Is GN&R’s Editorial Page Editor Allen Johnson Lying to the Public?

Lying by omission

One lies by omission by omitting an important fact,
deliberately leaving another person with a misconception.

Lying by omission includes failures to correct pre-existing misconceptions.

…Propaganda is an example of lying by omission.

Wikipedia

"What due diligence have you done on the hotel deal?

…Do you realize how much business this subsidized hotel will take
from other legitimate businesses?

…Do you think you should mention the hotel
will be in the News and Record's back yard?...

Is it worth stealing from our kids
so the News and Record building will be worth more for little while?

It's almost as though you have chosen to not know what you should.

Ignore any factual obstacles and promote generalizations
in reasons for approving a deal that looks like it won't ever make any money.

If you are proved wrong on the hotel deal,
it will be because you never bothered to look at the fine print,
and because you didn't think about everyone else
was just as important than yourself.

…Have you compared the two studies on the Hotel project?"

Has the GN&R answered this question?

George Hartzman, in an online conversation with Allen Johnson
http://www.news-record.com/blog/55771/entry/99067

The goal: To be empowered to sell federal bonds
whose interest paid to investors would be tax free.

What about the “New Market Tax Credits” Allen?

No matter how you slice it,
the vast majority of the money involved would be private.

Allen Johnson
Greensboro News and Record, Print Edition Only,
Sunday, September 26, 2010

"…So, have you reviewed the differences between the two feasibility studies Allen?...

Has Allen Johnson answered this question?

There were two analysis performed by the same company for the Hotel project.

The first, commissioned by the City of Greensboro, dated January 18, 2010,
said average food and beverage revenues
for comparable downtown hotels in large cities ranged from $75.54 to $92.28,
while the hotel developers projected food and beverage revenues
were $115.93 per room, three times higher than the Downtown Marriott.

The second study by the same company, dated February 16, 2010,
paid for by the developers, projected food and beverage revenues
of $169.29 per room, for a hotel surrounded by restaurants, night clubs
and a ballpark.

How could projected food and beverage revenues rise
from $115.93 on January 18th, to $169.29, less than 30 days later?

How can an “independent” analysis performed by the same company
believably assert that occupancy projections rose 20% with 10% fewer rooms
inside of a month?

Are these numbers,
presented by the same company that rejected the feasibility of the hotel
less than a month before, realistic?

Allen, please watch what I said to the commish's last Thursday.

…I believe it explains your question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPmRW7hGuAo "

George Hartzman, in an online conversation with Allen Johnson
http://www.news-record.com/blog/55771/entry/99067

Lies of Omission:

To lie by omission is to remain silent
and thereby withhold from someone else a vital piece (or pieces) of information.

If the Greensboro News & Record’s Allen Johnson
knew that “New Market Tax Credits”
are a significant part of the hotel’s financing,
which may upset his “untaxed interest amounts to a subsidy” argument,
did Mr. Johnson lie to his readers by not disclosing material information?

The silence is deceptive in that it gives a false impression
to the person from whom the information was withheld.

It subverts the truth;
it is a way to manipulate someone into altering their behavior
to suit the desire of the person who intentionally withheld the vital information...
.

If Allen Johnson didn’t mention the potential profit
from the Greensboro News & Record’s location being across the street,
has he misinformed the public by omitting possible motivation
for the hotel’s promotion?

…Commonly, those who use this type of lie,
have conned themselves into believing that to intentionally remain silent
when ethical behavior calls for one to speak up
is not a lie at all.

Choice 101

.

"If the analysis submitted by the Urban Hotel Group is correct, by allowing the hotel project to move forward, Guilford County’s Commissioners may have voted to indirectly annually remove more than $6.8 million in taxable revenues directly out of the pockets of privately owned hotels, eateries, caterers and bars to a state sponsored business that may be taxed far less by way of massive taxpayer-provided subsidies and deductable costs.

What are the chances that the developers have to come back to Greensboro and Guilford County to ask for a taxpayer-funded parking deck, which was removed from prior plans after public outcry? Did the commissioners who approved the luxury hotel realize that many if not most of the visiting guests may have to use valet parking? What if 100 guests need to leave at the same time?"

George Hartzman
Yes Weekly, September 22, 2010, Page 24