Since Sen. Trudy Wade is not talking, the N&R ponders reasons why Wade would enterlegislation shrinking Greensboro City Council from nine to seven members when the legislature convenes come mid-January:
What prompted this switch? Who was behind the idea?
In the absence of a detailed explanation from Wade, folks have come up with their own theories: Political payback. Revenge from business leaders done wrong by council members.
A simpler idea seems more likely: Those in charge will use their power to keep themselves — and their friends — in power.
What did the council do to tick off business people?
Well, Councilwoman Sharon Hightower pointed out that the council has rejected bidders for lucrative contracts in the last year because they didn’t have enough participation from minority- and women-owned subcontractors.
Hey-I can understand business people wanting to get rid of Hightower, who holds up practically every contract over MWBE issues when many of the contracts are highly specialized businesses –like installing furnaces in the water treatment plant —where finding contractors period —much less MWBE contractors –can be difficult.
Still you have to wonder exactly what a conservative, business-friendly Greensboro City Council would look like. Would such a council crackdown on incentives, breaking the current council’s pattern of handing out money to pretty much anybody who asks? Would it snub fed programs like the SC2 Challenge (which –as John Hammer points out —is all about the money but not so much the implementation)? Would they do away with the notion that federal money is free money? Would it tell the civil right museum to sink or swim? Would they truly be more business friendly to entrepreneurs by streamlining city regulations?
I remember how it went for Bill Knight after he was elected mayor in 2009 with hopes that he would reign things in a bit. It didn’t go well —he lost his reelection bid to the rino Robbie Perkins and in 2013 was defeated in 2013 by liberal Nancy Hoffmann in the District 4 race. So I’ll believe a “conservative, business friendly” City Council when I see it.
