Plenty said at District 3 meeting
Thursday evening's District 3 meeting at the Benjamin library, drew about 60 people, including seven City Council candidates but no incumbents, and just like at Tuesday's District 1 gathering, folks had plenty to say.
Some were critical of the N&R, a couple saying they've gotten more reliable coverage of Police Department issues in the Rhino. There were requests for more election coverage in the paper, including details about who's making campaign donations to candidates. Our Web site isn't easy enough to use, someone said. And several folks thought the meeting was going to give them an opportunity to question candidates. They were disappointed that the candidates were not invited, or allowed, to speak.
Still, the harshest words, again, were directed at the city. Had any sitting council members attended, they might have been squirming. This is starting to look like a good year to be a challenger.
Following is a sample of comments:
* Developers are pushing multifamily housing out to the edge of the city. This is bad for the environment and contributes to congestion and sprawl. The City Council gives in to them time after time. He'd like to hear the council say no once in a while (many in the audience incidate support for these views).
* Will the City Council supervise the city manager instead of letting him tell the council what to do? He obviously made a bad hire with the former police chief and maybe not such a good one with the present chief.
* Somebody needs to really investigate the police issues and get the facts out.
* "What do we have to do to get Wray back and straighten out this mess?" When moderator Allen Johnson asked how many people think David Wray should still be chief, at least half raised their hands.
* We don't want candidates to talk in generalities. For example, they should say whether they agree or disagree with each of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission's recommendations."I don't like City Council members who sit there like bobbing heads." Each council member should have to state his or her view on every issue before the council.
* When a neighborhood opposes a proposed rezoning, we want our council representative to support us, not vote against us.
* It's important to vote. When there's a low turnout, the candidates of special interests get elected.
* "A lot of these folks, the developers put them in there."
* "Welcome to Greensboro."
* There aren't enough police officers patrolling the city..
* "I can tell you nightmares about lack of response by Greensboro police."
* Why are they spending so much money for parks and recreation when they don't have enough money for police?
* Amen.
* And we're about to annex.
* That makes sense.
* The mayor makes the front page (talking about police indictments) and there's only a small report when a teenager is murdered.
* People moving here don't know how bad the murder rate, crime rate and gang murders are here.
* They're got to get the politics out of the Police Department.
* Good luck.
* Teenagers need more things to do here in Greensboro. We need to look at this from more of a balanced perspective. ... Moved from Wake County, which has a larger population but less juvenile crime. ... This is supposed to be a nice, safe family community.
* There's a lack of openness in city government, an unwillingness to share information about the Wray affair. The City Council will let it out in dribs and drabs when it suits them. Mike Barber's motion to release information was only supported by Yvonne Johnson and Sandra Anderson Groat.I find that unconscionable.
* The city still hasn't solved its water problems.
* There should be a moratorium on extending services to one more customer until we have enough resources.
* It seems commercial gets a little faster track when it comes to rezoning.
* Seems?
* Big businesses get incentives. What about small businesses that really could use help? Where's the accountability for money the city gives to organizations like Project Homestead and the Civil Rights Museum?
* Unless you vote to get out those who are in, you won't get any change.
Again, strong feelings. Lots of reason for city leaders, and prospective leaders, to listen.
The candidates who attended Thursday night were Cyndy Hayworth (D 3), Sidney Gray (AL), Greg Woodard (AL), Janet Wallace (AL), Joe Wilson (D 3), Berkley Blanks (D 3) and Zack Matheny (D 3). Gray, Woodard and Wallace also attended the District 1 meeting, which conflicted with a City Council meeting.
Comments (4)
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Doug, thanks to you, Allen and Eddie for hosting the meeting. Although a few complained about the format, I thought it was refreshingly innovative. The candidates in attendance certainly benefited from hearing people speak their minds and I thought that, for the most part, the comments were sincere and valid.
I hope that taking the community's pulse like this helps the N&R.
Posted on September 21, 2007 8:21 AM
Thanks, Roch. It was all Allen and Eddie. I just attended and listened. Comments by you and everyone else who spoke were very helpful.
Posted on September 21, 2007 8:26 AM
Developers: I agree fully with this citizen's statement. We must begin to slow down Urban Sprawl. The Heart
of the Triad project will drastically extend and redefine the limits of Urban Sprawl.
I feel strongly that the City Manager should carry out the mandates of the City Council who must be accountable to the electorate.
The Courts need to settle the Chief Wray/ City Manager Johnson dispute not politicians and the media. I hope there is no settlement so that "We the People" will know the truth and can get this behind us.
I am answering your questions not talking in generalities.
If your Council representative does not represent you then vote him/her out of office.
The media are privately owned and have the right "to set their own agenda". We as citizens should remember that the media is in the business of making money and therefore we should search out different avenues of education on issues.
Cogitate and vote.
Greensboro should have appropriate signage.
We need more police officers and the use of modern technology in the form of surveillance camers.
We should and can find money for more police and maintain our Parks and Recreation Department.
I support the annexation of the Cardinal Area
The media is a business and has a right to "set their own agenda". We as voters should understand that the media is in the business of making money and therefore we should seek out several sources of educational enlightenment.
"Eternal villigance is price we pay for freedom". Keep the pressure on our elected representatives to make sure politics is not a part of the police department.
There is alot to to in Greensboro and the Triad for all age groups. Most all the media have published weekly events that are going on in our area.
It has taken 30 years to get the Randleman Dam and we need it now.!!!!
If it does not rain then we will experience cutbacks in many areas.
Rezoning cases on put on the agenda and come up in due order. It is up to the individaul to make sure they are not "bumped" out of line.
I believe that Business Incentives are wrong and there must be a Federal Law to stop this practive. Until this happens we will be forced to negotiate. I support the same incentives going to small business on equal footing. We can require recipients to use alternative sources of energy, locate in depressed areas of our city and pay a higher than minimum wage. I suggest the Woolworth's building be donated to the City of Greensboro's Historical Museum System and that we honor the events of February 1, 1960 not create an entirely new venue.
I agree. Cogiate and Vote. Thank you . Sidney Gray
Posted on September 25, 2007 9:00 AM
The above post are the comments of Sidney C. Gray
2007 Candidate for Greensboro City Council At Large
Posted on September 25, 2007 9:02 AM