News and Record Endorsement for Mayor

The News and Record published its editorial endorsement of Yvonne Johnson for mayor today, as anticipated.  Every newspaper has the right to its own editorial voice; and the News and Record is no exception.  But I think some of the statements in the editorial justify a response:

(T)he lousy economy challenged city leaders to balance the budget despite falling revenues, while maintaining essential services.

This can lead to one interpretation.  Perhaps there had been many non-essential expenses on the city tab that had been put in place over the many years Johnson served on the city council.  How else could the city have cut "while maintaining essential services"?

Some say (Johnson) allows discussions to continue too long and get too heated, but knowing just how much steam it's safe to release can avert bigger blow-ups.

There is a balance to be struck between allowing matters to be discussed, which is important, and allowing discussions to proceed for extremely prolonged periods, even when the discussion has veered off course and misses the main issues.  The current mayor has failed to find that balance.

(T)he city has moved forward on infrastructure projects and other plans to attract new industries.

It is difficult to know to what extent we can credit Johnson for any limited successes.  It is difficult to know whether the High Point Road project will spur major job growth as supporters have suggested.  And one cannot help but wonder whether we would have done much better had an entirely different political environment existed here.

(Bill) Knight expresses concerns about police turmoil, but his assertion that Chief Tim Bellamy, who's black, was hired because of his race undermines public confidence in the department.

He made the statement at a League of Women Voters forum last month but, asked about it during a News & Record interview last week, didn't offer evidence to support his conclusion. A candidate for mayor should be more careful. For her part, Johnson said she didn't see any racial aspect to Bellamy's hiring, which was decided by the former city manager.

What Knight said was absolutely true.  The former chief and his entire caucasian command staff were pushed out because of maneuvering by a Simkins PAC principal on behalf of a black officer who was being justifiably monitored because of numerous instances of suspected wrongdoing.  A black police chief was then appointed.  While it may be considered politically impermissible in these parts to speak the truth on such matters, it should not be.  

The fact that Mayor Johnson claimed she did not see a racial aspect to the selection of Chief Bellamy does not make it true.

Johnson, elected seven times to an at-large seat and once as mayor, has earned the trust and respect of Greensboro citizens.

She promotes the city's interests, not self-interest. She doesn't have political agendas. She doesn't pursue policies of division by playing one group against another. She doesn't favor any part of the city over any other.

Whether Johnson has earned the trust of Greensboro citizens is in serious doubt.  The police department has been in turmoil because of bad management by the city.  It employs officers who are known or suspected criminals; or who have associated themselves with other criminals.  It employs officers who have sexually assaulted other female officers, or who are alleged to have had sexual relations with subordinate officers. 

In addition, the department's efficacy in fighting crime is in serious doubt.

These problems exist because identity politics undergird the city's approach to handling problems and conflict.  Yvonne Johnson has been a part of that because she has been in power during the prolonged period when that approach has been taken.

The premise that she has not had political agendas is completely untrue.  Why else would she have wanted to serve for so many years, if not to have a political impact?   As a participant in the machine-based, identity politics status quo over the years, she has had a most definite agenda, and by definition plays one group against another when it has been pursued.  But she has seemed very nice when she has persevered in these things; and when she protected them after they had become part of the status quo.

(S)he deserves another term to lead the city into better times.

Er, no.  We can do much better.

Update: Sam Hieb has more at Piedmont Publius.

Comments

[Betty Almond]

Thanks Joe. You said what I was thinking as I read the endorsement. I only hope the voting public does not believe what they read in the local newspaper's endorsement of Mayor Johnson.

A lot of the endorsement article would be disputed if only the citizens would watch the videos of city council meetings. I know that some of the worst behavior is hidden from the public in the city council's closed door sessions but watching a few of the city council meetings should open the public's eyes to just how well our current mayor presides over meetings.

[Joe Guarino]

I agree, Betty. And I don't want a return to the days of Keith Holliday when arms were probably twisted behind the scenes, and there was virtually no discussion during council meetings.

We should be able to find a place at which there is respectful discussion and meetings that do not get bogged down or prolonged unnecessarily.

[jellybean]

Yvonne Johnson and the Simkins Pac have grown to do a great disservice to the citizens of Greensboro. It is sad to see endorsements of some of the most unqualified individuals in the history of our local elections. There is no leadership here. I don't need anyone to hand me a piece of paper to tell me how to vote. Thankfully, I have my own mind and take fully responsibility for my vote.

[Joe Guarino]

Jellybean, it would be great if more voters adopted this particular attitude you express.