The Greensboro City Council work session on Thursday, Feb. 17 began as most do, with At-large City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson as the only member of the council in the Plaza Level Conference Room.
However, at this meeting, Johnson also presided because, as she explained, Mayor Nancy Vaughan is on vacation.
Johnson is known for starting meetings on time and also for her off the cuff remarks. City Councilmembers Hugh Holston and Zack Matheny both arrived late and were not present when Johnson called the roll. Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann participated via Zoom. When Johnson finished calling the roll she said, “See, that’s what you get when you have men. They just don’t show up.”
The meeting began with “The Manager’s Minute,” which even though the City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba was in the room, was a video presentation by Jaiyeoba explaining what the GSO2040 Comprehensive Plan is and why it is important.
The Greensboro City Council began working on GSO2040 in 2018, five years ago. The City Council was an active participant in developing the plan and made some major adjustments to the original plan presented by the Greensboro Planning Department before finally passing what GSO2040 Comprehensive Plan. The only members of the current City Council who weren’t on the council in 2018 are Holston and Matheny.
It is difficult to imagine that anyone on the City Council doesn’t know what a comprehensive plan is or why city staff considers them important.
Jaiyeoba then explained to the City Council why the priorities that the City Council debated and approved at the 2023 council retreat were better than the priorities the City Council approved at the 2021 retreat before Jaiyeoba became city manager.
Jaiyeoba said, “I don’t want anyone to think that we threw away the priorities of 2021-2022, but they evolved into what you just discussed on Feb. 2 and 3, and should make them more aspirational and more forward thinking, more forward looking – for example, public safety talks about becoming the safest city not just about police and fire, while that’s important, but is also becomes the human issue that members of the LBGTQ community feel safe in our city.”
My Lord! How’s that for an insincere word salad?
He’s such a “ salad speaking “wanna be city manager. He was about to e fired in Charlotte but he was hired by our liberal woke socialist council. Greensboro gets what it deserves
“What we have here is a whole lot of nuthin”.
BS and another SNAFU.
Yvonne Johnson and Tai Jaiyeoba are both Democrats, but I trust Yvonne even with her flippant throw away remarks. She’s “what you see is what you get” honest.
But I don’t trust the African Marxist one inch. His agenda is in his head, and he’s not letting it out.
He needs to be fired – like he nearly was in Charlotte.
I think we should just call you the British Fascist to align with your unfair labeling of your city manager.
What’s wrong with the “labeling” as you call it I think his remarks were spot on.
Right, Aussie.
Lyin’ Chris “labels” us as “nutters”, “bigots” and “redenecks” all the time.
He is from Africa, and he is a Marxist.
It’s a shame Lyin’ Chris can’t handle the truth. Or speak it.
WAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
The goals still aren’t measurable therefore they are not actual goals. Does anyone up there actually know how to form goals? It’s an easy lesson. Just how do you measure that Greensboro is the best midsize city in the Country.
Flippant sexist remarks from a grifter. Pretty much sums it up. Kabuki theater anyone. Nonsense presented in a warm fuzzy manner but the real goal is tax and spend as fast as possible.
When will government and people in general learn that it is impossible to achieve goals for every single individual? There will always be someone who whines about being left out, being discriminated against. If someone is harmed regardless of their race, sexual preference or anyone belonging to the LBGTQ community, the perpetrator of the harm should be identified and punished, if found guilty. The word inclusive is impossible to achieve in practice. There is no way in hades everyone can be included. How can the goal of “members of the LBGTQ community feel safe in our city” be achieved? How does the city manager plan on achieving this goal? Should not the goal be for all people to feel safe? The manager’s mindset has permeated all walks of society. It is reflected in “everyone gets a trophy (inclusive)” regardless of the consequences.
Why isn’t the safety of all Greensboro citizens of importance and the causes of unsafe city residents solved? NO one should have to feel or be unsafe in his and her community! There are many actions that must be done-not just talking. I applaud you for making mental health choices for those who need them. Also, for keeping Killers and all criminals locked up, treated, and only released when ready. Stop coddling criminals; like all of us they know right from wrong. Give people preparation for a meaningful life and job and we will see little crime-if the drugged and alcoholics, are also in treatment until they become sober. Make this a victimless community!
I have never met the city manager. Have heard that he is a smooth talking, affable individual. You know, the kind of person who can work a room. From my life experience, this behavior is usually a coverup for incompetence.
How about increasing the salaries of police officers? The city is anti-police and hates to increase salaries for new recruits. Protective Service Social Workers for Guilford County start at 48,000. And even the small town of Oxford starts officers at 47,000. The citizens of Greensboro need to wake up and march on city hall to pay the officers what they deserve!
Gosh, if those numbers are correct the public sector employees are really overpaid.
AND they get costly – to us taxpayers – health plans and obscenely generous retirement arrangements.
Screw ’em.