Gosh, golly gee, I really, really hate to keep piling on, so I’ll just tactfully say I continue to be amazed at the local paper of record’s lack of coverage on the City of Greensboro’s proposed $205 million bond package that would go on the November ballot.
Fortunately, the Rhino’s John Hammer takes up the slack. Hammer sees last Tuesday’s City Council discussion of the bond package as further evidence of the disintegration of a once-proud government:
I have watched several City Council bond referendums be prepared and they have always been well thought out, considered, discussed and well organized. Once the discussion on the War Memorial Auditorium bond was finished, the presentation for the November bond package of up to $205 million completely fell apart.
Hammer notes the biggest surprise at the briefing was what wasn’t on the bond:
One of the most shocking revelations made was by acting Greensboro Department of Transportation Director Adam Fischer when he told Matheny that Horse Pen Creek Road was not on the short list for the $134 million transportation bond because the department didn’t think it could get the project finished in the next five to seven years. Matheny was stunned and said, “You mean it’s going to take 10 years before that road can be widened?” The answer was maybe more.
The transportation bond isn’t just about transportation. For example, there are millions of dollars worth of streetscape projects. Many of these streetscape projects are just like putting makeup on a pig. These are areas where the asphalt, at unbelievable expense, is painted to look like brick, actually looks like brick for a while, then the paint starts wearing off and it looks like asphalt painted to look like brick.
But Fischer, who is usually well prepared for the City Council’s questions, seemed to think that the council was going to put up to $134 million in transportation bonds on the ballot in November without questioning anything the staff suggested.
Hammer also notes that other members of the city’s staff, namely Parks and Rec director Bonnie Kuester and HCD director Andy Scott seemed to be operating under the same assumption regarding their proposed bonds. Fortunately, council members did ask some pressing questions in the less than two hours of discussion.
I realize I spend quite a bit of time defending the United States against people who I personally believe hate our country, then I turn around and constantly harp on the problems within a very nice, very livable city. But the actions of our city government, combined with the mainstream media’s idea of crucial issues, make me wonder about the future of this fair city.
