Perkins encourages African American participation
Citing former Mayor Yvonne Johnson as his wise, long time mentor, Greensboro City Council member-at large Robbie Perkins elaborated on his consistent championing of the African American community, which will serve him in good stead when he likely will decide next year to run for Mayor himself.
“It’s the next logical step,” [Perkins]…stated after he detailed specific community contributions he’s initiated over the years.
…Perkins, along with Council member T. Dianne Bellamy Small, was the driving force behind the Council’s decision to keep funding the Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE)…“I think that people are missing the point,” Perkins pointed out…and clarified what some nay-sayers on the Council considered unnecessary.
...Mentioning support from fellow Council members T. Dianne Bellamy-Small and Jim Kee, a disparity study conducted by an independent agency will serve as an MWBE report card…on achieving its objectives and seeing “that we’re doing the job.”
“Innovative, fair minded and with a high degree of integrity,” were accolades ascribed to City Manager Rashad Young, which Perkins has “full confidence,” as should the African American community. Describing Young as an “outstanding strategic thinker,” Perkins praised Young’s plan “to change the culture within the organization of the city to serve our customers at a high level.”
…[Perkins] was one of the most ardent supporters of the Gateway Center for Engineering and Nano Technology.
…He’s excited about their already-completed $22 million building which houses joint scientific projects between A&T and UNCG…
In order to protect its interests, the African American community can gain from following these civic matters and “be aware of what goes on in City Hall.” in Perkins words. “Essentially the same” is what he sees moreover as the interests of this community and those of the overall community, “with priorities of job creation...as Number one, and Number one A is public safety.”
The first thing Perkins wants to impress on the African American community is that he’s someone who listens to them, takes time to understand their issues and works “to ensure they’re treated fairly.” The second thing is that he wants to create jobs. “Jobs, jobs, jobs!
I’m talking about job creation all over Greensboro.” The third thing is that he “wants to make sure Greensboro is a progressive city for all and that everyone has a seat at the table.”
…Perkins believes that the African American community needs to stay involved in the issues. “We have a city that needs to be brought together, not divided apart...we have to embrace diversity and understand other peoples and other cultures in order to thrive. We cannot do that if we have our heads in the sand.”
T.J. Connor
Carolina Peacemaker, 6/30/2010
6 comments:
"Councilmembers had suggested eliminating the disparity study, which is a study to justify the Minority and Women's Business Enterprise Program designed to discriminate against white males. Young put the $250,000 disparity study back in the budget as well as the $200,000 compensation study."
John Hammer
http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-c-2010-06-16-205171.112113_Fiscal_Conservatives_Increase_City_Budget.html
"Knight also voted against closing down the Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program, even though the state is now certifying MWBE contractors, which was the primary function of the city department. Last year Guilford County, under the leadership of Chairman Skip Alston, did away with its MWBE department because it was no longer necessary to certify contractors. "
John Hammer
http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-c-2010-06-10-205105.112113_City_Budget_Meeting_Disappoints_Taxpayers.html
Looks like Robbie is buying votes with taxpayer money.
It will be interesting to watch him explain keeping a department that doesn't do anything in the debates next year.
Did TJ Conner ask about the tax "incentive" tax break from the County Robbie recieved?
Him being a small business man and all.
Totally worthy of fleecing his fellow taxpayers and gaming the system.
Watch how much of everybody elses money he gives away to his builder buddies if he wins the mayorial race.
Robbie Perkins took an $8 million smaller budget and turned it into a million more than last year.
It will be a fun explination if the local news industry bothers to ask him about it.
He can run on the awesome swimming hole we paid for.
"It looks like Mr. Perkins used our money, taxpayer dollars, to keep a unneeded program funded to buy votes.
Skip Alston and the Guilford County commissioners killed their MWBE program because it was redundant at the state level. The same is true for Greensboro's but the program will stay in place for Mr Perkins political strategy.
He is stealing from my kids to get elected Mayor."
George Hartzman at Guarino's
http://guarino.typepad.com/guarino/2010/07/robbie-perkins-watch-positioning-to-become-the-africanamerican-candidate-for-mayor.html
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