Did City of Greensboro officials intentionally mislead the Greensboro News and Record’s Amanda Lehmert?

If the City Budget Director removed $125,000 plus $100,000 plus $156,000
from the Greensboro Coliseum’s 2010/11 budget,
will taxpayers be "contributing" a reported $1.6 million or about $2,000,000?

For supporters, that alone makes the city’s contribution to coliseum operations,

which will be about $1.6 million next year, worth it.

Amanda Lehmert

Greensboro News and Record, May 23, 2010

Can the wants of a few who know
outweigh the needs of many that don’t until a majority figures it out?

“...We are projecting the Coliseum Complex's operating budget deficit

for the FY 2010/11 to be $1,587,542

or $245,910 or 15% lower than FY 09/10 Operating Budget Deficit.

This marks the sixth year in a row that the Coliseum Complex has reported a lower year end deficit than had been budgeted.”

Matt Brown

Memo to City Council,

WMC, Rashad Young, Bob Morgan, R. Lusk, L. Davis, J. Fletcher and S. Johnson

April 12, 2010

Via Tony Wilkins

What should the electorate expect
from leadership dependent on the status quo?

“The City Budget Director agreed with our request

that funding for the three scheduled roof repairs

should come under the auspices of the City General Capital Repair account

resulting in the removal of this $125,000 budgeted expense

in the Coliseum Complex budget.

The City Manager agreed...the two lease payments of $100,000 and $156,000

should not be charged against the Coliseum Operating Budget…”

Matt Brown

Memo to WMC, Rashad Young and Bob Morgan, but not City Council

April 16, 2010

Via Tony Wilkins

If Greensboro’s City Council was informed that the FY 2010/11 contribution
would be $1,587,542, but Rashad Young, Bob Morgan
and the (functionally useless since 1994?) War Memorial Commission
are aware of accounting manipulations, have some City Council Members been mislead
by not being made aware of what they should know?

“What the coliseum brings in — the economic impact is huge for restaurants

and everything else,” Councilman Zack Matheny said.

Amanda Lehmert

Greensboro News and Record, May 23, 2010

Do some politicians pacify the electorate with platitudes
while promising the status quo to those enjoying legislated benefits?

“It’s completely ridiculous,” Councilman Robbie Perkins said.

“The single biggest threat to the operation of the coliseum is the Greensboro City Council.

They are undermining an expert (Brown).”

Amanda Lehmert

Greensboro News and Record, May 23, 2010

Are some Council Members who have received free perquisites via Coliseum management
acting unusually protective of indefensible actions?

The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure

when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them

Patrick Henry

At what point should Coliseum freebees be considered bribes?

When buying and selling are controlled by legislation

the first thing to be bought and sold are legislators

P J O'Rourke