Juneteenth, June 19, will be a holiday for employees of the City of Greensboro beginning in 2021, following action taken by the City Council at the meeting Tuesday, July 21.
Adding a new holiday for city employees was not on the agenda but was brought up by Councilmember Sharon Hightower at the end of the meeting when councilmembers are given a few minutes to talk about whatever they want.
In explaining why she wanted Juneteenth to be a holiday, Hightower said, “I think in the climate that we have lived in there are things that we have been missing and this will allow us an opportunity to learn more about the culture that people don’t know a lot about and when we reflect back on slavery and such negative times, I think we need to learn about that history and learn how there are good positive things that go on and the fact that we have a long way to go in eradicating discrimination and racism. And I think if we celebrate Juneteenth it gives us an opportunity to have those discussions among each other.”
City Manager David Parrish has sent a short memo to city councilmembers about how the city celebrated Juneteenth this year that also notes that Wake County and the states of New York and Virginia recognize Juneteenth as a holiday.
The memo from Parrish states, “HR [Human Resources] has suggested that we consider making this date an official paid holiday. The City currently recognizes 9 holidays annually with 12 paid days off, as Christmas and Thanksgiving observe multiple days. This proposal would be in keeping with our community’s rich civil rights history. HR estimates with holiday premiums for hours worked during this day, the cost to the organization in additional expenses would be around $25,000.”
After Hightower made the motion for Juneteenth to be a paid holiday, Councilmember Justin Outling said that while he fully supported the holiday, “My preference would be to have the information from the staff.”
Parrish said that the item could be placed on the agenda for the August meeting, but that he did not anticipate having much additional information to provide.
Councilmember Michelle Kennedy said she supported the Juneteenth holiday but would also like to see city employees get time off to vote.
Hightower said, “Let Juneteenth stand on its own.”
Hightower added, “We really need to focus on doing it for the right reason. We don’t want to get into whether this is a nickel or dime issue.”
Outling said that as long as there was no additional information, “I’m fine on voting on it tonight.”
Mayor Nancy Vaughan said, “I’d rather go ahead and do it this evening.”
The City Council voted 9-0 to make Juneteenth a holiday for city employees.
Must be nice to have more paid holidays than private sector workers.
“More paid holidays”..? I work in the Productive Sector (private sector) and I receive ZERO paid holidays.
I don’t work – I don’t get paid.
Isn’t that how it should be for everyone?
You don’t agree with this? The only ones to blame for Council’s inept and pandering social agenda is no one except apathetic voters that reside in the City.
Botom line is those few voters who took the time to do so are getting exactly what they expected and wished for. If there even is a “majority” that has other ideas about fiscal intergrity, observance of law and respect for the lives and property of all residents they are going to have to proactively select candidates, support them and vote for them.
It is past time to take responsility for qualified representation and realize their actions affect everyone who has anything invested in the City. Every city that has succumbed to the failed school of liberal theology has bankrupted itself both morally and financially. High crime and high taxes is the rule, rather than the exception and people are stuck there as the resulting impact on property values make it impossible to get out.
It is not too late for Greensboro but about 14% or so of the mostly ‘woke’ voters are influencing how the whole population of GSO is governed, what their taxes are used for and which fringe groups are being catered to.
Right on! You can blame any Pol you want, pick one. The uninformed and apathetic voters are responsible. The right people are available, if the voter will elect them.
Propose raising the Medicare & SS ages of eligibility, for it is the right thing to do. People are living much longer, and healthier, than they were in 1940, or 1966. In 1940, few made it to 65. Try winning an election with this platform. Try winning an election with cuts in spending to balance the budget & reduce the national debt.
And how are our children brain….uh, educated now?
We are now going to repeat the mistakes of the past, again.
Christopher Rees, you are absolutely correct. The cost of the additional paid holiday goes to the taxpayers, not the city council, so we (the taxpayers) are paying for employees to NOT WORK, and if they do on this day, they are to get “Double Time” ! This is a complete ripoff of the Greensboro taxpayers, but we get no say. This is like a company having the employees decide to get another paid holiday, without getting the OK from the Company. This is pure “THEFT” !
More pandering to the liberal voting class of Greensboro!
Absolutely Correct Mr. Thornhill !
So MLK day isn’t enough – now another day to celebrate black people. Why don’t we take Washington’s birthday or Lincoln’s birthday as holidays. What about a day to reflect and recognize Jews and the Holocaust? Why not a holiday to reflect and recognize all the white men (Bryans, Reynolds, and others) who have built this city? I know why we don’t. The groups I mention have NO REPRESENTATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL!! And it would RACIST to recognize anyone not gay or black.
David, you hit the nail on the head, they just want more and more and more. I anticipate the city council giving more to the employees (which are predominately minorities) more holidays, more benefits, pay raises, all to satisfy this I want, I Demand, attitude. We have always heard that government employees do not receive as much pay as the private sector, but the truth is with their benefits packages, and paid holidays, and leave days, and such, they are probable making more. And I have never seen in the private sector a job where one man is working and three are watching! In my experience in the private sector, there would be three openings, as these others would have been fired !
They are unaccountable.
The Parasite Sector (public sector) loves paid holidays! And why not? Small business owners like me are the suckers who pay for theor leisure – even as my business striggles to survive. But they’re not worried! They are perfectly insulated from economic reality.
Mr. Rees, love your terminology; “Parasite Sector” . I need to remember that one, and you point is absolutely valid !!!
Another idea could be to allow a choice of holidays but not every one can be taken. Same number of holidays as is given today, but you elect which ones you want.
By the way, if you want to see how the media manipulate us rather than inform us, consider the total lack of public opinion polling regarding the removal of historic statues from public places.
They’re not doing the polling (or not publishing them) because they know the result.
I think each member of the city council and mayor should be forced to read about slavery and how that so many of them became very successful in America. Black people were self sufficient in almost all facets of US economy including doctors schools ,etc .Then when Lyndon Johnson became President replacing Kennedy.Poverty was at lowest point in the last 100 years .Johnson started the deal to get all blacks signed up to vote Democratic because they were to give blacks everything they wanted an ask for .This occurred every 4 years and the blacks being so gullible kept believing and vote Democratic .This is how the Democratic Party has kept them locked in to that party.We have poverty that is rampant in most all cities.When will the blacks learn that The Democratic Party LIES all the time about them and how they are Puppets to the party.The same thing will happen Nov.2,2020 ,when Dems will promise everything including the kitchen sink,and not come through.Then we wait Nother 4 Years and the same thing will happen with Dems and black voters.Did Joe Biden day if you vote for Donald Trump then you are not BLACK!How ridiculous is that??? And there will be three fourths of blCks that will vote Democrat,because that’s what they are expected to do !!!Wise up folks vote Joe in and taxes will go up by 30-40 %,and jobs will get scarce.Companies will move overseas again.
Is this only county city workers or county worker as well?