On Tuesday, April 6, the Greensboro City Council plans to give a surplus van to the Interactive Resource Center (IRC).
The donation is item 14 on the April 6 meeting agenda, which lists NC General Statute 160A-280 as giving the city the authority to make this gift.
The IRC provides services for the homeless population during the day, and the executive director of the IRC is City Councilmember Michelle Kennedy.
While it is legal for the City Council to donate surplus city property to a nonprofit with certain restrictions, it is unusual for the city to donate a surplus vehicle to a nonprofit.
According to city staff, it has been done in the past, but examples of other nonprofit organizations in Greensboro that have received free vehicles from the city could not be immediately found.
Obtaining a free van from the City of Greensboro for the IRC pales in comparison to the contract that City Councilmember Yvonne Johnson negotiated with the city for One Step Further, the nonprofit where she is executive director.
One Step Further has received about $900,000 from the City of Greensboro during the past two years to run the Cure Violence program.
The main purpose of the first meeting of the month is to hold the public forum that the City Council is required by state law to hold at least once a month. The public forum is commonly called “speakers from the floor,” when anyone can come before the City Council and speak about the topic of their choosing.
Also on the agenda for the April 6 meeting is a resolution approving the sale of property by the Redevelopment Commission of Greensboro at the intersection of South Elm Street and Gate City Boulevard to developers for the next stage of the Union Square campus. This item was on the agenda for the Feb. 16 and the March 16 meetings of the City Council but was continued both times.
The land sale was continued from the March 16 meeting at the request of Mayor Nancy Vaughan, who stated she wanted to hold a work session to discuss the development before voting on it at the April 6 meeting.
That discussion was held at the March 23 City Council work session and was of interest because there was no new information about the planned mixed-use development presented that was not available for the March 16 meeting.
However, the third time is supposed to be the charm and this $50 million redevelopment project will reportedly be approved at the April 6 meeting.
Whatever happened to the old adage Choose You This Day Whom You Will Serve? #havingitbothways #termlimits #electedcrooks
Could this council be more corrupt? My hand is out. Can I get some free stuff for my non profit? I seriously do not know how they sleep at night.
On a soft, soft bed of tax dollars
Michelle Kennedy shouldn’t even be on Council. Her job is funded by City Council. It is a direct conflict of interest, especially when there are votes on affordable housing, homeless issues, funding the IRC, and so many more issues. She never recuses herself when these topics are discussed or voted on. City employees cannot run for Council and keep their job if elected. How is Michelle Kennedy getting away with this. Seems like a good citizen lawsuit to me. Of course anyone who sues Council will get a nice fat settlement. As always. This Council has no ethics at all. They do as they want. They don’t consider ALL of the citizens. If you are poor in this town you just have to go to Council and ask for what you want. Michelle Kennedy will make sure you get it. That is, after she talks about all of her personal struggles first. Hey Michelle, leave the baby at home next time…,.,
Wait until Zack gets back on council. Then you will have a minimum of 3 who directly are funded by the city. This city is a joke. The council is a joke. Lil NYC.
The baby is a visual aid.
Here we go again- city council providing for a councilwoman with our tax dollars. Part of the give the city money to your friends program! Will the van come with a car seat?
Misappropriation of funds, again? Anyone else discussed with this?
Count me in as disgusted with this type of thing. Remember to vote for ANYONE other than the current council.
Attention nonprofits. City of Greensboro would love to gift you a surplus vehicle. Oh wait, only nonprofits run by current elected officials.
How corrupt and unseemly. Noble causes highjacked by knowitall Mandate Mayor and her cabal.
Now they can drop the panhandlers on each Street corner!
Greensboro has its own “swamp”! Check the IRC Board of Directors and you’ll find ANOTHER councilwoman on it!!
That’s the old “I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine” scenario. The entire council is finding ways to get more cash in their pockets by appointing themselves, or their relatives/friends, to various community groups. And this is the tip of the iceberg.
Another novel idea. Sell any surplus items at auction; put the cash in with the other receipts.