One of the things the last city council meeting reinforced is the extent to which Councilman Robbie Perkins is metaphorically joined at the hip with Councilwoman T. Diane Bellamy-Small. They are close allies and political soulmates.
An interesting observation in the Rhino this week:
During breaks and after the meeting you could see Perkins huddle with the people who were disrupting the meeting. One of the worst is former City Councilmember Goldie Wells, who talked constantly at meetings when she was on the City Council and does the same now that she is in the audience.
Why is Robbie huddling with these folks? Is it possible that the disturbances at the city council meetings are an integral component of his mayoral campaign?
Yes!!! I'm totally convinced that Robbie is the driving force behind the bad behavior of many of those folks. It's all a part of his plan to attempt to make the Mayor look bad regardless of how he handles the disorder.
Goldie Wells runs neck to neck with tdBS as Greensboro's # 1 example of an angry black woman who hates white people.
If I were the Mayor, I would have those individuals, who create any kind of disturbance, removed from council chambers. Allowing them to continuously disrupt the meeting makes him look weak.
Posted by: sensei | July 23, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Sensei, Mayor Knight is in a no-win situation with respect to the folks in the council chambers who behave like barbarians. He will be criticized no matter how he handles the situation. And it is really difficult for him to remove folks if they temporarily quiet down when he asks them to do so or when he bangs the gavel.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 23, 2011 at 07:58 PM
You made a good point,Joe. The Mayor will be criticized no matter how he handles the situation. Therefore, I and many others I have spoken to, would like for him to bang the gavel -Stand up - tell the rude speaker that they (the council) have been respectful to them and if they continue with their rudeness and vitriol he will turn their mike off. If they get belligerent he will have them removed to the lobby area where they will be free to watch the meeting on the TV screen. Alot of people are concerned about how the Mayor looks weak and not in control of the proceedings. I do feel he needs to take control of the situation as we want him to win the election in 2011.
Posted by: Joanne Wittenborn | July 23, 2011 at 09:55 PM
I'm convinced that if Mayor Knight does NOT take control of future meetings and show some strength, he will be wasting his time running for another term. The problem is that he's a nice fellow and it's just not his way to be tough. That needs to change - pronto!
Posted by: sensei | July 23, 2011 at 11:35 PM
I am convinced that Bill Knight is through as mayor. Robbie Perkins will win in a landslide the likes of which we haven't seen since the Nixon-McGovern election. Perkins is everything Bill Knight is not; articulate, camera-ready, energetic and politically skilled. Perkins knows which buttons to push. He is already marshalling his adherents. It won't be a good day for Greensboro when he is elected mayor. Perkins was an enthusiastic supporter of ousting David Wray. He is a smooth talking huckster who has more conflicts of interest than Carters' has little pills. I wouldn't trust him any farther than I could throw a cheesecake under water. But Knight is done as mayor. Chisel it in stone. No way he is re-elected. The landfill issue, fairly or unfairly, will be his undoing.
I also expect Nancy Vaughan to win in a landslide as well. Kee and TDBS are both from predominantly black districts, so their tickets are punched ad infinitum (or is it ad nauseum?)
I would expect one more "progressive" to emerge from the fold, maybe two, to unseat either Danny Thompson, Trudy Wade or Mary Rakestraw. One possible candidate could be Deena Hayes. That's enough to make your blood run cold, but it could certainly happen.
Whatever scenario, we are looking at a City Council majority of Perkins, Vaughan, Kee, TDBS and at lease one more. Honestly, the only question that remains is how big of a majority Perkins will have at his disposal.
One more thing; the "progressives" will be coming back with an attitude. It's personal now. As with most leftists, this group neither forgives or forgets. The David Wray/James Hinson imbroglio will be a day at the beach compared to what these folks have in store for our fair city.
As Joe Biden once said, "Gird your loins."
Posted by: Lee Harvey | July 24, 2011 at 01:43 PM
YJ
Posted by: Crispy Duck | July 24, 2011 at 01:54 PM
Lee, I hope you are wrong. But we need to remember that Greensboro is a liberal Democratic city. The amount of conservative representation we have on the city council is an historical aberration. Greensboro's politics are much more akin to Barack Obama than Ronald Reagan; and its historically corrupt nature is not unlike Obama's Chicago. If Robbie is elected, we will be back at the normative setting.
Let's remember that there is probably only reason we have a majority on the council in favor of reopening the landfill to residential trash. Recusals. If Vaughan and Matheny were voting on the landfill issue, it might not have gotten this far.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 24, 2011 at 02:39 PM
The country as a whole is getting fed to the teeth with the lies, liabilities and actions of the Progressives and I foresee a great back lash from decent folks soon. Not all DECENT folks are Conservatives, but they are reasonable and believe in the rule of law. They are slow to anger and slower yet to act. However when they have had enough they come out in force. There is much disgust and anger in Greensboro with the state of politics that has reigned in this city for decades now and I hope a back lash is ready to let loose in Greensboro just as I feel sure it is going to happen in the nation soon. BB
Posted by: Brenda Bowers | July 24, 2011 at 09:59 PM
Let's hope so, Brenda. And let's hope the backlash is constructive, not destructive.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 01:02 PM
Just in from N&R
Long-time City Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small is aiming for a new position on council: mayor.
The District 1 councilwoman was among the first to file for one of the nine city council seats today, as filing for the up-coming election began. She joined Tom Phillips to try her hand on the top council seat.
Current Mayor Bill Knight and Councilman Robbie Perkins also have said they will run for mayor.
Bellamy-Small had not announced whether she planned to seek a fifth term on the council. She had not given any indication she was contemplating a bid for mayor.
Robbie will go bananas!
Posted by: sensei | July 25, 2011 at 04:01 PM
Well, there goes another perfectly good conspiracy theory:
http://roch101.blogspot.com/2011/07/greensboro-mayors-race-gets-more.html
Posted by: Roch101 | July 25, 2011 at 04:40 PM
B-S is obviously not a good team player.
Posted by: bubba | July 25, 2011 at 04:53 PM
Here's a great scenario: Perkins gets the Simkins nod, B-S splinters the coalition, and neither makes it out of the primary.
Knight beats Phillips in the general election, conservatives take all at large seats, Wade and Rakestraw get re-elected. "Progressives" everywhere are apoplectic.
Posted by: bubba | July 25, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Sensei, I suspect that he, indeed, will.
Roch, it was never in doubt that Robbie was seeking the support of the east Greensboro political establishment; and that he has been working in tandem with TDBS. However, this new development might suggest there has been some unrequited love.:)
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 05:02 PM
Bubba, regardless of how this ultimately plays out, this has to be regarded as a surprising development.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 05:14 PM
If it comes down to Bill vs Tom, Tom will win. East Greensboro won't vote for Bill. Tom and Bill will both get conservative votes.
Posted by: michele | July 25, 2011 at 05:34 PM
I wonder if this development is symptomatic of the split between the Pulpit Forum crowd and the Simkins PAC. At times, it has seemed that TDBS has been more heavily identified with the former than with the latter. I also wonder whether this reflects differences in priority between the two camps at this point on the matter of the GPD.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Either TDBS is already working with Robbie and this is just part of the plan (you know, gather support, drop out later and tell your supporters who to get behind) to thwart Phillips, or she will be in the future.
Posted by: Spag | July 25, 2011 at 08:42 PM
From Yes! Weekly:
“You’ve caught me speechless on this one,” Perkins said, when told about Bellamy-Small’s decision. “I’m going to have to call her and ask her: ‘What are you doing?’ I don’t even think the best prognosticator in the city could have predicted this one.”
Sorry, but that isn't the language of someone truly "caught speechless".
Posted by: Spag | July 25, 2011 at 08:46 PM
Interesting, Sam. I wonder if this meets Roch's definition of a "conspiracy theory".
I don't think we can rule anything out with respect to this particular new development.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 08:50 PM
The Simkins PAC doesn't endorse during the primaries, if I remember correctly.
Posted by: Drew Gibson | July 25, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Joe, also consider the possibility that Perkins enlisted Bellamy-Small so that he doesn't look like the "liberal" in a race against two conservatives.
You can't put anything past Perkins, he is a conniving, pandering pol.
Posted by: Spag | July 25, 2011 at 09:53 PM
"Sorry, but that isn't the language of someone truly 'caught speechless'."
I don't trust Phillips either.
Posted by: bubba | July 25, 2011 at 10:03 PM
I agree, Sam, with your assessment of Perkins.
TDBS has to surrender her district seat to follow through on this if it is truly a set-up. That would mean perhaps, deep down, she had no real intention of running for reelection in District 1?
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 10:06 PM
In the best case scenario, there was no collusion and Bellamy-Small hurts Perkins. But you just never know when it comes to Perkins. Any scenario is plausible.
Posted by: Spag | July 25, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Is Deena Hayes from District 1 or District 2? Can't recall. If it's 1, she could run in place of TDBS.
I don't think it's a "conspiracy." In fact, TDBS running could split the Democratic vote between her and Robbie- Baby.
One thing will be interesting: how TDBS intends to campaign without speaking to the media. As you recall, she does not allow interviews and she will only respond to reporters' questions if they have been faxed or e-mailed to her. She is hardly approachable. Her public persona seems to display nothing but contempt for her counterparts on the Council and the media in general.
The good news is that she has nearly zero chance of becoming mayor and that's a good thing. The voters in Greensboro can't be THAT idiotic.
Posted by: Lee Harvey | July 26, 2011 at 07:34 AM
Lee and Sam, I wonder if the plan is to use TDBS as the "bad cop" in a plan to attack Bill Knight during the campaign. Could that be what is happening?
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 26, 2011 at 08:50 AM
Wonder if the recently annexed Cardinal neighborhood will offset the Eastsiders in voting by much. Usually these middle to upper middle class types vote Republicans and don't need to coax them to do their civic duty. I'm almost certain they'll be out in droves to vote for those who're in favor of the landfill in order to save. Could also be some repercussion as a result of the airport expansion.
Was this area annexed in time for the 2009 city vote?
Posted by: Harold | July 26, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Yes. The turnout in those areas made a difference, but that was in the context of relatively low turnout from east Greensboro.
And folks on the Cardinal's side of town certainly have had to deal with negative repercussions from the airport for a long time. Of course, no one has proposed to shut down the airport to assuage any sense of grievance they might feel.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 26, 2011 at 02:28 PM
"Yes. The turnout in those areas made a difference, but that was in the context of relatively low turnout from east Greensboro."
With less than 20% turnout for municipal elections, as is the tradition, it will come down to planning and executing the marketing plan,to use a sales term, specifically by what is known as "natural market penetration". Given the low turnouts historically, I think there is a larger and untapped natural market here for conservatives to take advantage by market penetration.
That's the real challenge for us this year. We have some benefit in that there's no Barack Obama type candidate, so "progressives" will have use something else to excite the troops. White Street may not have the wide-spread impact the opposition is hoping to exploit, particularly among affinity/exploitation group members in south and southwestern areas of the city.
It remains to be seen if we can successfully penetrate our natural market sufficiently to gain political control in Greensboro.
Posted by: bubba | July 26, 2011 at 04:45 PM
Bubba, it is going to take a lot of hard work, planning, strategy and execution to prevail this year. It can be done; but Greensboro has always been hostile territory for conservatives-- at least, ever since I have been here.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 26, 2011 at 04:59 PM
There are a lot of votes in that 80% that can be votes for conservative candidates. There are fewer available in thatgroup for the Business As Usual candidates.
Posted by: bubba | July 26, 2011 at 05:34 PM
Great point. It needs to be very clear to that 80% what is at stake.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 26, 2011 at 07:06 PM
I'm not so sure I agree with Bubba's thesis. Don't underestimate the anger from the Democrats/liberal/progressive wing that has been generated by the landfill situation. I tend to believe it runs much deeper than what you may think.
There is a very strong advocacy for social justice in this town. They consider the landfill re-opening an affront to there sense of what is fair and right.
Posted by: Lee Harvey | July 26, 2011 at 08:43 PM
With YJ running and the landfill controversy ongoing, expect east Greensboro to show up at the polls.
Posted by: michele | July 26, 2011 at 09:13 PM
It would be an entertaining spectacle to watch if Robbie's vote on the landfill was an attempt to woo voters that Bellamy-Small is now likely to steal from him.
I can imagine Perkins' outrage at having received nothing for his pandering effort. He isn't used to that.
Posted by: Spag | July 26, 2011 at 09:16 PM
Lee, you are probably right. But let's hope that there are some fiscally conservative Democrats out there who might appreciate saving tax money. And let's hope they recognize that using the landfill as a proxy for "social justice" is bogus.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 26, 2011 at 09:17 PM
"I tend to believe it runs much deeper than what you may think."
That won't matter if we can get enough of the other 80% out.
Posted by: bubba | July 26, 2011 at 09:26 PM
The Eastsiders won't make the same miscalculation they made in 2009 by staying home in large numbers when they thought Mayor Johnson had the election in the bag.
Mayor Knight won't get his second term, provided he re-ups to run again.
Question, if Small runs for Mayor then does it mean her district seat is open. Can't run for Mayor and Council seat at the same time can they? Not like the Davis and Wade thing in 2010, or can it happen.
Posted by: Harold | July 27, 2011 at 07:50 AM
I don't think it can. The mayor's seat is also a seat on the council; it would seem you therefore should not be able to run for both simultaneously. Of course, if she gets what she wants out of the mayoral effort before August 12, it is possible that she might still run for the district seat she currently holds.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 27, 2011 at 08:23 AM
Jim Lewis asked that I post the following on his behalf:
Important to note, Knight would have thrown the unruly crowd out of the chamber long ago. His hands are tied. This well organized mob has been well schooled on what they can legally get away with. They know what line not to step over. I’ve attended the past 8 council meetings and the direction they receive from the peanut gallery behind me is constant. Goldie Wells is the orchestra leader.
Knight has been advised on his level of empowerment. One misstep and watch the civil rights law start to fly at the tune of million in legal fees to the City.
Perkins knows this and will push Knight’s patients over the edge if he can get away with it.
Give Knight the credit for taking the high road. Give Knight and the other brave Council members the credit for hanging in there under extreme duress.
Perkins is certainly a personality contest; however, what has he done in the past 16 years that has benefited Greensboro???---nothing--
His track record has been self serving----and please stop right there---because that's all there is to say.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 27, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Channel 13 needs to put more camera time on Goldie and those hooligans so that the TV audience can get a better picture of what is actually happening.
Has anyone engaged Goldie during her rudeness? Maybe folks who support the Mayor and conservatives should show up in large numbers and heckle to hecklers.
Posted by: sensei | July 28, 2011 at 04:52 AM
Sensei, I don't know for sure, but I sincerely doubt that anyone has challenged Goldie Wells about what she has been doing.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 28, 2011 at 07:21 AM
Jim Lewis wrote: "Perkins knows this and will push Knight’s patients over the edge if he can get away with it."
Dr. Guarino has patients, Mayor Knight has patience. Interesting though the perspective that the people trying to reopen the landfill are the ones under duress, interesting that those compelled through their positions to hear the commentary of the citizenry are viewed as noble. Could we possibly have a better illustration of an out of touch, old, privileged white guy's way of thinking than Mr.Lewis'?
Accommodating disagreement because the law will not allow otherwise is not impressive. Remaining calm when you have nothing to lose is not impressive. Empathy from the insulated self-centered would be impressive. Got any?
Posted by: Electric Slow Cooker | July 28, 2011 at 10:15 AM
"Empathy from the insulated self-centered would be impressive. Got any?"
Got any reasons WHY we should, given the unfavorable historical record of accommodation given this self-centered special interest group?
Could we possibly have any better illustration of narrow-minded self serving political and social agenda special privilege than the above person's comment?
It's doubtful.
Posted by: bubba | July 28, 2011 at 10:56 AM