Newspapers Defend Their Crony Capitalism: Outdated Monopoly on Public Notices

Rachel Alexander from town hall has a post titled

"Newspapers Defend Their Crony Capitalism: Outdated Monopoly on Public Notices "

Senate bill would retain protest petitions | The Herald-Sun

Senate bill would retain protest petitions | The Herald-Sun

Thanks go out to plenty who heard and took action about this slip in bill in the house regulatory reform act that the N.C. House tried to pass but the N.C. Senate took out the language to repeal Protest Petitions before the North Carolina Legislature adjourned for the year.

Thnaks to WXII 12 for being the only local tv media to talk about this issue.

Big thanks also goes out to House Rep. Pricey Harrison  who tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill in the House to get this wording taken out to repeal Protest Petitions. It was also great to see both Rep. Jon Hardister and Rep. John Blust vote with Rep. Harrison to amend this bill.

I am sure we will not see the end of this issue to repeal Protest Petitions in North Carolina but discussions about the law needs to happen before we see another slip in bill without any input on the pro's and con's of this law.

Saint ConsultingNorth Carolina Bill Would Halt Protest Petitions Against Development - Saint Consulting

Saint ConsultingNorth Carolina Bill Would Halt Protest Petitions Against Development - Saint Consulting

TRIADWATCH is tagged as a anti lobbyist blog from this post above. Fine label to me.

Wake County Rep. Avila Guts Local Bill for Guilford County

Wake County House Rep. Marilyn Avila guts the whole local bill for Guilford County in regards to Electronic Notices to amend the bill to add language that was written by the N.C. Press Association. It passed on a 62-52 vote with plenty of clueless out of touch with reality N.C. House of Representatives voting with Head Cheerleader of the N.C. Press Association Avila. What you need to understand is that this bill was a local bill only for Guilford County and now we have the head cheerleader of the N.C. Press Association gutting a local bill and she doesn't even represent any constituents in this county. As we see in the write up from Travis Fain Greensboro News and Record "Bill Changing Legal Ads Notices Falters" . not one mention of this at all which is par for the course for the local press on this issue.

Let's look at what the N.C. Press Association President Hal Tanner III had to say in their july e newsletter about the head cheerleader in the North Carolina House of Representatives for the N.C Press Association earlier in the 2013 session  where this bill came up for a vote

"This has been a great year for newspapers across the state. I wish I could express how we felt listening to Rep. Marilyn Avila’s (R-Wake) speech on the House floor supporting newspapers during debate on SB287/HB504. It was a moment I will never forget and one of the highlights."

It was a moment for the N.C. Press Association to listen to themselves and their lobbyist who gave her plenty to say on the N.C. House floor in regards to the issue of electronic notices. The taxpayers of Guilford County can thank a Wake County Representative Avila for not saving the taxpayers of Guilford County over $500,000 that could go to some other program and the funny thing is that there are cities in Wake County who in past law have been given this opportunity to use electronic notices in  here is a post I did  with a title  "Electronic Notice is Good for Cary,Apex,Garner,Knightdale,and Raleigh is Good for Every other City in this State "
 . So as you see we had a Wake County Rep.Avila completely gut a local bill for Guilford County in regards to electronic notices while in her own county we have all these cities above have been able to use electronic notices the whole time. Is that fair? NO and points like this never came up in the discussion on the house floor. Maybe a Guilford County Representative can reverse one of these local bills to make them waste more taxpayer money to appease the BLOWHARDS at the N.C. Press Association.

I wanted to leave you with a report below the fold from the now gone but not forgotten Rhino Times where William Hammer was on point in regards to Senator Trudy Wade's Senate Bill #287 which was gutted by N.C. Press Association Head Cheerleader Wake County House Representative Republican Marilyn Avila.   

______________________________________________________________________________________________
Rhino Times
Wade's bill – allowing local governments in Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford, Burke, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Union counties to post public notices required by law on their own websites rather than buying advertisements in paid circulation newspapers – passed the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday, April 9, causing an uproar in the paid circulation newspaper industry.

Imagine what a great law that would be, regardless of what business you are in, if it required the city and county to do business with you. What if the state passed a law that Greensboro had to buy all of its coffee at a national chain of coffee shops that originated in Washington State and has a mermaid on its cups. Or what if the state had a law that all gasoline used by city vehicles had to be purchased at gas stations owned by a franchise that was started in Pennsylvania and sounds like a bad word mispronounced.

Can you imagine the outcry from the other coffee providers and gas stations? But the unbiased daily newspaper in town believes that local governments should be required by law to advertise public hearings, tax delinquencies and other such matters in the News & Record.

That is the kind of law that TECAN&R and every other major newspaper in the state has working for them. The law doesn't state that the City of Greensboro has to advertise in TECAN&R, but the way the newspaper where Greensboro has to advertise is defined, there is only one that meets all the criteria.

Wade's bill allows local governments to meet the legal requirement for advertising by placing a notice on its own website. It doesn't prevent any local government from running as many ads as it wants about anything, but local governments in Guilford the other counties will no longer be required by law to advertise in their local paid circulation newspapers.

The North Carolina Press Association is treating this bill like its First Amendment rights are being violated. But what the bill does is remove a government-sanctioned monopoly.

Since far more people have Internet access than subscribe to the daily newspapers, it seems like it is a way to reach more citizens. One of the arguments against the bill is that it is unfair to poor people because many can't afford a computer and don't have Internet access. That is true, but it is also true that not many poor people and very few homeless people subscribe to the daily newspaper.

This is a bill that will allow local governments to save hundreds of thousands of dollars. The other forms of notifying the public with signs on property to be rezoned and letters to nearby property owners remain unchanged. The bill only effects advertising in paid circulation newspapers.

The local government is free to experiment with notifying the public. In Greensboro a billboard on Battleground Avenue has attracted a lot of attention lately. Maybe that would be a good place to advertise an upcoming public hearing. Perhaps radio advertising would work, or even advertising in a free newspaper that is picked up and read by people all over Guilford County.


  

N.C. Press Lobbyist Lying To Committee in Regards to Guilford County Public Notice Bill

Greensboro City Councilman Tony Wilkins has heard some interesting news out of Raleigh N.C.where things are coming to a boil in regards to allowing local governments in Guilford County to have the option of using electronic notices to get information to the citizens in this county saving thousands and thousands of dollars each year. Travis Fain from the Greensboro News and Record has a report out today HERE

Here is the exchange between Councilman Tony Wilkins  and City Manager Denise Turner Roth that happened today.

Councilman Tony Wilkins:
Hey Denise,

 

Just wanted to clarify that I have been given some misinformation.

 

I got a call this morning that said the N&R lobbyist in Raleigh stated on the floor of the House yesterday that the city manager of Greensboro, Denise Roth, opposed the Electronics Notice Bill. The bill failed on a 10-10 vote.

 

I replied that could not be true because council voted unanimously to support the bill.

 

It comes back up today and I want to get word to Raleigh the information presented yesterday was false.

 

Please verify that you did not make that statement.

 

Thanks,

Tony Wilkins

 

RESPONSE from Greensboro City Manager Denise Turner Roth

 

You are correct Tony. I was just told the same thing this morning and was very upset. I have never had a conversation with anyone from the N&R about this bill. It floors me that my name has been used by them. I did speak with Rep. Adams this morning and explained that this item was supported by Council as part of its legislative agenda. I also explained from a management perspective, if we had this authority there were likely be some things we would seek to exercise it (posting electronic notices) for but there are some things we would likely keep posting in traditional news papers like rezoning cases. I also had the same conversation with Sen. Wade.

On a related matter, Alfrique with the Carolina Peacemaker called very upset a little while ago that the City Council is supporting this effort. I am preparing a message to go to all of Council as a heads up.

 

Denise Turner Roth, City Manager

City of Greensboro  

 

 

Triadwatch is trying to get to the bottom of this to find out which N.C. Press Association lobbyist member if LYING to the committee stating that a local Greensboro City Manager is opposed to this bill when in reality she works for the City of Greensboro and their legislative agenda for 2013 is for them to have the ability to use electronic notices without going through the mandated and outdated law that states you have to provide public information only in a paid paper of weekly circulation to qualify.

When can we see some legislators understand that it is time to think ahead for a change and start allowing counties who want them to provide public notices electronically to do so.  Senator Trudy Wade has been a stalwart on this issue along with plenty of other representatives like House Rep. Jon Hardister  from Guilford County as well. They have been out front with all of these bills and it looks like we might see a pilot program coming out of Guilford County in regards to public notices, they plan on voting on this tonight since it got out of the house committee and all the BLOWHARDS from the N.C. Press Association who are LYING to a committee to make this bill go away should be ashamed of themselves since all they are thinking is the mighty taxpayer funded state mandated dollar nothing else.

Can the N.C. Press Association understand that their government assisted state law gravy train is slowly coming to a end  and it is time for local city and county governments to provide this information to their constituents as they see fit and save taxpayer dollars to boot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protest Petition Sunday OP ED from TREBIC CARTEL Member Tom Terrell and What you need to add to the story

Smith Moore Leatherwood lawyer Tom Terrell will be coming out with a OP Ed in the Greensboro News and Record tomorrow from what he wrote on his blog  N.C. Legal Landscapes with a title called "Legislative Update – Protest Petitions Killed . . . Finally"



What you won't hear is that Tom Terrell is a part of the TREBIC Cartel which is the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition(TREBIC) where his law firm is a Governor member of the group who has been bitching , crying and moaning ever since a group of us got back the right to allow Protest Petitions in Greensboro in 2009.

Yes Weekly in their report on the unofficial lobbyist group TREBIC article had this to say:

"Tom Terrell Jr. of Smith, Moore, Leatherwood LLP took the stage to introduce Sanford, calling her “a great lobbyist” before handing over the mic. On the group’s website page for testimonials from members, Terrell said, “The building industry has no other voice in governmental decisions.”

We also need to point out that if Tom Terrell is so against Protest Petition and it's power to be used in the process then why did he use it to his advantage in regards to the Sherwin Williams case off of Spring Garden Street in Greensboro and also he used the Protest Petition working for Geo Care with the help of Guilford County Commissioners against the City of High Point where it is probably one of the first times a governmental body has used protest petition . Here is that post from the now defunct Rhino Times  called "Council Allows Hinkley Hotel" .

In the blog post from TREBIC CARTEL member lawyer Tom Terrell was my response here and also I have 2 other responses where he has not allowed to be put on his blog post but will post here for you to see

Here is the comment I made on his blog

“When the issue was hotly debated in Greensboro in 2009, the development community offered several compromises. The Greensboro Neighborhood Congress refused to accept any of the compromises offered, including raising the threshold from five to twenty percent and implementing a two-thirds vote rather than three-fourths.”
All the citizens wanted was to get the same treatment of having the protest petition like every other citizen had in this state but don’t worry the trebic cartel has been bitching , moaning and crying ever since 2009 and now they snuck in this repeal with no discussion at all. It looks like it is stuck back in rules committee and not killed like your post reads.
You , king zoning stud Henry isaacson , Jim Morgan and lobbyist Marlene Sanford are pathetic.
Let’s see if you will post this


Note he did post this with a response to my comment saying this
" I posted your comment even though you resorted to foul language and personal attacks without having the courage to sign your name"

Holy shit I did not know bitching and pathetic are foul language .

Then I later have to more comments that he has not yet to post which I will post here for you

COMMENT 1 not posted at nc legal landscapes blog

If you don't know who Triadwatch is in this area then you are living under a rock, just go ask the trebic cartel who triadwatch is and am sure Marlene will let you know who I am.

Please let me know how many protest petitions in this state worked when only 1 land owner piled the petition because I have seen plenty in the triad and the one land owner who filed near High Point University lost his case in front of council. The HP council saw through the PP and voted in favor of HPU. THe one landowner played his cards and lost. Why don't you go ask Blue Ridge Companies David Couch who triadwatch is and how the protest petition went for him when he wanted to slam way too many apartments off of highway 68 and if it wasn't for protest petition we would have seen a complete detriment to the neighborhood but now with conditions it is a nice apartment complex .

COMMENT 2 not posted at nc legal landscapes

Bill sponsors openly acknowledged that their intent is to reduce the bargaining power of neighborhood groups in zoning disputes.

Sneak in bill to your crony capitalist or as we call them here trebic cartel.

Enjoy the OP Ed from Tom Terrell but make sure you understand he works for TREBIC who want this repeal of protest petitions to happen and diminish the bargaining power of neighborhood groups in zoning cases

Protest Petition Talk Round Up from Editorials,Letters to Editor, News Report in North Carolina

I wanted to give you a link to plenty of talk about protest petition in North Carolina after a few lawmakers snuck in this bill to appease their crony capitalist to take away the bargaining power of neighborhoods all over this state. Here we go

Petition Retreat from Greensboro News and Record editorial out today

HERE

Killing Protest Petition Not In Our Best Interest by Greensboro Attorney and former State Senator Don Vaughan

HERE

Bill would weaken neighbors’ ability to fight zoning changes, by Charlotte Observer

HERE

Bill could hinder neighbors ability to fight stores, businesses, WSOC tv in Charlotte

HERE

Protest petition quietly put to death amidst sweeping GOP changes, Yes! Weekly Jordan Green

HERE

Bill Would Eliminate A Tool Neighbors Have To Fight Zoning Changes, WFAE radio in Charlotte

HERE

Protest Pinched, Greensboro News and Record Editorial

HERE

We also have our local TREBIC Cartel attorney Tom Terrell NC Legal Landscapes who works for the developers who I just heard is going to have this blog post as a opinion piece in Sunday's Greensboro News and Record with a post titled, Legislative Update – Protest Petitions Killed . . . Finally

HERE

Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins Plays Fast And Loose With Protest Petition Facts , Billy Jones Blogger East Greensboro Performing Arts Center

HERE

Finally a Local News Station with a Report on Protest Petition WXII 12 , Where is Fox 8 and News 2

Had a blog post the other day in regards to where was our local media in reporting to the citizens in the Triad to the repeal of Protest Petition by a bunch of crony capitalist who want to reduce the bargaining power of neighborhoods in regards to rezoning cases all over this state.

Well now we have WXII Channel 12 in Bill O'Neill

who came by to interview me in regards to this issue since me and a big group of citizens in Greensboro fought very hard to get this back to the citizens of Greensboro to see them totally want to repeal the whole statute from the laws 4 years later.

Here is the video and post titled BILL WOULD ELIMINATE PROTEST PETITION

Thanks for the interview and to talk about this issue and as we speak this bill has been referred back to the rules committee in N.C Senate and hopefully it will stay there and not get out to vote on this bill before the end of session.

I can still hear birds chirping at Fox 8 and News 2 where are you?

Charlotte News Report on Protest Petition Embedded by WSOC TV

News report on Protest Petition courtesy of WSOC TV in Charlotte

Bill could hinder neighbors ability to fight stores, businesses, Where is our local Media ?

Bill could hinder neighbors ability to fight stores, businesses

Good report from a local tv station in Charlotte. Where is our local media on this issue wake up news 2, Fox 8 and wxii 12.

Bill eliminates protest-petition rights in zoning cases | The Herald-Sun

Bill eliminates protest-petition rights in zoning cases | The Herald-Sun

Good article from Herald Sun on what the State House just did to deny neighborhoods all over this state the right to use protest petition in zoning cases.

Protest Petition for North Carolina Repeal is a Huge Mistake for Citizens and Neighborhoods All Over This State

This post below the fold was originally posted a few years ago on my first blog called Protest Petition for Greensboro 

News came out yesterday 7-10-2013  from Doug Clark on his News and Record Blog Off The Record  titled "Protest Petition in Danger"  . It seems like the powers to be at the State level of North Carolina  have slipped in a few words to repeal the Protest  Petition for the whole state. This will be both stupid and ignorant on the part of our state representatives to do this as a slip in bill to curry favor with the TREBIC cartels around the state. TREBIC cartel is our local unofficial now this year official lobbyist for the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition . Plenty of us in and around Greensboro worked very hard to bring back Protest Petition for Greensboro and as you will read below they have been trying since 2011 to deny citizens this right in a rezoning case. It will be a sad day for any neighborhood or property owner in North Carolina who is involved in a rezoning case to not have the power of the Protest Petition and to see that they slipped this repeal of Protest Petition without any discussion in a local government committee or any discussion at all is ridiculous.

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On Monday 3-28-2011 there was a joint session of the Regulatory Reform Committee meeting at the campus of Guilford Tech . Community College. While looking at my twitter account i came across this tweet by Greensboro News and Record state and federal government reporter Mark Binker which he had this to say,

"TREBIC out in force at #ncga Reg Reform committee asking for repeal of protest petition rules. #GSO just got it back a couple years ago."

Here is a link to Mark Binker's twitter account CLICKHERE

The TREBIC in the post belongs to the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition our local developer lobbyist organization. It is amazing to think that it hasn't even been 2 years and they are already whining and complaining to the state about this law. To also understand that the citizens of Greensboro have been getting screwed for the past 30 years of not having this state law and we are only going on 2 years of finally having it be a part of the zoning laws to see them complain to the regulatory commission is ridiculous.

 We also have a blog post from Jordan Green at Yes Weekly on this meeting here is what Jordan had to say.

" Lolita Malave, president-elect of the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association, asked the General Assembly to repeal the protest petition, which allows neighboring property owners to trigger a requirement of a 75 percent majority vote for approval of a rezoning request if they file a valid protest petition.



“It is easier to change the US Constitution that it is to rezone your property under the protest petition,” Malave said. “The US Constitution can be changed with a simple-majority vote of the people or a two-thirds majority vote of Congress. By contrast, the owner of 5 percent of the land within 100 feet of a proposed land rezoning project can trigger a requirement for more than a super-majority vote. That equates to more than 75 percent of voters. It is absurd and unfair that such a small number of citizens can and do decide the fate of many.”


One speaker echoed Malave’s appeal, while another spoke in defense of the protest petition.

here is a link to the whole article CLICKHERE

 We also have  our local Greensboro City Council Member Zack Matheny talk about Protest Petition in a council meeting last year here is the clip;












Now we have a local city council member talk about how they are frustrated with Protest Petition being a part of the zoning process and this was over a year ago that the councilman talked about this, then we see this year they go in front of a regulatory commission meeting to let them know how they feel and want it repealed. With this being said it shows to all the citizens of Greensboro that this law is working for it's purpose and needs to stay a part of the process. 

It is time to let our local state representatives know how you feel about Protest Petition and to say to them keep this a state law and it should stay that way.


Here is a link to all of our local representatives if you would like to say to them "KEEP PROTEST PETITION AS STATE LAW".

STATE SENATE SIDE

Phil Berger CLICKHERE


STATE HOUSE SIDE

John Blust CLICKHERE

Pricey Harrison CLICKHERE
Marcus Brandon CLICKHERE
John Faircloth CLICKHERE
Alme Adams CLICKHERE

Hartzman's: On Greensboro's Saturday night self inflicted "rio...

Hartzman's: On Greensboro's Saturday night self inflicted "rio...: As Billy Jones reported ; "It seems the reasons for Mayor Perkins' proposed downtown curfew may be of his own making. Last Saturday...


Was this ever reported by mainstream media ?

Nice post on this issue from George