N&R editorial page editor Allen Johnson disses the aquatic center that’s part of the recently-passed $20 million parks bond, buying into the Yes! Weekly theory that voters were somehow swindled.

I agree that City Council member Mike Barber tacked the swim center onto a hastily put together bond package. But if memory serves me right, Barber’s advocacy for the swim center was well-publicized both in the N&R and on local blogs.

Besides, I’d ask how just how much voters know about projects on other bonds which the N&R endorsed. Ask an ordinary Greensboro resident about his favorite project on the $134 million transportation bond or the $412 million school bond, both of which passed in spite of local governments’ cluelessness about the bond market

Johnson also says the site for the swim center “absolutely, positively should not use is the Canada Dry land near the coliseum,” because the “city plans to purchase that site and eventually resell it to a private developer.”

I’ve paid pretty close attention to this issue, and I don’t recall (correct me if I’m wrong) plans for the city to resell the property to a private developer. There doesn’t seem to be a plan, period, considering the city’s evidently not sure how to pay for it. Besides, if the private sector couldn’t make the site work — and it tried —- why is the city’s involvement suddenly going to make it work?

Hey, I think voters get swindled on bonds, period. But I’m wondering why Johnson’s taking on this battle when right above his column the lead editorial is basically an advertisement for economic incentives, singing the praises of TransTech Pharma, Honda Jet and FedEx Ground, all of which have accepted government handouts.

The N&R would probably argue that economic incentives brings jobs, while a swim center is just an amenity. It all comes from the same place, the only difference being voters don’t have a say in economic incentives.