Guarino

Is the Greensboro City Council Going to Punt on the AJ Blake Reinstatement? VOTE

There has been a firestorm over the last week regarding Interim City Manager Bob Morgan's decision to reinstate AJ Blake to the Greensboro Police Department.  Seldom has there been, in my memory, a decision in our local politics that evokes such a passionate reaction among so many people.  And that reaction has taken place even though the story has not been given "drumbeat" treatment in the News and Record.  The voices of protest have arisen spontaneously-- and many seem to be from within the department.

I had heard rumblings that there was going to be a meeting of the Greensboro City Council on this matter on Friday (October 2) at 2:00 PM.  However, I am now told that there will not be a quorum at the meeting, so it therefore may not even take place.   Apparently, individual council members are feeling pressure not to show up for the meeting if my sources are correct.  Apparently, all the platitudes about transparency are but a sad joke.

We have heard stories for three years about certain officers who do not meet the standards that should be expected of those employed by the GPD; and about the efforts to protect those officers in spite of their serious deficiencies.  But we learned about those officers retrospectively-- long after the fact.

In the case of AJ Blake, we saw the situation unfold before our eyes.  And unlike some of those other situations, the administrative processes within the GPD itself arrived at a decision to terminate.  This was a momentous turn of events.

Now that Bob Morgan has reinstated him, it is up to the Greensboro City Council to act.  But unfortunately, it appears that nearly all the current members of the City Council are behaving like cowards; and are trying to avoid having to deal with this situation.  The explicit threat of our city's machine-based identity group politics can weigh heavily on council members like Perkins and Groat and Matheny.  But I am not aware of even a single council member other than Mary Rakestraw who is explicitly standing up on this issue.  I am very concerned that the rest may be cravenly slinking toward the safest political place.

This is an extremely important issue that should not be conveniently stonewalled by a self-interested political class.  The quality of our police department, and the standards it sets for its officers, have been brought into serious question in recent years.  The effectiveness of the GPD as a crime-fighting force, and Greensboro's viability as a safe community, will depend in large part on the quality of the people employed by that agency.  When people like Bob Morgan communicate before the entire city that standards for Greensboro police officers are unimportant, as he did on the matter of AJ Blake, then that is a major red flag for the city's future.

The people of the city of Greensboro need to let their council members know, as soon as possible, how they feel about this situation.  And those concerned about the future of the city and its police department need to vote intelligently in the primary that takes place next week.

The AJ Blake/ Schultheis Contretemps

Some readers may have missed a fascinating thread here yesterday on the matter of Officer AJ Blake's comments regarding Officer Christopher Schultheis.  Recall that Blake was reinstated by Interim City Manager Bob Morgan last week.

Blake had held a press conference with gang leader Jorge Cornell and the Rev. Nelson Johnson.  During that press conference, he made negative comments about a tragic incident of which Schultheis was part.

Schultheis was involved in pursuing and apprehending a suspect.  Unfortunately, he felt compelled to use lethal force and discharge his firearm, killing the suspect.  This type of incident typically is associated with some considerable emotional weight for a police officer.  In addition, it automatically triggers certain types of investigation both at the state level and also within the local police department.  These painstaking processes cleared Schultheis of any wrong-doing.

During his press conference, Blake suggested that Schultheis had acted wrongly during this incident.  That was a very serious accusation, and it also appears to be untrue.

But here is the fascinating twist.  Recall the police party during which Blake became intoxicated and was alleged to have assaulted his girlfriend and one other woman.  It turns out that Officer Schultheis attended that party, and was a witness to the incident.  And in fact, Schultheis later testifed against Blake during the jury trial that took place.

The implications of this are fairly obvious.  One important fact came out during yesterday's thread here.  Wendy Raines, the former head of the police union, suggested that when Blake took his gratuitous shot at Schultheis, he would have known that Schultheis was a witness against him, and would be testifying at his trial.

That is a significant revelation, if true.  Blake not only has made false accusations against fellow officers, but has also apparently attempted in a public venue to diminish one important witness against him-- even though that witness was a police officer, and even though he was on trial in a criminal matter.

And yet, Bob Morgan reinstated Blake in spite of it.

What AJ Blake Said at the Press Conference: Hinsonesque

Sometimes we need to refresh our memories; and flesh out what otherwise tends to be only briefly summarized.

Here are AJ Blake's comments from the press conference he held with Jorge Cornell and Rev. Nelson Johnson.  These comments were made after he had been charged with domestic assault-- but before he had been acquitted:

I went to the party of my own free will; I chose to participate in the drinking contest with other police officers; I got in an argument with my fiancée.  All of these things are unbecoming of a police officer...

I believe these false charges are also a form of retaliation against me for views I have expressed against bad law enforcement practices by the Greensboro Police Department’s Gang Unit of which I was a part.   I feel that if I do not speak out about the pattern of anti-Latino prejudice and the resultant harassment and mistreatment of residents of our city by police personnel, their behavior is not likely to change...

In April of 2008 Greensboro Police Officer Christopher Schultheis shot and killed a 22 year old black man, James Paschal, Jr. Officer Schultheis was the only witness to the incident.  He said that James Paschal, Jr. would not follow orders to remove his hand from his pocket and that he kept walking towards him; therefore, he shot him nine times.   It turned out that James Paschal was not armed. There were other tools that Officer Schultheis had available to him to contain Mr. Paschal, including pepper spray.  Officer Schultheis killed an unarmed man who was a distance away from him for advancing on him in an aggressive manner.  He was not charged with a crime...

All of these charges grow from an anti-Latino and anti-people of color prejudice and hostility within certain quarters and among certain officers in the Greensboro Police Department.  I am a Latino from Honduras...

Over the last eighteen months or so the Greensboro Police Department’s Gang Unit has had a stepped up focus on gang activity.   This has been focused mainly on Latino gangs. 

I have a vague recollection of another GPD officer who repeatedly claimed discrimination; and this had the salutary effect of helping keep him out of trouble within the department.  What was his name again?

GPD: A Lack of Focus on the Mission

The news this weekend of AJ Blake's reinstatement is just one more example.  And we are now hearing chatter that a high-ranking male officer within the department has had sexual relations with a subordinate female officer/trainee.

During the last four years, we have seen numerous pieces of evidence that the Greensboro Police Department is being used to enact a social and political agenda that has little to do with fighting crime.  We have repeatedly witnessed poor decisions made, and wrongheaded approaches taken, by the political/managerial class that is responsible for the work of the Police Department.

When you repeatedly take your eye off your core mission, your endeavor is likely to go off track.

City Journal has an excellent article by George Kelling, one of the architects of the crime-fighting approach that has yielded such outstanding dividends in New York.  And it has also produced an impactful video that recounts the history.

As you watch the video, contrast the sense of focus that the leaders and officers have had in New York with the nonsense we have had in Greensboro.  The video describes how collapsing crime rates helped lead to New York's economic resurgence.

Doing better with our police department could yield similar dividends here in Greensboro.  Instead, the political manipulation of our police department makes it more closely resemble the pre-Giuliani, pre-Bratton NYPD described in the video:

Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito Attends North Carolina Italian Festival

I have written here previously about Paul Paolicelli, a television journalist and writer whose amazing book, Under the Southern Sun, was pretty much a life-changer for me.  It turns out that Mr. Paolicelli relocated to North Carolina several years ago, and has most recently been a news director at one of the TV stations in Wilmington.  I have had the privilege of getting to know him.

Paul was involved in organizing the first-ever Italian festival down east this year.  I was unable to attend, but the festival boasted one fairly prominent visitor of Italian descent-- Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.  Paul was justifiably "honored" that Alito became a part of the festivities; and it seems clear that Alito came partially because of his admiration of Paul's work.

The details are here.

Ben Holder Schedules Press Conference...

...  10:00 AM tomorrow at the Philip G. McDonald Plaza behind City Hall.  The topic is the reinstatement of GPD Officer AJ Blake.

Two Responses Predicted, Urged on Blake Reinstatement

A seemingly knowledgeable, presumably pseudonymous commenter named Jonas has left some interesting statements at a previous thread.  This person says that AJ Blake's situation should already have been reported to the NC Training and Standards Division, but apparently has not been.  This person further predicts that the situation will be reported there shortly.  Finally, this person calls upon us to contact city council members regarding this situation:

Just remember: the city of Greensboro and the police department do not certify officers in the state of NC. The Training and Standards Commission has the power to stop this train wreck...

The department is required to report any arrest of an officer to Training & Standards. The officer is legally required to do so. Google 12 NCAC 09B.0101(8). This requires all law enforcement officers in NC to report any criminal offense (and some traffic offenses) to the commission if they are arrested or charged within 30 days. They do not have to be convicted. If the officer fails to make the notification the commission can suspend, revoke, or deny law enforcement certification. I have been reading probable cause hearing notes from this year and have not yet found where Blake's incident was reported...

Any citizen or person with knowledge can report the arrest. I predict Training & Standards will know sooner than later...

All of you bloggers need to take the opportunity to voice your concerns to the City Council. They work for us and it is time to stand up for the officers at the police department who turned in his actions the night of January 16 and for the gang unit that he continues to defame.

The AJ Blake Reinstatement: The Plot Thickens

Reliable sources provide me with some interesting information regarding AJ Blake's reinstatement.  Apparently an assignment is being made for him to work as a patrol officer in the Eastern Division under Sergeant Trey Davis.

There are several interesting dimensions to this assignment.

First, the Eastern Division has some serious crime conditions to address.  Its officers face danger with their assignments potentially every day.  Trust and morale and teamwork are paramount to keep officers out of trouble in a high-crime environment.  The problem is that, based on all I have read and heard, no one wants to work with Blake.  They don't trust the situation; and are demoralized by it. 

Second, the city assumes certain liabilities with this situation, given what we know about Blake; and also given the nature of his assignment and the legitimate questions about how this will work out in terms of teamwork.  If anything bad happens, the city is potentially liable from a legal standpoint, because it should have known better.

Third, the patrol function within the police department is extremely important.  What does it say about our leadership's concern for the patrol function when an assignment such as this is made?

But the fourth dimension is perhaps the most interesting.

I am told that Blake's new sergeant, Trey Davis, is a black officer who has had some history with the GPD fiasco.

Back in January when Scott Sanders was acquitted, Jerry Bledsoe posted a comment to my blog.  It was about Trey Davis:

Scott Sanders’ acquittal doesn’t mean that troubles are over for him and his former sergeant, Tom Fox. Both are still facing internal investigations that have gone on now for more than three years. Tim Bellamy inserted a hand-picked black detective, Trey Davis, back into Internal Affairs to be involved in the resolution of these investigations.

Davis was the IA detective who put Cathy Vance through an ordeal in an attempt to get her to admit that Sanders had forced her to record black community leaders for malicious purposes. During that inquisition he asked her what was wrong with an officer or police department employee supplying confidential documents or information to a friend or acquaintance, even if that person is boasting of associations with drug dealers. At the time Davis was putting Vance through this ordeal, Bellamy and Capt. Gary Hastings (now asst. chief) knew that no black community leaders had been under surveillance or deliberately recorded.

It is normal for an IA detective to attend all criminal trials of police officers. The IA sergeant sat in on portions of Sanders’ trial, as did another IA detective. But Davis was in the courtroom all week.

I am told that Trey Davis made unfavorable findings against Scott Sanders and Tom Fox during the internal investigations that took place.  However, I am told the work was deemed to be of low quality, and his findings were ultimately reversed.  It took over three years to bring their internal investigation to a close. 

But compare that with the internal GPD processes leading all the way to Morgan's reinstatement of A.J. Blake.  That required only about nine months!  Note the contrast.  Part of the reason for the delays in the Sanders/Fox investigation, I am told, is because various parties internally had to go back and forth repeatedly because of Trey Davis' work on the Sanders/Fox case.

I am further told, by the way, that there have been two stellar officers within Internal Affairs, Mike Loy and Jane Allen, who did their job properly and handled the Sanders/Fox investigations with integrity and professionalism.

In any case, it is apparently now Trey Davis-- the same guy who put Cathy Vance, Scott Sanders and Tom Fox unnecessarily through some very difficult circumstances-- who is now AJ Blake's boss in the eastern patrol division.

Some Powerful Reactions to Bob Morgan's Reinstatement of AJ Blake

From the thread over at Ben Holder's blog, a couple of particularly powerful comments, presumably from GPD officers:

Comment #27:

To AJ Blake, Joe, I used to tell people you were a good guy, a hard worker, and a good cop. We were actually friends and I've stood behind you on many things in the past. You have lost ALL of my respect and I can no longer say you were even a good cop. A good cop, even one who slips up and makes a bad decision in a drunken rage, doesn't join forces with Nelson Johnson and Jorge Cornell. That picture of you arm and arm with Jorge, grinning from ear to ear, is like spitting in my face and the face of every officer here. You never had a problem with me, you've never filed a complaint on me, you've known me a long time and know I see no color when it comes to human beings, you are a disgrace. Was it really worth selling your soul to the likes of those two when you know deep in your heart what you've done to your girlfriend and Lorraine. I guess you've convinced yourself by now it was self defense, if one tells themselves the same story enough times I guess they really believe it, but you know that you assaulted them both and there was no self defense about it. You don't deserve your LEO certification, back pay, or to ever stand by my side on a call. I too believe in forgiveness and second chances but you lost all that with your press conference, lies in court, and that awful picture. To my fellow GPD officers, isn't it time to unite and lower the racial tension that has plagued this department for so long? A boneheaded decision was made regarding AJ Blake and for once it had nothing to do with this administration (administrations in the past have also made horrible decisions) but for once an issue is at hand that I think EVERY officer here agrees on. And if you stand behind Blake you too are on your own and you can be his assist partner should he ever return to answering calls. Let's use this one thing that we all actually agree on to bring us together as a department. We can't do anything about the decision of one complete imbecile, Bob Morgan, but we can do something about how we treat each other. Don't let Blake's duping the judicial system stir up even more racial tension. We should all be on the same side, the side of doing right, of upholding the law, and of protecting our families and citizens of this city. Isn't that what you took an oath to do? If not, then go stand with Blake, you are just like him. To the man who had the courage to tell Blake exactly how we all feel when you came face to face with him yesterday, THANK YOU! And while you probably wanted to say much more, you actually had the decency not to cuss at him (even in THAT complaint Blake couldn't get the facts straight). That's all, just speaking my mind...too bad I can't sign my name, I'm afraid Blake will file a complaint on me too!

And comment #35:

This is a bad situation for everyone involved. I sincerely hope both the mayor and Chief Bellamy are reading these posts. You have the power to deny Blake a spot back in this Department. Do it, for his sake, for the Department's sake, for the City's sake, and most of all, the citizens' sake.

With all this talk of cleaning up the Department, allowing A.J. Blake to return would be a disservice. He has done a number of questionable things, things that would be considered wrong and suspect, even if he was not an officer of the law. To return his badge would be a blight upon this city, an embarrassment, a mistake.

Consider the comments of what are clearly my fellow officers- Officer Blake is likely to find trouble quickly upon his return, and a great number of officers will refuse to go to his aid or will take their time. That is unfortunate, because it is their job to go. But just as unfortunate was the decision to reinstate an officer who made many poor choices that got him in the position he faces now. Assaulting two different women, perjuring himself on the stand, aligning himself with the leader of a violent and dangerous gang, and demeaning his fellow officers, not to mention damaging the image of our Department. No, you put Officer Blake in great danger by allowing his return. You can stop it.

Daily I see stories or am accused of corruption by working for this Department. I was not here under prior administrations, I have no connections in the Department, I no nothing of Black Books. I am a hard-working, moral, and fair officer, and yet I cannot escape the past of my Department. I work hard to try to reverse that image, and so do many, many of the fine young officers who have with pride put on that badge and uniform. But with the stroke of a pen, it appears all for naught. To avoid a legal battle, to avoid being sued, you sacrifice all which those on the front lines have worked so hard to overcome. Long after you are all gone, we will still be paying for this decision. Will this be your legacy? Will you finally be able to unite the Department, against you?

I solemnly wish I could leave my name, that this didn't have to be an anonymous post, that I could leave my name for all to see without fear of reprimand or risk losing my job outright. I wish the good officers of the Greensboro Police Department could stand up and let their voices publicly be heard and counted, that the administration would consider our views before allowing this travesty to continue. I would hope those at the top would remember that the pyramid is only as strong as its base. The base has spoken- we cannot accept the return of A.J. Blake. We cannot stop it, but we cannot accept it.

Chief Bellamy, it is time for you to show why you were chosen as our leader- you signed his dismissal, stand up for yourself. Stand up for the Department. Stand up for the citizens- if you fail to do so, you will lose their support forever. They deserve better.

Scott Sanders and Tom Fox Cleared by GPD: Contrast with the AJ Blake/ City of Greensboro Mess

I think many observers by this time have begun to grasp the magnitude of the mess created by City Manager Bob Morgan's decision to reinstate AJ Blake to the GPD.

Earlier this week, we heard about the fact that the US Department of Justice was not going to be suing the City of Greensboro over the GPD fiasco.  That was prominently reported and discussed in various local blogs.

One important piece of information has not been reported, however.  Recall that Tom Fox and Scott Sanders had been reinstated to their jobs after the conclusion of Sanders' trial.  But the internal investigation against them within the GPD was still open after a period of three long years.

I have heard from several sources I consider to be reliable that both Fox and Sanders have been essentially cleared within the GPD with respect to the allegations made against them in the course of the GPD fiasco.  In fact, I am told about a statement that one key Internal Affairs officer made.  That person said there was never even any probable cause for the case against them.

And this week, John Hammer reported on Sanders having been cleared internally within the GPD.  But he pointed out that the city still has not made the situation right:

It may seem odd, but even after Sanders was found not guilty in court and the charges were dismissed by the state, he was investigated by the Greensboro Police Department for those same allegations. The standards of proof are lower in an internal investigation and, unlike in court, an officer can be forced to testify against himself. But the serious allegations were unfounded and Police Chief Tim Bellamy, who has to approve the findings, has reportedly signed off on all but one minor allegation that is still under investigation. The most serious allegations against Sanders that have been upheld are that he used profanity during an interrogation and failed to fill out a report.

Sanders has been found not guilty in court and by the Police Department, but the City Council is punishing him by refusing to pay his attorneys' fees.

Attorneys familiar with the case say it is likely that Sanders and the other police officers who were never charged with anything will prevail in court when they sue for attorneys' fees. Then the city will have to pay, not just the original attorneys' fees, but the fees for the suit to sue for the fees. It is time for those who supported Mitch Johnson's witch hunt to give up and admit they were wrong.

It has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Justice and the Greensboro Police Department, and the allegations made against Wray and his staff are unfounded. Certainly if what Mitch Johnson said were true, one of these investigations would have turned up sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to take action, but they have not. 

What does this have to do with the case of AJ Blake?

Scott Sanders and Tom Fox were put through hell for a period of nearly four years, and there was no reason for it.  They were cleared and reinstated.  They are still having to fight to get their legal expenses paid.

AJ Blake got a speedy trial, was initially convicted, and then was subsequently acquitted-- but primarily because the girlfriend he was alleged to have battered while he was under the influence testified on his behalf.  He was acquitted even though there had been witnesses to the incident.  He had been recommended for termination by a black police chief; and there is no indication that this recommendation had been changed.  In the meantime, he has alleged racism against the department's gang unit, and consorted with a known gang leader who happens to be running for City Council. 

His situation is much different than the case of Sanders and Fox for various reasons-- and arguably much, much worse.  The element of racial targeting has essentially been removed from the consideration of Blake's case, because a black police chief and a significantly black power structure within the GPD recommended that he be fired.  Yet, he was reinstated by City Manager Morgan.

Greensboro police officers have every reason to be concerned about being required to serve alongside this gentleman, when they have little way to know what Blake's relationship is with the city's gang culture.

Sam Hieb had some important comments over at Piedmont Publius:

I don’t think it’s being overly cynical to say that the reinstatement of Greensboro police officer A.J. Blake has a really, really bad smell...

The announcement that interim City Manager Bob Morgan reinstated Blake was the classic Friday afternoon news dump designed to minimize reaction from citizens anticipating the weekend. We also know that Morgan is shortly making way for new City Manager Rashad Young, so he won’t have to take the political heat as the city’s head honcho. Kind of a small-time presidential pardon, if you will.

Something else that’s very interesting: I could swear I saw a quote from Blake in yesterday’s N&R online version saying he wouldn’t be rejoining the gang unit because he probably would face more harassment from fellow officers than the gangs themselves. An interesting perspective from a police officer who’s lucky to have a job, I thought to myself.

I am concerned as to whether there may have been some political maneuvering that influenced Morgan's decision to reinstate Blake.  I have no solid information to prove that.  But his decision makes little sense otherwise. 

The City Council needs to call Morgan out on the carpet, and make him explain.  They need to ask him specifically what offense justified demoting Blake.  They need to find out, in view of his wild racial allegations against the gang unit, and his consorting with a gang leader and convicted felon, how he remains qualified to be a Greensboro police officer.  They need to find out what police department policies, procedures and directives Blake violated with the various behaviors he displayed.  And they need to do whatever they can to reverse Morgan's decision.  Greensboro is being made a laughing stock.

Furthermore, Morgan needs to disclose all communications he has had regarding this matter-- verbal and written.

As I noted in a post last night, City Council candidates need to overcome their reticence, and discuss this matter openly.  This is a legitimate campaign issue, because the primary function of local government is to maintain civic order.  We need to insist upon the best police department we can possibly have.

Earlier this week, the News and Record reported on the progress of the city and the GPD in implementing the Buracker Report recommendations.  We know that some recommendations have been heeded, and some have not been.  But it is impossible to know from the reporting to what extent the department's operational effectiveness in fighting crime has been enhanced.

And yet, there are still concerns.  We have seen recently yet another crime wave through New Irving Park.  The city continues to demonstrate a relatively soft, reactive approach to fighting crime; and a reluctance to use the proactive measures that have been so successful in other cities.

We are still tweaking the work shifts of police officers, and making decisions based on identity politics.  And public safety continues to be secondary. 

I have one other point.  There is one other body that could potentially review this case.  The North Carolina Training and Standards Division, within the North Carolina Department of Justice, apparently has jurisdiction over matters such as these.  And I am told that it is not necessarily bound by the fact that someone like Blake has been acquitted in court.  I do not know whether this particular division has been asked to review Blake's situation as of yet.   

In the meantime, it is highly appropriate for the present City Council, and all of the candidates running, to demand more of our City Manager and our police department.

 

AJ Blake Reinstatement Needs to Be Issue in City Council, Mayoral Campaign

Election season is an appropriate time to discuss matters of grave civic concern.  The candidates for City Council, and the candidates for mayor, ought to discuss publicly City Manager Bob Morgan's decision to reinstate A.J. Blake.

Below is a YouTube that demonstrates Blake seated at the dais as Latin Kings gang leader/City Council candidate Jorge Cornell makes a public statement.  City Council candidates should specifically address whether there are any legitimate concerns associated with sworn police officers employed by the city of Greensboro consorting with known gang leaders:

AJ Blake Reinstated with a Demotion

The news that AJ Blake has been reinstated, but demoted, raises certain questions. 

Apparently Interim City Manager Bob Morgan feels Blake did something wrong, but it was not sufficiently severe to justify termination.  What precisely does Morgan think that Blake did wrong, given the fact that he demoted the officer?

And of course, the Greensboro Police Department has once again been tarnished beyond belief.

Meanwhile, one cannot help but wonder whether Mr. Morgan is striving to emulate his predecessor.

Straight Talk About Racism

Rockingham County GOP Fish Fry

I received the following announcement this week:

Friends, please join us Saturday for the Freedom Fish Fry at Eden’s Freedom Park (121 North Edgewood) from 5:00 PM until we run out of food and something to talk about.  This is a very informal opportunity to fellowship with each other and our local and state candidates.  At $10.00 a person for flounder and all the usual sides, it’s hard to beat.  Bring a friend and your folding chair if possible.

See you at the Fish Fry!

Freedom Fish Fry

Rockingham County Republican Party

September 26 - 5:00 PM
Freedom Park
Eden, NC
121 N. Edgewood Road

$10 per person/Kids (under 6) free

Meet our local candidates, enjoy local music, and fellowship with neighbors.

Greensboro City Council District 4: Mary Rakestraw

I have received questionnaire responses from Joel Landau and Mike Martin, both of whom are running in the primary against Mary Rakestraw, who currently fills an at-large seat.

Mr. Martin offers an interesting candidacy.  He opposes incentives for private real estate development.  He favors increasing usage of the White Street Landfill.  He says he is forsaking the Simkins PAC endorsement-- but is open to receiving the support of TREBIC -affiliated organizations.  He says he will not increases taxes (but might vote to increase fees).  He favors benchmarking our police department against lower-crime cities to achieve lower crime rates.  He opposes giving tax money to Action Greensboro or the Greensboro Partnership.

I should state that Mr. Martin had a number of other positions with which I disagreed.

Joel Landau also "generally" opposes incentives for private real estate development, but does not rule it out.  He says he will not seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations, but will accept the Simkins machine endorsement.  He wants a welcoming attitude for businesses, and a simplified permitting process.  He favors an evaluation to see if we can achieve more efficient deployment of our current police resources.  He favors bringing the city attorney under the control of the City Council.

I probably disagree with more of Mr. Landau's positions than in the case of Mike Martin.  I have also heard Mr. Landau speak at a couple of forums (fora?) two years ago.  My impression is that Mr. Landau is an honest, congenial, well-intentioned liberal.

Mary Rakestraw has not completed a questionnaire (nor did she two years ago).  This creates certain dilemmas for me.  This year, however, we have the benefit of having been able to observe her performance on the City Council.  I think she has done a good job, and has voted the right way on most of the important issues of substance.  I was particularly impressed with her support of Scott Sanders at his trial.

There has been an effort to undermine Ms. Rakestraw.  A letter-writing campaign to the News and Record attempted to disparage her, and stereotypically lump her with the so-called contentious former County Commissioners who had brought their fighting ways to the City Council. 

And fellow councilwoman Goldie Wells has treated her like dirt.  Mayor Johnson has allowed that to happen repeatedly.

When I have watched City Council meetings, I have not really seen Ms. Rakestraw fight.  She is fairly circumspect with respect to her comments at Council meetings.  But there is a prevailing expectation in Greensboro that we will have groupthink on the City Council, and that everyone serving on that governing body will always accede to the Melderec con Simkins status quo.  That is an absurd, dangerous expectation, but it certainly has been given voice repeatedly.

On primary day, I will be voting for Mary Rakestraw.

What I Did During My Summer Vacation: the Brazilian Connection

Now that fall has arrived, it is appropriate for me to share what I did during my summer vacation.

I took a "break' from my usual blogging during late July and the entire month of August.  One of the reasons was because of preparations for a family reunion.

Two years ago, I shared here how I had visited the town in Italy where my maternal grandmother, Ernoldina Molinari, was born-- Amantea, in the southern region of Calabria.  She was brought to the United States by her parents at the ripe old age of two months, during the year 1900. 

During my trip to Amantea two years ago, I was introduced to a local gentleman, Rocco Molinaro, who probably is a relative.  His family had received a letter ten years earlier from someone in the nation of Brazil by the name of Mario Celso Molinaro.  He showed it to me, and gave me a copy because it was clear to me from the letter that this Brazilian Molinaro was most certainly my cousin.

My great-grandfather Gaetano was one of ten siblings who left Amantea.  Four of them emigrated to Brazil; and the initial plan was for the other six to join them there.  However, there was an epidemic of Yellow Fever in Brazil; and so my great-grandfather and his five siblings came to the United States instead.  Since then, a large Molinari clan developed in both Brazil and the United States, with literally hundreds of descendants. 

But no one in the Molinari clan in the United States was ever to meet face-to-face with anyone from the clan in Brazil.  The two branches of the family were geographically split apart, permanently, on two separate continents.

But when I returned from Italy, I decided to write to Mario in Brazil.  We exchanged letters several times.  The Brazilian branch of the family had become very successful, with many entrepreneurs, physicians, public officials and other professionals.  Mario himself had been a history professor, music conductor and concert pianist.  

The American Molinari family decided to plan a family reunion this year, and it was held at the end of August.  We decided to invite Mario and his wife; and to our delight, they came all the way from Brazil and even performed at the reunion.  It was the first time in 110 years, ever since the immigrant siblings parted their ways, that the Brazilian branch of the Molinari family had been reunited physically with the American branch of the family.  So it was a pretty big deal for all of us.

The reunion was held on Staten Island, and about 150-160 people attended.  It was a lot of fun.  I had the opportunity to relate to the group how I had accidentally reconnected with our Brazilian relatives. 

During the weeks leading up to the reunion, I had been unsure as to what the language barrier would be with Mario, so I spent my evenings working with CD's, upgrading my Spanish skills in anticipation of his visit (because I hoped that his Brazilian Portuguese would be fairly similar to Spanish). 

We have a couple of former elected officials in the American Molinari family with some degree of celebrity, and so the reunion was covered by the local newspaper, the Staten Island Advance, as well as by a weekly New Jersey Italian-American publication called the Italian Tribune.  I am going to reproduce those accounts here. 

First, the article in the Italian Tribune appeared two weeks ago, and was written by Andrew Paul Mele:

Molinari Family Reunion

Italian Style

The Molinari name is synonymous with Staten Island politics.  S. Robert Molinari was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1943 to 1944.  His granddaughter Susan Molinari retired from Congress in 1997.  But it was his son, Guy V. Molinari, who carried the name to the greatest political heights.  He served four terms as a United States Representative and was borough president of Staten Island from 1990 to 2001.

On Saturday, August 29 at the Mount Loretto CYO Center in Pleasant Plains, Staten Island, New York, Guy Molinari  joined with more than 160 relatives for a joyous family reunion.  Six generations were represented and they came from such distant places as California, Alaska and Brazil.  As remarkable as the event was, the story behind the gathering is even more so and it began more than 100 years ago in Amantea in the Calabria region of Italy.

In the 1890's, 10 siblings of the Molinaro family were determined to emigrate to the Americas with Brazil as their destination.  Four arrived in the South American country, but an epidemic prevented the remaining Molinaros from landing, so they redirected themselves to New York.  Robert, Guy's father, was two years old when his family landed in the United States.  Over the years and distance, contact between the two groups was lost and until recently, the succeeding generations were unaware that the others existed.

Mario Celso Molinaro is a concert pianist in his home in Amparo, Brazil.  He attended the reunion with his wife, Maria Bruschini, an opera singer.  Fran Guarino is a Molinari, a first cousin to Guy, who attended the reunion with her three sons, Joe, Steve and Gary.  It was Joe Guarino, a physician who resides in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife and two sons, who reestablished the family connection more than 100 years after the emigration.

Mario had written a letter to relatives in Amantea in 1997.  In 2007, Joe traveled to Amantea to visit those relatives in Italy and was shown the letter from Mario.  Mario is amazed that his letter was discovered by Joe.  "It was 10 years after I wrote it," he said incredulously.  Joe made the Brazilian contact and the Molinari clan was instantly reunited.

There was no shortage of entertainment as Mario and Maria performed.  Guy's brother Bobby Molinari played the accordion and a nephew, Donald Sica, performed with his band, "New York Time".

Susan Molinari and her husband, former member of Congress Bill Paxon, came from Alexandria, Virginia where they now reside with their two daughters, Kate, 10 and Susan, 13.

Guy Victor Molinari was born in Manhattan in 1928 and came to Staten Island in time to graduate from New Dorp High School in 1945.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wagner College on Staten Island and a law degree from New York Law School in 1951.  Guy served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and was admitted to the New York State Bar following his discharge in 1953. 

A Republican, he served in the State Assembly from 1975 until 1980, when he was elected to the House of Representatives from the 17th Congressional District.  He resigned in 1989 to become Borough President of Staten Island, the fifth of six Italian Americans to serve in that post.  An influential member of the Republican Party, Guy, a pro-life advocate, was a force behind the mayoral candidacy of Rudolph Giuliani.

Still the congenial, smiling man with a kindness in his face that exudes trust, he entered the hall on Saturday and began to meet and greet the generations that came.  There was happiness and love, and with all of his accomplishments over a lifetime..., Guy Molinari looked over the room and said, "This is the top of the list.  Nothing could be better!"

The account from the Staten Island Advance, written by Tevah Platt, is as follows:

150 Molinaris, including former BP, gather for reunion

It may be in the blood: On Staten Island, the Molinari surname is synonymous with politics.

The legacy that began with S. Robert "Fighting Bob" Molinari, a New York State Assemblyman in the 1940s, extended to his son, former borough president Guy Molinari, and on to Guy's daughter, Susan, who retired from Congress in 1997.

But the name that carries clout in New York circles is attached to a far-reaching clan united not by GOP ideology but by love, Italian ancestry and festive music.

Some 150 Molinaris attended a family reunion at the Mount Loretto CYO Center in Pleasant Plains yesterday -- enough heads to comprise the entire New York State Assembly.

But they were a motley bunch, in town from as far as Alaska and Brazil, and spanning five generations, from 83-year-old Henry Molinari of New Rochelle to 7-month-old twins Christopher and Ryan Pospisil of Eltingville.

The eldest generation gathered around Guy's brother, Bob Molinari, on the accordion, to sing racy ditties their late uncle Joe had penned and that they'd laughed over during summers spent in bungalows on Midland Beach.

Fifth-generation Molinaris shared photographs from their days growing up in New Dorp while sixth-generation cousins met one another for the first time:

"I've never grown up with a lot of family," said Ellie Sica, 20, who flew in from Juneau, Alaska, for the reunion. "It's really nice to be here with a lot of family and just connect instantaneously. There's so much love, within seconds I felt like a part of the family."

The Molinari clan traces its ancestry back to Giuseppe and Rafaela Molinari of Amantea, a town in Calabria, Italy. That couple had 11 children, all but one of whom immigrated to the United States or to Brazil. They multiplied.

BUSINESS PEOPLE

Third-generation Molinaris settled in New York and established businesses, including a Manhattan and Queens barber shop, Molra's restaurant in Manhattan, and Molinari's nightclub in Midland Beach.

Musical talent runs deep in the Molinari family, at least as far back as Ralph and Joe "Booby" Molinari, who played comedy acts on guitar and kazoo at their nightclub in the 1950s.

Guy's father, Robert, played the ukulele, and Guy and his brother played accordions in a performance at the 1939 World's Fair.

Maria and Mario Molinaro (relatives, despite the alternative surname spelling), an opera singer and a pianist, respectively, traveled to the reunion from Amparo, Brazil.

Nieces and nephews of the late "Uncle Booby" sang his "In a Boat in Central Park" at the reunion, along with "Volare" and other standards, while Donald Sica, Guy's nephew, performed with his band, "New York Time."

EARLIER SUMMERS

Guy Molinari remembered parades and performances at Midland Beach: "The whole summer was just one great big ball," he said yesterday.

The reunion events included fossil-hunting for the kids offered by local geologist James Brochu, and a proclamation from Borough President James P. Molinaro declaring "Molinari Day."

While about 50 Molinaris still reside on Staten Island, this was the first event in recent memory to bring together as many as five branches of the family.

"We're closely knit," said octogenarian Henry Molinari. "I knew it was going to take a half hour to move 20 feet, because I kissed everyone I saw."

The family name gave a sense of pride to relatives who grew up on Staten Island, several fifth-generation Molinaris said.

Susan Molinari, who now resides in Alexandria, Va., said yesterday that growing up in a political family exposed her, as it has to her children, to public service and its effectiveness in a democracy.

"It's been great," she said, "to be a part of this crazy, beautiful, smart, emotional family."

Above is a Staten Island Advance photo of Guy, Susan and her two daughters, which was taken outside the facility where the reunion was held.

Burr on Health Care

Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina has sponsored a pretty good health care reform bill. 

He has also given an impressive interview recently discussing the Baucus proposal, and the prospects for the Democrats in the Senate using the reconciliation maneuver to slam through a misbegotten version of health care reform: (HT: Under the Dome)

Greensboro City Council, District 3: George Hartzman, by a hair

The District 3 primary pits incumbent Zack Matheny against two challengers, George Hartzman and Jay Ovittore.  All three candidates responded to my questionnaire.  This race is quite interesting, and poses difficult dilemmas.

George Hartzman recognized the central function of municipal government is "keeping the peace".  He opposes incentives for private real estate development.  He advocates fixing the GPD (although he does not specify what that would entail).  He favors expanding usage of the White Street Landfill.  He says he is forsaking support from the Simkins machine and TREBIC-affiliated organizations; and is the only candidate in this race to do so.  He emphasizes sound economics, including avoidance of debt and reductions in spending.   (He does not, however, commit to forsake tax or fee increases.)  He probably exhibits the most curiosity among all the candidates with respect to holding down employee benefit costs.  He expresses misgivings about granting special standing to Action Greensboro and the Greensboro Partnership in the formulation of policy.

I disagreed with Mr. Hartzman on a number of issues, but overall, his responses on paper are fairly good.

Ovitorre also opposes giving incentives for private real estate development.  He opposes raising fees for city residents.  He wants a full time city council, with the city attorney and police chief answering to the city council.  He opposes consolidation of the city and county planning departments. 

Matheny says he wants to find a way to increase use of the White Street Landfill "the best possible way".  He says he wants to avoid tax and fee increases, and feels this would help recruit new jobs to the area; but he does not categorically rule out the possibility of voting in favor of increases.  He points out, however, he has worked to avoid such increases the last two years.  He favors bringing the city attorney under the control of the City Council.  He says he opposes giving Action Greensboro and the Greensboro Partnership increased standing in the formulation of policy.  He has a seemingly defensible algorithm for deciding what projects are appropriate to fund with economic development bonds.  But I am not sure how that has played out with his votes over the last two years.

One cannot ignore the practical dimensions of this race.  Mr. Hartzman has had a significant online presence, with contemplative posts often focusing on economics.  It is difficult to know, however, to what extent he has been able to raise money and drum up support in the community.  It is tough to win local elections without doing well all the mundane, real world, nuts-and-bolts aspects of campaigning.

I know Jay Ovittore and like him personally.  We disagree on a number of issues, however.

Mr. Matheny ran to the political center two years ago, and won the support of the Simkins machine and the Melderec bunch.  The Simkins influence in district 3, while palpable, is not overwhelming.  Matheny over the last six months has been moving a bit more to the right; and surprisingly almost seems to have declared some independence from the Simkins crowd.

I like Zack Matheny now more than I did two years ago.  Some of us will disagree with at least some of what he has done as a council member.  He has certainly demonstrated an ability to campaign and win elections; and will be difficult to beat this year.

If I lived in District 3, I would probably vote for George Hartzman.  But I also acknowledge Zack Matheny's advantage politically; and the evolution of his political profile in a seemingly more positive direction.

Paul Clark and Madison Elementary

In case you missed it,  there was a masterful article in the Rhino this week written by Paul Clark.  The topic was the proposed renaming of Madison Elementary.

A PC battle has erupted at the Guilford County Board of Education with Deena Hayes, of course, spearheading the efforts of those on the wrong side of the argument.  Clark argues eloquently for the enormous role of James Madison in history-- from the standpoint of the enduring constitution we have that guarantees individual rights; and his role in helping establish the first democracy in modern times (which since has metastasized to numerous other nations around the globe).

Clark makes Deena Hayes seem a bit small.

Greensboro City Council, District 2: Dan Fischer, with reservations

I have received questionnaire responses from two of the four candidates running in District 2-- Nettie Coad and Dan Fischer. 

Two candidates have not responded, including Jim Kee, who has been reported to likely be Goldie Wells' choice.  If that is true, Kee might have an inside track for the Simkins machine endorsement.  He has also apparently been involved in real estate development.

I did not agree with all of Dan Fischer's responses.  However, he says he is forsaking the support of the Simkins PAC and TREBIC.  He does not want to provide incentives for private real estate development.  He says he wants to expand use of the White Street Landfill.  He opposes giving taxpayers' money and increased standing for policy decisions to Action Greensboro and the Greensboro Partnership.  Overall, I like his responses more than those Nettie Coad provided; but I did have concerns about some of his positions.

If I lived in this district, I would probably vote for Fischer on the basis of the information available, but with reservations.  If Jim Kee truly does materialize as the machine candidate, it would be nice for the district to find and support a good, strong alternative.  Whether that is likely to happen is another matter entirely.