In the past, the Guilford County budget process – when it comes to funding non-profits – has always worked this way: The county manager, along with a staff committee, has gone through the applications from non-profits and community-based organizations, such as various YMCAs, art foundations, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, and many others asking for funding. Then, the county commissioners held public work sessions to decide which groups would get taxpayer money and which would not…
Read MoreAuthor: John Hammer
About John Hammer
Here are my most recent posts
Retire, Retiring, Retired
Posted by John Hammer | May 31, 2024 | News
The last day I worked for the Rhino Times was March 29, or that was the last day I worked as editor. Since March 29, I have been editor in name only, and Scott Yost has been writing and editing the Rhino Times….
Read MoreE-Scooters And E-Bikes Return To Greensboro
Posted by John Hammer | Apr 15, 2024 | News, Uncategorized
On Monday, April 15, the City of Greensboro announced that it has issued an operator permit to Bird Rides Inc., a company that will offer electric scooters and bikes for rent inside the city limits of Greensboro…
Read MoreFamily Justice Center Gets Large Violence Against Women Grant
Posted by John Hammer | Apr 15, 2024 | News
The Guilford County Family Justice Center was created largely to reduce violence against women in Guilford County and this week the center is receiving a grant that should help a great deal in that effort…
Read MoreAfter Six Terms In The NC Legislature Hardister Announces His Resignation
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 29, 2024 | News
District 59 North Carolina state Rep. Jon Hardister has submitted his resignation to the NC House and will officially resign on Monday, April 8.
Read MoreCity Attempting To Move Horse Back In Front Of Cart
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 28, 2024 | News
The City Council will begin an effort to move the horse back in front of the cart as far as the policy on the extension of water and sewer service goes at the work session on Tuesday, March 28.
Read MoreGreensboro’s Population Growth Anemic Compared To Peer Cities In NC
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 27, 2024 | News
Good news and bad news for Greensboro can be found in the latest population figures from the North Carolina Office of State Management and Budget.
Read MoreThe Incomplete Downtown Greenway Considered A Success By City Council
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 26, 2024 | News
What would a “State of the City” event be without some humor.
Read MoreState Of The City Through Rose Colored Glasses
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 25, 2024 | Editorials, News
According to the “2024 State of the City Address” by Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan last week, Greensboro is doing great.
Read MoreBoom Takes To The Air With Test Flight Of XB-1
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 22, 2024 | News
On Friday, March 22, Boom Supersonic announced a major milestone in the development of a supersonic passenger jet.
Read MoreCity Newsletter Ignores Resignation Of City Manager
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 22, 2024 | News
The Gist is the City of Greensboro’s monthly e-newsletter that bills itself as “Your short and sweet digest of the biggest City news and happenings.
Read MoreCity Council Discusses But Doesn’t Name The Elephant In The Room
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 21, 2024 | News
If there was an award for ignoring the elephant in the room, the Greensboro City Council would win a gold medal.
Read MoreAfter Two Years People Still Puzzled By greensboro Slogan
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 20, 2024 | News
The slogan was introduced almost two years ago, but many people are still puzzled by the sign pictured above. What does “greensboro, You’re Welcome” mean?
Read MoreMayor Has ‘No Idea’ When Children Will Arrive At Old Hebrew Academy
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 19, 2024 | News
The Old American Hebrew Academy, now the Influx Care Facility Greensboro Children’s Center was declared operational by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) on March 15.
Read MoreCity Already Becoming More Open And Friendly
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 18, 2024 | Editorials, News
Greensboro City Clerk Angie Lord announced, on Friday, March 15, 10 days after former City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba resigned, that the media would once again have designated seats at a table for City Council meetings.
Read MoreSellers Remorse Is Big News In Irving Park House Demolition
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 15, 2024 | News
Buyer’s remorse is fairly commo, seller’s remorse not so much. However, in Greensboro, a case of seller’s remorse has hit the front page. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter has made her case of seller’s remorse well known, with interviews and a letter to the editor in the Friday, March 15 News & Record.
Read MoreCity Doesn’t Get Much In Separation Agreement With Jaiyeoba
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 14, 2024 | News
When the Greensboro City Council by a 5-4 vote agreed to give former City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba three months of salary and benefits, he had already resigned and was not a city employee.
Read MoreMultimillion Dollar House On Country Club Drive Coming Down
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 13, 2024 | News
It’s Wednesday, March 13, and the multimillion dollar home at 710 Country Club Dr. is coming down.
Read MoreCouncilmembers Keeping Jaiyeoba Resignation Scandal Alive
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 12, 2024 | News
At least two city councilmembers want to keep the story of former City manager Tai Jaiyeoba suddenly resigning front and center in the news.
Read MoreReason For Former City Manager’s Sudden Resignation Revealed
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 11, 2024 | News
Former City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba resigned because the City Council had been presented with evidence that he had violated the city’s sexual harassment policy, according to unnamed sources.
Read MoreMayor Vaughan Continues Fight For Opaqueness
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 11, 2024 | Editorials, News
With the editorial column in the News & Record on Sunday, March 10, Mayor Nancy Vaughan proves she is consistent.
Read MoreMatheny Calls For An Investigation Of Former City Manager Jaiyeoba
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 8, 2024 | Featured Article, News
City Councilmember Zack Matheny had some choice words about the press release titled “City of Greensboro Statement,” shortly after it was released at 4:57 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, and later he called for a full investigation.
Read More‘City Of Greensboro’ Refutes What Mayor And Councilmember Have Said About Jaiyeoba’s Resignation
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 7, 2024 | News
The City of Greensboro issued a statement on Thursday, March 7 refuting what Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Councilmember Tammi Thurm have said about the resignation of former City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba.
Read MoreMisplaced Decimal Point In N&R Article Causes Stir At City Hall
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 7, 2024 | News
An article in the News & Record had the upper management for the City of Greensboro all in a stir on Wednesday, March 6, and it had nothing to do with the resignation of former City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba.
Read MoreUnanswered Questions Remain About Jaiyeoba’s Sudden Resignation
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 6, 2024 | News
It is being reported that the sudden resignation of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba is related to the domestic disturbance at his home on Dec. 28, 2023 and the police response to the 911 calls.
Read MoreNo Reason Given For City Manager’s Resignation
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 5, 2024 | News
The resignation of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on Tuesday, March 5 is puzzling.
Read MoreCity Manager Tai Jaiyeoba Has Resigned
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 5, 2024 | News
At 6:12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba submitted his letter of resignation while the City Council was meeting and listening to speakers from the floor.
Read MoreRumors Abound That City Manager Will Be Terminated By City Council On March 5
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 5, 2024 | News
The Greensboro City Council is holding a closed session at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, prior to the regular meeting that begins at 5:30 p.m.
Read MorePolice Chief Announces City Will Appeal Court Ordered BWC Video Release
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 4, 2024 | News
Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson at a press conference at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 4 announced that the city would appeal the court order to release the body-worn camera (BWC) videos of the domestic disturbance at the home of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on Dec. 28, 2023.
Read MoreCarroll Companies’ Sign On Eugene Street Removed And Returned
Posted by John Hammer | Mar 1, 2024 | News
In January 2022, business owners on North Greene Street complained about the street being closed without notice and got the City Council to reopen the street.
Read MoreJaiyeoba’s Motion In BWC Video Release Case Has Puzzling Timeline
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 29, 2024 | News
On Monday, Feb. 26, North Carolina Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour signed an order for the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) to release, by Monday, March 4, the body-worn camera (BWC) videos from the GPD officers who responded to 911 calls reporting a domestic disturbance at the home of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on Dec. 28, 2023.
Read MoreA New Attorney Attempting To Intervene In BWC Case Involving City Manager
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 28, 2024 | News
Despite the fact that the order by Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour ordering the release of the body-worn camera (BWC) videos from Dec. 28, 2023 at the home of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba has been signed, the case might not be over yet.
Read MoreRhino Endorsements In Republican Primary
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 27, 2024 | Editorials, News
The Rhino Endorsements this year are a different than in past elections.
Read MoreOrder Signed To Release BWC Videos From Response To City Manager’s Home
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 27, 2024 | News
The order to release the body-worn camera (BWC) videos of the domestic disturbance incident at the home of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on the night of Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2023 has been signed by North Carolina Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour.
Read MoreCourt Documents Confirm That Jaiyeoba’s Shoulder Was Dislocated
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 26, 2024 | News
A draft of the court order to release the police body-worn camera (BWC) videos from the “physical domestic disturbance” at the home of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on the night of Wednesday, Dec. 28 confirms that at least one rumor about the incident is true.
Read MoreSend Mark Walker Back To Congress
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 26, 2024 | Editorials, News
A lot of Greensboro voters will most likely go to the polls only to find out that they are not in the 6th Congressional District. Most of Greensboro was moved to the 5th District in the latest redistricting.
Read MoreRelease Date Of Police BWC Videos Of Jaiyeoba Incident Moved Up A Week
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 22, 2024 | News
Good news for the regular folks who would like to see the police body-worn camera (BWC) videos from the Greensboro police officers who responded to 911 calls about domestic violence at the home of Greensboro City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on the night of Dec. 28, 2023.
Read MoreGreensboro Asked That BWC Video Hearing Be Reconvened
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 21, 2024 | News
The Greensboro City Council really, really doesn’t want the people of Greensboro to see the police body-worn camera (BWC) videos of Dec. 28, 2023, when Greensboro police officers responded to 911 calls reporting domestic violence at the home of City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba.
Read MoreJudge Orders Release Of BWC Videos Concerning City Manager
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 20, 2024 | News
The Greensboro City Council gives a lot of lip service to being transparent. But, as the recent events involving City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba prove, it’s all talk.
Read More‘I Am Shocked, Shocked’ About Police Response To City Manager’s House
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 19, 2024 | Editorials, News
Reading the Greensboro Police Department press release about the response to 911 calls from the home of City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba brings to mind a similar police response in the classic movie Casablanca.
Read MorePolice Press Release On Response To Jaiyeoba’s Home A Marvel Of Obfuscation
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 19, 2024 | News
The Greensboro Police Department confirmed in a press release that City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba did call Police Chief John Thompson on Dec. 28, 2023, when police officers were responding to 911 calls from Jaiyeoba’s home.
Read MoreCity Council Declares Nothing To See In BWC Videos
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 16, 2024 | News
The Greensboro City Council is trying a new tactic to cover up whatever happened at the home of City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on Dec. 28, which resulted in four Greensboro police officers and Guilford County Emergency Medical Services responding to a 911 call.
Read MoreCity Council Held No Meeting And Took No Vote On BWC Video Release
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 15, 2024 | News
The Greensboro City Council has found a unique way around the North Carolina Open Meetings Law.
Read MoreCity Council Retreating To Bennett College This Week
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 14, 2024 | News
The Greensboro City Council will be going on its annual two-day retreat on Thursday, Feb. 15 and Friday, Feb. 16.
Read MoreOnly City Council Can View BWC Videos Of Incident Involving City Manager
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 13, 2024 | News
Despite the wishes of Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, it doesn’t appear the domestic violence incident involving City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on Dec. 28, 2023 is going away any time soon.
Read MoreMayor’s Statement On City Manager Ignores Coverup
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 12, 2024 | News
Mayor Nancy Vaughan issued the following statement in support of City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba on Friday, Feb. 9:
Read MorePartnership Homes Offers To Transfer Ownership Of Regency To City
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 12, 2024 | News
And yet another twist in the Regency Inn debacle.
Read MoreStep Up Changes Its Tune On Current Projects
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 8, 2024 | News
What a difference a $100 million lawsuit makes. The president and CEO of Step Up on Second, Todd Lipka, spoke and answered questions from Greensboro city councilmembers via Zoom at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Read MorePartnership Homes, The Owner Of The Regency Inn, Enters Into Discussion
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 8, 2024 | News
In the lengthy discussions about the development of the Regency Inn property, one principal entity has been left out, Partnership Homes Inc., the owner of the property.
Read MoreCity Manager Revises History Of Regency Inn Project
Posted by John Hammer | Feb 7, 2024 | News
When City Councilmember Sharon Hightower and City Councilmember Zack Matheny agree that a project has huge problems, you better believe the project has huge problems.
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