Come over tomorrow!

When 7am-4pm

Yard Sale starts at 7am-until

Cook Out begins at 11 am-until

1306 Oak Street Greensboro, NC 27107

My answers to Joe Guarino's questionnaire.

1. What, in your opinion, is the single most important activity in which municipal government engages? Telling the truth.

2. Do you favor taxpayer money being used to provide incentives for private real estate development? Favor? No, I don’t. I don't favor a colonoscopy either. However, they can be necessary.

3. What actions do you believe are necessary to correct the wrongs our city government committed during late 2005 and thereafter with its response to the Police Department controversy? The wrongs that were committed can never be corrected. I can promise you that if I am elected, I will do my own research instead of blindly following the staff. I will never tell the citizens anything is a fact without researching the entire story. I would also like to reinforce the fact that I released the RMA report to the public. As a matter of fact, I hand delivered a copy to you. That’s how I roll.

I also would like to remind everyone about my work regarding the surveillance issue. I, on more than one occasion, appeared before the council begging them to reveal the truth about the surveillance story. When they refused to do it, I created a public awareness campaign to reveal the entire story. I worked to create the most accurate history of the surveillance story. The campaign included video testimony from previous council meetings, audio from the police captain that authorized the surveillance, documents and an email from the person that wore the wire. I complied all of this research into a video presentation and played it for the council. I can’t fix what was done. I can prevent anything like that from happening again.

4. Which pattern of development do you prefer for the city of Greensboro's future-- higher levels of density with infill, or a more suburban pattern? I am going to have to consult with Ed Cone on this one, Joe.

5. Do you favor markedly expanding the usage of the White Street Landfill for residential trash to save taxpayers' money? I favor, above anything else, being fair. I need to research the entire issue before saying yes or no. I can say that I am one of the few that brought questions to the council concerning how the land for the transfer station was purchased.

6. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC? I am seeking the endorsement of the entire City of Greensboro. I want everyone to endorse me. After all, I am trying to win! Vote for me, I’ll set you free!

7. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations? I have their questionnaire but failed to fill it out and mail it back to them within the time allowed. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a perfect man.

8. What would you do to attract more employers to the city of Greensboro? Clean up the blight and get tough on the crime.

9. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing taxes for Greensboro residents? No.

10. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing fees for Greensboro residents? No

11. What measures would you favor to limit the cost of benefits provided for city employees? I would eliminate all of the unnecessary benefits that are currently being provided for city employees. I need to find out if the city pays for Tater’s scanner.

12. Do you support adding more police officers to the GPD? If so, how many? When the city grows, the GPD should grow as well. The city has annexed more areas recently and can barely cover the area they had. I would make sure that I researched the entire city and the problems before guessing how many more cops we need.

13. Do you support bringing the police chief under the control of the City Council? In reasonable world, I am in favor to the top cop being under the manager. However, Greensboro aint necessarily normal.

14. Do you think our libraries' computers should be filtered to protect young people? Yes.

15. Do you favor expanding mass transportation services in the city of Greensboro? Yes.

16. What approaches do you think the police department should employ to decrease crime in our city? See the following video.



17. Do you favor or oppose the city planning department merging with the county planning department? No.

18. What types of projects should be funded through bonds for economic development, and what types of projects should not be supported? Good ones should be supported and bad ones should not.

19. Do you favor proposing bonds to fund capital costs, or do you favor pay-as-you-go? Damn, Joe. These questions are killing me.

20. Do you favor giving special, increased standing to Action Greensboro and/or the Greensboro Partnership in the formulation of policy decisions? No. However, I am sure whatever policy I create will be loved by Action Greensboro and The Greensboro Partnership.

21. Do you support bringing the city attorney under the control of the City Council? Yes.

22. Do you favor providing taxpayer money to Action Greensboro or the Greensboro Partnership? See answer to question 2.

A city of two tales

The following video is from last Greensboro City Council meeting that took place last Monday. The Greensboro City Council usually meets on Tuesday. However, they changed the meeting to Monday because National Night Out was on a Tuesday. This change was made so council members would be able to attend National Night Out.

In the video Trudy Wade asks the Chief Tim Bellamy about a neighborhood that was being rocked with violence.

Bellamy reports to Wade his department was fully aware of the situation and the police have "canvassed the area."

On the day of National Night Out, the area Wade asked Bellamy about is once again rocked with violence. This time, a 16 year old kid was murdered in the middle of the day.



I wonder what "canvassing the area" was supposed to accomplish? I heard of the news and thought it was very sad but really did not have all of the details at that time. I worked the National Night Out event at East Side Park and while I was having fun frying fish and talking to people, I could not help but wonder what kind of National Night Out event the Hickory Trails community was having. I was disappointed when I learned they did not have one.

It was late Tuesday night when I thought of the idea of having a National Night Out event for Hickory Trails. I thought it was a great idea that would show the community that the rest of Greensboro cares about them. On Wednesday morning I called Chief Tim Bellamy and pitched my idea to him. He agreed with me fully and assured me that the department would back me up. I then called Mayor Yvonne Johnson, Councilman Robbie Perkins and Councilwoman Trudy Wade. Everyone was in agreement with me. It was at this point that I contacted council candidates Ryan Shell and Nancy Vaughan and they fully supported the idea.

I decided that I would call the News and Record and tell them of my idea and they helped get the word out about the event. Later that day I got the following email from Donna Gray of the City of Greensboro.

Wed, Aug 5, 2009 4:29 pm

The Southern Community Resource Team went out earlier and talked with the property management of Hickory Trails. They have questions and some concerns and would like to talk to you. The contact at Greensboro Housing Authority is Lee Staton, 275-8501. They have not issued permission for the event on their grounds. The permission will be contingent upon your conversation with Mr. Staton. Thanks.

I called Donna to get a little more information and she told me that the Greensboro Housing Authority wanted to talk to me. She further explained that the folks at the housing authority were concerned that something "celebratory" taking place could negatively impact the grieving family. At the time, all of that seemed valid and I respected the request. I tried to contact Mr. Staton but was unsuccessful. Because of this, I called the Mayor and asked her to attempt to contact the folks at the housing authority and she agreed to do so. I called Donna Gray to let her know the Mayor was going to participate in the conversation.

Later that night, on the way to my daughter's birthday party, I got a call from Robbie Perkins to inform me that the Mayor had talked to the Greensboro Housing Authority's Executive Director Tina Akers Brown. Perkins reported to me that Akers wanted to talk to me. I got her phone number and called the number several times during my daughter's birthday party. Tina never answered my calls.

Today I woke up today and began calling the housing authority and asked for Tina and Mr. Staton. I was unable to get in touch with them after several attempts. Later on I got a call from Mayor Johnson wanting to know if I was still going to do the event. She told me that she had gotten approval from the housing authority and I needed to call them and let them know of the plan. I called them back and was still unable to reach anyone other than a secretary.

I told the person on the phone that the event was still on and asked her to please pass that information along. I then called Greensboro City Manager, Bob Morgan to update him. Morgan told me that he was advising council to stay away and he did not want the event to take place. He cited the grieving family/community not wanting the event and the threat of danger as his reasons. I reluctantly agreed to stand down and Morgan thanked me and told me that the event I was planning was really making him nervous.

The News and Record put out a story about the event being canceled and Mr. Morgan's reasons for working to stop the event were printed.

City Council candidates had planned to hold a belated National Night Out event in the neighborhood Thursday, but it was canceled to allow residents and the family time to grieve. “You need to respect the neighborhood’s wishes. If they know they aren’t ready for something, you help them work through the issue,” said interim City Manager Bob Morgan.

I had recieved a few calls from people that live at Hickory Trails and around Hickory Trails that wanted to participate in the event. I called them back and told them it was being canceled because the city reported the community did not want the event. They responded by saying they felt the community would enjoy the event and did not know of anyone from the city or the housing authority that had asked their opinion of the event.

National Night Out is described by the City of Greensboro as an event that is designed to do the following.

1. Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness

2. Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs

3. Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships

4. Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back

According to the city web site,

"Greensboro was one of 26 cities nationwide with a population of between 100,000 – 299,999 to be recognized nationally for its support of NNO. The City and department have been recognized 11 years, ten consecutive years since 1993."

I tried to stop thinking about the cancellation of the event because I was getting frustrated by the contradicting statements. I kept telling myself that the city could have talked to the family and the family could have voiced concern about the event. However, thanks to Ryan Shell (click to see the entire film. Ryan showed tremendous heart by doing this) we now know that the mother of the murder victim had no problem with the event taking place. Watch the clip from Ryan's film below.



Now review Bob Morgan's statement in the News and Record:

“You need to respect the neighborhood’s wishes. If they know they aren’t ready for something, you help them work through the issue,” said interim City Manager Bob Morgan.

What were the neighborhood's wishes? When did Bob or anyone else ask the family if they were for or against the event? Who decided the community wasn't ready for this type of event? It appears that the city and the housing authority have completely ignored the family's urgent cries for help and have now reduced themselves to putting words in their mouth. The community needed and wanted the event. The city and the housing authority worked hard to find reasons that the event should not take place. I am going to take a break for a few days.

Who did not celebrate National Night Out Update

The idea was born once I confirmed that Hickory Trails did not have a National Night Out event.

The News and Record helped me get the word out.

I contacted as many people as I could and continue to do so.

Currently, we have raised over $100 and we are still counting. We will need more and I think we will get it!

People that have supported this event and plan to attend are: Mayor Yvonne Johnson, Councilwoman Trudy Wade, At Large Council Candidates Ryan Shell and Nancy Vaughan (Nancy is pictured right dropping off some coolers at my house a few minutes ago).

I have heard from some folks about volunteering and donating tables and grills. Marie Stamey is letting me use her fryer.

GPD CRT Officers are getting the word out as I type. I think this in going to be a really good thing for Hickory Trails.

Donna Gray with the City of Greensboro is volunteering her time (off of the clock) to make sure this thing goes well. Donna Gray is one great lady!

Ryan Shell just called and has gotten The Fresh Market on board with a donation.

Who did not celebrate National Night Out?

This apartment complex has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. While most neighborhoods were celebrating National Night Out this community was not. They sat silent, shaken and feeling ignored. Because of this, the Elect Ben Holder Project is calling members of the Greensboro City Council, Hickory Trails Apartment complex as well as the Chief of Police. The reason I am calling these folks is to get organized to produce a National Night Out event at the Hickory Trails Apartment complex. It does not matter that it is going to be a few days after the official National Night Out, what matters is we get to that community. If you would like to help with this, please call me at 336-671-0624 or email me at ben@electbenholder.com. This area is not in District 1 and has nothing to do with my campaign. It is just me working to make all of Greensboro feel included.

National Night Out at East Side Park: Chief Bellamy missed my fish.

I worked with the organizers of the East Side Park National Night Out event tonight and had a great time. I was honored to be in charge of the fish frying. I went to Tri-City Fish Market on Florida Street and got a 10 lb. block of whiting. I arrived at the East Side Park Community Center with my two kids ready to go to work at about 4:45pm. I went into the center and introduced myself to everyone and began to get my cooking station ready! They aleady had one block of whiting ready at the center when I arrived. That is 20 lbs. of fish.

Once the grease reached the perfect fish frying temperature, I began to drop that fish and we got busy. I easily fried 150 pieces of fish and loved every minute of it. I had a great time and so did my kids.

I really love being back in Greensboro. The pictures I took are: the fish being fried, the fried fish, Cameron and Graham (my kids) and East Side Park President Marie Stamey, Robbie Perkins and Graham, Easy Side Park event volunteers with my kids and Jack Cho and I.

Everyone that volunteered for the event did a great job and the event was successful. The Greensboro Police Department was well represented. However, Tim Bellamy showed up after I had already left and the fish was long gone. My fish was eaten as soon as it came out of the grease. The truth of the matter is I can fry fish. I am arguably the best fish fryer in the world. If you don't believe me ask Robbie Perkins or Trey Davis.

I have invited Chief Bellamy to all of my fish frying events at my house and he has rejected every invitation. However, we have talked about frying fish. Chief Bellamy seems to believe that he can fry fish better than me and has flat out told me so. He thinks he can beat me because he cuts a white potato in half and puts it in the grease with the fish. He thinks this does something to prevent the fish from burning.

I have laughed at his suggestion and have never tried it. I don't need a potato to help me fry fish. I have told him on many occasions that we could get it on any time and anywhere for a fish fry showdown. Chief Bellamy has failed to respond to my challenges. He has reported to me that he is from Eastern North Carolina and I am just a city boy from Greensboro. Because of this, Chief Bellamy thinks he has an edge. What Tim Bellamy fails to realize is I learned how to fry fish from a mature Louisiana woman right next to the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. I have also studied the art under the tutelage of Mrs. Viki Kilimanjaro. I have fried many a fish on her back porch.

Today when I talked to Chief Bellamy he assured me he was coming to East Side Park and was going to get some of my fish. I knew that if he tasted my fish he would be forced to admit that he could not top my fish frying ability, even with a sliced potato.

I fried many pieces of fish from 5:45-7:00pm. At 7:15pm all of the fish I had cooked was gone and we were running on hot dogs. I began to clean up, gather my kids and wished everyone a goodnight at about 7:30pm. After I got home I received information that Chief Bellamy arrived at the East Side Park event after I left. There was no fish for Chief Bellamy to eat at the time of his arrival.

I talked to many people and even got some votes! Dianne Bellamy Small aint to popular around there. However, I am. I also ran into a few guys I went to jr. high with. I heard the issues the community is facing and I will begin working on them immediately. The number one complaint I heard is there are lots of robberies in the area. The second complaint was the crack cocaine issue. Ironically, a driver of an SUV was chased by police cars through the neighborhood hours before National Night Out began. He was seen throwing drugs out of the window as he attempted to evade police. The chase was short and the man was arrested.

Working to create better neighborhoods

A complaint from the District 1 Hot line directed the Elect Ben Holder Project to the corner of Union and Gregory Street in Glenwood. The area was occupied by three big eyesores. One of the houses (not pictured) was open and on bricks. I saw at least one person scurry out of the house and heard that many used the house as a crack cocaine smoking location.

The other two houses on the corner were closed but someone had written "crack house" on them. It was and continues to be a burden to the surrounding area. I began to communicate with city staff to request immediate assistance. Today, the house on bricks that was once a crack smoking location is now secured and boarded shut. Tomorrow, I will make an official complaint and report the "crack house" written on the two houses as graffiti. Hopefully, it will be removed soon!