Brian Clarey Admits Billy Jones Was Right

It was 5 years ago that I first stated this website. Then I used the name, East Greensboro Performing Arts Center. It was in direct opposition to the effort by then Mayor Robbie Perkins to build the downtown performing arts center.

Among the supporters of the performing arts center were Brian Clarey who was at that time editor of Yes Weekly. He used his position and his power as the editor to promote the project just as if he were paid to do so.

Later, upon founding Triad City Beat, Clarey and company relentlessly promoted the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts publishing one puff piece after another and never asking the tough questions. For 5 years we put up with Clarey's bullshit.

But something changed.

You see, yesterday, in an article titled Calling BS: The Tanger Center groundbreaking, Brian Clarey wrote:

"It made for a nice photo op. But sand wasn’t the only thing they were shoveling."

And folks, if there's anyone who knows bullshit, Clarey is the man. He's pitched more BS than anyone I know.


So Brian, can you describe the taste of crow?

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

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