Did you know an amphitheater was being built at the Greensboro Coliseum? Neither did or any of the Greensboro City Council. Apparently ex-Interim City Manager Bob Morgan failed to tell the council about the construction plans.
Morgan approved the $95,000 project, but it was within his right to do so as he can approve anything less than $300,000. The mere fact that no one thought it would be important to tell the council that this project would be getting underway simply amazes me. I typically speak highly of City employees, but the communication on this deal absolutely stinks.
It gets worse though.
The original News & Record article reported that the coliseum was able to pay for this project due to the fact that they were under budget. [How much under budget? I’m trying to get that information right now.] What needs to be clear is that the City of Greensboro routinely gives the Greensboro Coliseum between $1 million – $2 million each year.
To be clear, if the coliseum is “under budget” and is spending leftover funds they are spending tax dollars that the City of Greensboro gave them. That’s just not right folks.
According to The Rhino, Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw agrees,
“After the meeting Rakestraw asked how the Coliseum could have money left in its budget, since the city subsidizes the Coliseum to the tune of $1.5 million to $2 million every year. She said it seemed like any extra money should go back to the city.”
The coliseum needs to work towards not needing monetary assistance from the City of Greensboro and the new council should work towards making that happen.
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I definitely did not appreciate the way how this project went through. They didn’t even check with the neighborhood. Do you know how much traffic congestion, trash, and criminal activity this will create for that area? It will not boost the city’s economy in that respect. They should have taken that money and revitalize the War Memorial Stadium for an amphitheatre. But, lo, and behold! The wise people of city staffers, and Perkins, thinks it will go over, and that we’ll just have to accept it, whether we like it or not.
I hope Perkins looses! Then, he can spend most of his time getting city funds for his company projects. And start planning his run for Mayor, 2011.
The website address may be wrong. I, too, am outraged that this project could not only get started without the knowledge of Council, it has been moving on down the road. The “in kind” deals are approved by Whom, and is it a process of spending City money with friends? This smacks of a back room, good old boys decision. Poor neighbors. We need to have a public hearing on this – as we would have done if we had known about it. Who is the whisperer ? I know, Ryan, that you strongly dislike me, so is it okay for me to comment???
Sandra, you are more than welcome to comment.
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