I'm puzzling over why certain bloggers have singled me out for vitriolic attacks concerning the David Wray/GPD issues when EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of the city council has been -- and still is -- in solid support of the city administration's actions to identify the problems and address them. While there has certainly been disagreement among us councilmembers on the timing and quantity of release of information and explanations, a recent "gut check" confirmed unity --not a single one of us has any criticism of the manager's actions in handling the process!
The only answer I have been able to come up with is because I blogged about it, trying to give the public a clearer understanding of what was going on. I went back into the archives of this blog and re-examined every post I have written pertaining to the subject to see if I had attacked David Wray, labeled him 'racist' or 'criminal' or demeaned him in any way. I couldn't find anything except direct reporting or summarizing of information that was available at the time, explanations of 'why we did what we did' for certain actions, and expressions of sadness and disappointment.
Following are links to everything I've posted on this topic. Please reread and refresh your memory on the information and opinions, then explain to me what I have said that is any different from what my colleagues have.
January 9, 2006 -- reluctant concurrence with Wray's resignation
January 11, 2006 -- summary lifted straight from the city manager's written explanation
January 15, 2006 -- explanation and opinion. For those who have pointed out that the SBI did not seek criminal indictments against Mr. Wray, please check out this tidbit from this one-and-a-half year old post: "...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."
January 25, 2006 -- word-for-word posting of unanimously adopted city council statement
April 26, 2006 -- report on the 'secret tapes' of certain citizens
November 1, 2006 --word-for-word posting of the city manager's explanation to city employees
February 27, 2007 -- explanation of the release of the 'Brady tape'
That's it, folks! The only difference I can identify between my actions and those of fellow councilmembers is that I have publicly shared my thoughts and feelings in writing on this blog.
I've certainly received my fair share of praise for daring to take on blogging and make myself vulnerable in the first place, but hurtful attacks like these recent ones provide a powerful incentive to play it safe and exit the blogging world. Is it really worth it?
[Note: I have corrected the dates on the links above -- had originally posted them as '2005' -- guess it seems like this issue has been raging much longer than it actually has!]
Saturday, September 22, 2007
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12 comments:
I'm not voting for any current council members. Every person that can possibly be replaced ought to be.
Don't care about regional delegates to this and that....
It's time to change the whole crew. Nobody's in charge......Well, come election day somebody will be in charge....the voters.
Sandy, it's puzzling to me, too, that because you're open (that is, blogging) and others are not, that you're being singled out by a small group of bloggers as if you had done something wrong. Unfortunately, many politicians might consider this good reason NOT to blog and that's very sad - and bad for both transparency and government, which of course, is bad for we the people.
Whether or not we agree, I appreciate your being courageous enough to take on this fray.
Had a recent conversation with a friend who is pretty savvy and a businesswoman in GSO and she had NO idea there was an issue with the police or the City Manager, and certainly did NOT know who the "bloggers" were. I think if we're online, sometimes we think it's the only world. It's not, I've come to learn.
It may be easier to be one of those who doesn't value his or her constituents enough to share information but I'm glad you're not one of those.
Sandy
We moved here Jan 2006 and to be honest I have NO idea why folks are still obsessed the departure of Wray. LIG (LET IT GO). Does GSO really think they are the only town where something like this has happened? Other towns move on- why can't we? I think there are lot more pressing problems here in GSO-GANGS, maintaining quality of life (Haw State Park controversy) why are we not focusing on that?
I appreciate your blog and hope you continue with your posts. It is how I keep up with what the council is doing and why. I appreciate your honesty, your reasoning and your respect for the process
Thanks for the work you do.
Have you been mislead..time will tell.
I think you do a great job serving the public.
me
Post #3 anon:
I do not say this lightly but you are an idiot.
A man's career has been unjustly ruined and you care nothing about why?
You would have a different attitude if it happened to you.
Go back to wherever you came from if you do not care about this community any more than your post shows.
Hi Sandy,
Again, you are on the right side. I am looking forward to more disclosure and then closure to this topic.
I have read the Jones letter and am interested as to why this was not shared with all council members? It was written by a local attorney which carries some measure of importance.
Please take the time to read the letter, research the realities and let me know why you were kept uninformed.
David Wray certainly has a sterling resume.
thanks,
me
heh.... Funny what "gso resident" wrote. From my perspective, you're still my woman on the Council. You represent D5 the best, have always... and am one of the few that is as transparent as any person could be in your situation.
I know that myself and other D5 residents feel the same and the polls show it to be true.
meblogin,
I don't know what Mr. Jones did not send it directly to us councilmembers -- still have not received it.
Sandy,
I can certainly understand your reasons for possibly wanting to leave the blog world but
"Illegitimi Non Carborundum." I absolutely agree with what Sue stated above. People are so busy with the day to day issues in life that most dont have a clue about this and that controversy and the latest Wray conspiracy theory. The ones that i talk to that ARE aware of it, are just flat worn out and tired of the whole mess and want to move on. It seems the blog folks think they have a huge influence on things. This is only true if you let them. Remember just a short time ago the blogging world was all a gaga about the movie, Snakes on a Plane. Because of the intense blog and internet campaign, the experts were poised for the movie to be a huge success at the box office. The movie tanked and was out of the top 10 in just a few short weeks. The perceived and inflated blogging influence was a bust and could not be translated into paying customers. (So much for the mighty power of bloggers.)
This will also prove to be true for voters. You have been a steady and effective leader on the Council. An onslaught of attacks by the local bloggers does just the opposite for me and my circle of friends who are real and actual people that go to the polls to vote. It makes me more apt to vote for you and as many at large incumbents as I can just to prove a point. Dont get me wrong blogging has its place...but it goes with other things in life that should be done in moderation.
Anonymous,
Thanks for your very wise counsel that helps put things into better perspective. Thanks for your vote of confidence (and hopefully your vote at the polls)!
The bottom line is this - The allegations were serious and many against Officer Hinson:
Stealing from the taxpayers of this city by allegedly working private security jobs while simultaneously on the clock of the GPD
Transporting known prostitutes in his patrol car against department policy
Attempting to cover-up accidents involving a patrol car owned by the City of Greensboro
Consorting with known criminals and prostitutes
Using his influence to inappropriately insist that a female associate of his be allowed acceptance into a city sponsored program for which the women was not qualified
(Allegedly) illegally contracting the GPD with the Grandover Golf Resort to obtain reduced green fees in order to raise money for a charity never legally established. Attendees were under the impression the event was sanctioned by the GPD. This alone should be enough to justify further investigation
His personal cell phone number was found in the possession of not one, but two major drug dealers under Federal investigation
Too many white liberals, in an attempt to alleviate their "white guilt" will sit by and do or say absolutely nothing negative or derogatory about anything having to do with the hot political potato surrounding anything race related. They sit idly by and allow borderline ethical behaviors and allegations go uninvestigated for fear of being labeled a racist. Should the tables be turned, white officers under the same scrutiny would have been exposed for their actions and made examples of. This game of cat and mouse orchestrated by local government officials and the powerful black bully pulpit needs to be exposed for what it really is - extortion, plain and simple. A cover-up in exchange for your reputation. Everyone knows that if you cross a racial line and call out a black official for inappropriate behavior that you will inevitably be labeled a racist, your reputation besmirched and your political career ruined. Am I the only one that actually sees what's going on? It's time to take a stand against corruption - regardless of skin color. It's high time we stopped giving a pass to anyone based solely on their skin color...
Furthermore, please explain or elaborate on the following comments taken from your blog: Explanation of the Wray issue
* 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.
If the former City Manager and the then Deputy City Manager were satisfied with Wray's explanations as indicated above, why then did everything change only after Hinson played the race card through his exploitation and involvement of the politically powerful Simkins PAC, the Black Officers Association, etc...? Please don't refer to the same old song and dance that Hinson had already been cleared of these allegations because in reality they were not properly investigated and were not related to the more recent allegations levied against him. You would have to be a fool not to detect a pattern here.
I suppose it's only coincidence that Wray suddenly became the scapegoat when allegations of racism were claimed by Hinson. When did political correctness begin to trump truth and justice?
I'm sick and tired of the weak and ineffective leadership that has slowly permeated our government. You all should be ashamed and embarrassed. It's time this story went national...
Anonymous,
I do not have any new information about the long list of allegations against Lt. Hinson so all I can do at this point is repeat previous observations.
All the problems/questions you cite were known and investigated twice during the Wray administration, some alleged incidents having occurred almost 10 years ago. I have not seen the actual reports of those investigations, but it is my understanding that there was insufficient evidence to prove anything and no charges were filed. If there was sufficient, reliable evidence and/or testimony, I would have expected Chief Wray to have taken the appropriate action at that time.So I am left puzzling, "Why didn't he?" To my knowledge, no new evidence has surfaced on these old allegations to that would justify investigating them a third time.
Regarding the NEW concerns and allegations that have since arisen, it is my understanding that they are currently under active investigation.
You asked for further clarification about my blog statement: "...He (Mitchell Johnson) 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. If the former City Manager and the then Deputy City Manager were satisfied with Wray's explanations as indicated above, why then did everything change..."
My response: After the city manager made his public statement of support the GPD's actions re the tracking device, etc.(including informing us councilmembers and the NAACP that things had been handled correctly and there was no cause for concern, numerous current officers of varying ranks (whites, blacks, males, females), a retired officer, and a SBI agent contacted the city manager and said "You are wrong -- there are indeed problems" and reported specific examples of what they considered to be the use of authority and procedures. It was at this point that the decision was made to investigate further, based on reports from these seemingly credible sources.
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