Congratulations to my husband!

My husband Bob begins his new career adventure this week -- he has been hired by RMI International to be in charge of security services for the new HondaJet headquarters and assembly facilities to be constructed at the airport.

He recently spent a week in California being trained and prepped for this new position and has already been busy with preliminary arrangements. Things really get down to business this week with the arrival of some of the company executives to conduct a job fair at the Coliseum on Wednesday.

At this point, Bob feels like he "has a tiger by the tail" as he tackles the myriad details of a unique start-up operation for which there are few established procedures and protocols. But with his 25+ years in law enforcement and an additional 7+ years working in security, he is fully qualified, prepared, and excited as he tackles this new challenge.

Congratulations, Honey! I'm proud of you!

Weekly schedule

I'm back from the NC PTA convention in Asheville this weekend where we successfully adopted a totally revised set of bylaws (after giving Robert's Rules a thorough workout) followed by a quick visit with my sister and her husband over in historic Dandridge, Tennessee on the beautiful French Broad River. The new Ford Focus handled the climb up the Blue Ridge Mountains without a problem, and we were pleased to average 36 miles-per-gallon in it. A nice, enjoyable weekend!

Monday, April 30 began with my participation in a morning conference call with representatives from the city's Housing and Community Development staff, TREBIC, the Neighborhood Congress and EPA staff sharing details of a grant proposal the city has submitted to EPA for some planning assistance. Luckily I was clear the rest of the day and was able to catch up on laundry, house-cleaning and an accumulation of newspapers and mail before attending a meeting between representatives of DH Griffin and residents of Chaucer Drive in the Oaks West neighborhood about a proposed rezoning DH Griffin is seeking adjacent to the neighborhood.

I'm speaking briefly at the Triad Commute Challenge kick-off at 10AM on Tuesday, May 1 at the Depot. Immediately after that I will be meeting with a distributor who is interested in locating a biodiesel production facility here in Greensboro (finally!). In the afternoon I plan to stop in at the Healthy Homes Greensboro celebration on Phil McDonald Governmental Plaza before attending our regular city council meeting that begins at 5:30PM. With a number of rezoning cases on the agenda, this could be a long one.

SHHH! Don't tell anyone, but Wednesday looks totally free and clear at this point. Weather permitting, perhaps I can get a few more plants and seeds planted.

I'll be attending the end of the year luncheon for the bridge marathon sponsored by the Charity League on Thursday, May 3. My partner and I have taken top honors for highest accumulated score for three of the last four years -- will we make it four out of five?

On Friday evening, May 4 I am standing in for the mayor by bringing the welcome greetings to the NC Association of Teacher Assistants for their evening session.

I'm looking forward to Sunday, May 6 and seeing some of my former high school friends from Southeast Guilford High School. We're beginning to plan for our 40th year reunion of the class of '67 (graduation can't possibly have been that long ago!).

One Guilford: A Leadership Symposium

I plan to attend and participate -- hope you will as well!

One Guilford: A Leadership Symposium

Hosted by High Point University
Sponsored by the News & Record

Wednesday, May 16th – 8:15 am to 12:00 noon


GREENSBORO, N.C.— What is Guilford County doing right? After landing Honda Jet, how can local leaders build on that success? How can our cities, our governing boards, our business leaders better communicate and collaborate in a competitive world? How does Guilford County build social capital and trust among different constituencies?

“One Guilford: A Leadership Symposium” – a county-wide gathering of key civic, business and political leaders – will explore those questions May 16 as part of a unique collaboration between the News & Record and High Point University. One Guilford: A Leadership Symposium” is the first of several community discussions on leadership the News & Record will sponsor in 2007. Building on the News & Record’s editorial page agenda for 2007, High Point University President, Nido Qubein, offered to host the first of these meetings.

Mr. Qubein, who led HPU to expand both its campus and student population, knows about leadership: “Leaders are willing to take intelligent risks, accepting the possibility of failure as a fair price for the opportunity to grow.”

Allen Johnson, Editorial Page Editor for the News & Record who brought these issues to the eyes of the community, adds, “Talking about leadership is the first step. Next is tangible action.”

“One Guilford: A Leadership Symposium” includes a panel discussion among Greensboro, High Point and Guilford County leaders and audience Q&A. Keynote speaker is Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest and Braniff International airlines. Putnam, who helped build Southwest’s brand around customer service and who helped rescue Braniff from bankruptcy will stimulate new ideas on leadership and share insights on taking the helm in today’s competitive environment. He will also join the Q&A portion of the panel discussion.

Panelists include: Becky Smothers, Mayor of High Point; Don Cameron, President of GTCC; Mona Edwards, Chief of Staff for the Center for Creative Leadership; Jeff Miller, CEO of High Point Regional Health System; David Noer, Holt Professor of Leadership and Business Administration at Elon University; and Al Barnett, Jr., Financial Advisor for Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. Closing remarks by John Alexander, President, Center for Creative Leadership.

“One Guilford: A Leadership symposium” is 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Hayworth Fine Arts Center at High Point University 833 Montlieu Avenue.

Mobilizing NC Conference

Last week's Mobilizing NC Conference was a great success with over 300 attendees who shared lots of good information. You can listen to the various presentations here, including my opening remarks and speeches by Rep. Pricey Harrison and Dr. Richard Leakey. Photos are here.

Enjoy!

Highland Park Community Watch

Highland Park Community Watch co-chairs Barbara Gray and Julie Schindler have found a sure-fire way to get their neighbors to attend their regular community watch programs as demonstrated by these photos from their April 16 meeting taken by W.T. (Bill) Liszka:

Helpful, informative programs presented by their GPD Community Resource Team members and Sgt. Hope Newkirk along with tips from Code Enforcement's Lori Loosemore,

plus, GOOD FOOD!

This is one of my official duties/events to which Husband Bob is always willing to accompany me.

I learned some new information -- for example, a warning from one of our Guilford Metro 911 operators who lives in the neighborhood to secure one's personal wireless computer service so crooks can't hack in and steal personal information -- plus managed not to (totally) blow my diet either (down 17 pounds now!).

An evening well spent!

City Connections

The latest edition of City Connections highlights the police department.

And speaking of the GPD, kudos for their professional handling of Saturday's anti-war and counter protest rallies downtown and ensuring they stayed peaceful! Great job!

Growing up too fast!

Kammie spent the night with me last night -- had to make an emergency run to Walgreens to pick up a pacifier that her Mom and Dad forgot to pack. She just wouldn't go to sleep without it. {sigh!}

Guess who is learning to crawl -- gets up on her hands and knees and rocks, but hasn't gotten coordinated enough to actually crawl yet. But she sure does a fast belly scoot!

She can also stand up holding onto something and walk a step or two before crashing. Won't be long now -- watch out, world!

Summer job opportunities with the city

Pasted below is a copy of a press release advertising summer job opportunities with the City of Greensboro.

CITY OF GREENSBORO SUMMER JOBS AVAILABLE
Pool managers and lifeguards needed at indoor and outdoor swimming pools

GREENSBORO, NC (April 16, 2007) – Looking for a summer job at a swimming pool? The City of Greensboro’s Parks & Recreation Department is now hiring 25 summer employees for pool manager, lifeguard, and head lifeguard positions. Staff is needed to work at Bur-Mil, Windsor, Warnersville, Peeler, and Lindley outdoor pools as well as at Smith and Grimsley High School indoor pools.

Applicants must be able to work from May 15 through September 3, and, at a minimum, have American Red Cross Lifeguard Training and First Aid, and CPR for the Professional Rescuer. Salary begins at $8.85 for new lifeguards. Day camp directors and counselors, cashiers, golf and park attendants, and clubhouse event host positions are also available for the summer.

To learn more or apply for these positions, call 373-2020 or visit:

· Descriptions for Summer Jobs at Bur-Mil Park

· Employment Application for Summer Jobs at Bur-Mil Park

· Descriptions for Summer Jobs at Other Parks and Pools (excluding Bur-Mil)

· Employment Application for Other Parks and Pools (excluding Bur-Mil)

Weekly schedule

This week is going to be a busy one, but very little of it will be in an "official capacity" role. I'll be wearing my "PTA hat" for a good part of the time.

I have my regular one-on-one meeting with the city manager on Monday afternoon, April 23.

The regular monthly briefing session that would normally have been held on Tuesday, April 24 has been postponed to May 8 because four of the nine councilmembers were going to be absent. I'll be participating in a discussion about women and leadership at Greensboro College that afternoon. That evening I will be attending the Annual Awards Banquet of the Guilford County Council of PTAs where I will present the award named in my honor to the outstanding member of the council's board of directors.

I plan to attend the monthly meeting of the Lee Street Merchants Association in the morning and the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) in the afternoon of Wednesday, April 25. The main items on the TAC agenda include approval of the Conformity Determination (air quality) and the 2007-2013 TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) - state spending on local streets and transit for the next six years.

After an early morning meeting of the Fun Fourth Advisory Committee on Thursday, April 26, my husband and I are heading to Asheville for the rest of the week to attend North Carolina PTA's annual convention at the Crowne Plaza Resort. I'll be busy helping to shepherd through the adoption of a total rewrite of the organization's bylaws while Bob gets a bit of relaxation before he begins his new job the following week. Let's hope the weather remains as sunny and beautiful as it was today!

Hockey story response

Today's edition of the News & Record contained an article in the sports section critical of Matt Brown's efforts to secure an ECHL hockey team for the 2007-08 season in the Greensboro Coliseum. Here is Matt's email response to the reporter Robert Bell clarifying inaccurate information in that article:

While I can appreciate that our lengthy and open dialogue Tuesday about the myriad of discussions that I have had over the last 2 years with purported interested parties as part of my (weekly if not daily) effort to try and bring hockey back to Greensboro may have been overwhelming for you to record accurate notes. I understand that there were a lot of details in our 30 minute conversation to sort out, but unfortunately this may have led to the inaccurate statements in your article and subsequently misled your copy editor into writing an inaccurate, misleading and sensational headline that would lead readers to presume that I fortified the fortress and shooed away perspective suitor(s).

In response to one of your questions Robert, I specifically replied to you that we do not have nor have we ever had an exclusive arrangement with Tim Kerr, nor have I ever said that to anyone.

How could you then write that “He (Brown) told them (not identified) the City was dealing exclusively with ….Kerr”. For example, as evidence that there was not an exclusive relationship with Kerr, while Kerr was actively pursuing the purchase of the Augusta team in December of 2005, I was in active negotiations with the owners and operators of the Cincinnati Team to relocate here as well as continuing dialogue with other perspective teams interested in relocating (i.e. Beaumont) and meeting with multiple perspective owners of the SPHL also wishing to bring a team here.

Your article also unfairly failed to mention that I took valuable time away from managing the 2006 ACC Men’s and NCAA Men’s First/Second Round Tournaments to invite here and meet with the very same person whom you state that I “turned away”, Mario Forgione and his GM Greg Schuh in all day meetings and tour of our facilities followed by evening dinner and a meeting the following morning trying to convince him to bring a ECHL team here for the 07/08 season. I told you that even while we were eating dinner, Forgione was actually trying to purchase the same Augusta team that Kerr was negotiating with.

How then can you characterize my efforts as “turning away suitors”?

I also told you that Forgione turned us down for the 07/08 season when he subsequently decided that Greensboro could not produce the amount of sponsorship revenues that a team would need to successfully operate here.

I also advised you that I was told by ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna (who we maintain constant communication with to evaluate each perspective ECHL interested party) in response to my notification to him that Forgione had contacted us and told us that he was going to apply to sit out a year and then wanted to relocate to Greensboro for the 08/09 season, McKenna advised me that it was highly unlikely that the ECHL Board of Governors would approve Forgione’s attempt to one, sit out a year and secondly relocate the Pensacola team to Greensboro for the 08/09 season with him continuing as the owner. I further advised you that Kerr had made an offer to purchase the Pensacola team from Forgione as early as December 2006 and Forgione subsequently tried to hold out until April 1, 2007, when the minimum ECHL fee for purchasing and relocating a team would raise to $750K, or substantially more that what Kerr and Forgione had been considering.

I then advised Forgione and his partner Freidman that we were continuing in our support of Kerr’s efforts to bring a team (other than Pensacola) to Greensboro for the 07/08 season and that that door had not yet been officially closed by the League. I also advised Freidman that we have a list of at least six other ECHL teams who all claim they would like to come to Greensboro but for 08/09 season. As proved true, we considered Forgione’s offer to move here in 08/09 as merely a re-negotiation tactic in his attempt to get a better deal in Pensacola once he was told by the ECHL that he could not sit out a year.

My purpose in writing is to correct inaccurate references in today’s article to prevent these inaccuracies from being repeated in future articles or editorials.

UPDATE: Coliseum Public Relations Manager Andrew Brown forwarded me his emailed concern to the reporter that corroborates Matt's concerns.

Hi Robert – Matt forwarded me your response below and as you are aware I was in his office during your interview on Tuesday (listening via speakerphone).

I agree with Matt’s first point in his e-mail – which, I feel you failed to directly address in your reply – which is, at no time did he state that the Coliseum (City) was “dealing exclusively” with Tim Kerr.

I realize that Matt repeated several times on Tuesday – prompted by your numerous similar questions - that he feels because of Tim’s background and qualifications that his group would be the most financially stable and give the Coliseum/City the best opportunity for long term success. But again, no statement was ever made by Matt in regards to exclusivity. Yet, you wrote “every suitor was turned away by Matt Brown….he told them the city dealing exclusively with…Tim Kerr.”

Can you tell me if you have spoken with any other potential ownership groups other than Forgione’s?

Unless all seven potential ownership groups other than Kerr (if we are agreeing that there are 8 parties interested in Greensboro for the 08-09 season) each stated this to you, how can you justify writing that every suitor was turned away by Matt because he was exclusively dealing with Tim Kerr?

I was also troubled by the headline (Hockey Suitors Turned Away By Coliseum), which I realize you did not write. Looking back at N&R articles written last year – all written by you, Robert –include….

“Two Potential Hockey Groups Surface” (1/31/06)
“ECHL, Investors Discuss Return to City” (8/11/06)
“Hockey’s Return Still On Ice” sub headline: “Two Investor Groups Remain” (10/17/06)

All of these articles detail meetings and discussions with multiple potential owners/ownership groups and negotiations with the ECHL and the Coliseum. I simply fail to understand how those actions can then be later characterized as “turning away suitors” or how this can be interpreted as the actions of someone who is “dealing exclusively” with one potential owner?


Andrew Brown
Public Relations Manager
Greensboro Coliseum Complex

More police promotions

Chief Bellamy has been busy today! Here is the announcement of the new Greensboro Police captains.

Police promotions

Just got home from the Mobilizing North Carolina conference at the Coliseum to find this press release from the Greensboro Police Department announcing the appointment of four new assistant chiefs. Congratulations to all four on their promotions!

Recycling update

Great news -- I received the following report on the recycling experiment at the Chris Daughtry concert in downtown Greensboro:

I wanted to update you on the recycling efforts at the Tournament Town Goes Downtown Chris Daughtry concert on March 23rd. With containers provided by the coliseum, a recycling truck provided by the city and combined efforts of the Coliseum Staff and Staff from GDOT Street Cleaning we were able to recycle 3.69 tons! There was some contamination from non-recyclable product but not as much as was anticipated. The City of Greensboro Field Operations staff feel that it was a successful experiment in recycling and they are working on how to continue recycling at other outdoor events.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Brenda J. Studt
Operations Manager
Grassroots Productions Limited, Inc.

Kammie update

Granddaughter Kammie dropped in for an unexpected -- but very welcome -- short visit this afternoon, recently pierced ears and all. Of course she has her Grandpa wrapped around her little fingers.

She has become quite vocal -- has her "oohs" and "ahs" down pat. Her biggest accomplishment, however, is one that spells big TROUBLE for us. She has mastered the "belly crawl" and can now get anywhere, to anything she sets her mind on. Time to baby-proof the house!

Weekly schedule

This is one of those "on the go constantly" weeks for me where there will little or no free time.

Today, Monday, April 16, will be enjoyable with my monthly "lunch and bridge with the girls" treat during the day. That will be followed with a visit to the Highland Park Community Watch meeting that is featuring a covered-dish supper that is always delightful. Thank heaven I've already surpassed my Mayor's Weight Loss Challenge goal or I'd be in real trouble!

Tuesday, April 17 will begin with an early morning meeting with a visiting field representative of Go21 who requested an interview with me to discuss transportation options. The regular meeting of the city council will be held at 5:30PM that same day with a fairly busy agenda with a contested rezoning case and consideration of privilege tax charges being the main items of interest.

I'll be spending the entire day of Wednesday, April 18 over at the coliseum attending the Mobilizing North Carolina conference at which I've been asked to make opening remarks. Dr. Richard Leakey is the featured speaker for this conference, and I am looking forward to hearing him.

On Thursday, April 19 I am off to Raleigh to attend a North Carolina League of Municipalities policy committee meeting. I hope to attend the Ardmore Park Community Watch meeting later that evening.

I get to relax a bit on Friday with the final game of this year's Charity League bridge marathon. We players pay a fee that supports a scholarship to a deserving young woman and get to participate in this 7-month round of bridge games -- a fun way to generate funds for a worthy cause.

Saturday, April 21 will be a "work" day for me when I make remarks on behalf of the city to participants in the National and Youth Service Day activities sponsored by the North Carolina Campus Compact at the Bur-Mil Park.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to relax a bit on Sunday, but I doubt it. I need to get together with a PTA friend to prepare a workshop we are presenting the following weekend at the NC PTA convention. Oh well, I don't really need sleep anyway. {smile}

Good luck, Keith!

Although it was not totally unexpected, I was genuinely saddened by Mayor Keith Holliday's official announcement yesterday that he would not seek reelection in the fall. While there have been occasions when I may have been on the opposing side of a vote from him or frustrated with his handling (or not) of a particular issue, he has my deepest respect and admiration for the unselfish service he has rendered to this city with great sacrifices of his time divided among the demands of this office, his family, and his banking job. I think I am busy keeping up with all the additional duties and assignments that I have accepted, but I know my schedule doesn't come anywhere close to the rigourous routine he has maintained for the past eight years.

Change is never easy, but then there is the obvious potential for several new faces on the new council to be elected in November, with new ideas and perspectives. That is why I believe it is more important than ever that I be successful in my reelection bid for the District 5 position in order to bring some stability, history and experience on the new council.

Thus I hope to be on that new council working hard to continue to move this city forward with the forward momentum we have now built up while Keith Holliday enjoys some well-earned and well-deserved time to relax and slow down a bit. From one friend and colleague to another, I wish him the best!

PART update

Wednesday morning's meeting of the PART Board of Trustees proceeded a bit differently than anticipated with the tabling for 30 days of the proposed action to impose a $1 per vehicle registration fee in Randolph County that would have made the county eligible to participate in PART's park-and-ride lot and Express bus services. When the mayor of Trinity, the mayor and a council member from Archdale, and a citizen spoke against the vehicle registration fee and in favor of imposing the 5% tax on short-term vehicle rentals instead, the Board voted to send the enabling resolution unanimously approved by the Randolph County Commissioners back to those Commissioners for a review and "gut check" to ascertain which financing method is the best choice for Randolph County. All the speakers were highly supportive of PART's proposed services, but preferred the alternate way to finance those services. The Board will take this question up again at our May 9 meeting.

In other business, the Board awarded the contract for transportation services for the High Point Furniture Market to McLaurin Parking of Raleigh, the firm that submitted the best bid for both services and cost. PART is the "flow-through" agency designated by NCDOT to receive and disburse the state allocation of money to support transportation services for the Furniture Market.

Lastly, the Board approved staff's proposal to study our long-range financial needs to address the fact that as we continue to expand services to other counties who have joined PART, we will begin to dip into our fund balance in the 2009 fiscal year and potentially deplete it totally by 2012. Given the heavy reliance on PART's services in the Triad Early Action Compact's plan to meet and maintain compliance with the EPA's 8-hour ozone standard and avoid the dreaded "non-attainment" designation, it is vitally important to expand our services to meet those goals.

The study proposal includes the following:

* develop a 5-year capital improvement plan to submit to the Board along with the 2007-08 operating budget proposal,
* develop a 5-year operating budget forecast,
* invite all counties in PART's territory to participate in the Seamless Mobility Study to identify possible efficiencies in both transit and para-transit services with a projected finish date for this study of June 30, 2008, (seven have already joined)
* make presentations to the various member agencies about PART's services, programs and plans,
* and develop alternate options to address forecasted shortfalls on an as-needed basis and present to the Board for consideration.

It looks like PART staff is going to be busier than ever!

Will he or won't he?

According to the email I just received from Mayor Keith Holliday, he's going to put an end to the guessing game tomorrow afternoon:

Council,
You are invited to join me tomorrow afternoon at 2:00pm at the “public function” meeting room at the Depot (beside the main entrance) for my announcement regarding my plans for my political future...........
I realize this is a last minute announcement but felt it necessary to avoid unnecessary speculation.................. If you can not make it I’ll make sure you get emailed a press release.
Thanks,
Keith

Weekly schedule

With the Easter holiday and no official city meetings this week, I have a fairly light schedule for the week. I had nothing on my calendar for Monday (finished moving tulip bulbs from the center of my yard into the landscaped flower bed) and only a pleasant meeting/chat with a constituent this morning (Tuesday).

Wednesday, April 11 will be the busiest day with an 8:30AM meeting of the PART Board of Trustees where we will hold a public hearing on the proposed $1 vehicle registration fee in Randolph County, a noon press conference/luncheon at the Coliseum concerning the Charlotte Bobcats, and a 5:30PM meeting of the executive committee of the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments.

I originally was scheduled to be in Raleigh chairing the Charter Schools Advisory Committee on Thursday, April 12. However, we literally worked ourselves out of a job, and the State Board of Education officially voted unanimously to dissolve the committee at their monthly meeting last week. I have mixed emotions, having served on the committee from its inception nine years ago, and helping to develop many of the policies and guidelines that direct charter schools in North Carolina. Due to those smoothly-working policies and procedures now, the State Board and Department of Public Instruction staff can more efficiently administer the schools without the committee's advice and input. Mission accomplished, I guess. (And one less meeting/trip to Raleigh for me each month!)

With that cancellation, I'm now in town and available to attend the Library Board breakfast that morning and the lunch and tour of the Guilford Metro 911 center at noon.

I don't have any meetings on Friday, but my husband and I will be attending the performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Coliseum's War Memorial Auditorium that evening.

On Saturday, April 14 I will be in Chapel Hill most of the day assisting with leadership training for new PTA presidents and board members in that area. Funny how my "consulting" position has gotten me back into the state PTA full-force all over again, but it's a labor of love!

That's it for the week!

City Connections

The latest edition of City Connections is available.

Tough zoning decision

For those who know my background -- being stirred to political activism by participating in a grassroots effort to oppose a rezoning near Smith High School in the late '80's -- and my strong support of neighborhoods and protecting them from commercial encroachment, my "yes" vote tonight on the Rice Toyota/Stratford Drive rezoning case probably came as a huge shock to many people. I have to admit, I even surprised myself! Not that I ever go into one of these public hearings with my mind made up one way or the other, but I certainly began the evening with a dim view of what appeared to be a horrible intrusion into a well-established neighborhood, coupled with the unanimous "no" decision rendered by the Zoning Commission.

I really struggled with this one. Neighborhood residents offered very valid reasons for opposing the request and I found the numerous emails from Rice employee's to be a bit self-serving. So what finally tipped the scales for me?

First, Rice Toyota offered amended conditions to mitigate impacts from the NEW development -- reduction of the area to be rezoned thus leaving larger backyards for the three homes they intend to refurbish and resell, the construction of a higher wooden fence along with increased landscaping and preservation of the existing tree buffer, shielded lighting that would be turned off by 10PM each night, and the elimination of any possibility of a parking deck being constructed on the property. They then took extra steps to lessen the problems that were already affecting adjacent neighbors from their CURRENT operations -- extension of the 8-foot fence around the existing used car lot, turning off of the outdoor loudspeaker system, and shielding of lighting to prevent spillover into the neighborhood.

Second, there was the realization of what Rice Toyota could do to extend the parking lot onto these residential lots with no conditions whatsoever (no fencing, light shielding, preservation of trees, etc.) except for the standard planting yards should they choose to use provisions in the city ordinances to do so. Or even worse, should they choose to acquire the adjacent commercially-zoned properties, they could pave over almost the entire area they were originally proposing for rezoning, again with none of the mitigating conditions to lessen neighborhood impacts.

In the end, I reasoned that the neighborhood would be better served by the protective, enforceable conditions attached to the proposal rather than to gamble on the hope that neither Rice nor another developer would ever acquire the adjacent very-desirable-location-for-commercial-redevelopment and intrude into the neighborhood with their parking with no rezoning request having to come before the Zoning Commission/City Council.

I do not make these decisions lightly and often find myself "keyed up" and wide awake after midnight (as I am tonight). I know the Garden Homes community is deeply disappointed by the council's vote tonight, but I honestly believe we made the best decision on their behalf, selecting the lesser of the two evils that would less impact their quality of life.

I can only pray that I made the right choice.

Added thoughts: The sheer irony of my vote hit me this morning -- looks like I have come full circle.

My involvement in that long ago zoning fight that jump-started my political career began when the then-city council reversed the then-Zoning Commission's decision with attorney Henry Isaacson representing the applicant. Last night, I was part of a city council that reversed the Zoning Commission's decision with -- you guessed it -- attorney Henry Isaacson representing the applicant.

Different cases, different circumstances, different outcomes. In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, only issues. On which side of the fence you land depends on the unique facts and circumstances surrounding each individual case. It still doesn't make it any easier.

Changes coming!

Wow! Starmount's announcement sure surprised me!

High Point Road design public hearing

When I first joined the Greensboro City Council back in 1991, I was handed the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) document for the proposed widening of High Point Road/Jamestown Bypass and urged to become familiar with its contents since parts of the project are located in District 5. I was told, "This project will be built soon."

That was almost 16 years ago, and not a square inch of pavement has been constructed yet. First there were routing issues concerning the potentially-historic Jefferson Standard property, then conflicts with grave sites at Guilford Memorial Park, and most recently, lack of funding. Due to these delays, there will be NO INTERCHANGE on High Point Road with the Urban Loop/Painter Boulevard for 6-7 years (motorists will have to use the Groometown Road exit off the Loop to get to High Point Road).

But MAYBE progress is being made, and we are slowly but surely getting there. Another milestone has been reached with the official scheduling of the Design Public Hearing for May 15. You can access the information and the maps here.

Maybe this project will be completed in my lifetime, but I wouldn't bet on it!

SCAT efficiency

Now this makes a lot of sense and should cut the costs to provide the city's SCAT service -- for those clients who do not require a specialized vehicle, use a regular car to transport them.

Political rumors

Rumors have been flying the last several weeks about who is -- or is not -- running for the city council this fall. I know there is plenty of interest out there and lots of names being tossed around, but most folks seem to be waiting for Mayor Holliday's official announcement of his intentions. Whether or not he runs for reelection will determine if the "dominoes are going to start falling" and who will end up running for which position, if any.

So far, only two incumbent members of the current council have publicly stated their intentions. District 3 representative Tom Phillips announced at a recent council meeting that he will NOT be running again.

Despite strong encouragement from people I respect and the recurring rumors I have heard, I am NOT running for mayor or an at-large position. As I stated to Allen Johnson in his News & Record editorial, I fully intend to file for re-election to the District 5 seat and face any challengers for that position. Being a sensible person, I know that a district rep has the same power, duties, and responsibilities as an at-large rep -- with a whole lot less costly campaign to run.

Hopefully this will take care of all speculation and pesky rumors -- I plan to stay put!

Weekly schedule

Things get a bit more hectic this week. I'll certainly be on the go, particularly on Tuesday.

It's fairly quiet on Monday, April 2 with a short afternoon meeting with a citizen and the Rolling Roads Community Watch monthly meeting that evening.

Tuesday, April 3 begins with an interview with a UNCG student researching regionalism. Then it's off to the Greater Greensboro Realtors Association to read the fair housing proclamation at their monthly meeting. I have to scoot over to the Koury Center after that to bring greetings from the city to the NC Head Start Association at 2PM. Our regular city council meeting begins at 5:30PM, and with a couple of contested rezoning cases on the agenda, it has the potential to be a long one.

(A gentle piece of advice to citizens opposing rezonings -- it's a bit of overkill for the same person/family to write, fax, email, and phone over and over and over again, as has been the situation with the Rice Toyota/Stratford Drive case. I understood and responded to your messages the first time around -- once is enough, please.)

I'm taping a segment of Triad Today with Jim Longworth on Wednesday afternoon, April 4 and will get a little bit of relaxation that evening with my "Wacky Wednesday" bridge group.

The War Memorial Commission (coliseum) meets on Thursday, April 5. Later that afternoon I will be joining Library Director Sandy Neerman and others in a meeting with a couple of medical librarians from Moldova to try to foster interest in improving Moldova's public library system. This day ends with the community watch meeting of the Lamrocton neighborhood that evening.

The Easter bunny is likely to find me relaxing and resting next weekend!

The power of our brains!

This interesting tidbit came from a weekly electronic newsletter I receive from the Public School Forum. I had no trouble deciphering it. Fascinating!

This is one of the many tricks to speed reading. They teach you to look at the frsit & lsat letetr of a word and your brain will fill in the rest.

Pretty cool. If you can read this, you have a strange mind too. Can you raed tihs? Olny 805 plepoe can to this point.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!