Just got in from a little shopping — Friendly Center, site of yesterday’s Old Navy robbery that killed 25-year-old Juan Estevan Salado—- and turned on tonight’s Greensboro City Council meeting. I noticed two empty chairs — one was definitely council member Trudy Wade — but from the long distance shot I just couldn’t put my finger on who else was missing. Then it dawned on me the other empty chair was was City Manager Mitchell Johnson’s —- he must be taking an early holiday vacation, I thought to myself.
Then a council member asked the city manager for clarification on MWBE standards for Gateway Gardens and there was Johnson, seated at the staff table next to City Attorney Terry Wood. Needless to say I was surprised, but couldn’t help but think that Johnson somehow looked better seated at the table.
Inside Scoop reports Johnson “said he requested the move — something some council members have asked for in the past — after residents expressed confusion about his job. They did not to understand whether he was elected or not, he said.”
For some reason, I’m skeptical of that story.
Update: Wade is at the meeting and summons Police Chief Tim Bellamy to the podium to do some explaining. Bellamy tells her homicides and commercial robberies are down, but individual robberies are, especially in places where —- surprise — on parole and probation live.
As for the Friendly Center Brink’s shooting, Bellamy said he was third on the scene in about two minutes. Bellamy also said one witness described seeing the perpetrator Old Navy and having a “bad feeling,” but she did not call police.
Honestly, I can’t say I would either, since I’m such a ‘live and let live’ type. That’s not always a good thing.
