Latest on the list of Mike Easley shenanigans: The News & Observer’s Andy Curliss uncovers a plan the former governor orchestrated to expedite development permits for those who paid a premium.
Nick Garrett, who played a prominent role in the State Board of Elections hearing on Easley’s campaign finances, explained the scheme to Curliss:
Known as “express review,” the initiative has allowed builders, developers and property owners to pay to go to the head of the permit line. In well-known projects such as Cannonsgate ? where Easley got a discounted lot – and in lesser-known developments, waiting times for developers were cut to nearly nothing.
“I hand it to Mike,” Garrett said recently. “He got out there and listened to our issues.”
Easley got the state Senate to authorize the program in 2003, but the House didn’t go along.
A case can be made for fast-tracking regulatory reviews under limited circumstances. For one thing, the payments were designed to compensate the costs of additional staffing.
But the question is whether Easley campaign donors got favorable treatment not available to others. And several environmental activists hinted that the review process may have bypassed public review and comment periods.
For more on the Easley scandals, check here.
