Jordan Lake Rules: Good for Greensboro?

I give Greensboro Mayor Bill Knight and City Council member Zack Matheny credit for going to Raleigh and requesting a delay in implementing the Jordan Lake Rules. Sen. Don Vaughan was just as noncommittal as he was earlier this month, saying more or less he’ll think it over.

Sewer plant improvements could run between $70-$80 million, which would necessitate a raise in water rates or a property tax increase. With that in mind, remember what city water chief Allan Williams told* the City Council not quite four years ago as the bill was being making its way through the legislature:

“I cannot in good conscience, after 30 years of being in this business and in this position, sit here and tell you that what this bill is going to do is going to achieve anything near the benefit that the state proposes,” Williams concluded. “They’re making no guarantees that any of this billion dollars will achieve what they say the desired effect is.”

Yet Environment North Carolina director Elizabeth Ouzts says “(c)leaning up Jordan Lake means cleaning up the streams that feed it, which is good for Greensboro residents.” Seems like a tough sell these days.

*Allan Williams’ comments were during the July 17, 2007 City Council meeting, which can be found here. Item 49 on the agenda.

Alamance sheriff’s 287(g) report

Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson made a presentation to county commissioners on enforcement of the federal 287(g) law, which has stirred quite a bit of controversy, not to mention a Department of Justice investigation.

Lots of figures here. Bottom line is —- according to Johnson —- not all suspected illegal immigrants in the county jail were arrested by sheriff’s deputies. Many are arrested by other law enforcement agencies inside Alamance County, not mention those detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Board chair Linda Massey “said that she was pleased with the 287 (g) program’s results,” while Commissioner Tim Sutton said he was “proud of what we are accomplishing…..I know it’s curbed crime.”

Dem schizophrenia

More on Governor Bev Perdue’s veto of SB 13, from JLF president John Hood:

I’ll shed employees, cut services, and raise taxes, Perdue is telling the voters of North Carolina, but I refuse to cut corporate welfare.

This is a strategy for political recovery? Add in the fact that the giveaway programs Perdue used her veto to protect – such as Golden LEAF and Job Development Investment Grants (JDIG) – were set up by a disgraced former governor, Mike Easley, from whom Perdue needs to be running away as fast as possible, and you have a political mess.

The irony, Hood notes, is while Perdue is sticking up for big business, Democrats in other states —– not to mention President Obama —– are sticking up for labor unions. Problem is, Hood concludes, is both institutions are suffering image problems with your average voter.

Forsyth elections board clears director

The Forsyth County Board of Elections has determined there is no credible evidence that director Rob Coffman engaged in voter fraud.

Board members refused to make specifics of their closed-door meeting public.