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On June 11, 2009 Kotis Properties, INC. (Plaintiff) VS. City of Greensboro and Horsepen Village Commercial, LLC (Defendants) with a case # 09-CVS-8185
Showing posts with label guilford county commissioners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guilford county commissioners. Show all posts
4/7/12
9/28/10
Simkins PAC is in Bed with Action Greensboro Illegally
The George C Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee 3rd Quarter reports reveals a relationship that behind the scenes has been talked about but now is there for all to see .
To see the 3rd quarter report click on the title above or CLICKHERE , then click on the Simkins PAC then proceed to the report.
The treasurer for the Simkins PAC is non other than Melvin "Skip" Alston Guilford County Commissioner as reported in TRIADWATCH, Mr. Alston needs to understand North Carolina Laws and how they work in regards to campaign contributions.
If you can see the 3rd quarter report it shows that Action Greensboro gave $5,000 to the Simkins PAC.
Action Greensboro is a member of the
Greensboro Partnership, and is united
with Greensboro Economic Development
Alliance and the Greensboro
Chamber of Commerce to form
a more powerful, unified voice
for economic development, urban
livability, and business growth.
Under North Carolina General Statute
§ 163‑278.19. Violations by corporations, business entities, labor unions, professional associations and insurance companies.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (a2), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section it shall be unlawful for any corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association or insurance company directly or indirectly:
(1) To make any contribution to a candidate or political committee or to make any expenditure to support or oppose the nomination or election of a clearly identified candidate;
(2) To pay or use or offer, consent or agree to pay or use any of its money or property for any contribution to a candidate or political committee or for any expenditure to support or oppose the nomination or election of a clearly identified candidate; or
(3) To compensate, reimburse, or indemnify any person or individual for money or property so used or for any contribution or expenditure so made
________________________________________________________
The Action Greensboro $5,000 contribution to the Simkins PAC was reported under line 6 which is contributions from indviduals. Please explain how Action Greensboro is a contribution from a indvidual? It is also illegal for a professional association, corporation or business entity to contribute to a political committee. Please explain how Action Greensboro gave $5,000 to the Simkins PAC?Action Greensboro is a 501c-3 organization, can a not for-profit organization give to a PAC?It is also a limit of $4,000 to give to a North Carolina registered PAC, How can Action Greensboro give $5,000. These are the questions that need to get answered.
TRIADWATCH will be sending a letter to the North Carolina Board of Election on this issue and to see the legalities of this contribution to this Political Action Committee.
This cozy relationship between 2 powerbrokers in Guilford County has been talked about for a long time but to see Action Greensboro give money to the Simkins PAC either by mistake or out in the open for everyone to see, shows all the citizens of Guilford County the foxes who are guarding the hen house.
__________________________________________________
3 other post on this issue
Guarino CLICKHERE
Hogg's Blog CLICKHERE
Billy the Blogging Poet CLICKHERE
_______________________________________________________
UPDATE,
A letter has been sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections on 11-14-08 to answer questions on this questionable contribution of Action Greensboro to the Simkins PAC.
To see the 3rd quarter report click on the title above or CLICKHERE , then click on the Simkins PAC then proceed to the report.
The treasurer for the Simkins PAC is non other than Melvin "Skip" Alston Guilford County Commissioner as reported in TRIADWATCH, Mr. Alston needs to understand North Carolina Laws and how they work in regards to campaign contributions.
If you can see the 3rd quarter report it shows that Action Greensboro gave $5,000 to the Simkins PAC.
Action Greensboro is a member of the
Greensboro Partnership, and is united
with Greensboro Economic Development
Alliance and the Greensboro
Chamber of Commerce to form
a more powerful, unified voice
for economic development, urban
livability, and business growth.
Under North Carolina General Statute
§ 163‑278.19. Violations by corporations, business entities, labor unions, professional associations and insurance companies.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (a2), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section it shall be unlawful for any corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association or insurance company directly or indirectly:
(1) To make any contribution to a candidate or political committee or to make any expenditure to support or oppose the nomination or election of a clearly identified candidate;
(2) To pay or use or offer, consent or agree to pay or use any of its money or property for any contribution to a candidate or political committee or for any expenditure to support or oppose the nomination or election of a clearly identified candidate; or
(3) To compensate, reimburse, or indemnify any person or individual for money or property so used or for any contribution or expenditure so made
________________________________________________________
The Action Greensboro $5,000 contribution to the Simkins PAC was reported under line 6 which is contributions from indviduals. Please explain how Action Greensboro is a contribution from a indvidual? It is also illegal for a professional association, corporation or business entity to contribute to a political committee. Please explain how Action Greensboro gave $5,000 to the Simkins PAC?Action Greensboro is a 501c-3 organization, can a not for-profit organization give to a PAC?It is also a limit of $4,000 to give to a North Carolina registered PAC, How can Action Greensboro give $5,000. These are the questions that need to get answered.
TRIADWATCH will be sending a letter to the North Carolina Board of Election on this issue and to see the legalities of this contribution to this Political Action Committee.
This cozy relationship between 2 powerbrokers in Guilford County has been talked about for a long time but to see Action Greensboro give money to the Simkins PAC either by mistake or out in the open for everyone to see, shows all the citizens of Guilford County the foxes who are guarding the hen house.
__________________________________________________
3 other post on this issue
Guarino CLICKHERE
Hogg's Blog CLICKHERE
Billy the Blogging Poet CLICKHERE
_______________________________________________________
UPDATE,
A letter has been sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections on 11-14-08 to answer questions on this questionable contribution of Action Greensboro to the Simkins PAC.
9/21/10
2 Guilford County Commissioners Tell Randall Kaplan from Downtown Greensboro Hotel What They Think About Economic Incentive's in Future
During the September 16, 2010 Guilford County Commissioners meeting all the talk was about approving the federal recovery bonds for a new downtown luxury hotel which will be called Wyndham Greensboro. During this agenda item we had our own Triadwatch contributor George Hartzman speak his mind and asked a few questions CLICKHERE thanks FEC at Vie De Malchance.
One of the most unusual aspects of this agenda item was hearing what both Guilford County Commissioners Kirk Perkins and Linda Shaw had to say about something that will probably come back up in front of the county commissioners and probably as well the City of Greensboro which is economic incentive money offered by the local municipalities.
Here is what County Commissioner Kirk Perkins had to say,
As you can see from the video embedded above, the commissioner tells Randall Kaplan from the local group who wants to build the luxury hotel that, "hopefully they won't apply for the economic incentive policy , hopefully if they do we will turn them down but certainly if it is available then they should go for it."
That sounds like a shot below the belt from a county commissioner saying to them don't even think about coming back in front of council to apply for the county economic incentive policy .
But wait there is more because another Guilford County Commissioner in Linda Shaw had something to say as well here is the embedded video below.
The commissioner talks to Randall Kaplan and asks him if he is going to come back in front of us to ask for more money because we are going to stop you right now on incentives. In the video you can see a bewildered look on Randall Kaplan's face in regards to this issue.
It was interesting to see 2 county commissioners come out even before they ask for incentive to let the hotel group know that they can apply for the incentives but might have a hardtime getting approval.
It will also be interesting to see them try to get incentive money out of the Greensboro City Council as well.
One thing that might become a issue is hearing at the commissioner's meeting where Randall Kaplan from the hotel group talked about them being a good tenant for a parking garage in downtown Greensboro but maybe both the Guilford County Commissioners and the Greensboro City Council who will see the economic incentive application can put on a restriction that any incentive money will go towards the building of a parking deck near the hotel and that part of elm street.
Now that this project is on the fast track for completion and needs to start breaking ground soon, it will be fun to see the Wyndham Greensboro owners come back in front of the local municipalities with their incentive package and see if they have the votes for it to pass because these 2 commissioners were trying to say to Randall Kaplan you probably don't have my vote if you come back in front of us.
One of the most unusual aspects of this agenda item was hearing what both Guilford County Commissioners Kirk Perkins and Linda Shaw had to say about something that will probably come back up in front of the county commissioners and probably as well the City of Greensboro which is economic incentive money offered by the local municipalities.
Here is what County Commissioner Kirk Perkins had to say,
As you can see from the video embedded above, the commissioner tells Randall Kaplan from the local group who wants to build the luxury hotel that, "hopefully they won't apply for the economic incentive policy , hopefully if they do we will turn them down but certainly if it is available then they should go for it."
That sounds like a shot below the belt from a county commissioner saying to them don't even think about coming back in front of council to apply for the county economic incentive policy .
But wait there is more because another Guilford County Commissioner in Linda Shaw had something to say as well here is the embedded video below.
The commissioner talks to Randall Kaplan and asks him if he is going to come back in front of us to ask for more money because we are going to stop you right now on incentives. In the video you can see a bewildered look on Randall Kaplan's face in regards to this issue.
It was interesting to see 2 county commissioners come out even before they ask for incentive to let the hotel group know that they can apply for the incentives but might have a hardtime getting approval.
It will also be interesting to see them try to get incentive money out of the Greensboro City Council as well.
One thing that might become a issue is hearing at the commissioner's meeting where Randall Kaplan from the hotel group talked about them being a good tenant for a parking garage in downtown Greensboro but maybe both the Guilford County Commissioners and the Greensboro City Council who will see the economic incentive application can put on a restriction that any incentive money will go towards the building of a parking deck near the hotel and that part of elm street.
Now that this project is on the fast track for completion and needs to start breaking ground soon, it will be fun to see the Wyndham Greensboro owners come back in front of the local municipalities with their incentive package and see if they have the votes for it to pass because these 2 commissioners were trying to say to Randall Kaplan you probably don't have my vote if you come back in front of us.
9/14/09
Who Are The Usual Suspects on The Greensboro Downtown Consolidated Plan Core Group?
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Donald Patterson from the Greensboro News & Record has a article on September 7, 2009 with a title."Plan Will Set Priorities for Downtown" CLICKHERE . In the article this was said"The group is working through a 15-member team that includes Mayor Yvonne Johnson and Melvin “Skip” Alston, chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners"
Below the fold you will see the list of who is actually on this 15 member Downtown Greensboro Colsolidated Plan Core Group ,with a slew of the "USUAL SUSPECTS" on this core 15 member group. Could we just rename the City of Greensboro, BRYANBORO or MELVINBORO or SIMKINSBORO and be done with it. It is also nice to see that the most politically connected developer in town gets a prime seat on this core group in Roy"Can I Offer You A Plane Ride" Carroll.
________________________________________________________
Downtown Consolidated Plan Core Group:
The Core Group will be responsible for managing and directing the planning process. Members represent major economic stakeholders will thoroughly examine and develop specific draft proposals and recommendations. The group will also serve to lead advocacy efforts to implement projects from the plan into the future. The Core Group will generally meet on a monthly basis.
DGI Staff - Ed Wolverton
City Planning - Dick Hails
Elected Official (City) – Mayor Yvonne Johnson
Elected Official (County) – Skip Alston
Professional – John McClendon
Bryan Foundation - Ed Kitchen
DGI Chairman - Michael Schiftan
Property Owner – Roy Carroll
Community – Ralph Johnson , on the Greensboro Zoning Commission Board
Moses Cone Hospital – Mike Roskelly
VF Corporation – Frank Terkelson
Downtown Resident – Afrique Kilimanjaro, Carolina Peacemaker
Action Greensboro - April Harris
County Planning – Les Eger
City Manager/Econ. Development – Andy Scott
Neighborhood – Mac Sims , East Market Street Development
Support Staff:
Action Greensboro - Cecelia Thompson
City Planning - Mary Sertell
City Planning – Mike Kirkman
GDOT – Adam Fischer
The Core Group will be responsible for managing and directing the planning process. Members represent major economic stakeholders will thoroughly examine and develop specific draft proposals and recommendations. The group will also serve to lead advocacy efforts to implement projects from the plan into the future. The Core Group will generally meet on a monthly basis.
DGI Staff - Ed Wolverton
City Planning - Dick Hails
Elected Official (City) – Mayor Yvonne Johnson
Elected Official (County) – Skip Alston
Professional – John McClendon
Bryan Foundation - Ed Kitchen
DGI Chairman - Michael Schiftan
Property Owner – Roy Carroll
Community – Ralph Johnson , on the Greensboro Zoning Commission Board
Moses Cone Hospital – Mike Roskelly
VF Corporation – Frank Terkelson
Downtown Resident – Afrique Kilimanjaro, Carolina Peacemaker
Action Greensboro - April Harris
County Planning – Les Eger
City Manager/Econ. Development – Andy Scott
Neighborhood – Mac Sims , East Market Street Development
Support Staff:
Action Greensboro - Cecelia Thompson
City Planning - Mary Sertell
City Planning – Mike Kirkman
GDOT – Adam Fischer
In addition to the Core Committee, the Downtown Consolidated Plan will involve a larger (30+) Advisory Committee representing an expanded list of downtown related interests.
There will also be multiple community meetings (with direct mailings to all downtown property owners and other advertising means) and potentially some smaller focus groups addressing specific downtown interests or geographic areas.
The development of the Downtown Consolidated Plan was authorized earlier this year through resolutions adopted by both the City of Greensboro and Guilford County. Additional suggestions on public involvement for this process are welcomed. Additional questions may be addressed to Dick Hails (373-2922), Mike Kirkman (373-4649) or Mary Sertell (373-4769).
This information below the fold was sent to me from Cindy Briggs in Public Affairs Department for City of Greensboro with a Freedom of Information Act request for this information.
4/2/09
Action Greensboro Did Give Illegally to the Simkins Political Action Committee
The North Carolina State Board of Elections has came down with a ruling in the inquiry from Keith Brown to the campaign contribution of $5,000 from Action Greensboro to the George C. Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee.
To see the official letter from the State Board of Elections click on the title above or CLICKHERE
To understand the history of this issue Triadwatch has a post back on January 25, 2009 called "Letter of Inquiry to the State Board of Elections on Simkins PAC and Action Greensboro" CLICKHERE
Here are a few of the questions that were sent to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
#1 Is the maximum contribution $4,000 per cycle?
YES
The Simkins PAC and Action Greensboro violated North Carolina General Statute 163-278.13 where the maximum amount that can be given is $4,000 per cycle.
#2 Can a 501(c)3 non profit organization like Action Greensboro give to a PAC?
NO
Action Greensboro was in violation of North Carolina General Statute 163-278.19 because Action Greensboro is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 group and therefore is prohibited from making contributions to political action committees registered in the State of North Carolina. The next letter of inquiry should be to the Internal Revenue Service.
What happened to the $5,000 given to the Simkins PAC?
The state board concluded that this money was considered a prohibited receipt and would need to forfeit the contribution to the North Carolina Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund.
On March 6, 2009 a check in the amount of $5,000 was given to the North Carolina Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund by none other than Melvin "Skip" Alston, the treasurer of the Simkins PAC and also chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissions and local lawyer R. Steve Bowden name was also on the letter from the state.
As reported in the past on Triadwatch, Skip Alston has his own link CLICKHERE , where you can see from past post that the Simkins PAC might need to hire another treasurer because he doesn't have a clue on campaign law or lately he doesn't have a clue on open meetings law as well.
This campaign contribution from Action Greensboro brings up a whole lot of issues that have been talked about in the past and need to be looked at more closely in the future.
Here is a good post on Joe Guarino's blog where Skip Moore from the Weaver Foundation and a member of Action Greensboro wanted to cover his you know what on this $5,000 contribution, here is the link CLICKHERE with a title "Action Greensboro's Pay to Play".
Campaign laws in this state are pretty clear and the total lax reporting of our local Guilford County politicians in regards to campaign contributions need a complete overhaul. The Greensboro municipal elections are coming up in fall and I would like to suggest to all of them to clean up their reports and make sure you are following state law or it will get reported and brought to the attention of our local board or in the case of the Action Greensboro, illegal contribution to the George Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee it will need to go to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
This is citizen journalism at it's best.
Update: Local Post
Greensboro News and Record article CLICKHERE
Joe Guarino's Blog CLICKHERE
FEC CLICKHERE
Spag Report CLICKHERE
Yes! Weekly CLICKHERE
Piedmont Publius CLICKHERE
Tony Wilkins CLICKHERE
Greensboro Metro CLICKHERE
To see the official letter from the State Board of Elections click on the title above or CLICKHERE
To understand the history of this issue Triadwatch has a post back on January 25, 2009 called "Letter of Inquiry to the State Board of Elections on Simkins PAC and Action Greensboro" CLICKHERE
Here are a few of the questions that were sent to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
#1 Is the maximum contribution $4,000 per cycle?
YES
The Simkins PAC and Action Greensboro violated North Carolina General Statute 163-278.13 where the maximum amount that can be given is $4,000 per cycle.
#2 Can a 501(c)3 non profit organization like Action Greensboro give to a PAC?
NO
Action Greensboro was in violation of North Carolina General Statute 163-278.19 because Action Greensboro is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 group and therefore is prohibited from making contributions to political action committees registered in the State of North Carolina. The next letter of inquiry should be to the Internal Revenue Service.
What happened to the $5,000 given to the Simkins PAC?
The state board concluded that this money was considered a prohibited receipt and would need to forfeit the contribution to the North Carolina Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund.
On March 6, 2009 a check in the amount of $5,000 was given to the North Carolina Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund by none other than Melvin "Skip" Alston, the treasurer of the Simkins PAC and also chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissions and local lawyer R. Steve Bowden name was also on the letter from the state.
As reported in the past on Triadwatch, Skip Alston has his own link CLICKHERE , where you can see from past post that the Simkins PAC might need to hire another treasurer because he doesn't have a clue on campaign law or lately he doesn't have a clue on open meetings law as well.
This campaign contribution from Action Greensboro brings up a whole lot of issues that have been talked about in the past and need to be looked at more closely in the future.
Here is a good post on Joe Guarino's blog where Skip Moore from the Weaver Foundation and a member of Action Greensboro wanted to cover his you know what on this $5,000 contribution, here is the link CLICKHERE with a title "Action Greensboro's Pay to Play".
Campaign laws in this state are pretty clear and the total lax reporting of our local Guilford County politicians in regards to campaign contributions need a complete overhaul. The Greensboro municipal elections are coming up in fall and I would like to suggest to all of them to clean up their reports and make sure you are following state law or it will get reported and brought to the attention of our local board or in the case of the Action Greensboro, illegal contribution to the George Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee it will need to go to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
This is citizen journalism at it's best.
Update: Local Post
Greensboro News and Record article CLICKHERE
Joe Guarino's Blog CLICKHERE
FEC CLICKHERE
Spag Report CLICKHERE
Yes! Weekly CLICKHERE
Piedmont Publius CLICKHERE
Tony Wilkins CLICKHERE
Greensboro Metro CLICKHERE
3/19/09
Who Would Have Thunk It, Greensboro Votes 7-1 for Ethics on Local Level
At the Greensboro City Council Meeting on March 17, 2009 during the end of the meeting item #31 is called Addendum.There was a resolution brought to the attention of the council that has to deal with having state ethics laws brought to the local and county level.(HAT TIP YES WEEKLY) on their blog CLICKHERE
Here is the link to the video at around the 1:55 mark on CLICKHERE then proceed to March 17, 2009 video.
Greensboro City Attorney Terry Wood had this to say" This is put on as a request from a council member. This is a state ethics act that covers state commissions and boards it is very extensive and includes filling out forms acknowledging the different various types of ownership, and any interest you have in the property you own. In other words a full disclosure and the purpose of it is to keep, to prevent conflicts of interest. At least what our legislature perceives as conflicts of interest.And this is an act that is pending in the legislature now. House Bill #287 CLICKHERE or click on the title above and if you adopt a resolution it would be to acknowledge support for that resolution. You of course can't enact it , that's a state wide law.That's the purpose of it. "
Then the Mayor Johnson's talks about going to speak to a group of people and accepting a potted plant or some flowers and how the mayor does accept these gifts.She then asked the City Attorney is that proper or improper and He said under this bill it would be improper. There are over five pages of what you can and cannot do and the city attorney then said the best thing to do is not accept gifts at all.
Then the ethically challenged Greensboro City Council member Robbie " Pave It " Perkins had this to say,"These days it is hard to vote against a ethics law. I think that being said the debate at the legislature is going to be very interesting to watch. Because the legislature has imposed these ethics rules on themselves.Largely as a result of the problems that they had with ex-DEMOCRAT speaker Jim Black. They have imposed these laws and found them unwieldly and have been modify it ever since.So the debate as I understand it from talking today to some of the house members is do they want to take a step further and impose it on all of the municipal officials in the state.Because they are already under it.Good arguments on both sides. We should support it and move on."
Who would have thunk that Robbie 'Pave It " Perkins would be all over passing a resolution in support of this ethics bill but as you heard above they have found the ethics laws unwielding and are modifying the law to this day. So if you can read into that statement then the League of Municipalities are going to water down this ethics law to practically nothing. If you want to see what a ethically challenged city council member is then CLICKHERE or CLICKHERE
It would be nice to know which Greensboro City Council member actually brought this up as an addendum because the city attorney only said a city council member brought this up without naming a name. Who wants to guess who it was? We can take one very ethically challenged Greensboro City Council member out of the guessing game because when it was time to vote on this resolution in support of bringing ethics to the local and county level the vote was 7-1 with T Dianne Bellamy Small"TDBS" voting NO. How could you not be for ethics on the local level of city and county politics as the mayor had said but TDBS sure doesn't want any part of ethics and her past history has shown that. Can anyone say polygraph test.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE , Tony Wilkins has answered my question above here is the link CLICKHERE. Thanks Tony
Even before this was brought up in front of Greensboro City Council,
Joe Guarino had posted this on his blog CLICKHERE with a title "Ethics Laws and Local Elected Officials" .
This law is much needed on the local level and it is time to let your state legislators know that you are in support of this bill. All you would need to do is say to your state representatives " Bring Ethics to the Local Level Support House Bill #287". If you want to e-mail your state representative here is the link
CLICKHERE for House
CLICKHERE for Senate
1/14/09
Simkins PAC Fourth Quarter Campaign Contributions Are In
The George Simkins Political Action Committee Fourth Quarter campaign forms are reported with a total of $4,500 coming from 3 people. To see the returns click on the title above or CLICKHERE then go to fourth quarter.
Contributions from individual came from one person
Charles T. Hagan Jr. gave $2,500 with the usual missing report about job title and employers name from treasurer and Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston
Committee Contributions
Citizens for John Parks gave $1,000 who is a Guilford County Commissioner
Cowell for Treasurer gave $1,000 N.C. State Treasurer
____________________________________________________
UPDATE: There is a letter that was sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections on the status of the George Simkins PAC third quarter returns which uncovered contributions made from Action Greensboro $5,000 and to find out how a non profit can give money to this Political Action Committee, and other discrepancies in their filings.
If you would like to see the other post on this issue CLICKHERE
Contributions from individual came from one person
Charles T. Hagan Jr. gave $2,500 with the usual missing report about job title and employers name from treasurer and Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston
Committee Contributions
Citizens for John Parks gave $1,000 who is a Guilford County Commissioner
Cowell for Treasurer gave $1,000 N.C. State Treasurer
____________________________________________________
UPDATE: There is a letter that was sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections on the status of the George Simkins PAC third quarter returns which uncovered contributions made from Action Greensboro $5,000 and to find out how a non profit can give money to this Political Action Committee, and other discrepancies in their filings.
If you would like to see the other post on this issue CLICKHERE
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