Showing posts with label High Point. Show all posts
Showing posts with label High Point. Show all posts

Monday, October 12, 2020

Leon Black, worth $9 Billion+ from $7.8 Billion last year, who took Greensboro, Guilford County and High Point for more than $1,000,000 in taxpayer funded handouts via Fresh Market, moved at least $50 million to Jeffrey Epstein



https://www.google.com/search?q=leon+black+net+worth&rlz=1C1CHZL_enUS712US712&oq=leon+black+net+&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l2.6853j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
"In 2016, Apollo Global Management LLC acquired the stock and Fresh Market is now a privately held company with over 13,000 employees, headquartered at 628 Green Valley Road."

https://www.rhinotimes.com/news/greensboro-and-high-point-to-hold-rare-joint-meeting-on-incentive/

"Leon David Black (born 1951) is an American investor and art collector. He specializes in leveraged buyouts and private equity. He founded the private equity firm Apollo Global Management in 1990.

...Two months after the May 2012 anonymous purchase of one of four versions of Edvard Munch's The Scream, The Wall Street Journal reported that Black had been the one who had paid $119.9 million for the pastel, the highest price ever paid for a work of art at auction as of that time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Black

"The Fresh Market is not only likely getting help from the Guilford County taxpayers, but also from the Greensboro taxpayers who are Guilford County taxpayers as well.

The Greensboro City Council is holding a special-called joint meeting with the High Point City Council on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m. at the Guilford Technical Community College Center for Advanced Manufacturing, 6012 Gate City Blvd.

At that meeting, the Greensboro City Council plans to consider an incentive not to exceed $301,000 based on the Fresh Market creating 53 new jobs and retaining 248 jobs with an average wage of $86,000 and a capital investment by the Fresh Market of about $2 million."

https://www.rhinotimes.com/news/greensboro-and-high-point-to-hold-rare-joint-meeting-on-incentive/

County Taxpayers May Help Grow Fresh Market

While the Guilford County Board of Commissioners hasn’t discussed the project publically, the board has scheduled a public hearing for its Thursday, Nov. 21 meeting, when the commissioners will listen to any pro and con arguments from citizens and then vote on a proposed incentives package for the upscale grocery store chain.

According to county documents, the proposal is “to appropriate and expend $106,000 in county funds to The Fresh Market, Inc. for the creation of 53 new jobs and retention of 248 positions at an average wage of $86,000.”

https://www.rhinotimes.com/featured-article/county-taxpayers-may-help-grow-fresh-market/

In the past 37 years, Fresh Market has grown to a chain of 160 stores in 22 states. In 2010, the company held an initial public offering raising $290 million and the stock began trading on Nasdaq.

https://www.rhinotimes.com/news/greensboro-and-high-point-to-hold-rare-joint-meeting-on-incentive/
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Fake fiscal conservative Tony Wilkins and Justin Outling vote for City of Greensboro Tax Increase

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/04/fake-fiscal-conservative-tony-wilkins.html

 Justin Outling: $500 from Marty Kotis, who he voted to give taxpayer monies to

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/01/roch-smith-jr-kotis-showers-council.html

 The Rhino's Hammer, a lying liberal when told to be as Roy Carroll's crony faux journalistic boy toy to cover for City Council's handouts to John's boss

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-rhinos-hammer-lying-liberal-when.html

 Think about how much taxpayer money Nancy Hoffmann has voted to give to Marty Kotis

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/10/think-about-how-much-taxpayer-money.html

 A taxpayer funded parking deck for Roy Carroll and Tuggle Duggins moved by Councilmember Outling, seconded by Councilmember Hoffmann, to adopt the resolution. 

 The motion carried on the following roll call vote:

 Ayes, Nancy Vaughan, Yvonne J. Johnson, Mike Barber, Marikay Abuzuaiter, Jamal T. Fox, Sharon M. Hightower, Nancy Hoffmann, Justin Outling and Tony Wilkins"

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/09/greensboro-council-to-consider-taxing.html

 Goldie Wells signs on to be just like Justin Outling and Tony Wilkins; Appointed before an election

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/07/goldie-wells-signs-on-to-be-just-like.html

 Premeditated fraud on the City's taxpayers by Justin Outling and City Council

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/12/tonight-greensboros-city-council.html

 I made a bunch of phone calls today trying to find out who the realtor is for Roy Carroll's Publix Greensboro incentive deal

 I saw Robbie Perkins huddled with Marlene Sanford at the Council meeting Tuesday night, waiting for the vote to give Roy Carroll millions more on top of the $32 million he just got with the Tuggle Duggins's boys from the Triad Good Government PAC, which gave to 7 out of 9 City Council members last election cycle.

 Yvonne Johnson didn't even know where the money came from.

 I asked Robbie if he was going to be the real estate agent for the retail space the City/Roy was building into the deck taxpayers were paying for by the ballpark.

 He said he didn't know anything etc...

 https://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/03/i-made-bunch-of-phone-calls-today.html

 Robbie Perkins led the effort to line his and his friends pockets with taxpayer money without creating more jobs.

 http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/on-robbie-perkins-dishonest-campaign.html

 Mayor Perkins and Crony Capitalist Roy Carroll seeking millions in taxpayers monies for water and sewer to Eastern Guilford County

 http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/03/mayor-perkins-and-crony-capitalist-roy.html

 A sign of panic; "Wilkins, Barber win nods from 5 former Greensboro mayors"

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-sign-of-panic-wilkins-barber-win-nods.html

 Mike Barber personally profiting from Greensboro taxpayers with some help from Amanda Lehmert

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/03/mike-barber-personally-profiting-from.html

City Council Give Away; June 16, 2015; $188,280.87 of water and sewer for Roy Carroll hidden in item 9 of the consent agenda for Greensboro's City Council meeting

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/06/city-council-give-away-june-16-2015.html

 How much did the city spend to get the sewer line installed under I-40 for Roy Carroll's AMEX backup data center project?

 http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-much-did-city-spend-to-get-sewer.html
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Adam Smith, the father of modern economics wrote “The proposal of any new law or regulation which comes from [businessmen], ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention.”
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If a democratically elected government is supposed to protect the public from profit-seeking special interests, so the people don’t end up living “in a van down by the river,” while the “Man” captures the community’s regulatory and political apparatus with campaign cash, are Roy Carroll's actions symptomatic of a systemic disease afflicted on an apathetic population, enabled by a majority of Greensboro's City Council?
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Hartzman's prepared statement on John Hammer, Roy Carroll and the Rhino Times, from last night's City Council meeting

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/12/hartzmans-prepared-statement-on-john.html

 Roy Carroll's Tony Wilkins stealth donation via the Triad Good Government PAC

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/02/roy-carrolls-tony-wilkins-stealth.html

 Roy Carroll funneling money to Nancy Vaughan via the Triad Good Government PAC

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/02/roy-carroll-funneling-money-to-nancy.html

 John Hammer goes to the Infrastructure Committee meeting, doesn't report Marty Kotis getting a City property for less than the appraised value = John Hammer isn't a journalist

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/01/john-hammer-goes-to-infrastructure.html

 Congrats to Roy Carroll and Randall Kaplan; Your names appear nowhere on $56 million in taxpayer handouts

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/11/congrats-to-roy-carroll-and-randall.html

 Nancy Vaughan's 2017 Roy Carroll payoff for his parking deck

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/01/nancy-vaghans-2017-roy-carroll-payoff.html

 Roy Carroll and Tuggle Duggin's Triad Good Government PAC, Nancy Hoffmann, and the rest of our bribed politicians

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/10/roy-carroll-and-tuggle-duggins-triad.html

 Nancy Hoffman's post election filing take from Roy Carroll via the Triad Good Government PAC

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/03/nancy-hoffmans-post-election-filing.html

 Today's City of Greensboro is the result of a transformation into an oligarchy"

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/10/todays-city-of-greensboro-is-result-of.html

 Greensboro, North Carolina; "Crony capitalism is the worst case in point"

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/08/greensboro-north-carolina-crony.html

 "North Carolina is no longer classified as a democracy"

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/12/north-carolina-is-no-longer-classified.html

 The Declaration of Independence and Our New Crony Royalty

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-declaration-of-independence-and-our.html

 "In the mid–20th century, fascism actually meant something.

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2016/01/in-mid20th-century-fascism-actually.html

 "Consider Greensboro's News Media.

 "Our community's only defense again crony capitalism is a strong independent media.

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/consider-greensboros-news-media.html

 "CRONY CAPITALISM THE CAUSE OF GREENSBORO’S PROBLEMS"

 http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2015/10/crony-capitalism-cause-of-greensboros.html

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Monday, September 18, 2017

Nido Qubein; How much economic growth could Greensboro lose if High Point builds a baseball ballpark area like Greensboro's?




"Nido Qubein  is an American Lebanese-Jordanian businessman, motivational speaker, and President of High Point University since 2005.

 He received his Associate's Degree in Business from Mount Olive College...

 He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Human Relations from High Point University in 1970, and his Master of Science in Business Education degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

...in 2009, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters in Humanity degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Should we really be call Nido "Dr."?

He has served as Chairman of the Great Harvest Bread Company since 2001 on the Board of Directors of BB&T since 1990 and La-Z-Boy Corporation since 2006.

How much money does HPU owe BB&T?

Since 2005 when Qubein became the seventh president of High Point University, he has nearly tripled the number of faculty, tripled traditional undergraduate enrollment, and added four academic schools.

If the stock market falls 50%, 
how many of HPU's students will be able to continue their education
at one of the priciest schools in the country?

Qubein is notable for being the third or fourth highest paid college president in the United States, earning $2.9 million a year in 2013.

Why take so much from so well off few Nido?

What is the average debt load of a HPU graduate compared to their income
five years after attending HPU?

 ...Qubein has written 11 books, including titles like "How To Communicate Like A Pro"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nido_Qubein

Nido is an amazing communicator

Maybe a little too amazing


With his contacts and fundraising experience, Dr. Qubein led HPU in raising $300 million in gifts and pledges without a formal campaign.

All three of his alma maters bestowed upon him honorary doctorates.

Nido gave himself a doctorate...

His business ventures included helping to grow a bank in 1986, and today he serves on the board and has chaired the executive committee of BB&T, a Fortune 500 financial corporation with $185 billion in assets and 35,000 employees.

He is the recipient of the highest awards given for professional speakers including the Cavett (known as the Oscar of professional speaking), the Speakers Hall of Fame, and Sales and Marketing International’s Ambassador of Free Enterprise.

Nido is a very good salesman,
not unlike Bernie Maddoff

Toastmasters International named him the Top Business and Commerce Speaker...
http://www.highpoint.edu/president/
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"Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration have spent the past three years going after for-profit colleges in an effort to combat fraud and misuse of federal student aid monies. Some policymakers were careful to cast the onslaught as an attempt to root out bad actors.

...for-profits will skimp on education and spend their resources on the things that drive their stock price—marketing and recruiting. In order to avoid wasting federal student aid dollars on such useless expenses, Democrats have argued that the government should regulate access to student aid on the basis of an institution’s tax status. Non-profit? No problem. For-profit? Let me see your hands.

...In 2005, High Point hired Nido Qubein, a motivational speaker, to serve as its president. Qubein proceeded to invest nearly $700 million in the campus, constructing shiny new buildings, high-end dining halls, and a ridiculous array of amenities that would make the manager at a Four Seasons blush. As Businessweek points out, this is a very expensive way to grow the brand. Moody’s downgraded their bonds to junk status after the campus borrowed $165 million in just a few short years.

...In 2010, according to High Point’s annual IRS filing, [Qubein] received a deferred compensation package that boosted his pay to $1.38 million. IRS filings show the university pays almost $1 million annually to his family’s public-relations and consulting business, now headed by Qubein’s 28-year-old daughter, Deena Qubein Samuel.

...when a nonprofit university feeds at the federal trough to the tune of $700 million in fountains, marble, and a certified “Director of WOW,” policymakers don’t bat an eye because they don’t pay out dividends to shareholders?"

http://www.aei.org/publication/a-college-both-left-and-right-should-be-angry-about/
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"The top-paid private college president in North Carolina isn’t at Duke, or Wake Forest, or Davidson. It’s High Point University's president. He received a total compensation package of nearly $3 million in 2013. That’s the third largest private school pay package in the country, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.  

High Point University President Nido Qubein is a motivational speaker and a businessman. He was a university trustee until the board decided to hire him."

http://wfae.org/post/high-point-universitys-president-3rd-highest-paid-country

"Notable campaign contributors to Guilford County’s state legislators who voted in favor of HB2;

Contributors to State Senator Phil Berger

Jim Melvin, former mayor of Greensboro, Bryan Foundation
Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
Marty Kotis, developer, Kotis Properties, UNC Board of Governors
Roy Carroll, developer, The Carroll Companies
Vanessa Carroll, wife of developer Roy Carroll
Lloyd Yates, CEO Duke Energy

Contributors to State Senator John Faircloth

Nido Qubein, President High Point University
Roy Carroll, developer, The Carroll Companies
Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
BJ Barnes, Guilford County Sheriff

Contributors to State Senator Trudy Wade

Lawrence Czarda, President, Greensboro College
Janis Zink, Vice Chancellor, UNCG
Zack Matheny, President, Downtown Greensboro Incorporated
Marty Kotis, developer, Kotis Properties, UNC Board of Governors
Roy Carroll, Carroll Companies
Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
Tony Wilkins, Greensboro City Council (through his campaign committee)

Contributors to State House Representative John Hardister

Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
Marty Kotis, developer, Kotis Properties, UNC Board of Governors

https://greensboro101.com/movers-and-shakers-share-responsibility-for-tournament-pull-outs/
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"...It seems like Qubein isn’t having any trouble finding private money for amenities, a hotel, apartments, a team, and a stadium name.  If that’s the case, is it possible that maybe there’s private money out there that could be found for the ballpark itself?  Rather than asking taxpayers to be on the hook for $30 million for a new stadium, perhaps High Point should slow down and explore the idea with private investors.

...if they’re willing to put up millions for a hotel, but not to build a stadium, then perhaps that should serve as a warning to the city of High Point.  If there really isn’t sufficient private interest in building this ballpark, then maybe it’s not such a wise investment after all.  Either way, the city should be very wary of spending $30 million on the project."

https://www.johnlocke.org/update/is-a-30-million-ballpark-a-good-investment-for-high-point-taxpayers/
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Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Say Yes To Education Is Publicly Funded

It's time to put the rumor to rest and tell the taxpayers the truth about Say Yes To Education: Say Yes To Education is publicly funded.

 Yes, it is true there are millions in private donations as well but supporters for Say Yes don't want you to know about the public tax dollars that are being sunk into Say Yes around the nation.

For example: In an article in the
"Re-elected to the Common Council in 2005, Miner championed — and helped pass — legislation that gave

 $1 million in initial funding to “Say Yes to Education,” a program that provides support services for Syracuse City School District students and promises free or reduced tuition to students who graduate from city high schools."

And from NPR station WRPO we learn that just 7 years later Syracuse is still waiting on $20 Million Dollars in state funding to keep the program afloat.

 "And he said there are some signs of progress, including a $20 million contract for Say Yes to Education, which provides college tuition to Syracuse school graduates.

 “The only thing standing between that money being in a central New York bank account from where it is today is sign off from the office of the state comptroller,” Simpson said."

This comes at a time when David Friedfel, Director of State Studies at the Citizens Budget Commission, says that Syracuse schools are short $83 Million Dollars for the coming school year. What's the point in promising free college when you're not going to educate them in the first place?

Here's are the claims made by Say Yes Syracuse in 2011 as published in the Toledo Blade:

"The program is expensive. Say Yes estimates that it costs annually about $3,500 per student, and that's not counting the college scholarships. Right now, the district covers only about half of the $30 million to run the program but must pay for it on its own by the end of the 2013-2014 school year."

But as we now know Syracuse is waiting on a $20 Million Dollar bailout from the State of New York in 2017. And where is the State of New York hoping to get that $20 Million? Legal settlements from banks. In other words, the State of New York doesn't have the money yet either.

Ever heard of counting your chickens before they hatch?

And check this out. From the article Syracuse kids get free tuition through plan to spur economy using fines on banks:

"The endowment is the last remaining piece of the work Say Yes did in Syracuse to be taken over by local authorities.

 Aside from the scholarships, Say Yes set up after-school programs, legal and mental health services in Syracuse. Those programs, and funding for them, have all been absorbed by a partnership between the city, school district and county.

 The only Say Yes staff that remains in Syracuse works on college eligibility and financial aid. Say Yes also continues to offer free tuition to Syracuse students at 103 participating private colleges.

Say Yes to Education President Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey said she would take the lessons learned here to other regions of the country."

Have you ever seen a city, county, school board partnership that wasn't taxpayer supported? The people who run Say Yes have already cut a trail and run, leaving Syracuse to fend for itself.

Meanwhile, over at Say Yes Buffalo.

From the Business Journal: $10 million state grant a big lift to Say Yes to Education Buffalo fundraising:

"A $10 million state grant would be the largest-ever gift to Say Yes to Education Buffalo and have a dramatic impact on the organization's ongoing fundraising activities."

But alas, the article continues...

"The grant was announced Monday as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion 2" plan and still must be approved in the state budget."

What's the deal? Why is the State of New York taking so long? Could it be they suspect something about Say Yes To Education that Greensboro, High Point, and Guilford County leaders would rather you and I not know?

And that Buffalo Billion program with which they hope to fund Say Yes Buffalo? Well as it turns out it has a few money problems of its own:

"But the management of the Buffalo Billion by the Cuomo administration has raised eyebrows — and concerns — in some quarters."

It only gets worse...


And just in case you are wondering, Say Yes Guilford has received funding from Guilford County, the Guilford County Schools, the City of Greensboro and the City of High Point.


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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Another Clown Comes To High Point

In case you don't know, High Point is pretty much run by the same group of elitist bastards who run Greensboro. Even the High Point Chamber of Commerce and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce are one in the same merged under the control of the Greensboro Partnership and the Piedmont Triad Partnership. And while I don't cover High Point politics as a rule this "editorial" from the News & Record is just too, too funny to pass up. 

And because the N&R is in the sad habit of making the embarrassing stuff disappear from the web, I stole it in its entirety:

"Editorial, May 14: The ‘peculiar place’

If High Point leaders who raised more than $400,000 in private funds to hire urban architect Andres Duany expected compliments, they might have been shocked at his opening presentation last Wednesday.

“This is not a charming little town, let’s face it,” he told a near-capacity audience at High Point University’s Hayworth Fine Arts Center.

They heard plenty more.

“This is one of the most peculiar places I’ve seen,” because of high spikes of downtown activity during April and October furniture markets and shutdowns in between. “This for me is a nightmare, an absolute nightmare.”

The city’s pedestrian environment is “incredibly bad. ... You can’t put together three blocks of first-rate experience.”

“You have a very high level of bureaucracy, exceedingly high.”

The Miami-based Duany added stern criticisms of street projects already under way and what he called outdated planning strategies to complete the bleak picture.

Yet, he also offered praise for a city that successfully hosts a huge furniture market and is home to a thriving university.

“The fact that you can feed and house and transport 80,000 people for a week means you should have been in charge of the D-Day invasion,” he said.

And: “We have this university that raises everyone’s spirits. People cling to this place with great hope.”

The City Project, a private booster group, called on Duany and associates — including Kennedy Smith, former director of the National Main Street Center and now a consultant who also spoke Wednesday — to provide some hope. He delivered, focusing on three areas that can be animated over the next 15 years.

While High Point’s challenges are unique, the City Project expresses the same desires as downtown boosters in Greensboro and other places. It wants to create exciting business, cultural and lifestyle opportunities in urban settings. It’s just that in High Point, Duany said, there’s a “contrast between civic aspiration and empty streets.”

Duany warned High Pointers against competing directly with neighbors Greensboro and Winston-Salem, whose downtowns he complimented. Find different ways to stand out. But move quickly and try to break free of government regulations that impede progress.

He pointed to three areas:

l The downtown furniture market district, where empty outdoor spaces should be used for bars, concerts, “guerrilla retail” and other short-term events that attract young people.

l A short stretch of North Main Street, where it’s possible to achieve a pedestrian-friendly urban experience.

l The university area, where a small “college town” can be created and an “innovation incubator” should be created in the HPU-owned Oak Hollow Mall.

Duany’s challenging presentation led to several days of small-group meetings, with a final report promised for Wednesday. High Point leaders should brace themselves.

But the process underscores an important conclusion: Urban centers matter. Even in peculiar High Point, between furniture markets. "

Why is it funny? Well besides the obvious jaw dropping opening lines, Andres Duany cautions High Point not to compete with Greensboro and Winston-Salem then goes on to recommend High Point convert "empty outdoor spaces should be used for bars, concerts, “guerrilla retail” and other short-term events that attract young people."
Already being done in Greensboro. I think they called it pop-up or something like that.

"The university area, where a small “college town” can be created and an “innovation incubator” should be created in the HPU-owned Oak Hollow Mall."

Greensboro IS a college town! And the incubator? Greensboro's already working on it, already investing in it. It's called the Downtown Campus. As a matter of fact: Greensboro already has the Nussbaulm Center, they just screwed up and put it in the wrong place-- twice!
But then the biggest joke of all, why would anyone hire an architect-- someone who draws pictures of imagined buildings-- to teach them about economic development? That is: unless of course your goal all along is simply to build more buildings at taxpayers' expense.

Are you beginning to see the picture? It looks as if High Point has their own version of Downtown Greensboro Inc, called The City Project. And while the N&R says it's a private booster group, their website is hosted by the City of High Point. I bet if you'll start digging you'll find a lot of the same names.
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