News-Record.com

Let me get this straight. We have issues of morale in our police department; concerns about gangs and crime; escalating needs with dwindling resources and increased costs; and SEATING ASSIGNMENTS are the hot topic?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! When Mitch Johnson wins an elective office he can sit on the dias. Until then, he needs to face his employers (the new council) just like most of us must do. When the council asks questions of Mr. Johnson, they should all be able to take measure of the man while he is forced to make eye contact while answering. Hopefully this new council will not be content to let so many issues remain unaddressed.

Just to help some people get things straight. The city manager was elected by no one and Greensboro is the first city I have lived in where an employee of the city sat with the elected city council. But then Greensboro is also the only city I have lived in where the city manager made the decisions and the elected city council rubber stamped and applauded his action.

Many of us feel that if this particular city manager had been made aware of his position and if this late great city council had done their jobs then we would not be having the morale problems in the police department. Nor would we have criminals still working as police officers.

The gang problem is certainly not new to Greensboro but it only began to escalate after certain police officers were put in charge since before that the gangs were being held under some control. This is just my opinion of course, but since it it well known that gangs are the main suppliers of drugs and several ranking police officers appear to have connections with local drug dealers then might we perhaps be facing an escalating gang problem because gangs are being protected by those who should be controlling them? Stay tune and this may yet be a lead story and above the fold even in the N&R. BB

NO, I do not think Mitch Johnson should be sitting with the Greensboro City Council.

The city manager should sit facing the City Council, along with his key staff members. There is an important distinction between elected representatives and employed city servants that should be apparent to all; a clear separation differentiates policy makers from policy enacters. Something as simple as a seating arrangement can make the lines of responsbility and accountability abundantly clear. Put bluntly, separated seating makes it clear who is in charge!

Do not think he should sit with council members at meetings.

I think you hit the nail on the head Bill! I believe that many of the problems the outgoing city council had was because the city manager appeared to be in charge and make the decisions that voters had given the responsibility to the council to make for them. I also agree that the elected council members need to face the city employees and look them in the eyes when they ask a question. There is a lot to be gained from looking a person directly in the eyes.

Let Mitch join in - the more clowns, the better the circus.

Gimme a break..this bum should not even be on the payroll any longer at that unheard of salary. Let the bum go work for Lt. Hinson and the other corrupt members of the police force!

There are only three things Mitch Johnson should do:

1- Make a public apology to David Wray
2- Make a public apology for the mess he has created in the City of Greensboro
3- Resign IMMEDIATELY!

He should not even be allowed in the Council Chambers much less be allowed to sit with them.

we have had four shootings in the area this weekend and the council is worried about where there going to sit and who sits where, please give me a break

JW and Ross, why do you think we have the problems to which you refer?

I think the city manager should not be seated on the dais. I agree with Bill Knight that the seating arrangement on the dais has both practical and symbolic importance.

Mitchell Johnson is currently seated in the middle with council members-- the center of gravity and attention. If anything, the seating arrangement sends the message that the council is subordinate to him. But of course, his relationship to the council is that of a subordinate, and where he is seated should reflect that fact.

Moreover, our city council functions as a miniaturized version of a legislature; and the city manager represents the executive branch of our local government. Just as in Raleigh and Washington, there should be checks and balances between these two branches.

Some like the fact that our city council has behaved as a monolith. Maintaining a facade of teamwork and unity may seem appealing; but in fact it undermines the important functions that individual council members should be serving.

Those council members are supposed to represent the voters and do the right thing; but too often they have not. That is why we have the problems to which Ross and JW refer above. Members of our city council need to ask hard questions, advocate difficult positions, and discuss issues openly, even if there is disagreement.

IMO, Johnson should not be seated on the dais as this may elevate an inflated ego that some describe as a pre-existing condition.
His seating gives the appearance that he's the quarterback of the team and that thinking has cost at least one council member her seat.
As his chair is being moved I think many would prefer the movement continued out onto West Washington Street.
Johnson should make a public apology to David Wray for, if nothing else, this statement made by Johnson on Jan. 10th, “If I was a black officer, I would certainly feel targeted,” and this statement made by WFMY on Jan. 27th, “City Manager Mitchell Johnson claims the special intelligence division used the book to conduct bogus investigations of black officers." I don't have personal knowledge these statements are accurately reported but I've seen no retractions on either.

Yes, of course he should continue to sit on the dais with Council; Greensboro operates under a Council/Manager form of government. I'm amazed so many people are so uninformed that they don't know this! Those of us who've lived in larger cities appreciate how expeditious the Council/Manager form of government is. It's far superior to the fighting, bickering, foot-dragging inefficiency that you see in other cities. And Mr. Johnson is good at his job, and showed real class in rising above deleterious moves Ms. Wade has tried, like this one.

Speaking of seating arrangements.
An inquisitive reporter might ask Johnson how he was able to obtain tickets two rows from the stage floor area to the Hannah Montana show.
The good ol' boy network is alive and well in Greensboro.

I believe that Ms. Schindler could have made her point without the condescension directed at the majority of the posters who are quite possibly her intellectual equals.

I believe that Ms. Schindler could have made her point without the condescension directed at the majority of the posters who are quite possibly her intellectual equals.

Gee, a court jester. Sitting with the powers that be.

I say, let the new council make that decision.
Afterall, isn't this what the voters wanted? Change? Even if it is sitting on dais?

Gee, a court jester. Sitting with the powers that be.

I say, let the new council make that decision.
Afterall, isn't this what the voters wanted? Change? Even if it is sitting on dais?

Having a council/manager form of government does not compel us to seat him on the dais. The point is that seating arrangements reflect the fact that the manager is accountable to the council-- and not the other way around.

No. No way. Absolutely not.

Mitch should be seated on the ledge of a 2nd floor window ledge in the Municipal Building with a large crowd and WFMY cameras gathered below while the cops are shouting " Don't, don't do it " After an hour of this nonsense a senior officer , tired of the pleading, much like a scene from a Wambaugh LAPD novel, shouts " Go ahead and jump you SOB ". Mitch plummets to the concrete.. a smashed pumpkin head . And the city council ruled happily thereafter. End of dream.

As a spatial analogue to his actual political postion relative to the council, Mitch Johnson should occupy a jeweled throne far above the democratic representatives he commands. He should be garbed in the finest silks and furs.

Um, Jaycee, that's sick.

I have lived in Gboro for 74 years and don't remember any city mgr being hated as much as mitch johnson, but unless some one proves he was right, i think he deserves it all. and if he is wrong he needs to correct it ,or it will never go away

Thank you Ms. Schindler your comment was very appropiate, regarding what others had to say about mitchell Johson. You threw a sophisticated twist to the majority. You hit them in the head, and they couldn't make a combat. You are what identifies ethics codes regulations represent. too many skeletons have been uncovered and the people, who used to run greensbor don't like it. Any time you feel the need to straighten them I'm behind you 100%. city government needs people like you! You put A in accountability, thumbs ups. Anytime you want to run for public office, You have my vote. We need more women of substance like you. And no Mitch was not voted in by the resident, it's a appointed city government position, under Delegated Authority and Executive Order12372 of July 14, 1982. including section 401(a) of the Intergovernmental Cooperation act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4231(a), Section 204 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3334) and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and in order to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying on State and local processe for the State and local government coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. Thank God Greensboro has one good undercover Agent!

Thank you Ms. Schindler your comment was very appropiate, regarding what others had to say about mitchell Johson. You threw a sophisticated twist to the majority. You hit them in the head, and they couldn't make a combat. You are what identifies ethics codes regulations represent. too many skeletons have been uncovered and the people, who used to run greensbor don't like it. Any time you feel the need to straighten them I'm behind you 100%. city government needs people like you! You put A in accountability, thumbs ups. Anytime you want to run for public office, You have my vote. We need more women of substance like you. And no Mitch was not voted in by the resident, it's a appointed city government position, under Delegated Authority and Executive Order12372 of July 14, 1982. including section 401(a) of the Intergovernmental Cooperation act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4231(a), Section 204 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3334) and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and in order to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying on State and local processe for the State and local government coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. Thank God Greensboro has one good undercover Agent! And being able to communicate with State and local elected officials as early in the process and programs planning cycles as is reasonably feasible, as to give input and explanation to specific plans and actions.

Thank you Ms. Schindler your comment was very appropiate, regarding what others had to say about mitchell Johson. You threw a sophisticated twist to the majority. You hit them in the head, and they couldn't make a combat. You are what identifies ethics codes regulations represent. too many skeletons have been uncovered and the people, who used to run greensbor don't like it. Any time you feel the need to straighten them I'm behind you 100%. city government needs people like you! You put A in accountability, thumbs ups. Anytime you want to run for public office, You have my vote. We need more women of substance like you. And no Mitch was not voted in by the resident, it's a appointed city government position, under Delegated Authority and Executive Order12372 of July 14, 1982. including section 401(a) of the Intergovernmental Cooperation act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4231(a), Section 204 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3334) and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and in order to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying on State and local processe for the State and local government coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. Thank God Greensboro has one good undercover Agent! And being able to communicate with State and local elected officials as early in the process and programs planning cycles as is reasonably feasible, as to give input and explanation to specific plans and actions.