Mike Barber and Trudy Wade propose "enhancing the Citizen Review Board operated by the Human Relations Commission to give it subpoena powers and more access to personnel records."

Hmm, that sounds familiar. Oh, yeah: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission wanted much the same thing, as have others in the past.

So: the Wray fray has united the Council faction that believes the GPD is biased in favor of black people with the activists who believe the GPD is biased against black people.

Mary Rakestraw says she's considering the review board concept. Maybe she should call Nelson Johnson for advice. I'd like to listen in on that conversation.

Press release on the Barber and Wade show after the jump.

CITY OF GREENSBORO
Contact: Denise Turner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 373-3880

City Council Members Hold Press Conference

GREENSBORO, NC -- Jan 16, 2009

At 1 pm today, in a conference room of the Melvin Municipal Office Building, Council Members Mike Barber and Trudy Wade rolled out their top priorities for the City of Greensboro. Council Member Zack Matheny attended and responded to questions at the end of the session. Council Member Mike Barber began the roughly 50 minute media conference by identifying the following categories to be addressed in 2009.

1. Opposing Jordan Lake Rules (dubbed “the $800 million mistake” by Council Member Barber due to the belief of many that much less expensive solutions to this problem exist)

• Barber encouraged citizens to contact Council members with their concerns, using a link to Council on the City’s website home page at www.greensboro-nc.gov. • He indicated that citizen input submitted to Council would be promptly forwarded to the Legislature.

2. Creation of a Civil Service Board

• The board would oversee the Police and possibly Fire Departments and would be modeled after Charlotte’s board.

• It would be made up of interested, qualified citizens.

• Such a board would require authorization by the Legislature and is on the proposed Legislative Agenda which will be considered by Council at this Wednesday’s meeting.

3. Increased collaboration with the County

• Barber and Wade propose greater emphasis on consolidating efforts of Greensboro, Guilford County, and towns within the county.

4. Citizens Review Board

• The two Council members propose enhancing the Citizen Review Board operated by the Human Relations Commission to give it subpoena powers and more access to personnel records.

5. 2009 Budget

• Wade and Barber supported the Mayor’s announcement that we should hold the tax rate at its present rate.

• Proposed setting aside 2 cents of the city’s budget in anticipation of a state budget shortfall. The Council Members also recommended returning any of the unused revenue from the 2 cents to city residents.

• The two Council Members wish to pursue other savings opportunities to ensure that public safety needs are met without a tax increase.

6. North Carolina Marathon

• The two members proposed a resolution offering to sponsor the event in 2010, similar to A&T Homecoming and Wyndham Championship, in order to bring it back to Greensboro from High Point.

7. Customer Service Program

• Wade and Barber proposed utilizing private sector and university support to enhance customer service within the City organization.

8. Legal Matters

• The Legislative Agenda should be approved with the request to authorize the City Attorney to report to the City Council.

• There were approximately 60 active lawsuits against the City as of yesterday at 5 pm.

• Decisions must be made as to which of these lawsuits are settled and which are litigated. 9. Protest Petition

• Both Wade and Barber wish to hear public comment before committing themselves to a vote on including the protest petition in the legislative agenda.

10. More creative ways of communicating with district residents should be considered, with one possibility being the development of customized water service bill inserts featuring district members and activities.

The full video of this media conference can be watched at the City of Greensboro web-site: http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/ (link within the “Jordan Lake” article) and on Channel 13 tonight at 7, Saturday at 7am and 6pm,Sunday at 3pm, and Monday at 12pm and 8pm.

The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body. For more information on the City of Greensboro, please visit us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov. # # #

Comments

[Tony Wilkins]

Expecting to read many comments on this post I was disappointed this morning to see none.
Maybe others were as confused as I was with the comparisons you mention above.

[Ed Cone]

What's the confusion?

Barber, Wade, and possibly Rakestraw now champion a key recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation commission -- one that had gained very little traction in the years it's been sought by black activists.

Politics has a way of creating strange bedfellows. If you can find stranger bedfellows than Rakestraw and Nelson Johnson, send pictures.