It goes without saying that Greensboro City Manager Mitchell Johnson has (justifiably) taken quite a lot of heat lately over problems within the Greensboro Police Department. Now he’s taking heat for letting the N.C. Marathon trot down Interstate 85 to High Point.
While race organizers were negotiating GPD’s $65,000 fee to provide security, High Point stepped in and offered to provide security free. Hard to beat that price.
City Council member Mike Barber, one of Greensboro’s biggest boosters, isn’t happy:”Greensboro is a city of runners,” he said. “There’s no reason — except, of course, poor city management, that this should have happened.”
Barber blamed city manager Mitchell Johnson for not taking the initiative to help keep the race in Greensboro. Barber said the city should have helped provide security for the race the way it does for N.C. A&T’s homecoming or the Wyndham Championship golf tournament.
Johnson could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
“It’s just another reason why we need new management in this city,” Barber said. “I could give you 12 examples of Mr. Johnson bumbling things. This was just December’s.”
By the same token, High Point — desperate for something —–anything —- let’s not forget the plan to race Grand Prix cars downtown —– has a history of cutting Greensboro off at the knees.
