Zack Matheny's Town Meeting

I was regrettably unable to attend Zack Matheny's town meeting last night.  It sounds like it was a humdinger. 

Bubba has a very good summary over at his site.  Check it out:

The group... immediately started airing their feelings about crime, and Matheny got an earful. A large segment of time was spent on this discussion, and GPD Eastern Division Commander Captain Chris Walker did a good job fielding many of the questions.

Bottom line: A number of people are angry about this; a number of people are flat out afraid, and it's a matter of major concern. Matheny was short on answers, plans, and solutions, preferring instead to frame the issue as a funding problem.

I brought up the question of re-opening the White Street Landfill, and immediately Matheny went on the defensive. He dodged the question artfully, but the Rhino Time's John Hammer and I wouldn't let him off the hook.

Matheny claims that White St. is "not closed", which may be technically correct, but he danced all around my question of costs for the current way trash is handled. He referred to the issue as a political one, saying the votes aren't there (on City Council) to open it, and it would invite lawsuits if we did. I made a mental note to ask about lawsuits when we got around to discussing the fiasco of the management of the GPD and its on-going internal problems. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to bring that aspect up.

By that time, I think poor young Zack had started to wonder why he ever decided to do this sort of event, but he gallantly pressed forward. I think he used the term "exposing myself", which he most certainly did.

It was apparent by then that he wasn't relishing a discussion about the ongoing soap opera that has become the GPD and the City Manager's office. That led me to make the statement that "We (the City of Greensboro) lack the political will and management ability to solve the problem". His blood pressure must have shot up 30 points, and he immediately came back with a question that bordered on losing control. I resisted the urge to engage him, and instead told him he would be better served by calling on the other people who wanted to respond in light of my comment. Afterward, he made some whiny comments about the media, not so subtly directed Hammer's way, followed with an exclamation of "I'm one person!"

Ryan Shell also had a summary.  Here is one interesting excerpt:

It was only a matter of time before crime and the Greensboro Police Department were mentioned, but once it happened Matheny answered several questions about gangs and the department’s performance.  The officer in attendance gave some brief statistics, but one fact that stood out is that they have “arrested the same group of juveniles for breaking and entering several times” in one part of District 3.  In regards to the homicide in New Irving Park, both the officer and Matheny said they are “comfortable in the direction the investigation is headed.”

When the hiring of more police officers came up, Matheny reminded everyone that hiring additional officer’s takes money and that the $500k that was recently given to the GPD is probably almost gone.  That isn’t known for a fact, but when Mitchell Johnson gives his efficiency report they will know what is left, if anything, of the money.

While talking about crime and the need for more police a resident said, “We have a big issue, but we’re not handling it in a big way.”

A question from a resident that drew applause was “What does a city manager have to do to be considered incompetent?” Matheny answered by saying, “To lie.  I need to have proof that the manager has lied.”

That struck me as an unusual response.  It seems to me that someone who always tells the truth can be an incompetent manager; and conversely, a person caught in a lie can be an otherwise competent manager.  Competence and truth-telling are two different attributes-- admittedly with some overlap. 

But the fact that Zack Matheny perceives the city manager to be telling the truth does not necessarily mean that the manager should also be regarded as competent.  

Truth-telling is not an adequate barometer of competence.  It is necessary, but it is not sufficient.  We need something more in our city manager than a person who Zack Matheny perceives is telling the truth.

Update: Brenda Bowers adds her perspective over at her blog.

Comments

[Stormy]

I perceive Matheny's response regarding lying is a defense regarding David Wray's "firing". By saying that a manager lying makes him incompetent, he can justify Wray being "fired" because he was incompetent (lied).

[Don Moore]

Funny, Ben Holder has written documents and video proving Mitch Johnson has lied - what more proof does Zack need????

[Joe Guarino]

Don, that is an excellent point. Brenda Bowers has more to say about that, and I am including a link in my post.

Stormy, that is an interesting interpretation. You are right; he may have been implying somehow that he believed Johnson's version of the truth more than Wray's version.

[Bubba]

Matheny's exact quote was that "he had not been lied to or mislead".

Don, it's pretty clear that Zack doesn't read blogs.

[Brenda Bowers]

Thank you for the plug Joe.

In my post I come right out and refer Matheny to Ben Holder. Of course I didn't get Ben's permission, but I can not imagine Ben not to be willing to show him all the documentation needed to convince him that the Mitch Johnson reign has been diasterous for the City of Greensboro.

I was not surprised that Matheny tried to cast everything as a funding problem as that is the mind set of several on the Council and of course the tune that Mitch has been playing.

The list of priorities was laughable and just what would be expected of the political class. They did hit upon the true priorities (or at least some of them) but they were buried in the mush items that quite simply are not the priorities of city government. Being business friendly as far as the City Council and City are concerned is to provide good management of the safety, streets, water, sewage and general healthfulness of the city. If these things are top notch then the businesses will come and will flourish.

The Protest Petition is I am afraid going to need a great deal of help outside the city and from the people because there is no way the City Council is going to allow it to go thru if they can stop it. I will be blogging on the biased zoning decisions that is frustrating people and leading to this push for the Protest Petition. Like everything in Greensboro zoning has become a political and I am sorry to say racial issue. BB

[keith]

also heard that a developer named Richard Beard from Simpson Schulman and Beard a commercial real estate said the following at the meeting:

"that if we bring back Protest Petitions, Greensboro would completely dry up as the developers run for the hills!"

Then someone else said it sure hasn't hurt Raleigh or Charlotte.

[keith]

Let me take the Protest Petition angle to the Zack"I should have recused myself " Matheny meeting.

Bubba from his blog at the end of the post said this:

"Protest Petitions are no big deal in his eyes, that they "leave us open to sprawl", and claims that the Guilford state legislative contingent "passed the buck to City Council" with the recent statement.

Well Greensboro City Councilman Zack MAtheny no Senator Phil Berger didn't just pass the buck but is calling the Greensboro City Council out on this issue to see where all of you stand.Delay, Delay, Delay, will not get it this time around.

We all know what this outcome will be but they are going to have to either pass or deny the citizens the right to a Protest Petition on the record.

If that doesn't happen in the next 6 and a half months then the coalition and many more citizens of Greensboro can go to the state and say Grensboro City COuncil did nothing for 6 months.

[bubba]

...."that if we bring back Protest Petitions, Greensboro would completely dry up as the developers run for the hills!"....

I wasn't aware about who he was, Keith, except for the fact he was a New Irving Park resident. He waso bviously a Zack accolyte, and his body language and tone were pretty condescending toward the others on this issue.

Based on the feedback from participants, I would say he and Zack were the only ones who felt that way.

Thanks for the tip, Keith.

[keith]

Bubba it is hard to keep up with zack's TREBIC CARTEL campaign contributions but Richard Beard Real Estate Developer also gave him $100.00 in 2007

THe TREBIC CARTEL and the Head in the sand Greensboro City Council, plus you can Rhino Times to the list who don't want this to happen to the citizens of Greensboro

[Joe Guarino]

Brenda, Bubba and Keith, thanks for all the comments.

I agree that Matheny's comments are likely a tip-off on how the City Council will act (or rather, refrain from acting) on protest petitions. He is a certifiable member of the Melderec con Simkins majority, so it would not be unreasonable to expect there will be at least four or five votes on his side of that issue. I suppose we will see.