Deep background on the Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy program (RUCO), which the NC Realtor's Association liked Robbie and TREBIC getting rid of

"...Hints at relaxing rental inspection procedure

The Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy program, or RUCO, was a signature accomplishment of the late Claudette Burroughs-White, who died after retiring as council representative for District 2 in 2005. The program makes inspection of all rental properties mandatory...

Kieth Brown; "Crony Capitalism and Local Developer Roy Carroll Red Flags on This American Express Incentive Deal, More Info. and REPOST"

UPDATE 8-17-2010: The Greensboro City Council meeting set for 8-17-2010 has this as a part of the agenda:

18. Ordinance annexing territory to the corporate limits located at 401-421 Birch Creek Road – 145.502 acres. (Council District: nearest District 1) (roll call vote)

Looks like Roy Carroll is going to sail this one through without any questions from the local media on just how did they pick his land for this project. Was there any other properties in Guilford County involved in this deal to land the project which was code named "Project Doublewide"  .or was he and Richard Beard the only ones involved with this transaction.

Justin Catanoso from the Triad Business Journal had this as a title "AMEX may have offset tax break for land costs CLICKHERE . Here is a few quotes from post

Sources familiar with the negotiations say American Express pressed for reductions in per-acre costs before agreeing in principle (the deal hasn’t closed yet) to acquire about 100 acres in both Rock Creek Center and the new Birch Creek Corporate Park in unincorporated Guilford County

Richard Beard, a principal with Simpson Schulman & Beard, the brokers for Rock Creek, declines to detail the discussions that took place between his group and the agents representing American Express, which were led by Greg Wilson of the local C.B. Richard Ellis office. While Wilson declined to comment, Beard did say: “We had to make concessions toward the end of the negotiations.”

The code name played on the fact that not one, but two suitable sites were essential to seal the deal.

“Each location was very dependent on the other,” Beard says. “It was both sites or nothing. All negotiations were separate, but any time I saw Roy around town in the past few weeks, I’d ask him how things were going.”

Roy Carroll, one of Greensboro’s top developers and president of The Carroll Cos., declines to discuss the negotiations with American Express regarding the land it will buy in Birch Creek Corporate Park. As the location for the redundant data storage capacity, it is likely that construction on the estimated 150,000-square-foot backup facility won’t start for two years or more.

Can't wait to hear the cheerleaders at the Greensboro City Council meeting on 8-17-2010 talk about this project and not one of them will ask the question on why did they pick these properties from the most connected crony capilalist we have ever seen in Roy Carroll along with another member in Richard Beard who is a war memorial coliseum commission member and also the head cheerleader for coliseum director Matt Brown.

Below is the REPOST from April 21, 2010 and with one of the biggest comments periods we have ever had on Triadwatch.

________________________________________________________________________________
One of the biggest tax incentives deals ever proposed in Guilford County and Greensboro is American Express potential data center in the eastern part of the county.
It appears that Mr. Dan Lynch, Greensboro Economic Development Alliance President, who should have been involved in showing sites to AMEX, and Roy Carroll, owner of one of the properties, have shared the title of "Board Member" at the Greensboro Partnership.


Let's give a brief definition of Crony Capitalism:

What Does Crony Capitalism Mean?

A description of capitalist society as being based on the close relationships between businessmen and the state. Instead of success being determined by a free market and the rule of law, the success of a business is dependent on the favoritism that is shown to it by the ruling government in the form of tax breaks, government grants and other incentives.From Investopedia CLICKHERE

This definition fits local developer Roy Carroll to a T.

Here is what is being reported from the Greensboro News & Record CLICKHERE

"The American Express project would involve two buildings on two parcels in eastern Guilford: about 100 acres in Rock Creek Center and part of a 700-acre tract owned by developer Roy Carroll near Knox Road and Birch Creek Road.

The Carroll property would be annexed into Greensboro, allowing the city to share in the incentive offering and benefit from the promised boost to the tax base."

As we have stated in the past that local developer Roy Carroll had his own political action committee giving thousands of dollars to the campaigns of plenty of local politicians in Greensboro and Guilford County. Pay to play at it's best.

Here is a list from a few years ago of Greensboro City Council members and the closed out account of Roy Carroll's Political Action Committee called North Carolinians for Leadership in Government.

RECEIPTS


10/17/2007

ROY E CARROLL II

PRESIDENT/OWNER OLD SOUTH HOME COMPANY

3619 CAMDEN FALLS CIRCLE

GREENSBORO, NC 27410

Individual Contribution

Check

$4000.00


10/17/2007

VANESSA Y CARROLL

HOUSEWIFE HOUSEWIFE

3619 CAMDEN FALLS CIRCLE

GREENSBORO, NC 27410

Individual Contribution

Check

$4000.00

Total ALL Receipts:

$8,000.00


Expenditures
10/16/2007
DIANE BELLAMY-SMALL
GREENSBORO, NC
CONTRIBUTION
Check
$1000.00

10/16/2007
ROBBIE PERKINS
GREENSBORO, NC
CONTRIBUTION
Check
$1000.00

10/16/2007
SANDRA ANDERSON GROAT
GREENSBORO, NC
CONTRIBUTION
Check
$1000.00

10/16/2007
TRUDY WADE
GREENSBORO, NC
CONTRIBUTION
Check
$1000.00

10/16/2007
YVONNE JOHNSON
GREENSBORO, NC
CONTRIBUTIONS
Check
$1000.00

10/16/2007
ZACK MATHENY
GREENSBORO, NC
CONTRIBUTION
Check
$1000.00
Total ALL Expenditures:
$6,000.00


We also have a few Guilford County Commissioners who have received PAC money from local developer Roy Carroll as well in the past in


Paul Gibson (D) 5-2-08 for $1,000

Kirk Perkins (D) 5-6-08 for $1,000

There are many red flags that need to be attached to any deal involving Roy Carroll. The first would be in who will be his real estate broker on this deal because we have had many people in the past talk about the ethical issues of local politicians like Guilford County Chairman Skip Alston with a downtown hotel project and him being the broker on that deal. Now we know that sitting Greensboro City Council member and also local developer Robbie Perkins works hand in hand with Roy Carroll. This relationship is so tight that during a council meeting in 2009 we had Robbie Perkins text messaging Roy Carroll in China on a issue where the city and Roy Carroll's company were going to court with another developer Marty Kotis over properties off of Horse Pen Creek Road and Robbie Perkins told Roy Carroll from council chambers that he needs to fight this, here is that report CLICKHERE.

We can also raise some red flags to see that why did they pick these sights and was there any possibility for any other properties on the table?

If the News and Record is correct then are they going to use both properties or are they looking at both properties and then choosing just one site?

We also know from the past that local developer Roy Carroll has the use of a private plane CLICKHERE . Was any local public officials flown to any meetings with executives from American Express on this incentive package and presentation on this plane?

We will see what happens on this tax incentive hand out to American Express for corporate welfare, but a true conservative would vote NO to this deal.

Let's also see just how much influence local developer Roy Carroll has on this deal being a part of his property so that he can reap the riches of water and sewer and road improvements to all of his properties near knox road and birch creek road.
Let's hope more people will want to know all the facts of every aspect of this whole incentive package and ask the right questions to all involved.

7 16 13 on Ruco, Rental Inspections, TREBIC and Regulatory Capture

Prostest Petition and what I said about Greensboro hiring TREBIC's Marlene Sanford, who advocated against, as a lobbyist

"A regulatory reform bill heading for a House vote repeals GS 160A-285(a).  Greensboro residents know that as the protest petition law. 

It's an old provision in state law, but it Greensboro had been mysteriously exempted in 1971. In 2009, with encouragement from local activists [Keith Brown, aka Triad Watch] and legislators, Greensboro was again covered by the law.

Now the law is in danger of disappearing statewide.

The measure allows residents who oppose a rezoning to present a petition to the City Council. With enough support, they can force the council to muster a three-fourths vote to approve the rezoning.

This empowers the people.

Developers don't like it. They are empowered at the General Assembly (see my Durham post from yesterday)."

Doug Clark
.
.
What I said on the City of Greensboro giving TREBIC's Marlene Sanford taxpayer money for lobbying;

"George Hartzman, Baytree Drive, Greensboro

I have taught financial ethics to CPAs and attorneys for 10 years, and uncovered securities fraud in our financial industry.

Tonight, City Council was supposed to vote to give TREBIC’s Marlene Sanford [who fought against Protest Petition] money to lobby on Greensboro's behalf.

TREBIC [who fought against Protest Petition] directs campaign donations.

TREBIC, which is Marlene Sanford, Robbie Perkins, Roy Carroll and others, acted to limit RUCO in 2008.

Robbie Perkins and Marlene [who fought against Protest Petition] stacked the RUCO board and the Minimum Housing Standards Committee

Robbie Perkin's campaign money comes from those who wanted RUCO eliminated.

Mayor Perkins illegally funded TREBIC by deducting his donations which were spent on lobbying, voted to limit rental inspections, and now City Council was asked to fund Marlene with taxpayer money.

TREBIC and Robbie Perkins are responsible for harming poor renters along with other elected officials who didn't lift a finger.

This is what Marlene and Robbie, who served together on the RUCO board which met at TREBIC’s headquarters brought Greensboro with taxpayer money.

Dawn Cheney is on the executive committee for The Greensboro Landlord Association, is on DGI’s board, was on the RUCO taskforce, and is now on the post RUCO study committee.

Mrs. Chaney also chairs Greensboro's Redevelopment Commission and now she’s on the committee to fix DGI.

Those who have harmed poor renters have been left unaccountable for their actions, and continue to pervert our government.

These people are actively harming Greensboro with regulatory capture, self dealing, cronyism and stacked committees and our news industry won't report it."
.
.
Dear Greensboro's press, please tell the truth about some of our local "stakeholders" who lobby against what's in the best interests of our community behind closed doors, but show another face to the public.

On TREBIC and Illegal Lobbying

http://edcone.typepad.com/files/trebic-2010-990.pdf

Question 3 on page 3 isn't true.

TREBIC 2009 City Council Candidate Questions: How is this not illegal lobbying/political activity?

Koury, TREBIC and RUCO: What could Regulatory Capture look like?

Keith Brown; Pigs, Poultry, and Politics + TREBIC + FREE MEAL = Ethical Issues for Local Elected Officials in Guilford County

Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition(TREBIC) our local special interest lobbying group headed by Marlene Sanford has a annual gathering in it's 11th year called Pigs, Poultry, and Politics- Old Fashioned Political Rally. Click on the title above or CLICKHERE


If this is a old fashioned political rally it sure is composed of the most connected sponsors who give plenty of campaign contributions to the local politicians. Let's take a closer look at who is sponsoring this political rally.

2010 Sponsorship Congress members:


President: Signature Property Group

Governor: AT&T; Fairway Outdoor Advertising

Senator: BB&T; Brown Investment Properties; Davenport Transportation Consulting; D.R. Horton Homes; Isaacson Isaacson Sheridan & Fountain, LLP; Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP


Commissioner: K. Hovnanian Homes; Pest Management Inc

This old fashioned political rally is where TREBIC can tell all the local politicians who runs Guilford County and where do you get your campaign contributions from.This is where Marlene Sanford President of TREBIC can say to the local politicians just how many more TREBIC  members can we fit on these boards and commissions in Guilford County, especially in the City of Greensboro.

Governor Sponsor: Fairway Outdoor Advertising and it's main kingpin W.S. Morris III from Augusta Georgia, between the in kind contributions from Fairway Outdoor Advertising and the campaign contributions to local politicians he is one of the most generous campaign contributors in this county and he doesn't even live here.Lately there hasn't been much campaign giving from W.S. Morris but this company is very generous with their influence and sign placements all over Guilford County.


Senator Sponsor: Isaaacson, Isaacson & Sheridan. We like to call them King Zoning Stud Henry Isaacson and his son Little King Zoning Stud Marc Isaacson because if you want to get a zoning case passed in Greensboro or Guilford County these are the one's who give plenty of money to the local politicians campaign coffers and if you haven't seen their DOG AND PONY SHOW it is a masterpiece just go to a Greensboro City Zoning meeting to witness King Zoning Stud Henry Isaacson  in action.

We also have Brown Investment and Chester Brown who is connected to Greensboro City Council member Robbie Perkins with a new shopping center out off of church street and HWY. 150 with Guilford County Commissioner Billy Yow also the well driller on this project. Then we find out that one of Chester Brown's employees Russ Parmele VP of business development has moved right from Greensboro board of adjustment to the Greensboro Zoning Commission without any opposition . It must be nice to go from one commission right to another without any objections and to see if there has been any applications in the databank waiting to get on this board but the TREBIC connected Brown Investment goes right to the front of the line. Amazing

These are just a few of the usual suspects who will be at this Old fashioned political rally. The influence of TREBIC on the local politicians needs to come to an end. When you hear certain politicians come out and say TREBIC has been contacted and TREBIC has some interest, it only goes to show that the FOX is guarding the Hen House and each year they want everyone to know who the FOX actually is.

_________________________________________________________________________________


We also have a new ethical dilemma for any local politician who has received a e mail from TREBIC on this annual gathering . If you would like to go to this event check out the application CLICKHERE . If you see the link it states that this event will cost you $30.00. This poses a real problem and all you need to do is CLICKHERE. This is where TREBIC states this

"Welcome Elected Officials and Candidates!


We invite you to attend our Annual "Pig, Poultry & Politics" event on Thursday, October 14 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. TREBIC and its member Trade Associations represent nearly 4000 real estate professionals in and around Guilford County, plus all their employees.
Provide your name and mailing address and we'll send you the tickets. See you there!

ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES FREE REGISTRATION"

TREBIC also sent out a email to all the local elected officials and here is what was in the e mail,

"Please plan to attend the 11th Annual Pig, Poultry & Politics Thursday, October 14th! You can reply to this email to RSVP. Your ticket is complimentary, but if you need tickets for guests, they can be purchased for $30 each, $35 day of the event. You can order tickets on our website, www.trebic.org, or you can use the order form attached. "

It states that the local elected official and candidates can get their ticket for free and complimentary.


We have seen plenty of problems on the state level with some DMV workers were given free meals just like the Greensboro ABC Manager Katie Alley who is in a little hot water for her lunch dates with vendors comping the meals for her. How is this different from the most influential lobbyist group in Guilford County TREBIC giving FREE MEALS to local elected officials and candidates right before the elections.

If you are a local elected official and do plan on going to this event it is in your best intertest to NOT take the free meal and buy a $30 ticket and run it through your campaign committee fund because to me this is accepting a free meal and should not be done. Ethics is a real issue and it is time for our local elected officials and candidates understand how this free meal is not right and if you want to attend then pony up the $30 or not go. Triadwatch looks forward to seeing your $30 contribution on your campaign returns from this special interest lobbying political rally event brought to you by the non registered lobbyist Marlene Sanford and the non registered lobbyist group TREBIC.