A lot of people were caught by surprise when the agenda for the Guilford County Board of Commissioners retreat this week included a large gift of taxpayer money to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.
But one Republican state lawmaker was quick to weigh in with his support. NC Rep. Jon Hardister sent out a statement endorsing the proposed funding for the Civil Rights Museum and announcing that state funding for the museum may also be in the works.
On Friday, March 18, the county commissioners are scheduled to approve $2 million in county money to fund the museum.
Hardister’s statement reads, “I recently learned that the Board of Commissions plans to consider providing assistance for the expansion of the International Civil Rights Museum. This expansion will involve the acquisition of property adjacent to the museum. I believe this would be a great investment for Guilford County. Assisting the museum in expanding will benefit not only Guilford County, but North Carolina as a whole.”
Hardister went on to state that the money would allow for an expansion that would enhance museum operations and attract more national and international visitors to the site that’s famous for the start of the national Sit-in Movement in 1960.
Hardister added that the expansion would mean that more events will be held at the museum.
While the move to give more money to the museum comes as a surprise to many, according to Hardister, there have been conversations taking place among state lawmakers regarding getting more money to the museum.
“Greensboro has a rich history in the Civil Rights movement, and supporting this museum is a great way to honor and preserve that history,” Hardister’s statement continued, “There have been conversations in the General Assembly about the possibility of the State of North Carolina providing assistance in this effort. I will continue to support this effort and discuss it with my colleagues in the legislature.”
The sit-in occurred at Woolworths, and that’s the only relevant real estate the Museum needs.
Good for you to pander to the folks, after all it isn’t your money which could be used in a 100 different ways other than more money to the museum. You made your choice , which helped me make mine.
Another politician looking for votes.
Perhaps with County and State “GIFTS” we could get some more accountability and public disclosure.
The museum where Kamala Harris brought her crocodile tears but didn’t include Clarence Henderson .. because he’s a Republican
Maybe Hardister shouild stick to showing his golf swings
Smacks of pandering.
You lost my vote! If you cannot see the “special interest” with this project them you too may possibly have a problem with what the people want! Do you represent our constituents?
Accountability, openness, honesty and representation of your constituents is what we the people expect!
I look forward to your public response.
Let me see . . . . . .Hardister votes to give more money for Skip and Earl, and then in return they will support him in his run for re-election. See how this works?
I bet they wouldn’t vote for him anyway. But they’ll take the cash!
Who’s campaigning against Harrister? They just gained a vote. Hope they’re Libertarian.
Jon, before you support this, please look into accountability, look into the number of “real visitors”, spend a couple days counting the visitors, this building has very little activity. It has been a money pit since day 1, it is a private enterprise, let the owners pay the bills, not the taxpayers, by the way, how much of your own money have your donated to this since it’s startup? This gesture does look like you are buying votes, 2 million dollars could be used to help so many disadvantaged families.
Civil Rights Museum…more wasted money from taxpayers…more wasted money to Skip and Earl…when will this madness ever stop??? Hardister will do anything to get votes…good ole boy network at work as usual!
Pleasant garden community center could use 2 million right now.
Before anymore tax payer money is “given” to this entity, there needs to be a full accounting and disclosure of where the money goes, who gets it and how it has been spent to enhance the facility. Also, lets take the total amount of money that the museum takes in as admission and divide that by the the number of paying visitors, (not the school children). If the calculation indicates that the museum cannot be self-supportive, then close it. This has been nothing but a toilet for flushing taxpayer monies from the start. If they need extra money, then raise it from donations, not from my pocketbook.
Hardister just lost a lot of votes. He has spoken like a true politician. You can rest assured he won’t get Alston’s vote in spite of this. Hardister is a republican. Alston? Well, I won’t say what he is but he is surely not a republican.
Mr Hardister there are 7 registered voters in my family. You just lost those votes 5 of the 7 are on Facebook and guess what after this article I’m pretty sure you’ll be losing a few thousand more before they are through. Enjoy the ride.
Hardister, how about you propose a motion to congress that politicians not be allowed to spend ANY non essential money without putting on the next electoral ballot. It’s not an emergency so it can wait. Go ahead and add that candidates need to publicly choose to endorse the spending of that money or to oppose it beforehand. That way we know who wants to spend our money on what and can vote accordingly before the money gets spent.
In the meantime, I’ll add another RINO to the vote them out list.
It’s like stomping on a dead squirrel.
Good thing I wasn’t voting for him before, but this explains why he doesn’t deserve any conservative votes. He is a politician, not a conservative.