Matt Brown To the Rescue?

I have to say, it's nothing but hilarious when the elite begin to eat their own kind. First it was Ross Harris, Robbie Perkins' campaign manager and paid "volunteer" of the Greensboro Performing Arts Center Task Force who turned on the Mayor and the rest of the task force and now according to this weeks Rhino Times, Coliseum Manager, Matt Brown is stoking up the cooking fires as well.

"According to Vaughan, Brown has said the facility as currently proposed would overrun the $60 million estimated by AMS, the consultants hired by the task force."

Of course, what Brown and Harris are really doing are jumping like rats off what they believe to be a sinking ship. Not only are they concerned that GPAC will fail, they fear that Robbie Perkins is about to get the boot by Greensboro voters this fall and they want to be in good with the next administration before it gets in power. That is: if he isn't impeached for his role in Federal Securities and Exchange violations involving his actions while formerly serving as a board member at Newbridge Bank. Like Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson or not, she never used a forced takeover to steal a family business, was never sued for stealing from her in-laws and isn't a year behind on child support after only a year of separation. You may not agree with her but the lady has class that Robbie Perkins, Matt Brown and Ross Harris will never have.

Ed Cone, Flat Out Liar

It seems Ed Cone is still misrepresenting GPAC and Greensboro's elite despite the fact the entire project has blown up in supporters' faces. What's in it for Ed Cone? Why won't he come straight? What happened to the brave liberal we once thought him to be.

"Obviously it would be a terrible thing if the leadership of this project was misrepresenting its fundraising accomplishments.

But nobody has presented any evidence whatsoever that that this is the case." --Ed Cone, Janurary 13, 2013 at 03:52 PM

From the Greensboro Performing Arts Center PAC History page:

"March 2012 – Private fundraising begins."

“We need some commitment from the council before we can actually go out and get those signed pledges (for private donations).” --Ross Harris $100,000 GPAC "Volunteer"

Private fundraising began in March of 2012 and to date Greensboro citizens are still saying, "Show me the money" And Ed Cone is lying to cover for Greensboro's elite-- why?

Did Ross Harris Want More Money?

Was $100,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro not enough to keep Mayor Perkins' campaign manager, Ross Harris in line when she admitted to the Greensboro News & Record that the $20 Million Dollars in private donations as claimed by Walker Sanders and Mayor Robbie Perkins did not exist? Is this why we were told the donations were coming from secret doners? Is this why Walker Harris refused when Greensboro Citizens said, "Show me the money."

And who are the Tall White Aliens? Why are they here? And what do they want from us?

Ed Cone's Double Standard

Ed Cone comments on Ross Harris' statement: " “We need some commitment from the council before we can actually go out and get those signed pledges (for private donations).”

Ed says,

"By credibility I mean I know her to be a highly competent and ethical person, and one who understands how fundraising works and how to get it done. I see nothing in the article, or in other reports to date, that leads me to doubt that.

I understand the difference between saying you have money committed and showing your hand, and as I've said, nobody is going to do a deal based on "trust me." But nobody is being asked to do so. We don't even know if there will be a project yet. This finger-pointing is premature and silly."

But we were told the money was committed. We were asked to do a deal based on "trust me" Why lie, Ed Cone? Do you think that just because the News & Record destroyed their archives once again that 280,000 residents of Greensboro have forgotten?

If I went before Greensboro City Council on Tuesday night and asked for money for the Downtown Greensboro Aquarium project while claiming I already had $20 Million Dollars in secret donations would Ed Cone blog his support or would he hold me to some double standard that Greensboro's elite are not expected to meet?

Premature and silly? What was premature and silly was for Mayor Robbie Perkins to try and force this issue on Greensboro taxpayers without first looking around and asking us what Greensboro needed most. This isn't an example of visionary leadership, this is an example of playing follow the leader while lining the pockets of everyone involved.

Credability? This is a woman who was paid $100,000 to do a volunteer job. Credability, Ed Cone, you have none. You sold your credability to the highest bidder and ruined your family name. You've shown your true colors, Ed Cone. I once admired you for your liberal views but now I know the truth, your liberalism is only as deep as your own wallet. If that!

Walker Sanders Busted Again

Remember Walker Sanders, the guy who took trips to Bermuda on the Greensboro taxpayers' dimes and then made the claim that he had raised $20 Million Dollars in private donations to build the Greensboro Performing Arts Center? From today's Greensboro News & Record:

"Ross Harris said. “We need some commitment from the council before we can actually go out and get those signed pledges (for private donations).”

In other words, the donations are hearsay at best and probably flat out lies just as most of Greensboro has believed all along.

“The task force is going to declare victory. We have done what we have been asked to do. We believe we have done it well,” Harris said. “Now we have to focus on raising private funds.” 

Pretty big words coming from a woman who was paid $100,000 for her part as a volunteer on the GPAC Task Force. Well Walker Saunders, what have you got to say now that Ross Harris not only took your money but stabbed you and Robbie Perkins in the back.

You know, it might be time Robbie, Walker and Ross took up fishing as it appears building performing arts centers is simply beyond their mental capacity.

Look guys, I know the 3 of you don't like me but I really don't care. I'm smarter, I have better ideas and I care more about Greensboro than all 3 of you combined. I've even worked the last year for free just to beat you and make sure Greensboro gets what it deserves. None of you can make that claim.

GPAC Clowns

In yesterday's News & Record, Amanda Lehmert writes,

"On Tuesday, a majority of council members agreed to let voters decide in November whether to build the proposed $60 million center.

That may seem like a win for people who want to see the center built. But it’s the last thing Perkins wanted. "

That's because Perkins is the only GPAC clown smart enough to understand that their support after having spent over $300,000 of City tax dollars to promote the project comes to less than 1% of Greensboro's overall population. Gonna be hard to pass a bond with 1% of the population behind it and no more taxpayer money to promote the idea.

The Mayor's next effort will be to reintroduce the subject of using non voter approved bonds, hotel-motel taxes, the general fund, internet sweepstakes and other tax funded means to support the project. Should that effort fail he will pitch the idea that another study needs to be funded so that the money for the study can be diverted to advertising in one form or another. You can also expect Walker Sanders and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro to look for ways to fund GPAC advertising under the table as doing so openly fails to meet the foundation's charter.

Ross Harris' reputation as a marketing consultant is destroyed except for the fact that the News & Record-- the largest recipient of GPAC monies to date-- conveniently lost all its online archives just last week. Conspiracy theories, tin foil hats? The last time the News & Record conveniently and forever lost its online archives was when they were proven to be accomplishes in the illegal firing and subsequent slander of Greensboro Police Chief David Wray to which the City of Greensboro has already paid over $157 Dollars and continues to pay to avoid being sued.

And while I've very unhappy that our tax dollars are spent in this manner, I'm very happy that my friend, David Wray, is getting his due.