Greensboro City Council District Candidates Forum

Greensboro Neighborhood Congress sponsored another fine City Council forum tonight, which only included the district candidates. 

Once again, I will not present a question-by-question accounting, but will instead highlight the areas I found most interesting. 

District 1

Luther Falls, the challenger in District 1, left shortly after giving his opening statement.  This was unexpected and unexplained.  This unfortunately gave T. Dianne Bellamy-Small the opportunity to give her point of view unopposed.  She relished it, and was in feisty, quasi-obnoxious form.  She said that the Buracker Report claimed Chief Tim Bellamy was one of the very best police chiefs; but I do not immediately recall it making that representation.

She took shots at those who prompted the removal of the Warnersville Greenway benches.  She claimed it was "bully politics" engineered by a person "who only came out of the woodwork at election time".

She said when the City Council reviewed Bob Morgan's decision on AJ Blake, it was entering into "dangerous territory', and that it needed to "be very careful".  She claimed the process that led to Blake's reinstatement is mandated by the state of North Carolina, and that the right to appeal is very important.  (It would be good to know precisely what the law says on this topic).  She stated the need to let the new city manager do his job.

When she was asked about the recent published assessment of how smart Greensboro is collectively, she quipped that she was glad the measure was not based on what is observed at City Council and County Commissioner meetings. 

As Bellamy-Small made her various statements, her amen corner among the African-American attendees at the forum would murmur "that's right"-- and even applauded-- contrary to the instructions of the moderator.

I think her presentation was overall pretty objectionable; but she won because her opponent left, and because her constituency believes what she says is a good thing.  That is an indication of how far we have to go as a city.

District 2

Jim Kee had stronger presenting skills than Nettie Coad, who is an elderly woman.  He was not at all bashful talking about the relationship between keeping the White Street Landfill shut, and his interest in his development projects in the area.  He spoke about the landfill as a "hazard" that raised "health issues", thereby engaging in demagoguery.  To his credit, he expressed disagreement with the decision to pursue the aquatic center-- as did Coad.  (As he spoke against it, TDBS interestingly rolled her eyes).

Nettie Coad made some sense on the need for the city to prioritize better and to plan better than it has in the past.  She readily identified herself as an activist and community organizer.  She otherwise discussed issues with urban housing, revitalization and the like.

Both candidates talked a good bit about job creation and economic development.

District 3

I thought George Hartzman was pretty impressive, and challenged people to stop and think about the degree to which the city's present course has been unwise.  He was a compelling speaker, and dramatized the fiscal problems the city is going to be facing.  He emphasized that revenues are contracting, but that we are adding more bills with the bond issues we pass.  He said that we are "borrowing from our children".  He asserted it is inappropriate for the city's budgetary assumptions to be that revenues will continue to increase.  He then stuck his neck out further, and claimed the city's political system is broken.  He said it is a problem when contributors to local candidates have business before the city on matters in which they have a financial interest.  He called for a new ethics standard to apply to all candidates.

He wants the traffic on the new northwest portion of the urban loop, to be developed later, diverted through the center of town instead of barreling through area neighborhoods.  He criticized the decision-making on the urban loop.

Zack Matheny cited what he regarded as the fiscally responsible path he had pushed for the city's budget.  He said it was a "hold the line" budget that cut millions but did not sacrifice services.  He said this was a positive, collaborative process.  He cited the number of supporters who had contributed to his campaigns; and said they were a reflection of all the hard work he did volunteering in the city over the years.  He spoke of the crime concerns in his district, and how he had dealt with them.  He emphasized the need to sell the city well to prospective employers, and to have the right people doing it.

I found a couple of Matheny's statements a bit problematic.  He said that while he was not a proponent of the aquatic center, it was allowed to happen because the voters passed the bond.  It seems to me the city was not compelled to allow this bond issue to be placed before the voters.  In addition, he responded to calls for more cops by stating that we are not able to recruit enough people who are suitable to be police officers.  While that was probably true at one time, I doubt that recruiting good cops should be a problem in the present economy.  There are many unemployed in our region.

District 4

Nearly at the outset, Joel Landau took a shot at Mary Rakestraw for accepting contributions from those involved in the development related industries.  He said he was tired of the discord and negativity on the city council.  He acknowledged that people will disagree, but wants them to work toward the common good.  He wants to build "trust and cohesion". 

He also wants to develop jobs in a 'sustainable way", as if we are in a position to pick and choose which jobs should come to Greensboro.  He said he wants to "put the green in Greensboro" and have the city become the leader in new technologies.  But in the new economy, Greensboro should be grateful for any jobs it can attract, notwithstanding the rhetoric.

He seemed a bit uncomfortable responding to questions on the AJ Blake matter and the Warnersville benches.  He wanted to defer to the district 1 representative on the benches; but said if a problem exists, it should be dealt with.  And on the matter of AJ Blake, he admitted he was reluctant to comment.  He acknowledged, however, that there was a need to clarify what behavior is expected of police officers; and also there was a need for the chief of police to "make examples" of some misbehaving officers.

He claimed the city did a good job of handling requests for information in general, but there are times when it falls short.  

Mary Rakestraw is overall a strong speaker.  She expressed that she opposes incentives and forced annexations.  She indicates a need to change the police department; and said that a few within the department give the entire organization a bad name.  She said the problem is that the police department is not enforcing standards, but that it needs to start doing so.  She indicated that Chief Bellamy was compromised when Blake was reinstated.

Rakestraw said she wants everyone treated the same in the police department.  She wants to let the new city manager "do his job", but adds she is meeting with him on Friday.  She said she wants more police officers "on foot" in the Warnersville area so the benches can be returned there.

She spoke very positively of Greensboro as a place to live.  But she indicated difficulty getting information from city staff, and suggested this was a major problem.

District 5

Trudy Wade was not present at the forum, so Art Boyett-- the challenger-- was the sole candidate present for this district. 

Boyett was a very engaging speaker, and very likable.  He advocated solving the problems in the police department.  He emphasized the need to spur job creation and economic development using various techniques.  And he wanted a business-friendly approach, but stopped short of "giving things away".

He spoke of the need to "zone ahead of time", citing the problems with the urban loop in his district.  During the forum, he adopted the posture of being a cheerleader for Greensboro.  But he then proceeded to question whether it was necessary for the community to grow. 

And he claimed the city council should not be going into closed session unless required by law.  He supported the city's approach to dealing with the Warnersville benches, and overall wants the police department more involved in that community.     

Comments

[Roger Greene]

I'd have to disagree with Ms. Rakestraw on the following statement, "She said the problem is that the police department is not enforcing standards, but that it needs to start doing so. She indicated that Chief Bellamy was compromised when Blake was reinstated."

Chief Bellamy was for dismissal of Blake and the city manager undermined his decision by reinstating Blake. If he was compromised, it was by the decision made by his boss.

The city manager acted wholly inappropriately by meeting with a political group, the Pulpit Forum, prior to reinstating Blake. That meeting should never have been allowed. He should not be involved in political decisions, but defer that to his bosses on the council. Bellamy did the right thing in this instance.

[Joe Guarino]

Roger, my interpretation is that Rakestraw meant precisely what you are suggesting. My summary may not have adequately reflected that if you interpreted otherwise.

[Wendy S. Raines]

I have only had time to read Ms. Bellamy-Small's summary of the forum. It is interesting that she is commenting on the Blake situation when she was not present at the special meeting in which the issue was discussed. I was present at the Buracker presentation and have read the report. I do not recall him making any specific statements about Bellamy.

[Brandon Burgess]

Thank you for posting about the forum. It slipped my mind that it was being held Monday night.

[Joe Guarino]

Wendy, she did not only comment on the Blake situation. She was adamant. She was vehement. She said appeal rights are a part of the process, and that was that. She said all of us have made mistakes in our lives. She was not at all bothered with the idea of exculpating Blake, and in fact strenuously defended reinstating him.

You are welcome, Brandon.

[Brandon Burgess]

I wonder if Ms. Bellamy feels the same way about vote recounts as she does about appeal rights.

[Wendy S. Raines]

I wish I had been there.

[triadwatch]

thanks for the analysis

[Joe Guarino]

Sure, Keith. It was a lively forum.