Civil Rights Museum / Simkins PAC related links

Yes Weekly on Skip Alston Pressuring City Council Members with the Simkins PAC Endorsement

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/07/yes-weekly-on-skip-alston-pressuring.html

I believe Yvonne Johnson should have been recused from deliberations and voting on the Civil Rights Museum issue

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-believe-yvonne-johnson-should-have.html

GN&R's Allen Johnson on Skip Alston

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/gn-allen-johnson-on-skip-alston.html

Allen Johnson: "Alston, a member of the powerful Simkins PAC, is not-so-subtly suggesting political payback if they don’t go along with his group’s proposal."

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/07/allen-johnson-alston-member-of-powerful.html

From the City of Greensboro's Internal Audit Division; Civil Rights Museum Financial Review

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/07/from-city-of-greensboros-internal-audit.html

Dear Steve Bowden, Chairman of the George C. Simkins Jr. Memorial PAC

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/dear-steve-bowden-chairman-of-george-c.html

Rhino Times Skip Alston Propaganda Piece; Roy Carroll must be proud

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/rhino-times-skip-alston-propaganda.html

Yvonne Johnson, Skip Alston and Robbie's self dealing vote for Skip's $150,000; Simkins PAC and money for family members

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/yvonne-johnson-skip-alston-and-robbies.html

Self-dealing Skip Alston Style?

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/self-dealing-skip-alston-style.html

How to purchase a Simkins PAC endorsement, by Nancy Hoffmann

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-purchase-simkins-pac-endorsement.html

On Robbie Perkins' dishonest campaign flier

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/on-robbie-perkins-dishonest-campaign.html

How Greensboro, North Carolina Works; Skip Alston, Robbie Perkins, Roy Carroll, Renaissance Center, Simkins PAC

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-greensboro-north-carolina-works.html

Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro; Ralph Johnson / Jim Kee / Robbie Perkins / Skip Alston / Simkins PAC

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/concerned-citizens-of-northeast.html

John Hammer on the Simkins PAC, Purchased Endorsements, and Greensboro's City Council Election results.

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2011/11/john-hammer-on-simkins-pac-purchased.html

The International Civil Rights Museum's 2011 IRS tax form 990 and what looks like a bailout for BB&T and wealthy investors, with what looks like some pretty important unanswered questions

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-international-civil-rights-museums.html

Zack Matheny Speaks About Simkins PAC “Promise”; Posted by ryan [Shell] on January 15, 2008

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/08/zack-matheny-speaks-about-simkins-pac.html

If the Simpkins PAC’s Skip Alston and Steve Bowden received $750 from Don Vaughan in 2008...

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-simpkins-pacs-skip-alston-and-steve.html

From a thread at Greater Greensboro Politics on Nancy Hoffman's Crony Capitalism and Self Dealing

GH: Nancy Hoffmann voted for DGI funding and signed for DGI paid for benefits that will increase the value of her property via a tenant who must have known she legislated the tax funds their way.

She was involved in the process by assenting to a deal which improves her property with everyone else's $.

She voted herself money through her tenant.

She signed for it.

She was involved in the process by consenting to a deal in which she profited.

Thank you for confirming the conversation david, and that she made a denial

I'm saying it's a violation of Greensboro' s charter ordinance.

Was it right or wrong for Nancy Hoffmann to vote herself money via her new tenant?

David [Craft], are you suggesting that if the business fails, Nancy will rip out all the electrical work, frame and sheet rock, plumbing and a retail sales counter?

By your logic, if she doesn't rip out all the plumbing etc... if the business fails, and it's all not torn out, Nancy voted herself money.

You might want to rethink the veracity of your statements.

Is this not the second time in as many days that Andrew Brod [Nancy Hoffmann contributor] has declined to answer an important question? Yesterday it was about whether or not council members should recuse themselves from enriching a campaign contributor with everyone else's money.

I asked Nancy if she or her tenant had applied. [which she denied]

It's a conflict of interest if 5 city council votes says so. One has to make a motion to discuss it, and another has to second the motion. Then a debate unfolds and a vote. The vote determines whether or not there is a conflict of interest. That's my understanding of how it works for the City of Greensboro. All the expert opinions are tertiary to a council vote.

My guess would be the motion fails, as we have one of the most corrupt councils in the state. I would like to see the debate take place, because it's in the best interests of city taxpayers to shed some sunlight on these back room deals involving public monies.

If we have the debate, this stuff is unlikely to take place as often going forward.

I would consider a council debate an achievement Andrew, as this debate has been. Sometimes losing is winning.

"Any officer, department head or employee who has financial interest, direct or indirect, in any proposed contract with the city or in a proposed sale of any land, material, supplies, or services to the city or to a contractor supplying the city, shall make known that interest and shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating in the making of such contract or sale.

Any officer, department head, or employee who willfully conceals such a financial interest or willfully violates the requirements of this Section shall be guilty of malfeasance in office or position and shall forfeit his office or position.

Violation of this Section with the knowledge expressed or implied of the person or corporation contracting with or making a sale to the city shall render the contract void."

Sec. 4.131. - Conflict of interest: Greensboro Code of Ordinances, City Charter
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Nancy Hoffman recieved Campaign cash from Betty Cone, who profits from being on DGI's board.

Dawn Chaney, who will double her money on the property she owns across from where GPAC is going, and is DGI's Chair, who probably signed off on the grant, being on the executive committee.

The Samets, who she voted $600,000 for thier "shovel ready" project.

Saperstien, who Nancy voted for thier son to be Greensboro's lobbyist.

Isaacson's, who do most of the government zoning cases, and who represent Roy Carroll.

•Reid Phillips, GPAC Taskforce

Kathy Manning, GPAC Taskforce

I believe Nancy Hoffman is a crony of Greensboro's oligarchs, who profit from her votes.

http://www.co.guilford.nc.us/elections_cms/docs/2013/midyr/HOFFMANN_NANCY_midyr13-amended.pdf
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George Hartzman Nancy Hoffman recieved Campaign cash from Andrew Brod.

You might have wanted to mention that during the debate Andrew.

John Kitchen of the Bryan Foundation, whose park DGI takes care of for $350,000 per year, of which Betty Cone profits from as she sits on DGI's board.

Susan Schwartz, Cemala Foundation which handles Cone money, who votes to give Betty Cone taxpayer money as a DGI board member and Action Greensboro Chair for Center City Park.

DGI's board has a cesspool of cronies who profit and/or allocate taxpayer money to thier friends.

http://www.co.guilford.nc.us/.../HOFFMANN_NANCY_35day13.pdf
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Per DGI's Jason Cannon; City Councilwoman Nancy Hoffmann signs authorization for tenant to recieve taxpayer money she voted for

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/per-dgis-jason-cannon-city-councilwoman.html
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On Nancy Hoffmann's vote to fund DGI, after her "final subission" to be DGI's landlord

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/will-nancy-hoffman-vote-to-fund-dgi.html
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Eric Robert on Nancy Hoffmann

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/eric-robert-on-nancy-hoffmann.html
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Crony capitalism is a term describing an economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, or other forms of dirigisme.[1] Crony capitalism is believed to arise when political cronyism spills over into the business world; self-serving friendships and family ties between businessmen and the government influence the economy and society to the extent that it corrupts public-serving economic and political ideals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crony_capitalism

Unanswered City of Greensboro Information Request on Action Greensboro's multiple $150,000 taxpayer allocations

The initial information request; "Please provide an accounting of Action Greensboro's use of $150,000 per year for water features at center city park, and how much has been returned that was not used, per the contract with the City of Greensboro." and "What has Action Greensboro been spending $150,000 per year on for how long?"

The taxpayer funded maintenance agreement with the Bryan Foundation’s Center City Park in front of Roy Carroll’s Center Point states "An additional $150,000 allocation shall be made" which "shall be used, as necessary, for the extraordinary expenses… such as those associated with the operation and maintenance of the fountain and water features" and "Any balance of said …Tax Distribution funds may be used for normal Park expenses.”

Action Greensboro had $2,329,248 in Cash and CD's as of December 31, 2011.

Action Greensboro/Center City has also so far declined to identify what funds over multiple years have been repaid to the City.

This is what was sent by Mary Vigue, Greensboro's Assistant Manager for Internal Audit, on May 16, 2013, after being written on March 28, 2013, after months of asking without response;

Observations and questions;

I asked for all the years handling of the money, which goes back farther than what was looked at by Len Lucas, Internal Audit Director.

I spoke with Chris Wilson, Parks and Recreation Director, and he didn't know anything about it, as the letter above says "No Response Required".

Of the $200,000 mentioned above, DGI receives a "management and Overhead Expense" of $27,150.

How many other Greensboro parks pay kickbacks to DGI?

What have been the "extraordinary expenses"

How long has Action Greensboro been receiving the money?

What were the expenditures tested for?

If FY 2012/13 expenditures have so far only covered about half of the $150,000 allocated through March, and the fiscal year ends at the end of June, how much is expected to be returned to the city, and how much was/should have been returned in earlier years?

I have asked for a meeting with Chris Wilson, Len Lucas, Mary Vigue and Action Greensboro's April Harris to flesh this information out.

I have not received a response.

GN&R Amanda Lehmert "Mayor takes on fire department challenge" after Robbie Perkins shoveled their candidate endorsing association taxpayer money

"Mayor Robbie Perkins...recently took the Greensboro Fire Department up on an offer to go through a grueling morning workout with their recruit class.

It started with 65 push ups and ended an hour later, with Perkins reaching for pain relievers.

Perkins says there is video. You’ll be the first to hear when Scoop tracks in down."

Amanda
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On March 5, 2013, Abuzuaiter, Hoffmann, Johnson, Kee, Perkins and Vaughan voted to spend Greensboro's taxpayer money to fund the Fire Union's desire to have thier union dues deducted from city paychecks, and Robbie got positive press from Greensboro's paper of record, while failing to mention Robbie threw them some legislated love the month before, or that the Fire Association/Union/PAC makes political endorsements and works voting centers with volunteers on election day.

Who did the Fire Association endorse and work at the polls for in the last election?

John Hammer: "Greensboro's World War I Memorial Stadium" WTF?

One of the stadium's notable features is an ornate, triple-arched entrance,

which made a cameo appearance during the "road trip" segment

of the 1988 movie Bull Durham.

Wikipedia

"World War Memorial Stadium
– the old baseball stadium where the Greensboro Bats,
Greensboro Hornets, Greensboro Yankees and Greensboro Patriots all played
– was placed on the agenda without any prior discussion by the Perkins council.

By whom?

Did Robbie put the issue on the table without conferring?

Perkins lobbied hard to get a vote to tear it down,
but in the end a motion by Council member Trudy Wade to delay any action for 60 days
until further study could be completed passed on a 7-to-2 vote,
with Perkins and Councilmember Dianne Bellamy-Small voting against the motion.

Isn't this the same tactic Mr. Perkins used

when he tried to destroy some downtown businesses

he wasn't making any money from

the first go round with the noise ordinance?

...Perkins wanted to go ahead and take action to "renovate" the stadium,
so it was not postponed; and before the meeting
it looked like Perkins had the votes to tear the stadium down.

It was a cheap shot by Perkins.

There was no warning that this extremely controversial topic
was going to be on the agenda.

Who put it on the agenda?

If Robbie snuck the Noise Ordiance on the agenda

why wouldn't he do the same thing only different

with this?

...The information about the issue in the agenda packet was extremely misleading
because it was all about renovation.

...This so-called renovation project would have entailed tearing down everything
except the archways out front,
while inside the stadium not a single brick would have been left.

David Hoggard, who lives in the Aycock Historic Neighborhood,
...noted that what the city was discussing
was whether or not to demolish War Memorial Stadium.

He said, "Please don't call this renovation."

Hoggard said there is a term for what the city has done with the stadium
and that is "demolition by neglect." Hoggard said,

...[David] Wharton finally said that he was discouraged about the item,
which he described as the "eminent diminishment of this historic resource."

He noted that it is the oldest functioning athletic stadium in the state.

The "oldest functioning athletic stadium in the state."

Who wouldn't want to play a championship softball game

where Derek Jeter played?

Who wouldn't want to play a big game

at the oldest ballpark in North Carolina?

Could be a great place to play baseball and softball.

Weekend tournaments could have their final games there.

Opening days for Greensboro City Leagues

Charity Events

...Perkins was insistent that the council vote to demolish the stadium
and vote to demolish it at that meeting.

I still have a Bats bat somewhere.

My kids have a bunch of stuff.

...It is called World War Memorial Stadium
because when it was built in 1927 there had only been one world war.

I threw my back out there once.

...Perkins asked what the purpose of the second opinion would be.

My kids got their shirts autographed

and got to meet Crash Craddock.

He said, "We are not going to seat 7,000 people there ever again."

The stadium also received many seats from Philadelphia's old Shibe Park

after Shibe's demolition

Wiki

When asked a question, Kennerly responded, "Anything can be repaired."

Matheny noted that the council had not discussed the matter in three years
and was being asked to make a decision that night.

"the Patriots (later renamed the "Hornets" and then the "Bats")

along with the college teams..."

How many cool people have played there?

Councilmember Nancy Vaughan ...said,
"I do recall listening to the meetings that it wasn't an either-or,
that if we did build the new baseball stadium
that the old baseball stadium wasn't going to crumble into disrepair."

...Perkins said, "This stadium is in my opinion beyond repair."

Beverages several I have had there.

Perkins said that once professional baseball left War Memorial Stadium
that the crowds left and there was no need for it.

...Instead of spending $1.5 million to tear down the stadium
the city could spend $1.5 million to stabilize what is there
and see what use the creative minds of this city can come up with
for a historic 7,000 seat stadium."

John Hammer

Why not make it the size of a softball field,

put condos overlooking in Center field with a bar/restaurant somewheret

and have whoever play when ever.

Why not have a professional women's fast pitch softball team?

Pay for it with the Economic Development money Roy wants.

Let Greensboro's school kids get shares of the team

for good grades and behavior.

Most would think businesses looking to relocate or expand

would be interested in a city that would do something like that

for its kids.

It would fill the seats too.

Please Disseminate: Search Directions to Compare Greensboro and Guilford County Real Estate Revaluation Assessment Outcomes

Guilford County GIS Data Viewer

Click on Parcel Search in the upper right hand side of the page linked above.

Updated with Search Directions: A Comparison of Four

Greensboro and Guilford County Real Estate Revaluation Assessment Outcomes:

Guess Who?

We recieved our 2012 Revaluation Assessed Value Today.

Enter number and street, without "drive" or "court" after

and then click search.

Click on Tax Appraisal Information on the right hand side
and a new window will come up.

The new tax value is in the bottom right corner.

Click on Tax bill in the upper right area,
which should open a new window.

Clicking on the top link with lots of numbers under the headings on the left
should bring up another window with the old value in the middle on the left.

Divide.

Subtract.

Compare.

City of Greensboro and Guilford County Information Request on Real Estate Revaluation Assessments

Please provida data for all Guilford County revaluation assessements
including before and after values of all properties in a comma delimited format
with before and after values seperated, which can be measured in different ways.

George Hartzman

Updated: "The ACC Hall of Champions has hosted 6,456 visitors since its opening in March 2011."