 2015; "The Say Yes to Education program has closed its Syracuse office"

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/wednesday-july-29th-2015-say-yes-to.html

Thursday, June 30, 2016; Say Yes To Education-- The E-mails: Part 1

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/06/say-yes-to-education-e-mails-part-1.html

Friday, July 1, 2016; Say Yes To Education-- The E-mails: Part 2

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/say-yes-to-education-e-mails-part-2.html

Triad City Beat Lying to their readers and Guilford County's rising seniors about Say Yes to Education

"Say Yes to Education

Half of the money to fund the endowment — $70 million — had already been raised by the time Say Yes Guilford launched in September..."

Brian Clarey, Jordan Green and Eric Ginsburg
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Brian Clarey, Jordan Green and Eric Ginsburg failed to inform the public of the unsustainability of the program.

Brian Clarey, Jordan Green and Eric Ginsburg failed to tell their readers that most of the Say Yes money isn't in hand, but will be 'gifted' over a series of years, especially the biggest chunks, with no knowledge of what the money is invested in or how much the program is going to cost.

Brian Clarey, Jordan Green and Eric Ginsburg are fucking clueless 

Brian Clarey, Jordan Green and Eric Ginsburg failed to tell the public how much each student may receive in 2016, and in 2017 when the number of scholarships should double, and in 2019, when the expected number of scholarships should double again, because they don't know, as they probably haven't asked, and Say Yes isn't saying if they did, because Say Yes has already been asked, and declined to provide any information including multiple years of tax returns which are supposed to be public records.

Brian Clarey, Jordan Green and Eric Ginsburg should have the temerity to tell some truth once in a while, instead of acting as a mouthpiece for Greensboro's aristocracy while swimming in a sea of financial illiteracy.

But they didn't, don't and probably won't, as speaking truth to power would probably put them out of business, so they will likely continue to act as stenographers for our ruling class, just like Greensboro's News and Record and Roy Carroll's Rhino Times who are playing along with the ruse.

http://triad-city-beat.com/the-triad-100-what-mattered-most-in-2015/6/
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"Routh won't run again for Guilford school board"; Mo Green, Nancy Routh and Amos Quick jumping the Say Yes Guilford and Say Yes to Education ship

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/12/routh-wont-run-again-for-guilford.html

Say Yes to Education, Inc. (Say Yes), and Say Yes Guilford appears to be a legal Ponzi scheme and/or a Racket

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/say-yes-to-education-inc-say-yes-and.html

Say Yes to Education Red Flag; Mary Vigue; She is about to be in charge of more than $25 million for a 'non-profit' after shafting City of Greensboro employees out of investment fee cuts

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/say-yes-to-education-red-flag-mary.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

Greensboro's News and Record doesn't mention Mo Green leaving just before this story broke; Who would have thought?

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/12/greensboros-news-and-record-doesnt.html

I crashed the Say Yes to Education and Say Yes Guilford meeting at Smith High School and passed out fliers asking the following questions;

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/i-crashed-say-yes-to-education-and-say.html

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

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/11/john-hammer-on-mary-vigue-and-say-yes.html

Heard Spice Cantina went under...along with a couple hundred thousand Greensboro taxpayer dollars

"A property south of the train tracks behind South Elm Street and the Cascade Saloon was sold in 2008 to what would become Greensboro Parking Group LLC for $1,050,000, with a $52,500 real estate commission, half of which was paid to “NAI”.

NAI, as in Robbie Perkins' real estate company

The most crooked mayor in Greensboro's history

until Nancy Vaughan

In February 2012, Greensboro’s City Council passed a resolution approving a $200,000 loan, $100,000 of which was to construct a parking lot that has been completed, and a second $100,000 for a companion restaurant to Worx. Current City Council members who voted for the loan include Nancy Hoffmann, Yvonne Johnson, Zack Matheny, Nancy Vaughan and Marikay Abuzuaiter.

This is on Nancy, Yvonne, Zack, Nancy and Marikay's heads.

These current City Council Members 

and one crooked Greensboro taxpayer funded lobbyist

are directly responsible for what took place

The developer agreed to, and was required to comply with, specified contractual conditions including; “The second $100,000 of City loan funds will be invested in the last $100,000 of project improvements after confirmation that the developer equity and bank funds have been fully deployed into the project. Architect’s or engineer’s certification of work completed on the project and work remaining to be done will be provided to the City prior to the release of any City loan funds. Committed funds totaling $2,272,860... Capital investment must be complete and in-place by July 31, 2013. The parking lot and restaurant tenant, [Spice] Cantina, are required to create at least 4 new full-time positions [by] July 31, 2013. Developer must confirm that all funds inclusive of the tenant up-fit funds of $179,000 necessary to open the restaurant are available and ready to be invested in the business and present a signed lease ... that will own and operate [Spice] Cantina before the second $100,000 of City loan funds are disbursed. The second $100,000 will be used in the renovation and opening of the restaurant and will be reimbursed ... only after all work is substantially completed on the project. The second $100,000 of City loan funds will be invested in the last $100,000 of project improvements after ... bank funds have been fully deployed into the project. No advance payments shall be made.”

Instead of letting organic  forces of free market capitalism

determined who won or lost, 

Nancy, Yvonne, Zack, Nancy and Marikay

chose to allocate money to Council cronies,

which in my view, is a subtle form of fascism

which hurt unconnected businesses down the street

A member of the Momentum Group, whose principals including Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI) board member Nick Piornack, informed three City staff members last week that “75 or 80 percent” of the Cantina was complete.

Natty Greene’s poised to move to Revolution Mill

Natty Greene’s co-owner Kayne Fisher 

has previously said that the company will soon outgrow its production facility...

...Revolution Mill Business Development Manager Nick Piornack 

couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Thursday. 

But it appears that if city council approves both grants this upcoming Tuesday, 

Natty Greene’s is here to stay.

Councilman Jamal Fox, 

who represents the district where Revolution Mill is located, 

said he is confident that the resolutions will pass."

http://triad-city-beat.com

Yet the developers have submitted invoices, and received payments from the City, for all but $1,642.86 of the second $100,000. A guesstimate of the project’s progress appears to be far less than the 75 percent cited.

Greensboro's City Council 

just approved millions for a Nick Piornack connected venture

just like they did for his newly failed restaurant

which stole business from competitors down the street

with City Council's blessing 

and their own tax money

The Momentum Group has been in discussions with City Council member Nancy Hoffmann to develop a couple of properties Hoffmann recently purchased on Lewis Street, which would utilize the lot she voted to fund for patron parking.

Nick Piornack as in Nancy Hoffman's business partner, 

Nick Piornack?

Billy Jones

December 5, 2015 at 4:56 PM

Personal guarantees were required from the investor group that included Piornack, whom Nancy Hoffmann nominated for the DGI board.

Nancy Hoffmann Campaign Contributors 

whom Hoffmann voted taxpayer money/largess for, 

which Greensboro's press won't report;

Marty Kotis, Wayne Abraham, Andrew Brod

(Agnes) Gary Brame, George Carr, Dawn Chaney

Betty Cone, Shirley Frye, John Graham

Chip Hagan, Ross Harris, Cyndy Hayworth

Henry Isaacson, Marc Isaacson, Tobee Kaplan

Milton Kern, (Emily) Ed Kitchen, Deborah Lankford

The Lebauers, Reid Phillips, Nick Piornack

The Samet family, Michael Shiftan, Susan Schwartz

Desmond Sheridan, Barry Siegal, Doris Tanger, Cecilia Thompson

http://candidatereports.myguilford.com/files/1612_DOC080315hogf-08032015134439.pdf

Kinda makes you wonder, don't it?

Previously, Hoffmann consented to allow a tenant to apply for a retail grant for her Elm Street building for electrical work, frame and sheet rock, and plumbing. In my view, the grant, which was funded by a Hoffmann Council vote that allocated monies to DGI, benefited her personal property. At a Council meeting, Hoffmann stated “No taxpayer money was spent on my behalf for the 302/304 South Elm building.”

Think the News and Record 
will report Nancy Hoffmann's connections to Nick Piornack
after not reporting her lying to her taxpaying constituents
for self dealing?

It appears the developers have not deployed the agreed upon private monies before asking for the second $100,000 as required. The capital investment and jobs were not in place by the deadline, and the required lease was signed by Piornack, as managing partner of “Spice Cantina, LLC”, even though Piornack is a member of Greensboro Parking Group, LLC, which is listed as the landlord. The City declined further comment on whether the “up-fit funds of $179,000” for the restaurant were “available and ready to be invested”. Nancy Hoffmann did not reply for comment.

Nancy Hoffmann is a crooked, pay to play politician

among others who serve on Greensboro's City Council

who stole/steal from other's tax money 

and the News and Record won't report it

because the News and Record is in on it, deep,
and they keep letting it happen
along with John Hammer and Roy Carroll.

At an Economic Development Committee meeting on April 11, Marikay Abuzuaiter raised the issue of oversight on various loans, grants and incentives provided by the City, specifically citing the Greensboro Parking, LLC loan, and informed her colleagues that Momentum had not satisfied the requirements of the resolution passed by City Council. Abuzuaiter thinks there may be more unfulfilled, undisclosed contracts.

In December, 2013, the contract was amended by City staff without formally informing City Council, extending the “Time of Performance 7/31/2013, to 12/31/2013”. The document states “The City contact for all matters including request for payment and reporting under this agreement shall be Kathi Dubel. Dubel, like former City Manager Denise Turner Roth, served as a lobbyist for the Greensboro Partnership before working for the City.

The City appears to have extended a noncompliant contract after payments were made and obligations not produced, which now looks like it’s in default."

http://yesweekly.com/article-18090-developer-can%25E2%2580%2599t-pave-over-holes-in-city-loan-contract.html
.
.
Greensboro's News and Record reported none of the following;

Robbie Perkins, Nancy Vaughan, Zack Matheny, Jim Kee, Yvonne Johnson and Nancy Hoffmann just cost taxpayers $586,000

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/09/robbie-perkins-nancy-vaughan-zack.html

It's hard to have a crooked government

without a crooked press corps

at the local paper of record
and Roy's Rhino Times

On Nancy Hoffmann's DGI Self Dealing and Conflict of Interest

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/01/on-nancy-hoffmanns-dgi-self-dealing-and.html

Allen Johnson, Doug Clark, Margaret Moffit, 

Jeff Gauger, Amanda Lehmert, Joe Killian,
Roy Carroll, John Hammer, Mark Sutter, Brian Clarey, Jordan Green, Eric Ginsburg, 

Susan Ladd and Stephen Doyle let this happen

without informing the public of the corruption

Kathy Manning, Randall Kaplan's wife, lobbying for a GPAC and their new hotel, with some Nancy Hoffmann, Dawn Chaney and Nancy Vaughan

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/kathy-manning-randall-kaplans-wife.html
.
Will Nancy Hoffman vote to fund DGI this evening, after her "final subission" to be DGI's landlord?

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/will-nancy-hoffman-vote-to-fund-dgi.html

Sounds like the Lee Comer money and street are a joint Dawn Cheney / Nancy Hoffmann project; Linkfest

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/03/sounds-like-lee-comer-money-and-street.html

Lee Comer received taxpayer money

advocated by Zack Matheny, Dawn Chaney and Nancy Hoffmann

to unfairly compete with other businesses downtown

with other businesses downtown's tax money,

and the News and Record thought it was great 

to see crooked politicians hook up their friends

to steal business from the unconnected 

How Nancy Hoffmann, Dawn Cheney and the Isaccson's give everyone else's money to their friends, while stiffing East Greensboro

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/02/how-nancy-vaughan-and-zack-matheny-give.html
.
City Councilwoman Nancy Hoffmann signs authorization for tenant to receive taxpayer money she voted for

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/per-dgis-jason-cannon-city-councilwoman.html
.
Zack Matheny and Nancy Hoffmann "Are NOT Prostitutes … They Are Pimps"; An Adaptation

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/zack-matheny-and-nancy-hoffmann-are-not.html

News and Record Letter to the Editor on Nancy Hoffmann

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/01/todays-news-and-record-letter-to-editor.html
.
"No taxpayer money was spent on my behalf for the 302/304 South Elm building." - Nancy Hoffmann

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/01/no-taxpayer-money-was-spent-on-my.html

Nancy Hoffman's campaign contribution connections to Tuesday's Give Away to Greensboro's 1%

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/nancy-hoffmans-campaign-contribution.html

How Greensboro works, Nancy Hoffman edition

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-greensboro-works-nancy-hoffman.html

From a thread at Greater Greensboro Politics on Nancy Hoffman's Crony Capitalism and Self Dealing

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/from-thread-at-greater-greensboro.html

Triad City Beat's Eric Ginsburg violates the Society of Professional Journalist's Code of Ethics

"Republican mayoral candidate invokes MLK

"Greensboro mayoral candidate Devin King, a Republican with the backing of Conservatives for Guilford County, wants you to know that he has something in common with Martin Luther King Jr. Beyond the last name, Devin King vows to “continue the dream” in this campaign banner at the Bessemer Curb Market, though it’s not clear exactly what that dream is."

though it’s not clear exactly what that dream is.

Eric Ginsburg

"The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did indeed fight against poverty as well as against segregation. But that’s not what the “I Have a Dream” speech is known for, and more importantly, it is unclear where Devin King’s statistics come from."

it is unclear where Devin King’s statistics come from.

Eric Ginsburg

From the Society of Professional Journalist's Code of Ethics;

"Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough.

The information isn't accurate

as Eric Ginsburg didn't contact Devin King for comment.

An ethical journalist acts with integrity.

Eric Ginsburg didn't contact Devin King for comment,

thereby failing to act with integrity

Journalists should:

– Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing.

Eric Ginsburg didn't seek out Devin King for comment,

or a response to criticism

which is a journalistic act of cowardice and bias

– Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible.

Didn't happen

– Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy.

– Provide context. Take special care not to misrepresent or oversimplify in promoting, previewing or summarizing a story.

Massive misrepresentation and oversimplification

by Triad City Beat's Eric Ginsburg

with the tacit approval of Eric's boss Brian Cleary

– Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.

Didn't happen

– Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. Give voice to the voiceless.

Triad City Beat's Eric Ginsburg and his boss Brian Cleary

are printing propaganda for those with power,

leaving the voiceless voiceless

by not bothering to ask a fucking question

to the person the story degrades and demoralizes

in an act of total ass kissing up to Greensboro's elite 

and elected incumbents

– Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

Fuck Triad City Beat,

although I like Lamar Gibson

– Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. Seek to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open, and that public records are open to all.

Didn't happen

– Provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate.

Didn't happen

– Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear.

Didn't happen 

– Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.

Clearly stereotyping 

by Triad City Beat's Eric Ginsburg

with the tacit approval of Eric's boss Brian Cleary

– Label advocacy and commentary.

Didn't happen

– Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information.

Clearly distorted, as Eric didn't bother to ask

a question of a young man running for mayor

"though it’s not clear exactly what that dream is."

"it is unclear where Devin King’s statistics come from."

Eric Ginsburg

Devin King says Eric didn't reach out for any answers

before Triad City Beat ran this post.

This just a hit piece

Fuck Triad City Beat,

and the rest of Greensboro's slanted,

fucked up, biased, unprofessional, 

financially illiterate press corps
who have completely lost their moral compass

John Hammer must be proud