Protest Petition Talk Round Up from Editorials,Letters to Editor, News Report in North Carolina

I wanted to give you a link to plenty of talk about protest petition in North Carolina after a few lawmakers snuck in this bill to appease their crony capitalist to take away the bargaining power of neighborhoods all over this state. Here we go

Petition Retreat from Greensboro News and Record editorial out today

HERE

Killing Protest Petition Not In Our Best Interest by Greensboro Attorney and former State Senator Don Vaughan

HERE

Bill would weaken neighbors’ ability to fight zoning changes, by Charlotte Observer

HERE

Bill could hinder neighbors ability to fight stores, businesses, WSOC tv in Charlotte

HERE

Protest petition quietly put to death amidst sweeping GOP changes, Yes! Weekly Jordan Green

HERE

Bill Would Eliminate A Tool Neighbors Have To Fight Zoning Changes, WFAE radio in Charlotte

HERE

Protest Pinched, Greensboro News and Record Editorial

HERE

We also have our local TREBIC Cartel attorney Tom Terrell NC Legal Landscapes who works for the developers who I just heard is going to have this blog post as a opinion piece in Sunday's Greensboro News and Record with a post titled, Legislative Update – Protest Petitions Killed . . . Finally

HERE

SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST

Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins Plays Fast And Loose With Protest Petition Facts , Billy Jones East Greensboro Performing Arts Center blog

HERE

White Street Landfill, Protest Petition and Yes! Weekly Interview with Nancy Vaughan

Jordan Green from Yes!Weekly is interviewing the candidates in the upcoming Greensboro municipal election and we see that Protest Petition has been brought up on the campaign trail. In this Yes! Weekly blog interview we have this from the article:

"While Vaughan was not on council at the time the body took action on the matter in 2009, she strongly advocated for the restoration of the protest petition in Greensboro.

Under current zoning, phases VI and V at the White Street Landfill can only be used for fill dirt, excluding use as a landfill. In addition to obtaining permits from the NC Department of Natural Resources, the city council would also have to hold a public hearing and take a vote to rezone the tracts before the city could begin accepting household waste in the two areas.

“At that point, it would fall under the protest petition,” Vaughan said. “Residents with adjacent property would have the opportunity to file for the protest petition. If that’s the case, in order to use IV and V they will have to have a super majority…. That means they need seven affirmative votes. Do you think there are seven council members who would vote for that?"

Four members of the nine-member council have recently prevailed to reopen the landfill against three members opposed. Councilman Zack Matheny, like Vaughan, has been conflicted out."

To see the whole interview CLICKHERE

If what we hear from what Nancy Vaughan is saying then the gang of four will not have a fighting chance of this ever passing the Greensboro City Council with the Protest Petition being used in the zoning process. Will we see any other media outlet pick up this interesting piece of the White Street Landfill issue? This is a huge story and we will see if the protest petition is used by the abutting neighbors . More to come on this issue.

Will post this also on my Triadwatch blog which came about because of this blog Protest Petition for Greensboro.

The Birthplace of Protest Petition in Greensboro Just Got Down Zoned Off of Friendly Avenue

The Greensboro Zoning Commission had a meeting last night on 8-9-2010 and on the agenda was this case.

8. Z-10-08-005 - 6705 West Friendly Avenue and 613 Pompano Drive (South of West Friendly Avenue and west of Pompano Drive) – An ordinance rezoning from CD-RM-18 (Conditional District-Residential Multi Family) to CD-R-3 (Conditional District-Residential Single Family) with the following conditions:



1. Uses: Limited to a place of religious assembly and permitted educational facilities.


– for property located at 6705 West Friendly Avenue and 613 Pompano Drive, generally described as south of West Friendly Avenue and west of Pompano Drive. (5.94 Acres)


– For Korean Baptist Church.(Sheet(s) 219 and 220)
 
This item is a major step in the process of healing a neighborhood that was torn apart but also brought together to bring back Protest Petition to the citizens of Greensboro. As you can see from above, the Korean Church wants to DOWN ZONE and yes that is DOWN ZONE property in Greensboro N.C. from CDRM 18 to CDR-3 . This takes out a major part of the rezoning of a massive apartment complex that Guilford County Commissioner Mike Winstead had planned on the property along with the adjoining property next door which is owned by Ex State Senator Bob Shaw who happens to be married to Guilford County Commissioner Linda Shaw. We also had Ex Greensboro City Council member Mike Barber who had to recuse himself from this rezoning case from a few years ago for a conflict of interest. Then we had current at large Greensboro City Council member Robbie Perkins be the deciding factor for this rezoning case to be passed back on February 5th 2008.Look at all of the political aspects of this issue.
 
Here is a link to a news story from Channel 14 CLICKHERE
 
Here are  the minutes from the meeting which had to come back in front of council for a second reading and Robbie Perkins back to vote.
 
Mayor Johnson introduced an ordinance rezoning from Conditional District-General Business and

Residential Single Family 12 to Conditional District-Residential Multifamily-18 for property located on the south side of West Friendly Avenue between Forsythia Drive and Nora Drive. The Mayor advised that this was the Second Reading for the ordinance after having received 4 affirmative votes at the January 15, 2008 Council meeting

.Councilmember Perkins noted that he was absent from the January 17 Council meeting but advised he had
watched the meeting, reviewed the materials related to this matter and was prepared to vote. He offered brief comments in support of this rezoning.

After Councilmember Barber stated that he must abstain from voting due to a conflict of interest,
Councilmember Matheny moved to permit Councilmember Barber to abstain due to conflict of interest.

 The motion was seconded by Perkins and adopted by voice vote of Council.

Councilmember Matheny moved adoption of the ordinance and stated that the Greensboro City Council
believes that its action to approve the zoning amendment, located on West Friendly Avenue from CD-GS and RS-12 to CD-RM-18 to be consistent with the adopted Connections 2025 Comprehensive Plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable and in the public interest for the following reasons: it is consistent with the high residential land use category indicated for this site on the Connections 2025 Generalized Future Land Use Map, it is consistent with the growth at the fringe goal to promote sound and sustainable land use patterns and compact development, and it promotes the diversification of new housing stock to meet the needs for suitable housing..

The motion was seconded by Councilmember Wade; the ordinance was adopted on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Groat, Matheny, Perkins, Wade and Wells. Noes: Bellamy-Small, Johnson and Rakestraw, with Councilmember Barber abstaining due to conflict of interest.


It is time to thank the shaws, winsteads, barbers and perkins on approving, abstaining and bringing  this rezoning case to the citizens of Greensboro because  now a few years later it is DOWN ZONED back to what it should have been in the first place and now the citizens of Greensboro have the right to use Protest Petitions in zoning cases all over Greensboro like every other city in this state had the right to do. This was a huge rezoning case that brought many people all over the city and even the interloper from High Point on the case. It was a hard fought battle with the local Lobbyist Organization called TREBIC which is the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition and plenty of folks on the other side and let me end with this PEOPLE POWER PEOPLE POWER CLICKHERE
 
 

Protest Petition Group Wins an Award

The Inside Scoop of the Greensboro News & Record CLICKHERE has their end of year awards. This site and plenty of citizens all over Greensboro and High Point will be happy to take this award and know that this lost cause should have never been taken away from the citizens of Greensboro to begin with. Below is what was said in the inside scoop.

The Lost Cause Cup



WINNERS: Supporters of the protest petition, including local blogger and gadfly Keith Brown. They battled the foot-dragging of City Council and muscle of the real estate community to get Greensboro residents a powerful tool to fight unwanted development.

Nancy Vaughan Was None Too Happy With The Waffling of Greensboro City Council on Protest PEtition

My good friend Erik Huey over at his own blog called Greensboro Metro CLICKHERE had a post titled "City Council Candidate Nancy Vaughan: Someone To Watch"

The idea bringing back Protest Petition to the citizens of Greensboro started well back in February of 2008 and to see the inaction of the whole Greensboro City Council in regards to this issue was pathetic to experience.

Now we see that Nancy Barakat Vaughan was none too pleased with the Greensboro City Council as well. Here is what she said over at the Greensboro Metro blog,

"In an interview with GSOMetro, Vaughan said for these reasons and more (along with the blessing of her family), she had to begin prepping to get back in. She said the waffling on "protest petitions" were the catalyst of her itching to run again."

To hear a candidate say that the Greensboro City Council was waffling on bringing back Protest Petitions for the citizens was a great to hear.

Everybody and their mother knew that if this issue dragged on in to the fall without a bill getting passed at the state level that it would have been a real wedge issue for the incumbents to say to their citizens why they are denying them the rights that every other citizen who lives in a municipality has.

There is more to the post on some of the issues Nancy Barakat Vaughan talked with Erik Huey about CLICKHERE and it was great to see a candidate talk about the issue of Protest PEtitions for the citizens of Greensboro.

Protest Petition Party Thursday 7:15 at Natty Greene's Second Floor

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens of the Triad want to invite anyone who had any part in bringing back Protest Petitions to the Citizens of Greensboro to a informal gathering. Above you will see that we are going to get together at Natty Greene's in downtown Greensboro at 7:15 pm on second floor.

It will be great to see everyone who was a part of this process and also to send out a invitation to all in the local blogging community because I think having this blog on Protest Petitions for Greensboro really made a great difference in the process. Come to Natty Greene's and enjoy the night.

Many Deserve Thanks for Protest Petition Fight Especially The Blogging Community

Greensboro News and Record Letter to the Editor for March 15, 2009
CLICKHERE
or click on the title above. Below is what was said in the letter to the editor.

Let me first say that the blogging community kept this issue on the forefront for over a year and would like to thank all who has posted , linked or opined on the issue it was a great help.
________________________________________________________


I want to take this opportunity to thank all who have been involved in restoring the right to protest petitions for the citizens of Greensboro and to praise our state legislators who moved this bill through the process smoothly.

To witness the special-interest group called TREBIC try to deny this state right for the citizens of Greensboro should be a wake-up call as to how far they will try to get their way.This exemption should have never happened in the first place. It came about because of back-door politics, with no citizen input. This exemption from state law made no sense.

It was time to reverse this exemption, and for anyone who wanted to call out my motives because I live in High Point and started a blog on this total injustice, think again. My motives were for the citizens of Greensboro to have the same rights I have as a resident of High Point, and the same rights as residents of every other city in this state.

Thanks to all who were involved and especially to all my friends in the local blogging community where “protest petitions for Greensboro” blogspot came to fruition and made a great difference.

Keith Brown
High Point

Greensboro Peer Pressure has a post Titled "Loop Holes in Protest Petition"

Local Blogger Diane Davis and her blog called "Greensboropeerpressure" CLICKHERE or click on the title above. Has a new post with a title called "Loop Holes in Protest Petition". She has some great questions like she did on the greenway. It will be great to see some of these neighborhoods all over Greensboro use Protest Petition in the zoning process and hopefully these loop holes can be rctified like for example it might be time to lobby the whole County of Guilford to add Protest Petitions to the county zoning process. Hey another issue our coalition can try to get passed. Nothing like a new challenge but first it might be time to get some politicians who aren't so close to the TREBIC CARTEL if you know what I mean come fall.

Plenty of Blog Post on Protest Petitions for Greensboro Here are The Links

IT is great to see all the blog post on Protest Petitions for Greensboro and this week seeing a bill get passed at the North Carolina General Assembly. Here is a compilation of blog post from this past week. If we missed anyone please let me know but will try to post everyone who posted this past week here they are in no particular order but would like to start with Brenda Bowers who was very sincere with her post and last but not least is FEC he will bring up the rear.



As I Go: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
TITLE: Protest Petition YES! Well Done Keith Brown CLICKHERE



Tony Wilkins Busy Being Born
TITLE: Perkins Opinion on Johnson Removal & Protest Petition Return CLICKHERE


Erik Huey at Greensboro Metro
TITLE: Protest Petition Back.......Fully CLICKHERE


Ed Cone at Ed Cone
TITLE: Protest Petitions for Greensboro CLICKHERE


Joe Guarino at Guarino
TITLE: The Mitchell Johnson Firing, the Sanders Trial and Protest Petitions: All of a Sudden, We're Winning CLICKHERE

Mark Binker Capital Beat and Greensboro News and Record
TITLE: Protest Petition Passes quietly CLICKHERE

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST is

FEC at Vie de Malchance
TITLE: Binker Ignores Brown CLICKHERE

Thanks to everyone in the blogging community it was a long year and hopefully this will give people the understanding that blogs can and do make a difference in this area.

Greensboro Politics has a ? That State Senator Don Vaughan Answered

Ryan Shell at Greensboro Politics CLICKHERE or click on title above asked a question to State Senator Don Vaughan about Protest Petition's for Greensboro and how the City of Greensboro handled the whole situation. To hear State Senator Don Vaughan's was very clear and made a great point, go check it out at www.greensboropolitics.com

EGBAR + Jim Melvin = Please Give Pins To TREBIC

Jim Schlosser writes in today's Greensboro News and Record CLICKHERE about how Sidney Stern back in the 80's had a lapel pin that he gave out that said EGBAR which stands for "everything's gonna be all right".

Now Jim Melvin the $267,337 a year president of the Bryan Foundation has brought this back up and has started to give these pins out to people around Greensboro. It might be a good idea to take a stroll down to 115 South Westgate Drive and let Marlene Sanford from the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition other wise known as the TREBIC CARTEL have plenty of these EGBAR pins because a bill has been filed and the citizens of Greensboro are going to have Protest Petitions back in the zoning process 5% and all.

If TREBIC wants to still look silly let's see what they have to say to the Greensboro City Council on tuesday because the compromise broke down for plenty of reasons on being what part of STATE LAW do you and the council not understand. You can also add that a bill has been filed and the citizens of Greensboro will be under the same rights as every other citizen in this state who lives in a city. It will be fun to see what TREBIC has to say on tuesday but don't think about trying to blame the other side on this compromise because the compromise should have never been on the table to begin with .

Giving this right back to the citizens of Greensboro should have been a no brainer but as you can see the special interest group wanted to fight this and now how do you look as an organization. Pretty darn silly.

You can also read another local blogger who has plenty to say about TREBIC , CLICKHERE .

EGBAR TREBIC EGBAR TREBIC EGBAR TREBIC EGBAR TREBIC

NC Bills Would Restore Greensboro Protest Petition

The Greensboro Telegram has a new article online with the title "NC Bills Would Restore Greensboro Protest Petition", click on the title above or CLICKHERE

Here is a paragraph from the article.

"New bills have been introduced in both the NC House and Senate to restore the right for adjacent landowners to use protest petitions in zoning cases in the City of Greensboro. The bills appear to fully restore those rights, as opposed to compromise efforts mentioned earlier that some feared would water down the petition's effectiveness.

In the North Carolina House, bill #H64 was filed on February 4th by Representatives Pricey Harrison (D), Maggie Jeffus (D), Alma Adams (D), and Laura Wiley (R). The bill was also co-sponsored by John Blust (R)."

This bill is now in the hands of our State Legislators we hope that it will make it's way through the process smoothly. We will see and if you want to see it's progression there is a section in the top left corner of blog that will take you to the state web site on bills. All you need to do is click on the School House Rock Bill and if you want to see this great video CLICKHERE to see the School House Rock Bill

Blogging History of Protest Petitions For Greensboro Thanks To Ed Cone 1 Year Anniversary 2-2-2008

The history of how a lot of this started can be chronicled at edcone's blog CLICKHERE or click on the title above.In a section on right hand side of blog is the categories section where Protest Petitions is there.

Back on February 2, 2008 a lively discussion got the blogosphere on board as to why and how Greensboro was exempted from Protest Petitions.Then Ed Cone suggested you need to get a blog, sure why not.

It is coming up to close to a year since the blog has been in existence and with over 88 post since last year it is amazing how far it has come.

This blog is dedicated to all the people of Greensboro who for over 37 years have not been getting a fair shake in the zoning process with this exemption of Greensboro from Protest Petitions.

This blog will not let up until we get confirmation from our State Legislators that a bill has been signed and Greensboro abides by Protest Petitions in the zoning process.

It is hard to thank everyone personally as to their commitment on restoring Protest Petitions to Greensboro. Please note that it was a joint effort by a lot of people who made this happen.

The next step in this process is to let your state legislators know how important this is to bring this back to Greensboro.

Have a great day and thanks to the blogosphere who has been there since day 1.

Greensboro Zoning Petition Group To Seek NC Help from The Greensboro Telegram

This is a new online news organization called The Greensboro Telegram CLICKHERE . Randall Gregg interviewed Keith Brown for a article called

"Greensboro Zoning Petition Group To Seek NC Help",

here is a few paragraphs from the article and if you want to see the whole article CLICKHERE or click on the title above.

"The protest petition is designed to allow neighborhoods and neighboring landowners to have more input in development, said Brown.

As an example, Brown said that in High Point -- where the protest petition is still in use -- a recent rezoning for a development that included an apartment complex and restaurants near the Wendover Avenue and Highway 68 intersection was opposed by neighbors. They signed the protest petition and the developer's proposal was defeated at the High Point City Council level, as it did not get the "supermajority" needed.

According to Brown, the developer came back and worked with neighboring residents to address some of the issues they were concerned about, such as increased setbacks from neighboring properties, eliminating drive-throughs in the proposed restaurants, and reducing the ability of apartment dwellers to peer into neighbors' back yards."We hashed out a lot of problems," said Brown.

After the conditional requirements were agreed upon and placed on the development, the neighbors withdrew their protest petition and the rezoning was approved, said Brown."

As you can see from the above in the article our neighborhood in High Point called Sutton Place had a rezoning case where we had the right to use the Protest Petitions. It was a very long process but after it was said and done the developer got their apartment complex and our neighborhood got our conditions put on the property. It was a win win scenario. If this would have been in Greensboro with no rights to use Protest Petition then you would have seen a different outcome and the neighborhoods going to the table with one hand tied behind their back this being no right to use the Protest Petition.

It is not fair to the citizens of Greensboro that they don't have the right to use Protest Petition and I urge everyone to talk to your Greensboro City Council members and let them know you want the same rights as every other citizen who lives in a city has.

"Lawmakers May Say Yes Even If Council Says No" Post from Allen Johnson at Greensboro News and Record

Greensboro News and Record Editorial Page Editor Allen Johnson has a new post titled

"Lawmakers May Say Yes Even If Council Says No"

on his blog called "Thinking Out Loud" CLICKHERE , or click on the title above

as stated before in a post yesterday North Carolina State Representative Maggie Jeffus was in attendence at the luncheon with the professor from UNC School of Government David Owens speaking about Protest Petitions in the State of North Carolina.

Allen Johnson writes this in his post
"When asked if the county legislative delegation would move forward with a bill to re-establish the right to use protest petitions to Greensboro -- even if the council opposed it -- Jeffus said: "I think probably we will. I'm almost certain a bill will be filed."
Jeffus added: "You pick your battles and I think this is something people want."

This is great to hear from our State Representative Maggis Jeffus. You can also add State Rep. Pricey Harrison who said she will introduce a bill with or without the support of the Greensboro City Council.

Let's see where the Greensboro City Council stands on this issue are they going to be for the citizens to get this restored or are they going to be for the special interest group called TREBIC. Take your pick but as we heard yesterday Mayor Yvonne Johnson is again running for mayor of Greensboro and today Amanda Lahmert stated that Zack Matheny is also going to run again. It will be a interesting night to say the least.

The reinstatement of Protest Petitions has to come from the state delegation and if you as citizens of Greensboro want this right restored to you it is beneficial that you e-mail your state representatives which are located on the left hand side of blog.

A Little Urbanity: Still More About Protest Petitions Thanks Again David Wharton Part Deux

A Little Urbanity: Still More About Protest Petitions

David Wharton has a new article over at his blog called A Little Urbanity CLICKHERE in regards to bringing back Protest Petitions to Greensboro.

On January 13, 2009 the League of Women Voters of the Triad held a luncheon with the speaker being David Owens from the UNC School of Government his picture is above from the luncheon.

David Owens spoke for about an hour on the subject of Protest Petitions in North Carolina. Thanks to David Wharton on his blog because there are scanned documents that are a must read on Protest Petitions provided by David Owens.

It was great to see Greensboro City Council member Goldie Wells in attendence at the luncheon. But an invitation was given to all the Greensboro City Council members to listen to an expert in the field on zoning laws in North Carolina especially in regards to Protest Petition .Since the whole Greensboro City Council members didn't show up for the luncheon except for Goldie Wells it is in their best interest to read the documents over at A Little Urbanity click on the title above.

It is great to get more post on this issue and to see what David Wharton has to say is correct.

There was one person in attendence who I had the opportunity to talk to after the meeting and it happen to be former Greensboro Mayor Carolyn Allen , here his her bio "Mayor Allen, whose public service extends back over more than 30 years, will mark 10 years of service on the Greensboro City Council in December of 1999 having first been elected as an at-large member and Mayor Pro Tem in 1989 and again in 1991. In 1993, she was elected Mayor of Greensboro, the first woman to hold this office. She was subsequently re-elected twice (in 1995 and 1997)." (source Greensboro press release from 1999). While talking with Carolyn Allen after the luncheon the question was asked are you for bringing back Protest Petitions to the citizens of Greensboro. The ex mayor said YES and I said can I quote you on that and she said YES. It is great to hear a ex city council member and ex mayor come out in support of Protest Petitions for the citizens of Greensboro let's see on Janiary 21, 2009 where the current members stand.

The time is now to let your Greensboro City Council Members know how you feel

about bringing back Protest Petitions to Greensboro. All you need to say is

BRING BACK PROTEST PETITIONS TO GREENSBORO

Here are some ways to get in touch with Greensboro City Council members

1. A presonal visit (this is perhaps the most effective way)

2. E-mail the Greensboro City Council members ( to the left hand side of blog is a link to do just that or below is their e-mail)

3. Call them using phone numbers provided(taken from city web page)

4. Write them at: p.o. box 3136, Greensboro N.C. 27402-3136

5. send fax (fax numbers were taken from city web page)

Council Members

YVONNE J. JOHNSON (Mayor)
P.O. Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 274023136.............................373-2396
(home) 375-5173
(City business) 253-7012
FAX...................................574-4003

EMAIL: yvonne.johnson@greensboro-nc.gov

SANDRA ANDERSON GROAT (Mayor Pro Tem) (At Large)
412 Arlington Street, Greensboro, NC 27406 (business).......................................................... 273-9066
(home)........................................................................... 282-9047
FAX...................................273-5451

EMAIL: sandra.anderson@greensboro-nc.gov

ROBBIE PERKINS (At Large)
1612 St. Andrews Rd., Greensboro, NC 27408
1001 W. Friendly Ave., Suite 601, Greensboro, NC 27401 (business)..................................... 358-3219
FAX...................................373-0260

EMAIL: robbie.perkins@greensboro-nc.gov

Mary C. RAKESTRAW (At Large)
P.O. Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 27402-3136
101 East Avondale Drive, Greensboro, NC 27403
(home).....................................852-8639
(voice mail)............................373-2987
FAX...................................574-4003

EMAIL: mary.rakestraw@greensboro-nc.gov

T. DIANNE BELLAMY-SMALL (District 1)
P.O. Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 27402-3136
3211 Delmonte Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
(voice mail)................................ 373-2286
FAX...................................574-4003

EMAIL: bellamy.small@greensboro-nc.gov

GOLDIE WELLS (District 2)
4203 Belfield Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405-6309 (home)....................................................... 621-0634
Voice Mailbox................................................. 373-2391
FAX...................................375-1675

EMAIL: goldie.wells@greensboro-nc.gov

ZACK MATHENY (District 3)
P.O. Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 27402-3136
300 N. Greene Street, Suite 1000, Greensboro, NC 27401 (business).....................................232-1900
(voice mail).......................................

373-4638
FAX...................................574-4003

EMAIL: zack.matheny@greensboro-nc.gov

MIKE BARBER (District 4)
807 Greenwood Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 (home)............................................................ 852-0195
1101 W. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27403 (business)....................................................... 273-4884
FAX....................................273-4874

EMAIL: mike.barber@greensboro-nc.gov

TRUDY WADE(District 5)
P.O. Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 27402-3136
1 Creswell Court, Greensboro, NC 27407 (home).................................................................... 323-6480
703 W. Main St., Jamestown, NC (business)............................................................................. 454-3171
(voice mail)........................................................................ 373-3688
FAX....................................454-2865

EMAIL: trudy.wade@greensboro-nc.gov

A Little Urbanity: More on Protest Petitions, Reversal of Fortune Thanks David Wharton

A Little Urbanity: More on Protest Petitions


David Wharton who runs a blog called A Little Urbanity CLICKHERE , has a great post on restoring Protest Petitions to the citizens of Greensboro.You can click on the title above to go to his site.


Here is a quote from David Wharton"Over the past year I've changed my mind on this issue. I used to think -- as the real estate industry does -- that the petition puts too much power in the hands of too few people."Then he talks about how fair it isn't and gives some great examples to ponder about a special interest group called TREBIC. It is great to hear David Wharton change his mind on the issue to bring back Protest Petitions to Greensboro.

Over a edcone's site CLICKHERE here is what ed had to say about David Wharton and his post.

"Whether you agree with him or not on this issue (I do), Wharton's opinion is one to take seriously, and I hope the media and the City Council will give his words due consideration."

With the help of the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress,League of Women Voters of the Triad, Coalition of Concerned Citizens of the Triad, residents from all over the Triad including High Point and support from those in the blogosphere who got this ball rolling on this issue close to over a year ago. It is time to speak up and be heard. January 21, 2009 is the start of this process but everyone needs to remember that this is a State of North Carolina issue and need to let your state representatives know how you feel that this isn't fair to the citizens of Greensboro that they don't have the right to a Protest Petition in the zoning process to have against unwanted development in established neighborhoods.

Greensboro News and Record 10 Questions Article on Protest Petition for Greensboro and Keith Brown

In today's local section of the Greensboro News and Record Sunday December 28, 2008 they have a segment called "10 Questions" CLICKHERE where they interview local citizens and ask them questions.

I was asked to come in for an interview to talk about the issues and how I got started on my local blogs . It is with great thanks that I want everyone who has helped me along the way on these 2 blogs Triadwatch and Protest Petitions for Greensboro .

Below is the whole article for all to see.

10 PLUS QUESTIONS FOR KEITH BROWN

If you are thinking about running for office in Guilford County, you might want to start reading Keith Brown's blogs. That's because the Greensboro native and current High Point resident has made it his business to investigate area power brokers.In his blog Triad Watch, he has taken on developers and uncovered incomplete campaign finance reports from local pols. His other blog, Protest Petition for Greensboro, advocates for a statute that requires a super majority to approve zoning cases when abutters don't approve.Brown sat down with reporter Amanda Lehmert to talk about his work as a watchdog.

Q. Why did you start blogging?

A. There was a rezoning case off Friendly Avenue. It was such a controversial case, I think it barely passed City Council, and Robbie Perkins was the deciding vote on that case. I said, "Listen, this is unfair to the citizens of Greensboro. They need to have the right to have a protest petition like everyone else." A lot of the bloggers started to get into it. That was the next avenue. You need to get a blog.

Q. When did you start protestpetitiongreensboro.blogspot.com?

A. I started the protest petition blog back in February 2008.

Q. What about your other blog, triadwatch.blogspot.com?

A. Triad Watch came about because I pigeonholed myself into the protest petition blog. So if I ever wanted to write about any other avenue - for example transparency in government, Heart of the Triad, rezoning cases - I couldn't write about it on a protest petition blog.

Q. What makes blogging a good format for you?

A. I think there are a lot of issues out there that places like the Greensboro News & Record won't write about. For example, the campaign contributions is the big thing I am into. I look at the lax reporting of a lot of people from Guilford County on their campaign contributions.

Q. How do you research campaign contributions?

A. You can go on the Guilford County Board of Elections Web site and actually see who is giving campaign contributions. You can really see who are the movers and the shakers in town and who is giving money to who. That's what I really want to report about.

Q. Right now you have a letter out to the state Board of Elections questioning a local campaign finance report. How did that come about? What were you looking for and what did you find?

A. I was just looking at the Simkins PAC (political action committee). ... One of the things I noticed was there was a $5,000 contribution from Action Greensboro, and that was reported under individual contributions in the Sim kins PAC.You have to wonder, why do they give a $5,000 contribution to the Sim kins PAC? It was because they wanted all those (Greensboro 2008) bonds to pass, I'm sure. That was one of those things that I thought, this isn't right because it was under individual contributions. I am trying to figure out , can Action Greensboro, as a nonprofit, give money to a political action committee? Second of all, I would like to know, why was that labeled under individual contributions?

Q. What other kinds of issues have you uncovered in the campaign finance reports?

A. (County Commissioner Skip Alston's second quarter report) had nine contributions and they had nothing underneath for job profession or where they worked. Some didn't even have an address under there. The North Carolina general statute states that you have to have name, address and who their employer is. It's called transparency in government. We have to know who these people are and who they are giving to. Do they have a zoning case in front of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners? It's not just Skip Alston . Larry Proctor (who ran for at-large commissioner) is another. (County Commissioner) Paul Gibson was another one.

Q. Who has done a good job filling out their paperwork?

A. Kirk Perkins was a gold star Guilford County commissioner. He had everything. There was not one thing wrong with his campaign contributions. I don't see why they can't do the same thing Kirk Perkins did. He's his own campaign treasurer. So if anyone wants to learn, learn from him.

Q. How did you become interested in doing this kind of investigative work?

A. There was that (Society of Professional Journalists) Citizen Journalism Academy. I did go to that. One of the main things I got out of it was (learning about) the Freedom of Information Act.

Q. As a High Point resident, why are you so interested in things that happen in Greensboro?

A. I have lived here my whole life. I grew up here. There are things I want to do in High Point, too. I want to see a city like High Point, which is in the top 10 in the state, actually come into the year 2009 and start videotaping their City Council meetings.High Point needs that because nobody goes to the meetings.

GREENSBORO CITIZENS Mark Your Calender for January 21, 2009 PROTEST PETITIONS is on the Agenda

Mayor Yvonne Johnson made a motion even before the agenda started to delay talk on bringing back PROTEST PETITIONS to Greensboro till the January 21, 2009 Greensboro City Council Meeting. If you want to see what the Mayor had to say CLICKHERE then proceed to December 2, 2008 at the 13:45 minute mark on video. Then at 2 hours and 25 minute mark they passed a motion to continue Protest Petitions to January 21, 2009 with a 9-0 vote for item #25.

Here is what Mayor Johnson had to say,"There has been several calls about Protest Petition and a lot of people thought it would be on in January and I would like to know if you had a problem having it on the agenda for January 21, 2009.Is that all right that we do that a number of people had called and I got the message that many of them thought that it would be on in January and I think we need the time to really get a good history of how this started, what's different,what we are doing is it marketability different etc. etc.. All in favor say I and nobody was opposed."

If you as citizens of Greensboro don't think you need Protest Petitions , all you need to do is know that the special interest group Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition are fighting this issue tooth and nail on bringing back Protest Petitions to the zoning process and deny you as a citizen the right to a Protest Petition in the zoning process.

As a Triad resident it is amazing to know that there is a North Carolina General Statute 160a-385 and 386 where every city in the state of North Carolina abides by this city general statute except Greensboro . This means that if you want to fight a zoning case and are none too happy with the case brought before the city council that every other city can bring to the council a valid Protest Petition from High Point to Summerfield to Jamestown to Pleasant Garden to Kernersville to Raleigh to Charlotte and let's add Murphy to Manteo but not Greensboro.

You might not think or know much about Protest Petitions or how they effect me in the zoning process until it happens to your neighborhood. There has been plenty of rezoning cases just in the past year and the past month and even next month where it seems like neighbors in Grensboro and Greensboro only where having a Protest Petition would have been warranted and used for numerous reasons.

For example it looks like neighbors off of cornwallis and elm streets are none too happy with this rezoning case coming in front of the zoning commission CLICKHERE , and a local blogger by the name of David Wharton had this to say at Ed Cone's blog, "And yes, Keith, I do support the protest petition, and think it would be very useful in this situation!"Thanks Mr. Wharton for the endorsement of bringing back Protest Petitions to Greensboro.

This blog cannot stress enough how important it is to show up in force at the Greensboro City Council meeting on January 21, 2009 to show support and speak to the council how you feel.

But if you can't show up please either e-mail the Greensboro City Council CLICKHERE , or call Mayor Yvonne Johnson at 336-373-2396 or CLICKHERE for the Mayor's information.

BRING BACK PROTEST PETITIONS TO GREENSBORO

Greensboro City Council Has Protest Petition on Legislative Agenda for 2009 but Coalition wants a Delay

The Greensboro City Council has put Protest Petitions for Greensboro under city requested local legislation, under agenda item for resolution approving 2009 Legislative Program and requesting support thereof by the Guilford County delegation to the General Assembly. If you want to see the agenda please click on the title above and proceed to page 243 of 248 or CLICKHERE then proceed to current agenda with attachments.

This is great news and not so great news because our coalition is wanting to postpone this item till January 20, 2009 so that we can speak to the Greensboro City Council members about how important this is to the citizens of Greensboro. When the Greensboro City Council had a briefing on November 11, 2008 one of the items was the legislative agenda for 2009. In that briefing there was not a mention of bringing back Protest Petitions to Greensboro. Let's proceed to Monday November 24, 2008 late in day we get word that Protest Petitions is on the agenda for the next Greensboro City Council meeting.

As we can see this news came right before the thanksgiving holidays with no time to prepare our case to the Greensboro City Council members. So we are wanting to delay this item till January 20, 2009. Our coalition has been in contact with a host of people on this issue and would like to present our case with full support of many people in Greensboro and it would not happen if we have to do this next Tuesday.

It is time for the people of Greensboro to make a statement to the Greensboro City Council members that you want Protest Petitions back in the zoning process, 37 years is long enough. Please contact your Greensboro City Council members which can be done by clicking on the item to the left hand side of this blog.

It would be beneficial to also e-mail, call or write you state representatives on this issue. You can reach the whole Guilford County delegation by going to the left hand side of this blog and click on each representative to let them know this.

"BRING BACK PROTEST PETITIONS TO GREENSBORO"

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING