Death Of A Newspaper

In his article, News & Record: How an aversion to innovation devolved into incompetence, Roch Smith jr leaves out one key point: Dozens of readers tried to warn them only to be scoffed at.

When the People Speak, Council Should

From Roch Smith Jr in his article, A better way to improve City Council’s public forums:

"Public comments at city council meetings are not tempestuous simply because speakers and supporters are rambunctious by nature. It’s not a matter of football fans showing up instead of golf fans. Tumult arises when the response of council to a public concern is inadequate and people must, literally and figuratively, raise their voices. It has been that way for years.

Public comments at these forums don’t become heated just because people want to blow off steam. People come to these forums because they perceive a need for action and, history shows, the atmosphere gets raucous when elected officials side-step concerns and remain immune to facts brought to their attention."

When the people speak, Council should act. Listening alone isn't enough. Pretending to listen is even worse, sleeping through meetings is the worst kind of insult to the people they represent. And allowing it to continue for a decade or longer says they just don't care.

The original text I posted with that photo on Facebook in 2016 was taken from a City Council business meeting in which the City of Greensboro claimed no video was taken in response to several public information requests for videos from the meeting.

"Is that a video camera behind a sleeping Councilwoman Nancy Hoffman? And why does the City of Greensboro claim there was no video of that meeting?"

No further explanation was ever given.

It all comes back to bite....

Local Media Continue Their Cover-ups

Our local media outlets continue their long history of covering for criminals with connections to City Council. As reported by Roch Smith jr in Why does WGHP MyFox8 keep failing to identify owners of problematic apartments?

 "This is not the first time WGHP has failed to identify the Agapions as the apartment owners. In four stories following the lethal apartment fire, WGHP either failed to identify the apartment owners at all or incorrectly identified the owner as ARCO Realty. It is hard to imagine why WGHP persists in failing to accurately report who owns these problematic apartments, but it can no longer be presumed they are not doing so out of ignorance. To report Arco Realty as the owners of the property, as WGHP did, is not only demonstrably wrong, it conceals the people actually responsible for the building—the Agapions. Why would WGHP keep doing that?"

Yes, why? Why are rich people continually given free passes by the media? Why does this double standard exist? And do the rich pay the media for this privilege?

Justin Outling Sneers At Voters

From Roch Smith jr at Greensboro101:

"Councilman Justin Outling excused himself from two votes on city contracts, one for Level 3 Communications and the other for United Healthcare. He did so without explaining why he was withdrawing. He kept those reasons secret, a violation of city’s conflict of interest ordinance. Watch what happens when a citizen asks him to rectify that ethics violation by explaining in public the nature of his conflicts."

And so it is, Justin Outling and the incumbent Greensboro City Council continue their pursuit of lawless repression.

Councilman Outling Violated Ethics Laws

From Outling fails to reveal conflicts in violation of state-mandated ethics policy by Roch Smith jr.

"The state-mandated city council ethics policy demands that council members reveal when they have a conflict of interest on a matter that comes before them, that they do so on the public record, describe “all such material facts” and recuse themselves. Failure to do so is “malfeasance in office” and the offender is to “forfeit his office or position.” City council member Justin Outling twice recused himself from council votes at a recent meeting without saying why as is required by the city’s ethics policy. Instead, he used his time to blame his lack of an ethical compass on the city attorney."

Yet another reason to write-in Billy Jones for Mayor of Greensboro.

John Brown Is Lying Again?

Previously I reported to you how Greensboro Mayoral Candidate John Brown attempted to silence me by threatening me with a law suit but quickly turned tail and ran when I called his bluff. Now this so-called God fearing Christian Conservative is making an $8.9 Million Dollar claim he cannot back up.

In a move that is typically seen on fake news websites, John Brown links to The Carolinian on his campaign website with a reference "confirming" his $8.9 Million Dollar claim (#17 on his list) but the few readers who actually click on the link will find the article, April 4th City Council Meeting makes no reference to the $8.9 Million Dollar purchase of the News & Record building in downtown Greensboro.

 The News & Record building wasn't made available for sale until September 2017 but John Brown links to an April 2017 article thinking all of HIS SUPPORTERS ARE TOO STUPID to actually click on the links. Typical fake news website.

 That said, I believe the City intends to purchase the building but as Roch Smith jr points out in his article Does mayoral candidate John Brown know something we don’t?

"I wrote to Brown, remarked that that was quite a scoop and asked if I could cite him as a source for that information. He did not reply, but the claim remains on his website."

This is typical of John Brown. My quarrel with Mr Brown began when I expressed concerns that his company, Jessup Services is a City of Greensboro contractor and if elected, might use his position as Mayor to build his business. When pressed, Mr Brown denied owning the company. Later it was learned he had put the company in his wife's name as a means of securing Women and Minority Bidding Status.

Something I wasn't aware of at the time was that the Brown's also own and operate a company called Air Force One, Inc.Wonder if he'll lie about that too?

Justin Outling Took The Bribe

I'm sorry folks but the title really does say it all. Justin Outling took the bribe. From Outling received United Healthcare lobbyist contribution on day he stopped city contract from going to competitor by Roch Smith jr:

Now folks, I want you to remember something: Councilman Outling was not elected to office. Greensboro City Councilman Justin Outling was appointed by Greensboro Mayor Nancy Barakat Vaughan with the support of the Greensboro City Council.

Have no doubt they knew full well the type of person they were appointing to represent the citizens of Greensboro's District 3.

Continue reading Outling received United Healthcare lobbyist contribution on day he stopped city contract from going to competitor for the entire story. 

The Real Story Of The MLK Bust

From What is the real story behind the removal of the MLK, Jr. bust from downtown? by Roch Smith jr:

"Subsequent DGI meeting minutes show that DGI wants to install a 9/11 memorial in the spot where the MLK bust was. This raises more questions. If the MLK bust was getting bumped into by cars, why would a 9/11 memorial not be endangered in this spot too? And if the MLK bust could be moved to the median, why couldn’t the 9/11 memorial go there to begin with so that the MLK bust could return to its home after being refurbished?

Clearly, the public is not being given straight answers. All we have to judge are the facts. The MLK, Jr. bust has been removed from its prominent location downtown, will be refurbished with a grant from Lincoln Financial, and relocated to the outskirts of the south side of downtown. Whatever the nonsensical explanations for why, those are the factual what."

Do we really need a 9/11 Memorial in Greensboro? At the expense of memorials to great leaders from our past? Why not tear down memorials to Steven Tanger and put the 9/11 memorial there instead? After all, Steven Tanger isn't even dead... yet.

The real story of the MLK bust is that Greensboro's rich white liberal elites don't want to remember men like Martin Luther King. And they'd rather you didn't either.

Maybe The City Of Greensboro Just Doesn't Want Us To Know

As Roch Smith Jr reported in City of Greensboro spent over $147,000 with Amazon last year; unable to report what for there seems to be yet another problem with accountability on the part of the City of Greensboro. This isn't the first time. Last year I pointed out that over $4 Million Dollars and possibly as much as $8 Million Dollars of funding designated for the South Elm Street Redevelopment Project was never accounted for.

Roch writes and documents:

"The records show that the payments were made to a variety of Amazon entities, including Amazon.com, Amazon Marketplace and AmazonPrime Membership. The majority of these payments were made through “p-cards” — short for purchase card, which is a type of debit card the city issues to some employees who need an easy way to make city-related purchases.

What, then, were these purchases from Amazon for, specifically?

In reply to the ILSR’s request, the city told ILSR that it is “unable to run a report that captures descriptive information regarding the items purchased.” All the city supplied was the date, amount and vendor name; not a description of the item or service purchased."

I find that unable part to be rather interesting and here is why. I logged into my own Amazon account, clicked on Orders, and then chose the year 2014 to get the screen grab of my Amazon purchases from 2014. My records go back to 2010. You can do the same with your Amazon account if you have one.

Which brings us to the question: Is it that the City of Greensboro is unable to tell us what has been purchased from Amazon or is it that the City of Greensboro doesn't want us to know what they are buying from Amazon?

City Of Greensboro: $147,000 Unaccounted For

Roch Smith jr has the story of how the City of Greensboro cannot account for $147,000 in spending at Amazon.com in just 1 year:

"In reply to the ILSR’s request, the city told ILSR that it is “unable to run a report that captures descriptive information regarding the items purchased.” All the city supplied was the date, amount and vendor name; not a description of the item or service purchased."

Continue reading in City of Greensboro spent over $147,000 with Amazon last year; unable to report what for.


Related: 

Maybe The City Of Greensboro Just Doesn't Want Us To Know

Justin Outling Violates State Ethics Law

In an article titled, Dirty pool: Justin Outling intervenes on city contract to protect interest of his firm’s client, Roch Smith jr is reporting that Greensboro City Councilman has acted in violation of North Carolina state ethics laws his position to block the awarding of a city contract from going to Cigna Health Insurance:

"Justin Outling abuses his city council position to help his firm’s client At this week’s city council meeting, however, there was such a brazen violation of ethical behavior, that it stood out as shocking."

And we're happy to report that Outling is no longer running unopposed. Roch updates his post to write:

"Update, 7/21/2017, 10:30 AM: Craig Martin has filed to run against Outling."

You, I and many others have tried our best. I fear now only the torches and pitchforks will show them the way.

Tanger Performing Arts Center: Another Promise Broken

Remember all the promises that were made by Greensboro City Council concerning the building of the infamous performing arts center? Remember how they promised us it would be paid for with private money? As Roch Smith jr reports in Not a good sign, Council has City assume risk for arts center cost overruns. yet another promise to Greensboro voters has been broken.

Correction: Sam Heib was the source of the quote above.

But then we here at EzGreesnsboro.com have been telling you that since this site was founded in 2012.

The cost of this project will exceed 100 Million Dollars before it is finished

I'm surprised men like Steven Tanger and the rest of the TPAC donors continue to allow their names to be associated with such deceit while the answers still elude us.

And interestingly, most of the naming rights are still available as of April 1, 2017.

I guess a lot of folks don't want their names attached after all.

Is Trudy Wade's Newspaper Bill As Bad As Claimed?

In a recent article titled Data on legal notices is bad news for newspapers, Roch Smith jr writes:

"Data from Guilford County show that tax collections were unaffected by whether or not delinquency notices were published in the News & Record."
Despite claims to the contrary from the News & Record,. Roch also includes documentation along with writing:

"Years of data from Guilford County show that whether tax notices were published in the mighty News & Record or only in the the tiny Jamestown News and Carolina Peacemaker, tax collections remained a steady 98+ percent. And if you want to get picky, collections actually went up slightly in years when notices were not placed in the News & Record."

But as Roch pointed out in his article, the News & Record has published no data to back up their claims that the higher costs of posting legal notices in newspapers is more effective or a better deal for the taxpayers.

Let this be a lesson, Folks. When the local status-quo pushes an issue it is usually because they've something they don't want you to know.

Trudy Wade didn't dream up the newspaper bill. Keith Brown pushed it for years and years at his blog Triad Watch under the tag, public notice, where he has written dozens of articles on it. And Keith is well known to the entire News & Record staff who blamed the entire thing on Trudy Wade and never once mentioned Keith all in an effort to twist the story.

Yes, it will be bad for local newspapers but is it the responsibility of taxpayers to forever subsidize newspapers that cannot be trusted with the truth?

Clownshow Do-Over

I love Roch Smith jr's introductions to articles at Greensboro101.com so much so that I save a few of the introductions.

How To Recognize Phonies

Great advice from someone who learned it the hard way: http://yesweekly.com/learn-to-recognize-phonies/

Some Things Are Worth Saving

The preceding graphic was stolen in its entirety from Greensboro101.com. It is indeed a classic that should be saved and shared in perpetuity. In it Roch Smith Jr quotes Margaret Moffett, who writes:

"GREENSBORO, NC — Ground breakings are ceremonial — fun, but not necessary to build a building. But Wednesday’s celebration at the $78.1 million Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts really will be all for show. That’s because as of Tuesday night, the city hadn’t finished negotiating a contract that allows work to be done at the downtown site. The City Council went ahead and approved the contract anyway."


In reference to the article, Tanger groundbreaking goes forward without a contract by Margaret Moffett of the Greensboro News & Record. In it Margaret writes:

"That’s because as of Tuesday night, the city hadn’t finished negotiating a contract that allows work to be done at the downtown site.

The City Council went ahead and approved the contract anyway.

At a special meeting just 18 hours ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony, the council voted 8-1 to spend up to $2.5 million on “Phase 1” of the Tanger Center. The work will include site excavation and utility preparation at the 5-acre property between North Elm Street and Summit Avenue.

Councilwoman Marikay Abuzuaiter voted “no.”

The council took the vote even though Greensboro Coliseum Director Matt Brown, who will oversee the center, hadn’t settled on a “guaranteed maximum price” with Skanska Rentenbach, the project manager in charge of preconstruction services.

The council’s vote gives Brown the authority to keep negotiating with Skanska, but sets the price cap at $2,501,729.15.

“This means that we are voting on a contract that is still being negotiated?” Abuzuaiter asked moments before casting the lone “no” vote."

That's right, "Mr Conservative" Tony Wilkins voted yes to spending $39.6 Million of your tax dollars, probably even more, without a contract.

The only person on city council looking after your money, as usual, Marikay Abuzuaiter.

Walker Sanders And Lomax, Part 3

On Saturday, September 1, 2012 I posted part 1 of Walker Sanders And Lomax in which I wrote:

"Is that Walker Sanders next to Lomax in Bermuda three weeks ago...the same Walker Sanders who's wife (Dabney) is in charge of the $24,000,000 Greenway...the same Greenway that just paid Lomax over $800,000? Just askin? Clicking on the photo makes it bigger."

You'll actually have to click on the link above to view the picture. There were also updates to the post on September 5, 2012, September 6, 2012, and December 17, 2012. You'll want to take the time to read them all.

Then on September 24, 2012, Roch Smith jr wrote, Sanders on Bermuda trip: "Everyone paid their own way" Only thing was, Dabney Sanders was not willing to provide any evidence of any kind.

We were patient. Sometimes you have to be. On March 6, 2016 I posted Walker Sanders And Lomax, Part 2 in which I explained to my readers how I believe Dabney Sanders embezzled the Greenway money away from the City of Greensboro.

"But you see, all the while I've known that Dabney Sanders was lying. And I'm not the only one who knew Ms Sanders was lying. Others who I had hoped would expose her were keeping what I am about to tell you a secret. For you see, as director of Action Greensboro at that time Dabney Sanders was also the sole person in charge of the for profit Action Greensboro subsidiary Greensboro Downtown Greenway LLC."

And

"Greensboro Downtown Greenway LLC is a fully owned for profit subsidiary of the non profit Action Greensboro and there is only one reason to form a for profit business-- to make a profit for you and your partners. Now you know why the cost of building the Downtown Greenway have been out of control for so long. Please share this post so that everyone else knows as well."

Well as it turns out, 5 years later this story hasn't gone away. As a matter of fact, the City of Greensboro just made the story even bigger than before by refusing a public information request that could have proved Billy Jones wrong. That is, if I'm wrong.

Today Roch Smith jr publishes Institutional Racism in which he writes:

"GREENSBORO, NC — Institutional racism is not just a catchphrase. It has real manifestations. I encountered an unfortunate but obvious one today. The City of Greensboro denied my request for copies of audits of Downtown Greensboro Greenway, LLC, the organization the City does business with to help build and help maintain the City’s Downtown Greenway.

The City said that such records are not public records under state law. This position is legally ignorant and inconsistent with the City’s treatment of the audits of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum."

Thing is, as Roch points out, such records are public records. That is, if they exist. By all means, please read  Institutional Racism by Roch Smith jr and decide for yourself. And remember: the amount of money that has been spent on the civil rights museum is pocket change compared to the bill the City is going to be stuck with now.

And all this at a time when the City is raising taxes and almost 25% of our population lives below the poverty line.
Now why would the City of Greensboro want to hide the one thing that proves the innocence of several of our City's most well known elite white citizens at a time when the very man they hired to run their glorious performing arts center has turned out to be under not one but two investigations since he was hired by Walker Sanders.
         

We Warned You First

Today, Roch Smith Jr writes of problems with the Downtown Greenway, Performing Arts Center, and Say Yes Guilford in his article Murky public-private partnerships inspire skepticism published in Yes Weekly Magazine:


"The recent news regarding several of Greensboro’s public-private partnerships has been disheartening.

Greensboro’s Tanger Center for Performing Arts has been delayed by years and is currently $18 million over budget even before ground breaking.

Private money supposedly spent on the Downtown Greensboro Greenway is explained in murky terms.

A regional initiative called Tri-Gig secretly allocates Greensboro’s publicly owned Internet infrastructure to a private company without public input or City Council approval.

Say Yes to Education’s executive director resigns as the organization announces that it is not going to be able to fulfill its original promise of college scholarships for Guilford County public school students.

These failures and missteps all have one thing in common: a cloak of secrecy."

But remember, George Hartzman, myself and others here at EzGreensboro.com were telling you all these things and more way back in 2012 when I founded this website.

Our personal thanks to Roch and others for proving us right in the end.

Adding To Roch's Pile: Part 16

Throughout my series, Adding to Roch's Pile,  I've documented the efforts by myself and others to bring open and honest governance to Greensboro. I've also made some mistakes and chased a few bad leads. But a few days ago I was surprised to learn that people outside of Greensboro have also been working to do the same.

I've mentioned the Greensboro Open Records Project before and submitted public information request #6116 to learn more about the project. In going over the contracts sent to me by the City of Greensboro I learned that the Open Records Project was supposed to begin in June of 2016, 10 weeks after the signing of the contracts with the vendor, Socrata.

But the Greensboro Open Records Project did not launch until October 20, 2016. I decided to find out why so when I received a reply to PIRT # 6116, I sent back the following:

"Katherine,

Thank you for your reply.

There are some questions I wish someone would answer for me: The contract cited for the project to launch in 10 weeks. But it took over a year.

1. Why the delay?

2.Who asked for the delay?

3. And who approved the delay?

I'm open to suggestions as to how we might redefine the criteria of my original request to make everyone's jobs easier. Any suggestions from anyone receiving this e-mail will be appreciated. I never imagined it would be so huge.

Thanks

-Billy Jones"

I very quickly received the following e-mail:

"On Fri, Oct 28, 2016 at 12:24 PM, Carter, Katherine <Katherine.Carter@greensboro-nc.gov> wrote:

Hello Billy,

Below are the answers to your questions provided by the City’s Chief Information Officer.  Please let me know if you need anything else.

1. Why the delay?

We began the Open Data project in the fall of 2015 and launched a pilot (test) site in November.  Our plan was to test the concept while we worked on developing our Open Data program, policy and governance model then move forward with a public launch of the site (10 weeks).  In December 2015 I was notified by Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities program that Greensboro was being considered for acceptance into the program.  This program would provide Greensboro with resources from WWC to assist in developing and validating our open data program as well as provide assistance with a performance measurement program.  I paused the project while we were being evaluated by WWC.  In February 2016 we were visited by the Bloomberg team.  In the March/April timeframe we worked with WWC to develop the project scope and began the engagement with WWC around May/June 2016.  Since that time City staff has been working with WWC, Sunlight Foundation, Johns Hopkins University Center for Government Excellence, and Results for America (all provided free of charge by the WWC program) to develop an Open Data Program based on nationally recognized best practices and standards.  We held the public launch of the Open Data Portal – Open Gate City – on October 20^th.

2.Who asked for the delay?

Jane Nickles, CIO

3. And who approved the delay?

Jane Nickles, CIO

Sincerely,

Katherine Carter, Public Records Administrator

Communications and Marketing Department

 City of Greensboro"

Like wow, Bloomburg Philanthropies, the Sunlight Foundation, John Hopkins University? Those are some heavy hitters.  And it sounds like very good news.

But if it's really good news then why did Roch Smith jr just publish Crimes & Misdemeanors; this time council secrecy may violate law in which he wrote:

"Video shows how knowledge of a secret vote came to be revealed and the attempts to keep details about it secret."

Not a lot of sunlight there.

And why did Susan Ladd, who usually writes everything the Greensboro City Council wants her to write, pen, City Council needs to get back on track, in which she emphatically states:

"(Here’s a tip: When the public is already convinced there’s a cover-up going on, the last thing you want to do is discuss the matter in a highly questionable closed session where you improperly take a vote to keep a council member from getting information.)"

Something shady...

And why is the City Attorney's office trying to convince the court to drop my public records lawsuit claiming, Lack Of Subject Matter Jurisdiction And Answer. when a week later the public records department still haven't finished answering the public information requests I sued them to get?

Pretty dark there too.

I wonder if the folks at Bloomburg Philanthropies, the Sunlight Foundation, and John Hopkins University are aware of what has been going on for the last year while they have been working and spending  their money to make Greensboro a city that works?

You see, all that Roch, Abner, myself and others ever did was ask questions. But when we didn't get answers we started snooping around instead of assuming everything was as it should be. And the more questions we asked the more they avoided answering us. That's why I'm suing the City of Greensboro and not asking for money-- only answers. But part of the City's defense is that I'm not asking for  money.
 
It's as if truth doesn't matter as long as they win.
 
Stay tuned for Adding To Roch's Pile: Part 17, there's no telling who we might hear from.

I'm Guilty as charged:

From Roch Smith jr, Greensboro’s challenge on race is America’s challenge:

"And this is why we keep going around and around on race here in Greensboro, as in America. It is not because of the “agitators,” “race baiter,” “whiners” or “social justice warriors.” It is because we cotton to the diversions, dismissals and distractions that are effective just enough to keep the morally correct marginalized."

Are you willing to admit the same so we can start working to fix the problem?