Interesting that in today’s litigious society that it’s the lack of legal action — most notably from the U.S. Department of Justice, which loves to sue local governments — that leaves intact the mess that is the Guilford County Commissioners new district map, which as drawn leaves 43,000 voters without representation:
The county is just now deciding how to handle logistical problems with the law.
County Attorney Mark Payne said that’s because the county never expected it to get this far —just over three weeks before the filing date for commissioners’ races –without those issues being cleared up.
“I fully expected a lawsuit,” Payne said of the map of new voting districts at a Board of elections meeting Tuesday. “Then either a judge would give direction or the state would clarify some of this.”
The N&R’s Doug Clark calls on the General Assembly to fix this “monstrosity,” “which after all violates one of our nation’s founding principles of no taxation without representation…”
Help me out here, but in today’s society when anybody can sue anybody, can Guilford County not file suit on that basis alone?
Read full article » No Comments »The Greensboro City Council last night approved a forgivable no-interest $100,000 loan to assist Deep Roots Market’s move to a new downtown location.
Do I even need to say the vote was 8-1, with council member Trudy Wade casting the lone ‘no’ vote? Note the comment beneath the N&R article stating “(t)his is a meeting worth watching again.’ We’ll be watching this meeting again alright, like a regular Groundhog Day.
Read full article » No Comments »A thank you to Iredell County Commissioners from a concerned citizen about an hour east down Interstate 40:
The Iredell Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday night against a plan for the proposed $452 million Red Line Regional Rail project, raising questions about the project’s future.
Commissioners said the draft business plan lacks details and will lead to higher taxes. Iredell’s opposition ultimately could block the rail line, but officials still hope to address their concerns.
Iredell commissioners cited national studies showing how cities often underestimate the cost of new rail lines and consequently have to scale down their plans. In the Red Line’s case, they said, Iredell County could end up paying for a line that ends far south of the county line.
“I will not subject the citizens of the county to insanity like this,” commissioners Chairman Steve Johnson said.
This state needs a rail line running by Lake Norman like it needs —- insert your cliche’.
Read full article » No Comments »