We have had some good discussions here in connection with the Superjam event last weekend which generated so much crime and disorder here in Greensboro, both along the High Point Road corridor and also downtown.
A pseudonymous commenter who represents himself (herself?) as a Greensboro police officer has made some fascinating statements. One issue is whether the rap performers themselves engage in criminal activity. The commenter alleges the police department has been obstructed by coliseum management:
(T)he coliseum does not want us there for most other events...we go anyway...they complain to city council that we hurt their business...city council complains to pd...then orders come down to handle it in other ways...They don't even like for us to take action inside when we need to, which we do anyway. They don't want ALE searching artists dressing rooms when probable cause exists. Coliseum personnell take extreme care to protect artists and patrons from us. There is a lot of politics involved you don't know about that we little people have little control over.
An ALE Officer told me that one his fellow officers was denied access to the coliseum once. They were about to revoke all the alcohol permits immediately unless they were allowed access. After 30 minutes, they were allowed inside the facility. They knew what was happening and they knew that once they were inside the evidence was gone.
The problem is that the Kingdom that is on Lee Street is allowed to operate under different rules that the rest of us. It's not going to change anytime soon because there are too many people that owe their careers to a small group of folks.
Posted by: Don Moore | June 30, 2010 at 01:53 PM
Don, what you were told tends to corroborate what the police officer suggested here. I have to say that your overall impressions regarding the Coliseum complex and its management seem to be confirmed with each new tidbit we learn.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | June 30, 2010 at 03:17 PM
I believe that, on the main, the GSO Coliseum is a decent venue. They get some good shows, and they do strive for variety in entertainment. But the protectiveness of the Coliseum by certain members of the City Council (not to name names-that would be indiscreet, but it rhymes with Jobbie Jerkins) has gotten out of hand. Matt Brown is operative the Coliseum as though it were his personal fifedom. There is precious little oversight and anytime one of the more sensible members of the City Council insists there should be more scrutiny there, Matt Brown howls bloody murder and the councilman whose name rhymes with Bobbie Berkins shoots his mouth off about "how lucky Greensboro is to have such a place."
The fact is, there is one show every year that causes huge amounts of problems to the residents around Lee Street and to the merchants on Lee and High Point. And that event is Superjam. Brandon and Roch can tie themselves into knots denying it, but it's a fact. Merchants must close early, which costs them money, and then pay for security to prevent vandalism, which costs even more money. Lee and High Point roads are not the only area for trouble. I encourage you to visit downtown Greensboro, near the corner of Davie and Friendly the night of Superjam. Stroll by Center City Park the morning after and look at the damage left there. Then tell the police officers who are posting here that they are wrong, or politically incorrect for even pointing this out.
The truth points to itself whether the hopelessly liberal and insanely naive posters on this blog wish to believe it or not.
Get out of your fantasy world. This stuff is real and it's happening.
Posted by: Doc Alexander | June 30, 2010 at 03:27 PM
I remember being at dinner downtown one night and seeing Matt Brown, Jim Melvin and various other kings, titans, and captains of industry sitting around a big table laughing and beaming and being fawned over. When they left, the men all said a smiling hello to the ladies in our group and pointedly ignored the uniformed police officers who had stopped in to check grab a coffee. (It was early evening, they were on their break, with radios on, and they left quickly when they caught a call.) It struck me that the Matt Brown/Downtown crowd just plain runs it, and they don't seem to even notice those who have to enforce the mess they make.
Posted by: things get a little easier, once you understand | June 30, 2010 at 03:32 PM
Doc have you not read the posts where I conceded, after facts were presented, that superjam probably needs to leave town?
Posted by: Brandon Burgess | June 30, 2010 at 03:37 PM
".....that superjam probably needs to leave town?"
What do you the chances are of that actually happening?
Posted by: Bubba | June 30, 2010 at 04:51 PM
I don't know what the chances are. I am waiting to hear back from a spokesperson with the PD to comment the potential banning of superjam and a comparison of the rate of unlawful incidents with other coliseum events. We have already heard from one officer here.
I have not heard back from anyone affiliated with the Coliseum.
I don't think it would be impossible to get the event banned. Wasn't Motley Crue banned after the near riot they caused? Then invited back? And it was for money, not to cater to any special interests. I already posted about this.
Posted by: Brandon Burgess | June 30, 2010 at 06:26 PM
"I don't know what the chances are."
Actually, my question was largely rhetorical, knowing the way racial politics are enabled and played in Our Fair City.
Where's Deena Hayes and/or the Pulpit Forum when they're needed?
Posted by: Bubba | June 30, 2010 at 07:01 PM