A Letter To The Editor From Rhino Times Reader Nicky Smith
Taking a Stand for Accountability and Safer Streets in Greensboro. As we move forward, I’d like to share a few critical updates:
- Addressing Crime and Accountability in Greensboro
In January 2024, John Hammer reported in the Rhino Times that the City Council approved over $1 million in funding for nonprofits through the Community Violence Intervention and Interruption Project. According to a report in the Rhino Times, these funds were allocated to nonprofits linked to Council members, yet this approach has shown no measurable impact on reducing crime in Greensboro. In fact, crime has increased over the past year. I firmly believe that public safety cannot be improved through misdirected or ineffective spending. The City Council must ensure that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, prioritizing initiatives with proven results, rather than supporting pet projects that may benefit Council members but fail to address our community’s challenges.
I will attend [a recent] City Council meeting to advocate for a more transparent and effective approach to public safety funding. Your voices are critical—let’s demand accountability together.
- Filling the Vacant City Council Seat
As you may have seen in the news, Yvonne Johnson’s vacant seat will be filled on January 28th. I am honored to have applied for this position to serve our community until the next election. While others, including Ms. Johnson’s son, have expressed interest in the seat, I firmly believe that Greensboro needs fresh leadership, innovative ideas, and a commitment to progress—not a continuation of the status quo. With over 45 years of business leadership and a passion for Greensboro, I am confident I can bring meaningful change to the Council.
I deeply resonate with Councilman Hugh Holston’s remarks: “Greensboro needs someone that has a passion for Greensboro and who’s willing to listen.” I have this passion and will always listen to your voices, consider opposing perspectives, and prioritize solutions that benefit everyone in our city.
- Join Me on This Journey
As I work toward earning this appointment and continue my campaign for the District 4 seat this fall, I need your help to spread the word about our mission for a better Greensboro. If you are able, please consider making a donation to support my campaign. Together, we can bring transparency, integrity, and accountability to our great city.
Thank you once again for your encouragement and support. Let’s continue building a Greensboro we can all be proud of. I post news to my website and encourage you to read my news and updates at https://nickyforgreensboro.com/news/ Please feel free to share your thoughts or reach out if you’d like to get more involved.
If you have friends that would like to receive my updates on the Greensboro City Council and News encourage them to join this list at https://nickyforgreensboro.com/newsletter/
Warm regards,
Nicky Smith
Email me at: nicky@nickyforgreensboro.com
(336) 338-4860 iPhone
I wish Nicky Smith all the luck in the world but I personally believe this appointment/election/anointment and the upcoming election is a pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Thank you, Alan, for sharing your thoughts. It’s crucial that the City Council makes a wise and thoughtful decision, prioritizing qualifications, experience, and a genuine commitment to serving the community. Appointing someone unqualified would be a disservice to the residents who depend on effective leadership. I believe leadership should always be earned through hard work, engagement, and the ability to address the challenges our community faces. I appreciate your concern and hope the process reflects the values and expectations of our community.
“. . .these funds were allocated to nonprofits linked to Council members. . . .”
Yes, everyone knows the politicians will always have money to be passed out to their favorite people, which includes handing it to those who worked on the campaigns. My guess is all of those people who worked on the liberal campaigns for the current office holders were probably told “how to do it’ with 501-C (3) organizations, which means they will get real dollars for their support of the campaigns of the liberals. . . .er um, democrats.
Actually, it’s a scam to get walking around money. See how this works?
Joe and Alan, while I agree 100%, I recommend people look up the word ‘nepotism’.
Transparency and accountability in how public funds are allocated are absolutely critical to maintaining trust in local government. Nonprofits play an important role in our community, but the process for distributing funds should be fair, impartial, and focused on serving the public good—not political interests. It’s essential to ensure that any allocation of funds is done with clear oversight and accountability, so taxpayers can trust that their money is being used appropriately and ethically. I support efforts to bring greater transparency to these processes to avoid any appearance of favoritism or misuse.