Protest Petitions, Simkins and TREBIC

Keith Brown has an op-ed piece in the paper today advocating for protest petitions as Guilford County's delegation to the state legislature get ready to consider the matter. 

It would be very helpful for the City Council to pass a resolution in favor of the state legislature reinstating this important vehicle on behalf of the residents of the city of Greensboro.

This would not be without its political costs, however.  The two major power groups that together form a machine to govern the city are the city council members representing the Simkins PAC and those representing development interests.  These two groups oft overlap.

Protest petitions would diminish the power somewhat of each of these two groups.  TREBIC has already weighed in, and its interests in this matter are self-evident.   But the Simkins PAC's power would also be  diminished somewhat, because its elected officials would then be less able to make things happen for development interests.   The strength of the informal arrangement between these two groups would be weakened a bit. 

Yet another reason to root for protest petitions.

Addendum: Mark Binker reports it will not happen this year.

Comments

[bubba]

It's time to put this (and several other issues) to the City Council in no uncertain terms.

We can start with Matheny this coming Monday at Lawndale Baptist church, 6 PM.

What other issues should we ask Matheny to act on?

Specifically, what aspects of the individual issues do we want addressed?

[Joe Guarino]

Bubba, great question. I am not a resident of district 3, and will not be there; but there are a number of issues and questions that Matheny should answer:

1. How do you justify keeping the expense for trash collection for District 3 residents higher than necessary by refusing to reconsider the reopening of the White Street Landfill?

2. Given the nature of the GPD fiasco, our out-of-control crime situation and the continued refusal of city management to clean up the GPD, how do you justify continuing your support of retaining Mitchell Johnson as city manager and Tim Bellamy as police chief?

3. What are you going to do about it if no police officer is fired over the sexual assault case?

4. Are you going to support the reinstatement of protest petitions in the city of Greensboro?

5. We think Greensboro should be the safest, lowest crime medium-sized city in the country. Do you think that is achievable, and what specific things will you do to make that happen?

6. What is your plan to clear the Greensboro Police Department of officers who have been engaged in inappropriate activities-- corruption, consorting with criminals and improper use of on-duty time?

7. Will you see to it that the officer who searched Jerry Bledsoe's address on the GPD computer system is terminated?

[keith]

Joe,
wanted to let you know that when the long session starts in 2009 it will be brought up pretty soon after that. The Greensboro City Council has 6 and a half months to either pass a resolution in support of Protest Petitions or show the citizens of Greensboro that they are bought and paid for by the TREBIC CARTEL. After seeing the TREBIC CARTEL modus operandi on this issue was sad to see the self interest play out for all to see. I will have further to post next week on a few companies and their letters to the state representatives.

[Joe Guarino]

I would not be discouraged, Keith. It was a long shot to get this done during the short session. But it would be very instructive to see who has been attempting to influence the state legislators.

Good luck for the long session.

The City Council needs to take up this matter as soon as possible.

[keith]

Yes Weekly has a lead editorial titled TREBIC VS. Protest Petition

click here

http://www.yesweekly.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=15&ArticleID=3693

[keith]

Protest Petition blog has a new post on the TREBIC letter to the State Legislators and the rebuttal. Check it out here

http://protestpetitiongreensboro.blogspot.com/

[Joe Guarino]

Thanks, Keith, for providing those links. As previously noted, it is very discouraging that Zack Matheny seemed to be speaking against protest petitions at his town meeting. That may foreshadow where the Melderec con Simkins majority on the City Council, of which he is part, may be headed.

[ultraviolet]

Joe I would only register discouragement if this came as a surprise. We knew who and what Zach and the council were made of prior to the last election. Again, we have a small group of precincts that control this city and it's a simple math problem no one seems to be able to solve. I'm hoping the new citizens being annexed will tip the balance. I've said the key to the power lock of Trebic is District 3. If we can pry that one loose they lose much of their power base electorally.

[Joe Guarino]

Ultraviolet, of course, you are right. We did know. And the District 3 seat is very important. I hope a strong candidate will emerge next year to challenge Matheny who will wage a strong campaign. But we also need some strong at-large/mayoral candidates to challenge Perkins, Groat and Yvonne Johnson.