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Mr. Roberson, just because Mr. Slone unfavorably compared the traffic on Wendover Avenue to New York City doesn't mean he doesn't have a right to criticize. He has a legitimate gripe. I remember that I went to the Wendover Wal-Mart December 22, 2005. It took me 20 minutes to get out of the parking lot because the traffic was so bad. Needless to say, I avoided Wal-Mart the week before Christmas this year.

Since I've never been to NYC, I have no idea whether the traffic is any better or not. I do know that, most of the time, traffic here is a lot better than in the DC area. I commute to GTCC on Wendover from Stanley Road at about 8:00 a.m. It usually takes me about 20-25 minutes. My sister in northern Virginia goes to work at 5:00 a.m. in about 15 minutes. If she waits until 8:00, it takes her about 90 minutes.

Mr. Roberson, Mr. Slone didn't criticize everything about Greensboro. I would guess that there are other things he likes here besides the traffic.

I wonder why his traffic complaint bothered you so much. Did you take the criticism personally? Your reaction seems to be laced with hurt and indignation; how dare he criticize Greensboro! From the blog responses to that letter, there wasn't a single person who didn't agree that West Wendover Avenue was a traffic problem. Can you take it at face value that it really is just the traffic that bothered him? Just because he is from somewhere else doesn't mean that he doesn't have the right to complain.

The last paragraph has nothing to do with Mr. Slone's letter. That's a different axe to grind.

Damn Yankees trying to cross the Mason-Dixon line. (kidding.....or am I?)

Most people who talk about 'how they did it back home', are usually going to complain anywhere they are, so I just ignore them.

Many Yanks are good people, but others give their region a bad name.

I guess we need to raise out-of-state tuition for colleges, and drop in-state, so that outsiders will be less tempted to stay here after they graduate....and their families move down shortly after.

They can't be moving here for jobs, because we have none. Or maybe they are why we have none?

bBaby,
i am 100% with you. i also wonder where gso would be today with the lte samll towmn/small mind thinking? i must believe that many foreigners (i.e.those from other states) have brought some industry into this area, thus benefitting the gso community.
when the original lte can out about wendover, i commented on this blog for him to get ready to hear how he was "hatin' n.carolinans" and that he would be told to go back home....some people are very closed minded. but my comments come from a foreigner (fla) so take it with a grain of salt. i've been told to go back home for my observation of the amount of trash on roadsides . :-(

I'm not a Greensboro native; I was born in Raleigh. But I've spent almost all my life in North Carolina, and I've lived in Greensboro longer than anywhere else. Greensboro is not a perfect Shangri-La, far from it. We have plenty of problems here, just like other cities do. I'd like to think that most people here are mature enough to accept justified criticism, but evidently that is not the case. To paraphrase Guilford Native, "Many Greensboro residents are good people, but others give our region a bad name."

To claim we cannot better ourselves by looking at successes and failures elsewhere is disturbing. No one has a monopoly on ideas. I am a native North Carolinian who has lived in the Triad for over 28 years, and I have seen the state's growing diversity as a real plus. Just look around this blog and ask yourself, "Do we want more homegrown Bobby Cole types? That is the equivalent of an American Taliban---ban education except for government indoctrination. No! Hell NO! We need to see more folks who have a vast world view in this global economy. Those who abhor the educated, will be relegated to the grease pits of our country, providing menial services to the more prepared citizenry. Yes, I get riled up by the "Do it like we did it in New York" crowd, but they are the aberrations of the culture and really don't deserve the print given to them.

I am not originally from NC and I think we have it great here as compared to places like NY. Lets get real.

My experience is that the people that complain most about Wendover are Greensboro Natives.

Bead, you don't have to go to NYC to imagine the traffic is worse. A population of 17 million will guarantee that. I have driven in NYC several times and there are other things I would prefer, perhaps getting a tetanus shot for example.

I could more understand someone from a small town complaining about our traffic, but to claim NYC traffic is better than here is plain outright incorrect.

Yes it's good that we have others move here to help grow our economy, but personally I hope Greensboro doesn't become an Atlanta or even a Charlotte. Bigger isn't always better.

I can understand the LTE author's opinion, it is irritating when people move here and complain, but I agree with DD, they are a minority and don't deserve the press. Most Yanks who move here are thankful for reasonable housing prices and not having to shovel snow for 4 straight months.

dd,
i thought the day would come where we agreed on something and today is the day....hallelujah and happy new year....

Why not just make the criticism of traffic or whatever minus the verbiage expressing that things were different and better in the enlightened culture whence came the enlightened commentator? That's the irritating part.

When I travel to visit my family i

Roberson! Where do you come up with such hate? If it wasn't for newcomers, Greensboro couldn't grow! Have you seen this town become a city? Have you wondered why! You may have an issue with someone? As a matter of fact, life is better other places, go try, you can't, you would not fit in. It is an adjustment to move here. If the person was unhappy, trust me, they will move. I would and will when I choice. Alot of business has moved here, which one are you with? I'm sure you would love to tell the company they are not fifth-generation and they should move!
As for the police department, if you do not work there, shut up.
Greensboro native, ha, not qualified. Being from the "native woods" doesn't make you an acceptable chief!
I understand driving to Costco is a piece of cake for Truck Drivers. For us others, it doesn't matter where we live, traffic is ...not fun.
Enjoy life, and people. Stop hating!
Fran Johnson
Greensboro, NC

Fran, uhhhhh don't remember you posting here before, but if you want to get worked up save it for some serious issues instead of Wendover traffic and Yankees. Trust me. Stay tuned.

I used to live in a small town in the middle of Kansas. Believe me, traffic was much better there. Maybe I'll write an lte. Nah.

I would like to comment on Lane Robertson's comments on my original Dec. 31 letter.
First of all I did not say anything about the traffic problem keeping me from getting to Costco on time. I said the traffic was backed up from the Animal Shelter to Costco. Also I don't think there is one person who lives in Greensboro that is satisfied with the way traffic flows on West Wendover. This issue has been discussed for more years than I can rememeber and nothing has been done to relieve it and nothing will ever be done. It is something we just have to live with. That was my point.
Mr. Lane, I ask you this did I say that NY City is a better place to live than Greensboro. Not at all. All I was doing was bringing up the horrendous traffic problems we encounter in this area during the Christmas Season. Please read my origanl letter again.
Maybe Mr. Lane wishes that Greensboro should have stayed the way it was when the first generation of his family first resided here.

Bob Slone

Bob,

Thanks for logging in and clearing some things up.

Quite honestly, your comments regarding NY probably would not have caught the slack they did if it wasn't for the countless times many natives of this area have had to listen to why New York or New Jersey is better than North Carolina.

Everyone I've met met from those areas are just like anybody else. I spent a really fun night with 3 ladies from the Bronx a few months ago. We laughed for hours about the stereotypes that Northerners and Southereners apply to each other. We found the humor in it and ended up good friends.

I guess I need to defend my letter to some of you and thank others for understanding it. What some of you may not know is that letters to the N&R are, sometimes, changed by whomever... There were a couple of things changed about my letter along with the title. Why, I don't know. First for those of you that question my inteligence, my college degree is from UNC-Greensboro. (which may explain a lot) For Ms. Johnson, as a matter of fact, I am a former Greensboro Police Officer. My current job involves frequent contact with Greensboro P/D and law enforcement agencies all over the country. I do NOT hate Yankees. I know many of them and am friends with a lot of them. My letter was not about traffic. It was about the condecending attitude of many people that move here and the real problems that we have. Mr. Slone implied that people "down here" just put up with any problem and do nothing. I'd sure hate to put up with routine life in NYC. Well I decided to do something and write a letter. My main point is really that we have people making incredibly stupid decisions about our community. Do they really have our best intrests in mind? Is a bigger Greensboro really better? Money has been provided, from tax payers, to one useless project after another just to let the people running the project embezzle the money or squander it on nothing. Then when they are caught nothing is done. As for Chief Wray, he was trying to clean up the mess he inherited from the man from D.C. I could write volumes on the P/D but the Rhino Times has done it very well. I will say that I knew Chief Wray when I worked at the P/D. We were not close friends but I did respect him as an honorable man. If I harbor any hate, it is for the things I see that are happening to Greensboro. Please just live in Greensboro and appreciate it because it is many things that where you are from is not.... Lane Roberson