Changes at GreensboroPolitics.com

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Ryan

Ministers Out Sgt, Decline to Name Source, Mention David Wray

The information below came from the News & Records coverage of this mornings press conference with the three ministers who promised to out an officer that made an order to destroy 50 boxes of files related to the Klan-Nazi shootings of Nov. 3, 1979.

-Three Greensboro pastors say Sgt. Craig McMinn of the Greensboro Police Department’s Special Intelligence Unit ordered police officers to destroy 50 boxes of files related to the Klan-Nazi shootings of Nov. 3, 1979. The files were destroyed in 2004 or 2005, sometimes after the Truth and Reconciliation requested police files relating to the shootings. The ministers said they do not know what exactly is in those files.

- The ministers said that their source of information is an active-duty Greensboro police officer who was one of at least four officers ordered to destroy the police department documents. The ministers declined to name their source.

- Ministers noted that former police chief David Wray was running the department when the files were destroyed. However, the ministers said they don’t know if the former chief was involved in the document destruction or if he was ever aware that the incident took place. 

- The pastors said they shared this information with former Mayor Keith Holliday and City Manager Mitchell Johnson on Oct. 22, 2007. They later talked with current police Chief Tim Bellamy and had a second meeting with the city manager. The pastors said the city did not investigate. The ministers said that by making their claim more widely known they hope that media and public pressure will compel the city to investigate.

- The pastors who spoke at today’s media briefing were the Rev. Nelson Johnson of Faith Community Church, the Rev. Cardes Brown of new Light Baptist Church and the Rev. Gregory Headen of Genesis Baptist Church. All three hold offices with the Pulpit Forum, and Brown is president of the Greensboro Branch of the NAACP.

Two Letters: One For and One Against Mitchell Johnson

This morning the Greensboro News & Record posted two “Letters to the Editor” that I would like to share with you. One praises City Manager Mitchell Johnson and the other claims that he has handled things “unprofessionally.”

The pro Johnson letter written by Greensboro resident Susan Shore Schwartz says “Extraordinary hype, politics and yes, even some serious issues have brought about a cry from a few to fire City Manager Mitchell Johnson. What a shame this is!

Greensboro citizens, who are used to stellar management of the city by dedicated and professional staff, recognize the leadership, experience and innovation Johnson has developed in his years of service to the city. He is smart, creative, honest and a man of integrity.

He was selected as city manager for many reasons, including his proven success with fiscal management and efficiency, inter-government relations, and community solutions.

He developed facilities that provide cost-effective solutions for current and future community needs. These include the Kitchen Operations Center, the Public Safety Training Center and the Kathleen Clay Edwards and Hemphill Branch libraries.

He partnered with Guilford County to develop and manage an automation-controls system to save energy and operation costs in public buildings. He also worked to implement a merged 911 center for the city and county. Both demonstrate his success in working with other local governments, to the benefit of all parties.

He led the effort with council and city staff to develop the recommendations that became policy to resolve solid-waste disposal issues. Johnson led the development as well of many best practices for local government. These include the city’s technology master plan, which resulted in one of the most efficient technology infrastructures in local government and won national awards, and a call center that became the “face” of the city for its citizens and won an award for technology leadership in local government.

Managing a city is a tough job. It requires someone with outstanding professional and technical skills, the ability to build and maintain a strong organization, and the ability to create successful relationships.

Greensboro is fortunate that someone of Johnson’s talents and expertise is on the job to move Greensboro forward and to provide efficient services to its citizens.

Please, let’s show him respect and give him the time and space required to do his job.
The letter claiming that Johnson has handled items such as the Wray issue unprofessionally was written by William Phar of Greensboro. Phar writes, “As I sit back and watch the comedy of errors by our current city manager, something has become very apparent. In his handling of the Chief Wray situation, he made a decision, along with some other city officials, that was carried out very poorly and, more importantly, very unprofessionally. He made a decision that he thought was correct, but he handled it so poorly, our city has had to bear the consequences.

I know of no business that would fire a top executive and not have some type of plan to maintain cohesion amid all the turmoil and controversy that the city manager should have known would occur.

The city manager clearly made a decision that he was unprepared and under-qualified to make. It would also make sense to me that before I made such a big decision, I would have the full support of council.

In the end, wherever the truth may lie, we need our city officials to be capable of making decisions that will not negatively impact a whole community for this long — two years.
For this reason, our City Council should take a long look at the professionalism of our current city manager.”

The question is, do the residents of Greensboro give second chances?

Four Council Members Vote for Small Closed Meetings

The previous city council frequently met in small groups of two or three members to talk about various issues.  By conducting meetings in this manor the groups were not required to invite the public to the meetings and in most cases they did not.

“Several council members — T. Dianne Bellamy-Small, Mayor Yvonne Johnson, Robbie Perkins and Goldie Wells — voted last week to return to the small-group model. Perkins said it was helpful to hear from department heads and receive more detailed information about how the city is being run.The vote failed.

The council members who opposed returning to small groups: Trudy Wade, Mike Barber, Sandra Anderson Groat, Zack Matheny and Mary Rakestraw.” (News & Record)

Ministers Out Police Officer This Morning

Cardes Brown, Gregory Headen and Nelson Johnson all have two things in common.  They are local ministers and they are claiming that 50 boxes of materials that relate to the 1979 Klan-Nazi shootings were destroyed during former police Chief David Wray’s administration.

At 11:30 this morning (at New Light Baptist Church, 1105 Willow Road) the three ministers are planning on outing the officer who gave the order to destroy the materials.

From their press release, “The pastors will also share the circumstances surrounding the destruction of the files and their view of the broader implications of such conduct. In addition, they will share steps already taken with city official to have this matter addressed.”

The ministers claim to have received their inside information from an active duty police officer who will apparently remain unnamed.

Is it fair to make accusations awithout revealing the identity of the source?

Greensboro Police Department Complaint Review Board

At a time when the Greensboro Police Department has eleven internal investigations taking place that question has come up as to whether or not the department should have a complaint review board.  The board would be made up of Greensboro residents with no ties to the police department.  A board of this nature would have the power to gather information about alleged police misconduct and present the information to the Chief or to the City Manager.

Wold you support a complaint review board?  Would a board of this nature allow the GPD to spend more time investigating crimes outside of their own department?

Yvonne Johnson Interview: “Going to vote for…”

Q. Do you ever regret running for mayor?

A. Not yet. I haven’t regretted it yet. Sometimes it’s challenging. Sometimes it’s very rewarding and humbling, and so I’ve had more rewarding days than I’ve had where I just said, ‘Argh, I’m frustrated,’ or whatever.

Q. Is the City Council doing enough to address the issues facing the city?

A. I think we’re a new council, what 60-some days, and I think we are very focused on many things we are directing the manager to do that will make service and life in the city better. I think we have come in running and will continue to do so.

Q.What will resolve the issues within the police department?

A. I think, one, the mediation process we’re going to use with many of the parties. I think the court system. And I think just this department going on doing the things that really need to be done.

Q. Why hasn’t transparency gotten better with this City Council?

A. I think it has. I think this City Council really pushes for transparency, and I think it will continue to do so.

Q. What is your greatest fear for the city?

A. I guess I always fear that we’ll have some natural disaster, like Katrina or something of that nature, and people will be homeless and distraught. I guess that’s my greatest fear. I pray that that doesn’t happen.

Q. What is your greatest hope for the city?

A. That we really celebrate the diversity that exists in our city and really do much better about building trust among people who are different. I think there’s a real desire and hunger in many, many areas of this city, with many people, to work together to make things better.

Q. What should the City Council do to help improve the schools?

A. We can certainly help with the infrastructure when they’re building schools or remodeling schools. We can make sure, too, that children after school have wonderful activities and wholesome activities to engage in through our parks and through our libraries.

Q. What is your favorite spot in the city?

A. (Country) Park, sitting by the lake. I love the water, the nature and the tranquility.

Q. What project are you most excited about that the city is undertaking?

A. I think that the thing that has a lot of excitement for me is the development of the property at High Point Road and Elm Street, and how that might really connect that section to downtown.

Q. Who has your vote for president?

A. I think I’m going to vote for Barack Obama. I feel an energy, a hope, and I connect with a spirit that is just phenomenal. (Q&A from the News & Record)

Resident to Council: “Address Lingering Problems”

From today’s Letters to the Editor section of the Greensboro News & Record,

“I agree with Jo Strack (letter, Feb. 13) regarding Greensboro growth. Why does City Council repeatedly give in to developers? We build homes and can’t sell homes that remain unsold. We build new shopping centers and leave existing ones blighted. We lose small businesses because of outrageous rental fees by developers.

Contrary to what people think, Greensboro’s cost of living is not lower than other cities. Most middle-class families have spouses working two jobs to make ends meet. Unions are not welcome and wages are some of the lowest paid in the U.S. Crime is up. Even property taxes keep going up.

Whose best interest does City Council have at heart — the people of this city or big business?

Before the city continues growing without a plan, start paying a decent living wage. Before adding new subdivisions, sell the remaining unsold inventory. Before developing new shopping centers, lease existing space. Make this city the true “gateway” to North Carolina.

If City Council doesn’t look out for everyone’s best interest, remove them from office. The good people of Greensboro are entitled to live a quality of life that promises a future for their family.

Sherry Tow
Greensboro”

Fire Chief Says Promotions Not Given as Payback

The Greensboro Fire Chief is currently defending himself against reports that he has promoted firefighters as payback for work that have done for him outside of their department duties.

In response Chief Johnny Teeters says “I never promoted someone because they helped me. I’ve never even considered that.”

Continue reading here.

Sandy Carmany on Getting the Boot from District 5

Ex-councilwoman Sandy Carmany (Lost to Trudy Wade) served residents of District 5 for quite some time… but should she ever decide to run for council again she will now have to run as a District 4 representative.  This is all thanks to the adoption of what we can simply call “Plan Q.”

“I find it odd that at the 11th hour, here comes “Plan Q” that not only ousted my precinct from the district, but also other precincts that supported me instead of my opponent in the November 2007 election,” said Carmany. ” How convenient for the current incumbent!”  Read more of her thoughts here.