Debating an Empty Suit

Last night was the first of many forums in this campaign season. The Greensboro Unity Forum was held at the Greensboro Historical Museum for mayoral and district candidates. As one of two candidates for the District 3 seat, I was also the only one of the two of us that showed up. There was pretty good attendance last night at the forum.

The big moment last night, for me at least, was a question on the White Street landfill. I reaffirmed my pledge from two years ago to always vote to keep the landfill closed. I also was received well by the crowd for suggesting the idea that we organize, get signatures, and get a referendum vote on the May 2012 ballot to keep the landfill closed. The way I see it, this Council has botched the landfill issue time and time again and putting it in the hands of the people of Greensboro is the only way to assure the landfill stays closed. I also called for, as I did two years ago, a regional solution to our waste problems.

One can only hope that my opponent will finally speak his mind on the landfill issue. He has skated by on being recused, when he really should have voted anyway. I am almost certain that he will now use the shield of the lawsuit and court injunction filed against him to not speak on the issue still. One can only hope I will not continue to debate an empty suit.

We also spoke last night on RUCO; which I fought for, for several years as the Chair of the Montgomery/Wells Fair Housing Committee of the Human Relations Commission. RUCO has been gutted at the state level, lobbied to be gutted by TREBIC while Mayor Knight and my opponent were present at the General Assembly. With all the real estate money my opponent funds his campaigns with, you would have to assume he wasn't just an observer.

I called for more police officers last night, the same number I called for two years ago. 950 total with a 9th District so we can stop playing whack-a-mole with our cities criminals.

I also called for us to stop giving incentives of huge monetary value to folks like Roy Carroll and Koury Corp, and instead give incentives to small businesses with plans to expand and create local jobs.

I am sure more was discussed last night, but you have to attend these forums to hear it all. So join me on the next stop on the "Tell the Truth to the Public" tour, which is the College Hill Forum next Thursday at Fellowship Hall of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant at 501 S. Mendenhall Street between 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM. Let's hope my opponent appears as more then an empty suit at this event so he can answer for his actions in office.

Matheny's Attempt to Be Opaque

As reported in this weeks Yes Weekly, my opponent has attempted to hide public record from, well....the public. Here is Yes Weekly's coverage.

"As the appointed city council liaison, I request that you do not show anyone other than you and me how the Census interacts with our redistricting, if indeed the a [SIC] redrawing is even necessary,” District 3 Councilman Zack Matheny wrote in a March 2 e-mail to Geographic Information Systems Manager Stephen Sherman. “The Census data is, of course, open as a public document and anyone can obtain. I am simply asking for just the maps to be kept private until public comment has been heard.

“Unfortunately, this has become a hot topic and we need to be focused on the city, the Census, precincts, etc.,” the councilman added as an explanation for his request for secrecy.

He also said,

"What is the point of this request other than we are being open and transparent with our community and abiding by the super majority of city council?” Matheny wrote. He added, “Rashad, this is unfortunate that you have your time being wasted."

That is the juicy part of a 172 page exchange that is originally posted on Scribid by a local blogger who did a public records request. Click here for the documents. Matheny does not interject into the discussion until page 125.

Attempting to hide public records from the public is offensive to the very definition of civic duty and he should have to explain himself to the public on this matter. All the hiding records from the public aside, how can the public comment on maps that have not been seen? It also poses the question, "Is anything else being hidden by Councilman Matheny?"

You don't have to be an adult to handle this situation well. I learned that growing up. When things are a "hot topic", it is always worse to hide and always better to face and deal with said topic.

I can tell you this, when responsibility is put in my lap, I handle that responsibility like an adult. It does not matter if it is a "hot topic" or generally unpopular, you handle your business. So, if you want an adult representing your needs in District 3, I would ask you to vote for me.

My First Endorsement of the Election Season

I am proud to announce that today I was informed that I received the endorsement of the Triad Central Labor Council and the NC State AFL-CIO. I am proud of this endorsement because these organizations are in the trenches fighting for middle-class workers, just as I will.

I hope this is the first of many endorsements and look forward to the interviews and challenging questions ahead from my fellow constituents.