The tension level between Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston and County Manager Mike Halford rose to a high level at a recent work session of the board – so much so that it made county staff and other commissioners in the room noticeably uncomfortable.
The rare – in fact, unprecedented – public confrontation between the two happened during a work session in the third-floor conference room of the county-owned Truist Bank building in downtown Greensboro.
Alston has made opening a homeless shelter before the weather turns cold this year a priority, but Halford told Alston at the meeting that logistical and zoning issues would mean the building wouldn’t be ready until well into next year.
Alston said it was “unacceptable” that the building looked ready, a service provider was in place and the funds were available, yet it could not be open in time for winter.
“We’re looking at life and death – at people dying,” Alston said to Halford. “How many people might die this winter that could have been saved if we were to have this facility ready and available for them to go into a detox, or so they can go get medical attention for an illness.”
Alston added that there were even homeless pregnant women and children who could suffer.
“We can do this if we make this a priority,“ Alston said.
“So, we hear you,” Halford responded, which is when things got more tense. “I need to be clear about this. I don’t want people to die, and any insinuation that I do needs to stop.”
Halford added, “We are working like crazy to get this done. So, I think we all agree – that there’s nobody in here that wants somebody to die.”
Halford said that, if Alston didn’t trust that he was making the effort and the correct moves, “then we do need to have another discussion.”
Halford pointed out that the county had several other existing programs that had added more beds for the homeless.
“So, I understand your frustration,” Halford said, “but I think we ought to celebrate the addition of 117 beds this year versus last year.”
Halford said he didn’t want anyone “confusing” real logistical hurdles with him “not prioritizing or not caring about somebody dying.”
When Halford finished, a terse Alston replied.
“OK, number one, you don’t make the decision – we make the decision, correct? So, it’s not about you, OK? It’s about this board and what we want to do, OK? I didn’t say, ‘Michael wants people to die,’ OK? This board – we are making the decision and we will tell you all what we want to do. It’s not about you making the decision. It’s about us making the decision, OK? So, I’m talking to the board.”
Halford said at the end of the work session that pushing the project any faster would likely require delays on other projects that the board also considers priorities.
After the meeting Alston said there was no deep rift between himself and Halford, but that he, Alston, felt very strongly about this issue since it was a life or death matter.
“Exacerbated”? Try again.
Oh BS. Skippy didn’t get the answer he wanted. They will kiss and make up…and your taxes will go up…again.
The king (Alston) says boo, and everyone jumps. Problem is, Alston is clueless about the process for getting things accomplished. . . .a good many people fear his anger, but they also don’t respect him either. The king wears no clothes.
This is so sad because what he’s saying is the truth! The problem is that none of these people have been homeless or hungry, if they would walk in the shoes of a homeless person then maybe they would understand! also, when are people going to realize that no one wakes up and say that they are wanting to be homeless, things happened in their lives that caused them to be homeless. All the comments are directed at Skip directly and personally instead of looking at his heart and what he’s trying to do. This can happen to anyone so instead of trying to attack him y’all should be trying to do whatever to help with this process, because y’all may never know that one day y’all just might need a bed there! Homeless lives are human lives! I’ve been fighting with the county commissions in Davidson County, and they had their homeless people put out of the woods and refusing to use the funds from ARA-Covid that was meant for the homeless and they are just watching them suffer! A homeless man hung himself because he was helpless and hopeless over there. There is a man living with AIDS that living in an abandoned building with mold, mildew, and God knows what else! There are over 200 kids in the school system thats homeless but they don’t care! So to have someone to care and trying to do something about it, yeah I will speak up for him on any given day because he’s doing what’s right and what God want us to do! So y’all need to take a seat and shut up because I don’t see y’all doing nothing but running your mouths!
Good comment Cheryl, but when charity is coerced through the power the government wields over us, it’s no longer charity.
And Skip’s acerbic lambasting of his employee only displays his arrogance and predilection for portraying himself as the one who “cares” more than others.
A combination of nastiness and grandstanding, in other words.
Skips heart is where his money is. Why not ask Skip why for the first 15 plus years on the county board he never uttered a word about homeless people even though they have lived for years across the street from him at Oka Hester park. They still do, right behind Food Lion but Skip drives out of his gated compound in his 100 k vette and never looks either way. He’s such a piece of donkey dung. Call and ask Skip the hard questions Crystal
And it’s all about what Skippy wants, kiss the ring or suffer my wrath.
Do as King Skippy says do, by God
The joke is this… although this is no laughing matter… we’re a month or so away from winter and just now having this discussion period… Who was really concerned with the homeless being housed before freezing to death??? Y’all LOVE playingind games, don’t you??? Every year we know winter is coming… Then we yell fire when the building is already burning to the ground… carry on, folks…
“OK, number one, you don’t make the decision – we make the decision, correct? So, it’s not about you, OK? It’s about this board and what we want to do, OK?”
Isn’t Skip just a joy to work with? Newsflash to Skip: The board hired Halford to act as the county manager. Managers DO make decisions. Unlike Skip, they don’t much make speeches or pose for the cameras.
Just like Black Lives Matters, People that’s Homeless Lives Matters.
Amen! Homeless lives are Human lives! When will the people on here will understand this!
Skip needs to remember he works for “US” the citizens of Guilford County. If skippy is that worried then he should open his home up to the homeless. He could put up modular homes on his enclosed property, port-a-potties and donate food from his hotdog stand to assist these citizens of Guilford county thru the winter OR open the doors to the civil rights museum in downtown Greensboro. Of course he could charge admission to the homeless?
Glenn I hope and pray to God that you own everything that you have, and still you can’t put that in stone! Let me ask you a question what have you done for the homeless? how many of them have you rode by and didn’t speak or offer them a bottle of water? How sure were you that the homeless person you passed wasn’t Jesus? According to the Bible, he walks the earth! So the next time that you are in need how are you going to pray to God for help when you don’t won’t to offer any help now to those who may need it? Remember life is a two way street!
Skip why don’t you leave your alston Mar La Go and go sleep under a bridge. Until a year or so ago you personally could have given a rats a$$ about homeless people. You are such a typical political hypocrite
Is it just me, or did Skip seem to be the abrasive and argumentative one? His asperity and vehemence seem inappropriate, and Halford seemed more reasonable.
And Scott, I don’t think Skip became exacerbated. Agitated maybe, but not exacerbated.
Will somebody please check if there is a relationship between Skip and the service provider?
Ever worked for a boss who shouts orders and demands results for projects that are almost impossible to accomplish due to lack of resources, time, or mixed priorities? Alston is so typical of a boss who barks orders without having the slightest idea of what it takes to complete a job. Alston is a frustrated bully in every sense of the word.
Wannabe king skip, the emperor with no clothes shows his true color (pun intended) when he doesn’t get his way. Gosh skip, maybe you should have gotten a black contractor to handle this project like YOU, not the board did on the jail project. You acted like a 5 year old who didn’t get the pony ride they wanted. Where’s Billy Yow when we need him
Billy Yow is at home in the bed where he needs to stay! And Mr. Rebel do blacks do show up to vote to keep Alston in instead of Billy Yow!!! We are making sure that the blacks voices are being heard!
Thanks for the Mr. I’m not a Mr. neither was my father or grandfather but my great grandfather was but he lived in the Big House. A story for another time. Have a great day
Still recovering from that face shot
59 today City and counting
Just like Black Lives Matters, People that’s Homeless Lives Matters.
Skip sounds like a “dark” Donald Trump. Remember skip KARMA is a bitch and it’s coming
This is the true sounds and color of racism. We are all learning what racist really is about. Respect works both ways.
Lots of comments on this one. How about we bring back dueling?