Today's county police force editorial

The editorial in today's News & Record urging the merger of the Greensboro Police Department and the Guilford County sheriff's department left most of us city council members scratching our heads in amusement. Out of the myriad of items we discussed during our two-day retreat, why was this one topic that received just a "nod in passing" when the mayor was asked to cite a specific example of potential governmental efficiencies, singled out for prominent editorial discussion? The mayor joked "see the trouble you cause when you ask me a question and I answer it!"

Lest citizens get the wrong impression, let me assure you that this merger idea is NOT on the city council's current "to-do" list, despite the recent controversy within the GPD. Council members noted the editorial at this morning's briefing and made it clear we don't intend to head in that direction any time soon.

IF and when we do seriously explore that option, the vision is that such a merger would likely be patterned after what was done in Charlotte/Mecklenburg and most other localities where such mergers have taken place -- the sheriff's department handles court, jail and bailiff duties while the CITY police department provides the metro policing services of patrolling, traffic enforcement, crime control, etc. I believe that's the only scenario our city council would be willing to pursue.

Greensboro and Guilford County already cooperate in a number of joint efforts in order to provide better, more efficient service, the merger of our Guilford Metro 911 call center being the latest example. While we will continue to look for other ways in which to work together (and include High Point as well), don't expect any full merger anytime soon.

City Connections

This week's edition of City Connections contains a brief summary of our city council retreat and an explanation of the newest city department.

Weekly schedule

After last week's schedule that spilled over into the weekend with the city council retreat, this week looks like an easy one for me.

{Note: I'm waiting until I receive the summary notes from the facilitator of the retreat before I attempt to report on it. I was so engaged in our discussions that I took very few notes. On the other hand, the walls were covered in chart paper full of our ideas and key points. For now, I'll just say that the retreat was a positive and revealing experience that was well worth the time spent there.}

The regular monthly city council briefing session begins at 8:30AM (our new earlier starting time) on Tuesday, January 31. The agenda includes a presentation by the Greensboro ABC Board, discussion of the Urban Development Investment Guidelines, and a presentation on the Heart of the Triad.

Several councilmembers will be attending the Housing Summit immediately after the briefing, but I have another commitment and will unfortunately have to miss that excellent conference this time.

I'll be attending a luncheon sponsored by TREBIC (Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition) at noon on Wednesday, February 1 followed by a dental appointment later that afternoon. What a combination!

The War Memorial Commission (coliseum advisory group) meets at 12:30PM on Thursday, February 2. As liaison to that body, I hope to return to Greensboro from a 9:00AM appointment in Chapel Hill in time to get to this coliseum meeting. I expect there will be discussion about designating the coliseum as smokefree, a proposal that the commission supports and actually instigated.

I'm sure plenty of other things will pop up during the week, but that's it for the moment. MAYBE I'll have time to deal with those pesky IRS 1040 forms and get our income taxes filed.

Retreat moves the city council forward

I'm too tired to write much our experiences in this first day of the city council retreat except to say that I think it has gone extremely well. We have had a lot of great, frank discussion and identified 13-14 key elements of our vision for Greensboro. For me, the day went quickly and I feel like it was productive. I'm actually looking forward to returning tomorrow.

Another morsel of information

With Acting Police Chief Tim Bellamy's latest revelation from the follow-up investigation of the RMA findings into the Greensboro Police Department allegations, the public has another "piece of the iceberg" (i.e., information) on which the city manager and the city council have been basing our statements. I first learned on Monday afternoon that no case file has been found so far that documents the charge of a black officer groping a female suspect. The search for that file and/or case number included an examination of all cases that involved arrests of a female by any Greensboro police officer in a hotel room as described in the purported incident.

Standard operating procedure calls for a report to be filed when such a complaint involving sexual charges against an officer is lodged because of the potential for violations of criminal statutes in addition to departmental regulations.

City Council Statement

STATEMENT BY CITY COUNCIL REGARDING CURRENT ISSUES IN POLICE DEPARTMENT

GREENSBORO, NC (January 25, 2006) - After conferring with all members of City Council, Mayor Keith Holliday issued the following joint statement on Council’s behalf regarding current high profile issues in the Police Department.

First, we wish to assure the public that City Manager Mitchell Johnson has kept this Council fully and promptly informed of all actions and issues regarding the Police Department. As your elected representatives, we commit to closely observing the issues and are working with the Manager and staff to maintain or rebuild any damaged community trust.

Second, we believe strongly that all municipal employees are accountable to the residents of this community, and we expect leaders of City departments to be fully truthful and forthcoming in all of their responsibilities.

Third, we believe that established policies and procedures must be followed, or the reason why they are not followed must be explained.

The decision of the Manager to review concerns raised by credible inside and outside individuals, and to take action based on those reviews, is consistent with our mandate that all City employees and all residents be treated with dignity and respect without regard to race, gender, or personal relationships.

It is now clear that Chief Wray chose to withhold critical information from his superiors and City Council. For this reason alone, we believe the Manager’s actions are fully justified. It appears there are other problems, as well. Interim Chief Bellamy has now confirmed that there is a basis for allegations of a) bias in personnel actions, b) violation of policies and procedures, and c) a climate of intimidation. He has begun a formal investigation to determine whether additional personnel or other administrative actions are warranted. This may take upwards of two months to complete.

We are confident that the men and women of the Police Department will cooperate with this investigation. We ask the media and the residents of Greensboro to allow Chief Bellamy and his staff to complete their work before making further judgments or assumptions.

Our officers policed themselves and identified these problems. We responded quickly and as transparently as possible given our laws. Whatever problems we eventually uncover, whether racial or managerial or both, will be dealt with honestly and decisively.

TV again!

Scott Hunter of Fox8 just left my home after interviewing me about my proposal to declare the Greensboro Coliseum smokefree (will air on the 6 0'clock news tonight). My husband asked me if we need to construct a sound studio inside our home, given all my media appearances lately. {smile}

Investigations explanation

Here is the explanation of the various investigations that looked/are looking at the Greensboro Police Department. This document was attached to Mitchell Johnson's statement as background clarification.

Explanation of Investigations, In Order of Completion
(for background clarification only)

First Investigation (RMA): Conducted by outside law enforcement consultants (RMA of Raleigh), which addressed the issue of the Chief’s forthrightness in keeping management informed of the full truth concerning Lt. James Hinson’s suspension and the existence of a rumored “black book.” Completed.

Second Investigation (RMA/City): Conducted and written by RMA and City staff external to the Police Department, which addressed the concerns raised by Police employees and outside law enforcement agencies concerning alleged improprieties in the administration of the department. Completed.

Third Investigation (GPD): Currently being conducted by Interim Chief Bellamy and his staff, based on the findings of the second investigation, to determine what disciplinary or administrative actions need to be taken or corrected to remedy problems found. In process.

Fourth Investigation (FBI): Announced by the FBI’s Charlotte office and described as a narrowly focused “look-see” to determine whether the civil rights of any officers were violated in conjunction with the improper actions found in the second investigation. Not yet begun.

City manager's statement

The following statement was released by City Manager Mitchell Johnson following tonight's closed session at the end of our city council meeting. It certainly will not answer all your questions, but it will shed additional light upon this complex issue.

STATEMENT BY CITY MANAGER MITCHELL JOHNSON FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC: CONCERNING STATUS OF SECOND, INTERNAL POLICE INVESTIGATION
GREENSBORO, NC (January 24, 2006)

Interim Chief Tim Bellamy issued a press release Monday, January 23, on the current status of reviews in the Police Department. Council has now approved the release of the following information about Chief Bellamy’s current review.

To recap briefly: In late summer, Police personnel—patrol officers through senior commanders, African-American and white, male and female—raised concerns to me about possible improper activities in the Greensboro Police Department. Simultaneously, I received visits from credible and respected members of outside law enforcement agencies with similar concerns. I formed a team of people outside the Police Department, including an independent consulting firm specializing in police management, to review those concerns. The first report addressed a narrow question raised early in the review—whether the City Manager’s office was given full and accurate information concerning the suspension and investigation of Lt. James Hinson and the existence of a book of photos (referred to generally as the black book). The issuance of this report, which suggested that the Chief had not been forthcoming with information on these subjects, was followed by Chief David Wray’s resignation from the force.

The report, which Chief Bellamy referred to in his press release yesterday, was the report on the concerns that originally prompted the investigation. These concerns, brought to us at some personal risk by people of credibility and courage, fell into the following general categories:

* That documents were altered by top management to support their desired outcomes (sometimes also involving the forging of officers’ names);

* That improper pressure and intimidation were brought to bear on officers—both minority and non-minority, men and women—who expressed disagreement with the views of upper management;

* That minority officers were subject to more intense scrutiny of their actions and missteps than were non-minorities and that the authority of minority officers was undermined; and

* That Internal Affairs and Special Intelligence failed to follow long-standing procedures of reporting, investigative boundaries, and documentation.

I know the public has many questions and even this additional information fails to answer them all. I also know that it is frustrating to the public to receive information on such a vital issue in bits and pieces. However, we need to observe complex and sometimes overlapping laws concerning personnel privacy and various agencies’ investigations. This demands that every statement be drafted with care and accuracy. I hope you will bear with us until we are in a position to share more fully our findings in this matter.

Throughout this process, I have kept City Council fully informed of the issues and concerns involved, and your elected representatives, diverse in every sense, have reviewed and supported my actions to date.

I want to reiterate that this issue is not only about race. And it is certainly not about rotating shifts or political ties. The primary issue here is one of integrity. The management and residents of this community need to know that all employees, including me, are accountable to the citizens and to City Council. Failure to keep management fully informed or to respect the dignity and rights of all of our employees and citizens, regardless of race or gender, cannot be tolerated.

A media day

I'm sure my neighbors are wondering what on earth is going on at my house today. I agreed to interviews with Fox8 and WXII12 this afternoon on the continuing story of the investigation into the Greensboro Police Department and whether the city council will be authorizing the release of additional information. Those brightly colored vans sure drew a lot of interest from children and their moms walking home from school. Those interviews should air at 5PM, 6PM and 11PM!

In addition, I had a lengthy phone conversation this morning with Tracey Fellers who is on the editorial staff of the News & Record about the recently unveiled strategic plan for the Greensboro Partnership.

It has been a busy media day in the Carmany household.

Another opinion on the gasoline tax

Here's another good article in the Raleigh News & Observer on North Carolina's recent gasoline tax rate increase shared with me by NCGo!

Heart of the Triad public meeting

I just received the following media release concerning the Heart of the Triad. Please take advantage of this opportunity to give your input on this important issue.

HOT TEAM SCHEDULES COMMUNITY MEETING TO GAIN INPUT FROM TRIAD RESIDENTS ON AREA’S FUTURE GROWTH

Kernersville, NC – Triad residents are urged to attend a community meeting to discuss the Heart of the Triad project. Meeting attendees will learn more about the Heart Of the Triad project, including the planning team; the project program and goals; and what HOT could mean for the Triad. The meeting also will give community members a chance to provide their ideas on how the project and growth in the Triad should develop. Attendees also will learn about other opportunities to participate.

For more information about HOT and the community meeting, contact the PART office at 336-662-0002 or visit www.partnc.org.


WHO: Heart of the Triad (HOT) members, which include PART, the local chambers, local planners and other city and county representatives, invite the public to participate in the community meeting


WHAT: Community Meeting to discuss the Heart of the Triad project, learn about the program’s goals and how local residents can participate in developing the future of the Triad.

WHEN: Thursday, February 2, 2006 from 6 pm to 8 pm

WHERE: Woodland Hall in the Triad Park at 9652 East Mountain Street,
Kernersville, NC

WHY: Residents should attend to learn more about what’s happening in their neighborhoods, how growth in the Triad may impact them and how they can participate in forming the future of the Triad.

Affirming support for the city manager

I have received and carefully read both the RMA report into the investigation of the Greensboro Police Department and former police chief David Wray's detailed response to the findings released by City Manager Mitchell Johnson. After close review and study of both documents, I affirm my solid support for the actions taken by Mitch in response to the findings of that investigation.

More citizens may eventually agree with this conclusion if and when more facts of this case become publicly available. Our current situation reminds me of that old parable we read in elementary school about the blind men and the elephant. Each touched a different part of the animal and each reached widely differing conclusions on what it must look like. All were partly correct, partly wrong. Those who have been exposed to more parts of the "elephant" are more likely to have a clearer concept of the whole thing than those who have had limited opportunities to "see" it. I'm hoping more opportunities for learning and understanding will be available in the future.

Back to work

I apologize for my longer than planned absence from blogging. My son's three-day child custody trial was far more emotionally draining than we ever imagined it could be, and I needed time to recoup before jumping into things again. (No ruling in that case yet.) Now it's back to a more normal routine with a fairly busy week ahead.

I'll be attending an early morning briefing on the newly created strategic plan for the Greensboro Partnership at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce on Monday, January 23 before the report is publicly released. I served on the committee that researched the issues and formulated the recommendations contained in it; you will find a few of my "touches" in suggestions regarding air quality, regional cooperation, and mass transit.

Later that afternoon, I will be meeting individually with City Manager Mitchell Johnson for our one-on-one monthly meeting. Mitch is making a real effort to stay tuned in to each councilmember's concerns and ideas through these regular chats.

Our regular city council meeting will be held at 5:30PM on Tuesday, January 24. The agenda isn't too lengthy, particularly since there have been citizen requests to delay several of the rezoning hearings.

The Transportation Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 25. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will have enough members present in order to hold the meeting. Both the city council and county commissioners have an empty seat to fill on this committee, and all the remaining members must be present if we are to have a legal quorum. The agenda is fairly light but does contain a couple of key items. Adoption of the conformity report (deals with air quality findings) is especially important.

I'll be traveling to Raleigh for the Charter Schools Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday, January 26. Several of our long-term members have rotated off this committee and the State Board of Education appointed new people to fill their positions, including Alan Hawkes of Greensboro.

The city council's planning retreat will be held on Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 at the Center for Creative Leadership. I have great hopes for that two-day session and am looking forward to identifying key issues and strategic directions for the city.

It's going to be a busy week with the potential to accomplish a lot of good things.

Observations on the Wray issue

Opinions and rumors are widespread about the recent investigation into the Greensboro Police Department and the resignation of Police Chief David Wray. Those range from praise and support from community members such as Congressman Howard Coble and Albert Som-Pimpong who love and respect the good David Wray they know, from newspaper editors like Allen Johnson who are totally puzzled by his apparent actions, and from other members in our community who are leveling strong charges of systemic racism. Some say the city waited too long to act on officers' complaints; some say the city wasted its time and resources by pursuing this effort, and others charge that the investigation was a politically and/or racially motivated witch hunt. Whether these conclusions and observations are accurate or not, one thing is clear -- Greensboro is deeply divided on yet another issue that is showing us in a harsh light.

While there will probably never be 100% agreement even if all the facts become publicly known, I see many good people reaching erroneous conclusions based on the limited information they do have. That's truly unfortunate, but under the current legal restrictions, that's all that is available at this time. With that in mind, I'll share whatever information I legally can gathered from the city manager's written and oral briefings, newspaper articles, and some personal interpretations in an attempt to clarify some of the key questions and issues.

Why was Chief Wray investigated in the first place? Was it politically motivated?
The investigation focused on allegations of unfair treatment and targeting of black officers within the Greensboro Police Department. Lorraine Ahearn's article in Sunday's News & Record provides a good accounting of the sequence of events that led city officials to take a closer look at those concerns. The initial examination was conducted by the city attorney's office, but once evidence of problems was uncovered, an independent firm from Raleigh headed by a highly-respected retired SBI agent was hired to avoid any conflicts of interest or appearances of bias or favoritism. Those investigators examined the actions of various divisions and officers within the department who were potentially involved in the alleged misdeeds, not just "the man in charge." Chief Wray's misleading statements and questionable actions attracted attention that led to deeper probes, resulting in the eventual report findings.

I strongly disagree with those who are saying this investigation was politically motivated. As I stated above, the investigation originally focused on the DEPARTMENT, not an individual. The city administration (both former city manager Ed Kitchen and new city manager Mitchell Johnson) strongly supported David Wray during his tenure as chief and lost confidence in him only AFTER substantial evidence was presented that implicated him. Councilmembers thought highly of him, and I had heard no criticism of him from my colleagues until this summer after the Hinson tracking incident and the allegations that followed it .

As I stated in a previous post, I know and respect David Wray. As a friend and a member of Greensboro's "police family," I believed that there just had to be a reasonable explanation of the GPD's activities and his actions. Sadly, it appears I was wrong. Believe me, that is an extremely difficult admission for the wife of a retired officer and mother of a current one to make.

What problems are associated with the Special Intelligence Division?
The Special Intelligence Division is responsible for a number of necessary, legitimate functions, including monitoring of gangs and hate groups and providing security for the city council and other dignitaries as needed. Its duties have evolved over the years, and according to Sunday's newspaper article, it was moved under Deputy Chief Brady's direct control in 2004 and began doing corruption investigations of GPD officers, one of the Internal Affairs division's normal duties. The unit was dubbed "the secret police" and black officers have complained they were unfairly targeted by this unit.

Findings in the investigation note that SID was operating outside the normal chain of command and failed to follow established departmental rules and procedures. Credible representatives of outside law enforcement agencies had expressed concerns to Chief Wray, but he neither acted on them nor informed the city manager of those concerns.

Acting Chief Tim Bellamy has reassigned SID to the Criminal Intelligence Division and restructured its duties in order to restore the needed system of "checks and balances" to this process.

How reliable is testimony given against Chief Wray, considering that many of the rank and file officers were unhappy with rotating shifts and may have been "out to get him?"
While I have no doubt there was a wide variety of motives involved, most of the persons who were interviewed are sworn law enforcement officers. Call me naive if you like, but I do rely on their truthfulness and code of ethics to rise above any personal considerations.

Evidence and testimony came from a variety of people (black, white, male, female, various levels of rank) in addition to those who filed the complaints or "had an axe to grind," including:

* officers who were not members of the Greensboro Police Association,
* officers who were not on the rotating schedule because of their rank or work assignment,
* officers who were not involved in any of the incidents or personally affected by them,
* former officers,
* agents of state and federal law enforcement agencies,
* and civilians.

Few, if any, had anything to gain by "taking the chief down" and some likely put their careers on the line by daring to step forward and speak up.

What is the "black book" and how was it used?
The ORIGINAL use of this photo array of 19 black police officers was routine and legitimate -- a tool to assist a female in identifying her alleged assailant after complaining of being fondled and inappropriately touched during a search by a black officer. These photo line-ups of persons who match the general description of a suspect are used frequently in police work. However, it is also standard procedure that the book be dismantled or placed into an evidence file once the victim or witness has reviewed it. If that had been done in this case, there should not have been any problem whatsoever.

However, there is ample evidence that the book was used in inappropriate ways several times in efforts to implicate black officers in exchange for favorable treatment for crime suspects. Why? Is this technique used for white officers as well?

Chief Wray's caginess about the book's existence and his instructions for it to be secured and HIDDEN -- it ended up in the trunk of a Deputy Chief Brady's car -- indicates to me he knew the "black book" and its other uses were not acceptable.

Was the investigation and surveillance of Lt. James Hinson appropriate and justified?
Lt. Hinson underwent a thorough criminal investigation that included outside law enforcement agencies in 2002-03 that examined his interaction with a known drug dealer; he was totally cleared of those charges (meaning "not guilty" for those who have questioned the use of the term "cleared"). He was also cleared in a GPD-conducted administrative investigation in 2004. The Guilford County District Attorney had informed Chief Wray that it would not be involved in any prosecution of Hinson, and that he should look elsewhere (the SBI) for any further investigations of this officer. This important information was not shared with the city manager's office.

In Chief Wray's infamous "connect the dots" statement in his June press conference, he cited an ongoing investigation of Lt. Hinson by outside law enforcement agencies. That statement was false, and the city manager, city council, and the public were deliberately mislead. Why?

There is other evidence of other attempts to "get" Lt. Hinson.

Are these the only problems that were identified?
No. In RMA's second investigative report, there are other findings of significant unequal treatment. I was thoroughly sickened when I was briefed on the specifics of those findings.

Why did the city manager take the unusual steps of restricting the chief's ability to hire/fire/promote and of locking him out of his office instead of outright firing him?
The investigation was still ongoing at the time Mitchell Johnson restricted Chief Wray's authority to make personnel decisions within the GPD. Remember that Mitch had deliberately removed himself from the investigation process and did not have access to the evidence or preliminary findings in that developing document. There were officers within the department who had cooperated with the investigation and the potential existed that they could be inappropriately "punished" using personnel actions. Mitch did not have facts at that point to know if the chief was guilty of anything that would justify firing him, so he moved to protect the officers by inserting a step into the chief's personnel process (i.e., clearing any moves with the city manager first). I believe that to be a responsible move that protected the rights of both the chief and the officers serving under him.

The locking of Chief Wray's office, thus restricting access to his files and computer, was straight out of standard police procedures to protect potential evidence. (The chief still could have entered his office under appropriate supervision.) Mitch met with him on Friday afternoon, presented the report's findings to him, and gave him until Monday morning to respond to and/or dispute those findings prior to any further personnel actions being taken. It makes perfect sense to me that steps were taken to make sure the chief would not be able to remove or alter any potential evidence in his office now that he was aware of the evidence against him. In my opinion, it would not have been appropriate to take disciplinary action against the chief until he had the opportunity to respond and defend himself.

The chief made the decision to resign Monday morning rather than respond to the findings. I'm puzzled as to why he later released his statement about the "black book" to the press instead of submitting it (and other explanations) to the city manager as part of his defense.

There was never any intention to embarrass the chief by publicly announcing the locking of his office. However, someone leaked the information to the press, and it became necessary for Mitch to respond without revealing the findings of the report (which the city council had not at that time approved for public release according to restrictions in the state personnel law).

I am upset by the repeated comments I receive about PERCEPTIONS of Mitch's poor handling of this situation, him making a heavy-handed power play, inappropriately focusing on this issue in the first place, etc. It appears to me that the manager acted professionally at every step of the way, bending over backwards to be fair and protect the rights of all involved, including and especially, Chief Wray's.

Will there be criminal charges filed against Chief Wray or others?
According to the city manager, all the report's findings were administrative in nature, violations of city policies and procedures, but no criminal violations were identified. Thus, the city will not be pursuing criminal action.

However, the FBI is launching an inquiry to see if civil rights violations occurred. The city did not request their involvement; they are pursuing it on their own after federal authorities saw media reports on this matter. They have not requested copies of the city's investigative reports and would have to use a court order to obtain them. (Since the city's investigation was administrative in nature where the rules of evidence are much less restrictive than those in a criminal investigation, state law prohibits the release of administrative findings for use in criminal proceedings unless ordered by the court.) The city has no control or jurisdiction over what the FBI decides to do.

My personal observations --
The media reports have mainly focused on the activities of the Special Intelligence Division, the "black book, the repeated investigations into Lt. Hinson that led to the chief's resignation. Those issues are indeed disturbing and they must be addressed.

[I offer the following comments as a private individual, not as an elected official who has no legal jurisdiction over this personnel matter.]

Just as disappointing to me is the chief's (and others') apparent actions to mislead the manager, city council and the public about their activities and cover them up. Citizens expect our police officers to be shining examples of honesty and integrity, to live and breathe the standards they are expected to enforce on citizens. Even if reasonable explanations could be offered in defense of the offensive actions that have been documented, my trust and confidence in David Wray has been destroyed by the untruths and cover-up attempts.

Assistant City Manager Bob Morgan summed it up nicely in a conversation with me last week -- "There are plenty of city employees who have goofed up or made errors in judgment who continue to be city employees because they acknowledged those mistakes, accepted responsibility for them, and worked to correct them. "

If only....

I am just as puzzled, shocked, saddened, disappointed, frustrated, sickened (take your pick) by the allegations and findings as you are. I don't have any good responses for the comments and questions such as "How and why could this have happened?" or "There has to be a mistake, there's no way someone this caring and respected could have done these things!" What I DO know is that we cannot ignore this situation and hope it will go away -- we have to acknowledge it and find ways to work together to repair the damage.

Stressful week ahead

Except for attending the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast early tomorrow morning at the Koury Center, I have no official duties scheduled for the rest of the week. That is deliberate on my part since we will be in court helping our son in his custody battle. I only pray that justice and common sense will prevail!

Profitable night?

It will be interesting to see the Coliseum's financial "flash reports" on last night's (and probably tonight's as well) dual events of the Broadway presentation of Chicago in the auditorium and the Hot Rod Monster Jam in the arena (an interesting mix of patrons in the parking lot!). Judging from the huge traffic back-up on High Point Road despite the use of the reversible lane system (we ended up in the parking lot jointly developed with UNCG at Lee and Chapman) and the full house at the Chicago performance, I would have to guess that this will be a very profitable weekend for the Coliseum.

We thoroughly enjoyed the performance of Chicago and highly recommend it if you can still get tickets. All I can say is that I'd be out of commission for weeks if I attempted any of the dance movements performed by those skilled performers (and Gregory Harrison isn't bad either).

Explanation of the Wray issue

The city council authorized City Manager Mitchell Johnson this evening to release restricted personnel information about the recent investigation and findings into the administration of the Greensboro Police Department (GPD). Here's a short synopsis of that information lifted straight from his written remarks.

* Mitchell Johnson led the selection committee that picked David Wray as the police chief and has always supported him to this point. He supported Wray's decision to implement rotating shifts and still believes in that concept, perhaps with some adjustments that will have less negative impact on officers.

* Mitch (in his role as Deputy City Manager at the time) met with Chief Wray before and after the chief's June 17, 2005 news conference following the discovery of the tracking device in Lt. James Hinson's patrol car. He was satisfied with the information he received at that time that the GPD had taken appropriate actions and reported such to then-City Manager Ed Kitchen, the city council, and to members of the community.

* In the following weeks, additional members of GPD - of various rank, gender, and race - shared concerns about certain questionable practices. Mitch also received credible information from outside law enforcement agencies about these same concerns. That is when he decided to conduct a full review using the City Attorney's office and outside experts. Knowing that he would be the ultimate decision maker, Mitch made a conscious effort to stay out of the review process.

* Individuals in the GPD who had been interviewed during the investigation expressed grave concerns that Chief Wray might take inappropriate personnel actions. That is why Mitch issued the order that the Chief clear any personnel actions through the manager's office first.

* Mitch received the final report on December 21 and studied it over the Christmas holidays. Upon his return to the office on January 3, he met with the creators of the report for most of the day to make sure he was not drawing inaccurate conclusions. He also read the transcripts of the Chief's interviews and those of other critical individuals.

* Mitch met with the Chief on Friday afternoon, January 6 to review and discuss the key findings of the report (the first time the Chief was made aware of those findings). He presented the information, gave him a chance to respond, and outlined the next steps: 1) He would meet with him again on Monday morning to place him on administrative leave unless he could refute the findings, 2) He would immediately secure the Chief's office and computer in accordance with standard police procedures, to make sure no information related to the report which may have existed would be disturbed, 3) During the administrative leave period, Mitch would personally interview key people (including Deputy Chief Brady and Captain Lojko) to make sure the report's conclusions were accurate, and take final action based on the outcome of those interviews.

* Mitch never intended to make those actions public at that time, but someone leaked the securing of the office to the press (as I had earlier reported) and he was forced to confirm it. He chose to stick with his original commitment to give Chief Wray until Monday morning to respond.

* Chief Wray's attorney attempted to negotiate a resignation/retirement deal on Saturday, but no agreement was reached. The attorney delivered a package on Monday morning that contained Wray's resignation notice and a copy of the press release.

Key findings of the investigative report include the following:

* Chief Wray failed to properly inform the city manager, city council and others within the city administration with a need to know that Lt. James Hinson had been CLEARED IN EACH AND EVERY INVESTIGATION of him by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. He misled his superiors about a purported ongoing investigation and clearance to act on information from that investigation at the June 17 press conference - there was no such ongoing investigation. The Guilford County District Attorney had requested that any future investigation of Lt. Hinson be referred to the SBI - this information was not shared with the city manager.

* When confronted about the possible existence of a "Black Book" containing photos of 19 black police officers purportedly used as an investigative tool, Chief Wray stated he was unaware of the actual document. However, he later instructed a subordinate to hide and secure that book.

* The Special Intelligence Section (which has legitimate duties to monitor groups such as gangs, the KKK, etc. as well as provide security for dignitaries and officials) was not operating within the normal chain of command and failed to follow established departmental rules and regulations. Credible representatives from outside law enforcement agencies expressed concerns about their activities to the Chief, but he did not inform the city manager of those concerns nor take corrective action. This Section's pursuit of unproven, previously investigated and unsubstantiated charges against certain black officers created at atmosphere of fear, suspicion and distrust that undermined the GPD's morale and efficiency.

* There is evidence that Chief Wray disclosed information contrary to the Personnel Privacy Act and may have inappropriately negotiated with the Greensboro Police Officers' Association.

Acting Chief Tim Bellamy has acted quickly to correct some of the identified organizational problems and has reorganized the reporting structure of the Special Intelligence Division and barred them from conducting criminal investigations. All administrative investigations will be conducted by the Internal Affairs Division, and criminal investigations of GPD personnel will be handled by the Criminal Investigation Division. He will be working diligently to restore officers' and citizens' trust in the GPD.

Effective January 11, 2006 Lt. James Hinson will return to duty and his record will be cleared. Mitch expressed regret on behalf of the city about the way his case was handled and wished him success in his continued career with the Greensboro Police Department.

Mitch also noted that the investigation is not complete, but is the beginning of a process to ensure fair and equal treatment to all our officers and citizens. He stressed that while this process has been difficult and painful, his faith and trust in the vast majority of these officers and the civilians that work with them in the GPD has been restored and renewed. It was the courage of some of those persons in stepping forward and speaking up that brought the problems to light and to begin the process of making needed corrections to restore the integrity of the organization.

A sad day

The unfolding developments in the investigation of (now former) Police Chief David Wray have been emotionally draining for me personally as well as professionally in my role as a city council member. My husband retired from the Greensboro Police Department six years ago, serving at the same time as David for many years, so I felt I knew him well as part of the "police family." We also grew up in the same "neck of the woods" - southern Guilford County - and still know a lot of the same people there. When the questions and allegations about his administration began to surface, I expected that there were reasonable explanations for his actions and was not overly concerned, attributing complaints to "sour grapes" and the normal disgruntlement and second-guessing of whomever is in charge at the moment.

However, as the investigation proceeded and more and more evidence came to light from numerous sources, it became increasingly clear that there were indeed things wrong within the administration of the police department that just could not be ignored. While it may be difficult to conclusively prove "who knew what and when" or whether actions were deliberate or oversights, the ultimate responsibility has to be placed on the man in charge, David Wray. While I believe him to be a good person at heart, being "a good person" does not guarantee that one will always use good judgment and make the best choices.

Because of the information revealed to me, I must share my conclusion - with a very heavy heart- that Chief David Wray's resignation today was in the best interests of Greensboro, its citizens, and the morale of our hard-working police officers.

I offer my full support and sincere wishes for success to Interim Chief Tim Bellamy in hopes that he can initiate the healing process within the department and the community-at-large to make sure that we are delivering the best police services possible to all our citizens.

It's time to move forward!

Weekly schedule

This week's schedule contains several key meetings as well as some breathing room.

On Monday, January 9 I will attend the luncheon meeting of the Piedmont Triad Partnership Foundation board on which I serve. Then it's off to an afternoon of Charity League bridge.

The city council will hold its first business meeting of 2006 at 5:30PM on Tuesday, January 10. The agenda lists several rezoning cases -

* one just off New Garden Road that has a thorny street connectivity issue,

* one off Freeman Mill Road that involves an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan (The Glenwood neighborhood's attorney - former councilmember Don Vaughan - has requested a continuance.),

* two potential annexations and original zonings on Pleasant Ridge Road and Long Valley Road,

* and a Comprehensive Plan amendment, annexation and original zoning for property at Knox Road-I-40/85-Urban Loop interchange.

Other items include awarding the contract for a sewer transfer station, approving housing vouchers for Gulf Coast evacuees, and extending the lease agreement for Bryan Park golf operations.

The PART Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday, January 11. The first item on the agenda is the swearing in of Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines as our newest member and recognizing retiring member former Winston-Salem Alderman Fred Terry. We will consider establishing a health benefits plan for PART employees, entering into a contract with Rockingham County to build a park-and-ride lot there, and amending our contract with American Charters for our Chapel Hill/Duke Medical Facilities route. The 2006 work plan will be discussed, and the performance evaluation of Executive Director Brent McKinney will be conducted. Finally, PART's officers for 2006 will be elected.

The Piedmont Triad Partnership is holding a luncheon and regional economic briefing that same day at the airport Marriott featuring Jim Clinton, Executive Director of the Southern Growth Policies Board, and Dr. Donald Jud of the Bryan School of Business at UNCG.

My husband and I will finish up the week by attending Chicago at the Coliseum's War Memorial Auditorium on Friday evening.

Not a bad week at all!

Media frenzy

Yesterday's actions by City Manager Mitchell Johnson to lock Police Chief David Wray's office and the spin-off rumors generated by that move sent the press into a virtual feeding frenzy. I received six calls from five reporters (newspaper and TV) within a two-hour time span Friday evening seeking information and comment, and I'm sure my fellow council members were subjected to that same barrage.

That turned out to be a lot of wasted time and energy for those reporters. Personnel issues such as this are solely the responsibility of the city manager, and city council members are barred from involvement. While our manager and city attorney have kept us council members informed on the progress and findings of the ongoing investigation, we cannot legally share anything with the public. State personnel law severely limits what we (the manager and council members) can publicly reveal lest we incur a lawsuit against the city that could be very costly to taxpayers.

So, through my muzzled mouth, I will say only that I have the utmost confidence in Mitchell Johnson to conduct this investigation in a professional manner that respects and protects the rights of all involved, and that he will make the decision that is in the best interest of Greensboro, its police officers, and its citizens. I wish him wisdom, fairness, and fortitude as he struggles with that tough decision.

Soliciting input

I sent the following email out to my neighborhood contacts in District 5 asking for their input. I'm offering you the same opportunity to share your thoughts to help me prepare for the city council retreat.

Happy New Year to all -- I hope 2006 will be a great year for you and yours!

There are District 5 vacancies on the following city boards and commissions. If you or someone in your neighborhood would be interested in serving, please let me know.

Minimum Housing Standards Board -- hears appeals from property owners who have been cited for substandard buildings and housing

Greensboro Transit Authority -- sets and oversees policy, fares, routes, etc. for Greensboro's public bus system. I need someone with a business background or someone who supports public transit.

Commission on the Status of Women -- deals with women's equality issues

Second, I need your input and advice. The City Council is holding a planning retreat on January 27-28 to identify priorities and long-range goals on which to base our budget preparation process. Each district council member has been asked to identify specific issues or needs within their council district and educate the other council members on those items.

If you have specific suggestions on services that

* the city should be providing but is not currently doing,
* services that need to be improved,
* services that could be eliminated or reduced,
* a specific problem in District 5 you would like to have addressed, or
* any other suggestion you may have,

please tell me about them within the next 10 days - two weeks.

I've already noted the need to improve the whole High Point Road corridor before it deteriorates any further, the need to improve access and stops to GTA buses throughout the district, the need to increase neighborhood police presence, and the need to address traffic congestion in specific areas such as I-40 and Wendover. I'm sure there are plenty of other things you can bring to my attention to share with fellow council members.

Thanks for your input and guidance!

It runs in the family

Check out my cute "celebrity" grand-niece Sage who lives in Boone. My sister sent me the story with the note "Check out the covergirl!! She made the front page.....is she following in great-aunt Sandy's footsteps???? "

The Revolution is coming!

At today's press conference at the Coliseum, it was officially announced that the "Greensboro Revolution" will be Greensboro's indoor football team playing in the National Indoor Football Leage (NIFL) beginning on March 25. The team's name recognizes the city's historical connection to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. I really like the logo which is an American eagle carrying the US flag in it's beak. Ticket prices will range from $5-35 including an on-field standing area to be known as the "Battlefield."

The team owner is Tony Pewonski who owns and operates several NIFL teams; he expressed a willingness for local investment participation as well. Mr. Pewonski stated that he normally develops a team and then sells it, but he intends to keep the Greensboro Revolution and will be moving to Greensboro shortly from Lakeland, Florida. He stressed that he intends for the team to become part of the Greensboro community and to actively participate in area charities and other civic activities. It is hoped that local players will be on the team, and the head coach will be announced next week.

NIFL president Carolyn Shiver (yes, a female!) spoke about the league's expansion efforts and how they schedule teams in the same geographic area to compete with each other, hoping to create rivalries and make it easy for fans to travel to away games. She described the similarities and differences between indoor football and arena football, noting that NIFL has a faster pace. She announced that all balls that go into the seats will be "keepers" - the fan who snags it gets to keep the football - and that this is a regular occurence, averaging 40-50 footballs per game. Ms. Shiver repeatedly referred to the effective business model the NIFL uses and why that would help this team be successful in Greensboro.

This announcement is great news for Greensboro, not just because of a new sports offering for fans, but also for the positive impact on the Coliseum's operating budget. Since potential revenue from this team was not included in the 2005-06 budget, the revenues generated at the seven home games should give a unanticipated boost to the facility's income. Plus, with the expected additional concession sales, the Coliseum may reach the revenue point where we will qualify for a higher percentage commission in our contract with Centerplate, generating even more revenue for the bottom line. Matt Brown noted that numerous businesses and individuals have already expressed interest in sponsorships and other ways to support Greensboro's newest team.

So, welcome to the Revolution! (And let's keep our fingers crossed for a similar announcement for hockey before the end of the month.)

Retreat planning

I found today's city council retreat planning session to be quite useful in preparing for our upcoming retreat on January 27 (9AM to 9PM) and January 28 (9AM to 4PM). Mayor Holliday noted that the recently-completed city manager search was the impetus for the city council to hold a retreat when we were exposed to ideas from some of the manager candidates we interviewed and how they approached goal-setting in their cities.

The meeting was full of frank, healthy discussion, and I think City Manager Mitch Johnson and our facilitator (Peg Carlson from the Center for Creative Leadership) have a clearer picture of the council's desires and expectations. The most frequent responses to "What would you like to accomplish in the City Council retreat?" were to "identify strategic direction/long-range goals for the city" and "agree on top priorities/key initiatives so we can concentrate efforts in these areas." Ms. Carlson will develop a tentative schedule to make the best use of our limited time and make sure we cover all the topics we need to address.

Councilmembers want to be in the driver's seat and discussing issues rather than acting passive and listening to lectures by city staff on various topics. We are not requesting many city staff members to attend, with the clear understanding that if we do ask detailed questions about specific programs, we may have to wait for the answers to be provided at a later time. Mitch laughingly stated that he didn't think many staff members would be TOO upset about not being invited. He will be providing some requested written information on previous bond referendums, the current financial picture, and an overview of some city services prior to the retreat.

Each councilmember will be expected to share his/her vision for specific districts and/or the entire city and to identify specific challenges or needs we would each like to address. Preliminary topics of interest that were identified today include budget preparation (trying to avoid another tax increase), economic development efforts (looking at our funding for the Chamber of Commerce), appropriate distribution of police and other city services (do all districts need exactly the same resources?), and potential 2006 bond referendum items. Councilmember Tom Phillips noted he wants staff to tell us "how to accomplish something" versus "why we can't do it."

We also acknowledged that this retreat could well generate more work and meetings for the council in the future as we identify issues that require more detailed study and discussion. I sensed that this council is willing to commit that extra time in order to set the direction for this city to follow in the coming years.

Now let's just hope the weather cooperates on January 27-28 and we don't get snowed out!

Heart of the Triad meeting

The Heart of the Triad (HOT) steering committee meeting went well this morning with most members in attendance. New attendees included representatives of Duke Power, Time-Warner, and the airport authority. Commissioner Linda Shaw has replaced Carolyn Coleman as one of Guilford County's appointees; that is a sensible move since the Guilford County portion of the study area is in Linda's commissioner district.

The consultant from HDR reviewed the presentation aired at the State of the Triad meeting in December where the 400+ attendees indicated that development in this area should be "intentional" (90%) versus "accidental" (10%). He noted that this effort is not a new endeavor, but is a logical continuation of the regional planning and transportation efforts that have been underway in the Triad for some time. The initial branding of this project as "Heart of the Triad" and "Working Together Works" makes sense, and he does not recommend changing it.

A lot of time was spent on discussing public outreach and involvement. All information, including drafts of ideas and proposals, will be posted on PART's website, and a separate newsletter will be produced and mailed to people on numerous regional mailing lists. Jack Stanley of Time-Warner offered free public service announcements on cablevision, and the Business Journal has promised space as well. Co-chair Robbie Perkins cited the need to reach the younger generation with an Internet presence. There will be numerous opportunities where public input will be solicited, and a meeting location convenient to residents of both counties is being sought. Building community trust is vital, and there needs to be a good process to quickly deal with public relations "fires"as they develop.

Interesting points and observations that were made during this meeting include the following:

* Options for the potential management or governance structure and financial issues (who's going to pay for the improvements, governmental revenue-sharing, etc.) need to be identified early in the process if any progress is to be made. Possibilities range from the various jurisdictions agreeing to coordinate planning efforts all the way to an independent authority. Gloria Whisenhunt, chair of the Forsyth County Commissioners, stated that her board would not likely agree to forming an authority, ceding their jurisdiction over this area.

* Co-chair Arnold King stressed the need to keep the entire 12-county Triad region in mind. If HOT becomes a major employment center, residents of these other counties will likely be commuting to work there.

* The potential of having an educational focus where the colleges and universities in all our communities could collaborate on similar programs should be examined.

* Questions were raised about this area being totally within one watershed or another and what environmental implications might arise from that. It was noted that 90% of Kernersville lies within a watershed, but they continue to grow and develop successfully.

* To have a good development, one has to consider the "Three D's" - dollars, dirt, and design.

* Dates for the public meetings and charette have not yet been identified. The consultant needs to conduct that charette sometime in early March in order to meet his six-months deadline, but with March Madness (basketball) in "Tournament Town" (Greensboro) for the first three weeks, it's going to be difficult to get people to commit to a five-day planning event.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 8. Other regular meetings will be held on the fourth Wednesday of the month thereafter.

Back to work

My holiday break officially ends tomorrow when meetings start back again full force. It was a nice time to relax and catch up some long-neglected reading and filing away of accumulated papers. Now it's time to get back into the routine.

The Heart of the Triad Steering Committee meeting will be held at 8:30AM on Wednesday, January 4 at the PART office. Agenda items include discussion of issues to be addressed in the study, review of the public involvement plan, and discussion of expectations of the final plan and future committees to carry out the plan.

The City Council will meet at 3:30PM for a retreat planning session. Mayor Holliday shared a comprehensive list of potential items to be discussed at the retreat that includes about every possible city issue -- looks like we may need two WEEKS instead of two days! {smile} The facilitor from the Center for Creative Leadership phoned me this afternoon to discuss my expectations for the sessions, likes and dislikes, etc. I asked her to go easy on the "touchy, feely" types of activities and to concentrate on identifying city issues and priorities for the coming year. I also asked her to leave her chart paper and colored dots at home if at all possible as I'm sick of that particular exercise.

The monthly War Memorial Commission (coliseum) meeting begins at 12:30PM on Thursday, January 5. [Update: The commission meeting has been cancelled to allow members to attend Stanley Frank's funeral at 1:00PM this same day. Stanley was a staunch Coliseum supporter.] But I received the following invitation today that sounds like great news!

The Greensboro Coliseum cordially invites you to a Press Conference/Luncheon on Thursday, January 5th at 11:30 AM at the Carlyle Club.

Please join us as for a major announcement regarding the addition of a professional sports franchise to the Coliseum’s calendar for 2006.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 AM, with press conference to immediately follow.

I'll keep you posted!

Good timing!

I popped over to CompUSA this afternoon to grab their $2.99 (after rebate) special on a wireless card for my new notebook computer. I dreaded the excursion because I am a "non-techie" and was going to have to put myself at the mercy of a sales associate to find the right one for my particular machine.

Never fear! Just as I approached the shelf, "what to my wondering eyes should appear" but Sue coming around the corner, shopping with her sister. In less than a minute, she showed me what I needed (and tried to get me to buy the router so I could go wireless at home as well). Proof again that angels DO exist - thanks Sue!

(I've successfully installed the card so I can sit in Center City Park and blog away.)

More on the transportation funding debate

NC Go! is a nonprofit organization that educates and advocates on transportation issues on behalf of it members (individuals, transportation planners, transit operators, highway construction companies, etc.). Here are two editorials reprinted in their latest newsletter that provide additional information on North Carolina's transportation funding debate.

Painful as it is, keep N.C.’s gas tax flowing

Raleigh News & Observer, Nov. 7, 2005
Larry Goode

North Carolina is in the midst of a transportation crisis that has been years in the making. Now, some policymakers on Jones Street suggest decreases to the state’s gas tax. This may be a tempting proposal, but a closer examination reveals it to be neither a new idea nor a good one.

The gas tax is divided into two portions – a flat rate of 17.5 cents per gallon and a seven percent charge that floats based on the average wholesale price of motor fuel over the past six months. Currently, that rate is 9.6 cents per gallon, but will be reevaluated on January 1, 2006. There is little doubt that with rising fuel costs, that rate will increase.

The legislative proposal released last week supports a cap on the floating portion of the tax at the December 2004 level of 7.1 cents per gallon – a reduction of 2.5 cents per gallon. This is based on the false premise that such a reduction will be a significant benefit to the public. The truth is, any current savings would be paid back many times over in coming years.

With more than a 100 percent increase in the cost of gasoline in North Carolina over the last year, pain at the pump is a reality. Wholesale distributors have increased their profits in an effort to recoup lost revenue caused by recent disruptions and to guard against runs on fuel should any further disruptions occur. As a result, the price of oil futures has increased as well. For most, the price spike is a significant problem – but not one that a reduction of a few cents per gallon will substantially mitigate.

This much we can guarantee – the resulting loss in revenue will be felt by all North Carolinians. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has identified $30 billion in needs over the next 25 years that will not be met by current revenue sources. As the cost of energy rises, so does the cost of meeting these needs. Many mistakenly believe NCDOT is making a profit from increased gas tax revenues. Not so.

While gross revenue from the gas tax has increased slightly over the past two years, construction costs have increased at a far greater rate – around 30 percent in the last two years. This is not the time to put yet another burden on NCDOT, which is already strapped for cash.

It is also important to view the state’s gas tax in the proper context. When one considers that North Carolina’s highway system is the second most extensive in the United States, the per-mile rate of investment is actually much lower than that of other states. Some states with lower rates shift the transportation tax burden down to local governments. For example, Georgia has a relatively low state gas tax rate, but maintenance of all county roads is the responsibility of county governments – who in turn pass the cost onto taxpayers.

North Carolina’s gas tax is the primary source of funds for maintenance of our existing roads. And it is the main source of funds for public transportation. Reducing that revenue would set us back for years and result in a greater backlog of unmet needs. The longer our state’s transportation infrastructure goes neglected, the longer it will take to fix. It will also be much more expensive to accomplish.

Any honest assessment of this situation must take into account lost economic opportunities, wasted resources and loss in quality of life caused by a degrading transportation system. Consider the thousands of jobs that won’t be created as companies choose more accessible regions for new facilities. And take into account the millions of gallons of fuel and hours of productivity wasted in gridlock.

Rather than playing politics with our future, we encourage policymakers on both sides of the aisle to take a hard look at what it will take to fix North Carolina’s transportation dilemma. Similarly, the citizens of North Carolina must be prepared to spend a few cents now to save dollars later. A crucial first step – eliminating the ongoing diversions from the state’s Highway Trust Fund. This is a solution that goes overlooked yearly. Diversions have drained more than $3.7 billion over the last 17 years. Instead of trying to score quick political points by weakening existing sources of revenue at this critical juncture, it’s time for our leaders to foster a real dialogue about new revenue sources. Options such as local option financing, the establishment of a dedicated fund for public transit and toll roads should be considered.

Gov. Easley has shown foresight and leadership by resisting efforts to tamper with the gas tax. NC Go! vigorously supports this stance. We encourage him to continue to act in the best interest of North Carolinians and ask others to follow his lead. We also encourage him to push further and spearhead an effort to make a reality out of the best ideas for shoring-up North Carolina’s transportation infrastructure.

Are state lawmakers asleep at the transportation wheel?
Asheville Citizen-Times, Dec. 10, 2005
Bill Carstarphen

Your November 26 editorial, “Congressional Leadership Lacking in Addressing Our Real Transportation Needs,” makes some good points about the challenges facing our nation’s transportation system. We need not look all the way to Washington, D.C., however, for the source of many of the problems that we encounter daily. They hit much closer to home.

Unmet transportation needs aren’t going away, but some of our state’s policymakers and elected leaders seem content to close their eyes and hope that they will disappear. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) estimates that present revenue sources will fall short of needs by more than $30 billion during the course of the next 25 years. In other words, we need to raise an additional $1.2 billion a year in transportation revenue just to meet currently identified needs – to say nothing of needs that will arise due to population growth in coming decades.

As North Carolina’s only broadbased, statewide transportation coalition, NC Go! has come to understand just how intertwined transportation is with the daily lives of all North Carolinians. Jobs, education, public services and commerce are all fundamentally dependent on the ability of people and goods to get from one place to another. That ability is increasingly threatened in our state. Judging from their lack of action, policymakers seem to see nothing but a smooth ride ahead.

In some cases, the prevailing attitude among lawmakers on transportation matters goes beyond neglect. Take, for instance, their raids on the state Highway Trust Fund. For 17 years, the General Assembly has diverted more than $3.7 billion from this transportation revenue to non-transportation purposes. Once again this year, the North Carolina state budget was passed with hundreds of millions of dollars diverted from the Highway Trust Fund.

What is the real cost of failing to meet transportation needs? More time spent in traffic and more dollars of gas burned during the daily commute? Yes, but there are also consequences that are far more significant and alarming.

Dependable roads, rail and public transit don’t just get us to work, they are a primary reason that quality jobs are here in the first place. When businesses and industries consider where to locate a new facility, adequate transportation plays a key role in their decision. The location of Dell’s new manufacturing center in Winston-Salem was largely dependent on that region’s ability to provide transportation infrastructure. If transportation infrastructure continues to deteriorate, so will our access to the quality jobs of the future.

The problems don’t stop there. Tourism is big business in Western North Carolina, and that too is threatened by traffic congestion. Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 should provide convenient access to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains for tourists far and wide, but maintenance problems and the summer rush often overwhelm current road capacity. The junction of these two interstate highways is now ranked among the worst summer month bottlenecks in the country.

NC Go! continues to advocate solutions to our state’s growing transportation crisis. First and foremost, diversions from the state Highway Trust Fund must be ended immediately – or at the very least, phased out. Continued use of the Trust Fund as a piggy bank for non-transportation purposes will continue to have a direct, negative effect on transportation.

Another key point is the state gas tax. NC Go! adamantly opposes any freeze or reduction. The facts show that doing so would be reckless and fiscally unsound, as the state gas tax is the primary source of revenue for existing highway maintenance and public transportation across the state. Reducing that revenue would set us back years and result only in a greater backlog of unmet needs.

We feel other options should be considered, including: support for local option financing; investment in safety and capacity improvements for rural roads; expansion of the list of candidate toll roads to include existing roads, like Interstate 95, that need upgrades; and a continued effort to improve management and project delivery practices at NCDOT.

These are serious challenges, but there is still time to get transportation in North Carolina back on track. Some of these decisions won’t be easy, but this much is sure: failure to bite the bullet and accomplish real transportation funding reform now will result in a crisis from which North Carolina may never fully recover.