8/17/09

What if what you think isn’t?

…the members of Greensboro’s boards and commissions


people appointed to represent city residents


on issues that affect quality of life


…aren’t exactly representative of the community


 


Forty-five percent of the members


are real estate professionals or lawyers


 


Does thinking you understand what another says


mean you hear what they mean?


 


City statute dictates that the [rental] board


must be made up of people with business interests


 and people who represent housing advocacy groups


and city districts


 


But in reality


the board has few people who are advocates for residents


 


Seven of the 10 current members work in the real estate industry


 


…real estate professionals also made up more than half of the members


 on the nine-member Zoning Commission


a body that makes decisions that could kill or allow new development


 


Should information be evaluated


by origin and relative legitimacy?


 


…the nine-member Planning Board


which oversees land policies


has two members who are in the real estate industry


 and two who are attorneys working for real estate clients


 


City boards lack diversity


Amanda Lehmert


Greensboro News and Record


 


Can most people be fooled most of the time?

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