N&R editorializes on Greensboro Coliseum director Matt Brown’s raise:
And what does Brown’s raise say about our community? Is the coliseum director more critical to the local economy than, say, the superintendent of schools (who makes $250,000 a year and has repeatedly turned down raises)?
This is not to disparage Brown. Based on what the market pays for someone like him, an objective study suggested he was due a raise. He does what is expected of him and often more.
But this isn’t a job performance issue. It begs a far bigger question about what matters most to us. Is it OK with Greensboro citizens that, among all city officials, we’ve designated as the most valuable player the one in charge of a sports and entertainment complex?
If the answer is yes, then fine, full speed ahead. But it’s worth an honest discussion.
Interesting that the N&R frames Brown’s raise not as a ‘performance issue’ but a ‘community’ issue when the community was not consulted. Based on the reaction I’ve seen, if you asked the average citizen whether or not Brown deserved a raise, the majority would say no. As for the ‘honest discussion’ the N&R says we should be having, the only people who can start it and actually do something about it would be the City Council. And which members would that be?
