The current Greensboro City Council is made up of nine Democrats, and it doesn’t appear that the Democrats are in any danger of losing control of the City Council in the upcoming election, whenever it is held.
The Guilford County Republican Party held a candidates forum for Republican candidates for the Greensboro City Council and only one candidate, Katie Rossabi, who has filed to run in the at-large race, attended. Two candidates who have filed, District 5 City Council candidate Tony Wilkins and District 2 City Council candidate Latoya Gathers, both were unable to attend because of COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. District 3 City Council candidate Zack Matheny had a scheduling conflict.
But even if all four won, the Democrats would still have a five-to-four majority on the City Council. The races are technically nonpartisan, but the political party of the candidates is no secret.
Since she was the only City Council candidate at the forum, Rossabi was given five minutes to speak and then answered questions.
Rossabi said her platform had three major points, and number one was, “We have got to start supporting our police. If we don’t have a safe city, we really won’t have anything else.” She said, “The main reason we ae losing officers is we won’t pay them.”
Rossabi said that in Burlington the starting salary for police officers was $46,000 a year while in Greensboro it was $41,500, and other departments had take-home cars, which is considered a big plus.
Rossabi’s second point was supporting businesses, particularly those downtown, by taking care of the growing homeless population. She said that under the current city policy, homeless people can’t be charged with petty crimes, which gave them free run of the downtown area.
Finally, Rossabi said that she wanted to take a good look at the city budget. She said, “We have a budget of over $600 million and where is all that money going?”
Rossabi noted that the current City Council was “funneling millions of dollars into their own nonprofits with no accountability.”
The at-large City Council race is unusual. If more than six candidates file to run at large then there will be a primary, and the top six finishers will run in the general election. So the candidate that finishes sixth in the primary wins.
In the general election, the top three candidates are elected to the City Council, so a candidate can finish in third place and win, but fourth place is a loser.
You are right. The LEFTS are masters of politics. Is it time to get out of Dodge?
Buh Bye.
Is it city policy not to charge for petty crimes? If so the officers are liable for failure to perform their duty under state statue.
City council shall not dictate state law. I hope this .statement is not true. Looking forward to Election Day for a new council!
Do you want to be the police officer that violates a city council, under the radar policy? Police have discretion. Their discretion often leads officers to not do things that will put a target on their back, especially from the current council who loves to make examples of police. Remember, the police wanted to stop the destruction of downtown in 2020. Your city council would not let them do it.
I believe in upholding the law, not bending over to the city council who does not care about my officers. I do remember downtown and the last 40 years.
I have had associations with downtown for almost 50 years. I also know how the politics of the city council work as well as the police department. No command staff will take the blame or the fall. The little guy will. And for the lowest starting salary in the area and no take home car why bother?
Katie Rossabi makes three important points, no one of which seems high on the current council agenda.
A majority of the current council lack respect or support for the police department, and little interest in its compensation grid. Rossabi wants to change this state of affairs.
Street homeless has grown by leaps and bounds, yet the council has done little that’s visible to address the issue. It’s a problem begging for a solution.
Some council members have become entrenched and appear ready to live out their lives as sitting members while collecting handsome salaries. Nothing good and productive comes from this and the city suffers the consequences. Nothing noteworthy is being done to formulate policies leading to reduced city expenditures and improved revenue performance; instead it’s an annual rubber stamp process by individuals who fail to question, let alone understand city finances or the budget process. Rossabi is right to draw attention to a $600 million budget and propose to inquire and ask questions. She’s a breath of fresh air.
Not sure what her thinking is on homelessness. Is her idea that by charging the homeless with petty crimes, they will be motivated to solve their personal issues and stop being homeless? Or is she just another politician that thinks sweeping the homeless under the rug by moving them out of one area to another solves the problem? Or does she want to spend money to lock them up versus spend money to actually help them overcome the root issues that led them to the street in the first place?
Not sure chrissy But why don’t you share your liberal ideas on how to solve this issue apparently your liberals in a lot of cities don’t have a clue. Just ask slo joe and no idea harris how to solve a border problem looks like they’ve done a great job I’m sure they can give you pointers on Greensboros homelessness
I appreciate you asking Willy!
Increase investment in mental health, drug treatment centers, allow investment in small house communities with centralized assistance for public services that can help people overcome their homelessness.
Total spend on above solutions is cheaper than locking them up repeatedly.
Drug treatment and mental health services are available to those that want to take advantage of them. You know that 65-75% of homeless people have no mental issues that can’t be solved by their own willingness to not be homeless. There’s a large number who choose to be where they are and don’t want help. As far as the tiny homes you speak of are you willing to pay for one a place to put it and forever maintaining it and property taxes not to mention taxes and insurance. Please chris by all means step up to the plate and write a check. Or pick up your one way ticket and be quiet
Chris the know it all. Ha ha haaaaa! Well tell us doofus, what led the homeless. To the streets? I’m sure you know being a bum and all.
What chris no response
Thanks again for ask Willy.
There are a great deal of reasons why someone finds themselves homeless. Poverty is the most common, then sudden job loss with no financial reserve or family support group, lack of affordable housing, personal crisis, etc…
Let me know if you have any other question. Here to help!
“Taking care of the homeless population” can mean many things. Knowing previous Republic policies, funneling them into for-profit prisons or sentencing them to “work camps” where companies can leech their labor comes to mind. Certainly, paying a living minimum wage, encouraging worker co-ops, telecommuting and union organization might ease the problem. Ms. Rossabi might be interested to know that 70% of the unhoused work at least one job, and many work two or more. A city owned and maintained village of tiny houses near major bus lines and shopping are required to solve the problem long-term. UNCG owns more than enough blighted property around Gate City Blvd to house the entire county’s homeless population many times over.
HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A CRIME. IT IS A FAILURE OF CIVIL SOCIETY. Only bullies and cowards ostracize and punish the poor and disenfranchised.
Which republic are you referring to and where are these “work camps” you speak of
Who would pay for and forever maintain these villages of tiny houses. If you want socialism and be taken care of from cradle to grave why not move to Russia or China and all your problems will be solved
Offset by not paying to keep them in prison. You currently pay $40k to $50K per year per inmate. Then you let them to just be put right back in… For non-violent offenders there are better solutions…that cost less.
Look up the program Arnold Schwarzenegger help purchase 21 tiny homes for homeless vets.
Shock !
Horror !
I agree with Chris.
Not sure where you get your numbers but 70-85k a year is closer to real cost but that was not the discussion. As I said before if you feel that strongly about it write a check and build your tiny house
And where does the offset you speak of come from There’s not a state or federal agency that ever gets their budget cut or gives money back and what do you consider a non violent offender maybe Bernie Madoff who ruined thousands of lives you’re right he should not have been in prison more like a firing squad
We need to support her!