I got this in an email from a city email account. Jean Clodfelter of the gpd sent this email out last night to a whole bunch of people. After she realized what she had sent, she recalled it and offered an apology.
An e-mail was sent from my address this morning in error. I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone who received it. Please excuse my human mistake and forgive me. Hope you have a great day.
I am sure God will forgive Jean but we aint in church and city employees need to keep their political jokes on their personal computers and not the city's. I hope the city makes a statement regarding this. The material jean sent out is below.
The New GM (Government Motors) Proudly Introduces
The 2010 Obama
This car runs on hot air and broken promises. It has three wheels that speed the vehicle through tight left turns.It comes complete with two TelePrompters programmed to help the occupants talk their way out of any violations. The transparent canopy reveals the plastic smiles still on the faces of all the happy owners.
Comes in S, M, L, XL and 2XL
It won't get you to work, but hey, there aren't any jobs anyway!
Who would have thought this would become an issue for the city council elections? I certainly never thought that this would get as much attention as it has. I need to clear some things up and get a few things off of my chest regarding my involvement with the benches. First of all, please read the below email composed my Mr. Wilson (City Staff) and I. Mr. Wilsons' text is italicized.
I am writing this email (public record) to Chris Wilson who works in the Parks and Rec Department so a complete and honest history of the events that caused the removal of the 5 chairs that were placed on the Greenway facing Bilbro Street can be made available to the public.
Chris, please verify my account of what happened on Bilbro Street.
I met with Mrs. Luther in late August as well as several residents that live on Bilbro Street. On September 1, I made a presentation at the city council meeting that included three separate topics. One of those topics was about the removal of the five seats on the Greenway. When I first went to this location in late August, the area was trashy (bottles, clothes, food boxes were littered around the seats. The grass needed to be mowed desperately and there was two brush piles that needed attention. There was also a cable wire carelessly left dangling on the fences of the neighbors well kept yards. The very next morning, you sent a crew out and cleaned up the trash I had reported.Confirmed, the presentations to council should be on file. We did send a crew out to clean the area up. We spoke to Greensboro College about the brush and other areas that needed mowed.
I went back to Bilbro Street and knocked on every door that had a back yard facing the Greenway. Nobody I talked to spoke favorably about the benches and many were eager to sign a petition requesting the removal. I went back to council at the Sept 15 meeting and presented a petition to remove the benches. I also urged the council to call a special meeting with everyone involved immediately so the issue of the loitering and crime in the area could be addressed once and for all. I strongly suggested this meeting. You did meet with the neighbors and had a petition (I have a copy). You did request a meeting to discuss all the issues in the area.
A few days later, you called me and were working on getting a meeting together. Around the same time, Skip Alston and City Council Candidate Darren Sellars began visiting Bilbro Street residents and heard what I had been hearing. Mr. Alston went to Action Greensboro and was met there by several city staff members. Alston demanded the benches removal and reported that he would organize a protest at the office of Action Greensboro if the removal was not done. Alston met again with residents and the next day the benches were removed. I was told by Andy Scott that the majority of the council decided to have the benches removed because of the meeting with Alston and the Warnersville residents. I told you that it was silly to move the one public art bench and leave the others. I also immediately inquired about the camera and the future plan. You reported that it was too soon to tell. I did begin working on a meeting to involve all interest parties. I was requested to attend an onsite meeting with Skip Alston and Darren Sellars. Mr. Alston did request the removal of the benches and called an additional meeting with the neighborhood for that evening.
As you well know, I always wanted the benches removed from the previous location. You also know that while speaking with residents, I always focused on getting the grass cut, the brush piles removed and the cable wires covered. Thanks to a lot of communicating and networking between us, those things were done. I also hope you remember what I said during the meeting we had with the residents at the bench. I asked all of them about simply sliding the 5 seats down the Greenway and removing the other non public art benches. The residents were cold to that idea and I told you in private repeatedly that the quicker we could get the area cleaned up the quicker the residents would agree to simply slide the bench down so it would not present such a clear view of peoples' back yards. I also told you and the residents that I would work toward whatever goal they wanted. I never heard anyone that lived in Warnersville say they wanted the benches. I was waiting on the date of the meeting between all of the concerned people when I heard Mr. Alston was getting involved. The benches were removed soon after Alston met with Action Greensboro and City staff. The second meeting Alston had was held in Warnersville and Andy Scott was present. It was the concerns from that meeting that lead to a majority of council requesting the removal of the benches. Has the meeting I suggested been scheduled? You did indicate these things to me.It is my understanding that there was a council consensus to move the art benches temporarily. I have not scheduled a date for the meeting but it looks like it will be November before we can have it.
I am happy to get this account and want to point out that certain people are reporting things that are not true. For example, Brian Higgins wrote some things he called "facts" over at Ed Cone's blog. I would like for you to read them below.
"And, Let's not forget these facts: 1 city council candidate listened to one person's story about alleged acts on the benches. Before talking to the whole neighborhood, he took the opportunity to try to score points against the incumbent by starting a petition signed by a whopping 17 people asking City Council to remove the benches. Then he doubles back later and says moving the benches won't even solve the problem. So, again, why were the benches removed? And is anyone else curious about how City Council can order their removal without holding a vote?
When they are re-installed, I think a sixth seat should be added with the word: irony."
I am not sure why Higgins wants to talk shit and spread things that are less than truthful. I spoke to several people and got a petition together. I then worked to get everyone to the table to discuss the problems the area was having. Now, my knocking on doors and making presentations to city council may not be as cool as sitting on a rock or chaining myself to a bench to get arrested, but it is what I prefer.
Higgins totally fails to mention Skip Alstons' and Darren Sellars' involvement. I am not so sure he knows what he speaks of. Higgins also suggested that the bench gets a sixth chair added with the word irony. I would like to report that a better word would be: planned.
"Once everything is planted and cold weather begins, the city should propose placing one bench and one camera along the Bilbro Street portion of the Greenway. This bench could be placed farther away from the corner of Lee and Eugene and closer to the Greensboro College portion. They never really had a need for the amount of benches they placed along the back side of Bilbro Street and I think placing one bench and one camera is the way to go for now.
However, the city needs to finally address the issues in the area that seem to float around Urban Ministry and Health Serve. That camera may better serve the area if it's pointed to the corner of Lee and Eugene. McDonald' s could not even survive on that corner and neither could the chicken place. The city needs to come up with a strategic plan to reduce the loitering and the criminal infestation immediately. There also should be serious debate about starting the West Lee Street/High Point Road Corridor in this area. I think it is an area that desperately needs a face lift."
I have always tried to get all parties involved in this to agree on a plan. I was working on getting the Greenway cleaned up and the public art moved down the Greenway away from the direct view of peoples' backyards. I am looking forward to attending the upcoming November meeting with everyone involved to work to find ways to fix the issues that plague the area. As I suggested in early September before the bench was moved, I want the bench to come back to the Greenway. I just don't want it to be in the same place. I have no regrets about anything that I did regarding the benches. As a matter of fact, I was the catalyst for a conversation that obviously needed to happen.
This past weekend, Greensboro Police reported a robbery that took place at 3010 Sands Drive in Greensboro NC. The location is home to the Copa Rocka night club and it has a very interesting past. The original operators of Copa Rocka previously operated the La Frontera night club which was located at 2010 East Cone Blvd. La Frontera was an adult business operating in an area not zoned for adult business.
According to city documents, La Frontera employees made pornographic movies in a Motor Home that was parked behind the business as well. The owners of La Frontera agreed to close their business at 2010 E. Cone Blvd. and move across the street to 3010 Sands Drive. They also changed the name of their business to Copa Rocka. La frontera was first investigated by the GPD, zoning enforcement and the business license office in early 2004. They were given notice of violation regarding operating a strip club and making pornographic movies in a back parking lot trailer while not zoned for a sexually oriented business. That penalty is $500 per day. La Frontera operated 1 year in violation without penalty.
Because of their shady past and extensive history of operating outside of zoning laws, the city went to great lengths to help the owners understand that Copa Rocka was unable to operate as a sexually oriented business. Enjoy reading that discussion below.
On July 7, 2005 it was made clear what kind of business could be operated at the 3010 Sands Drive location. Less than a month later, city officials reported seeing employees at Copa Rocka violating the detailed agreement. The owners were reminded what their requirements were and the city sent two inspectors out to Sands Drive on October 14, 2005 to check on the club. The inspectors, Chris Payne and Barry Levine, reported in an e mail that the club had removed the doors from the private dance rooms and had hung beads to cover the private area entrance. They also reported that the club had removed all of the private dancing signs.
The city has no record of any further inspections but their is documentation of a complaint in the April 5, 2006 SCORE CORE Meeting Minutes. In the minutes there is talk of a new club on Sands Drive called Copa Rocka. The notes revealed complaints of lap dancing and city staff reported the club was being "looked into." 4 years later, the city reports there has been no inspection since October of 2005?
Today, the business permit for Copa Rocka shows different owners but the club is still not zoned for an adult business. So, what kind of business is Copa Rocka these days? Check out the pictures from Copa Rocka and take a guess.
I follow human trafficking cases in NC closely and have started public awareness campaigns in Winston-Salem and Greensboro. This week, the Greensboro Public library will begin creating human trafficking information packages for their branches. This is part of the public awareness campaign I started.
The Charlotte Police Officer in the above video says human trafficking in Charlotte is unusual. He stated that they hear of cases in Texas and California but not in Charlotte. I was surprised he said that because human trafficking in Charlotte has been a hot topic for some time now. As a matter of fact, just this month ICE Agents have set up a human trafficking task force in Charlotte. In addition, Jorge Flores was convicted of human trafficking in April. He operated a sex ring and forced teenage girls to work for him. The Charlotte Observer had a story on this human trafficking case this past Sunday.
"In November 2007, court documents say, he 'sold' at least two teenagers from Mexico to Yaneth Martinez, a D.C. madam, who advertised her services with cards offering 'Hair Cuts for Men Only.'"
Flores ran his operation by trading teenagers with other sex ring operators and smuggling others.
"Federal agents say Flores, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, picked up vans full of eight to 10 young women each week outside the McDonald's on West Sugar Creek Road near Interstate 85, where other traffickers had brought them. Others, he smuggled in directly from Latin America."
During the April 6, 2009 trial it was reported that Flores trafficked a 16-year-old Honduran female, who entered the United States illegally, between Washington, DC, and Charlotte, NC, and forced her to work in his sex ring. Flores used physical and mental abuse in order to force his victims to perform sex acts for money. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Flores picked up his trafficking victims in a manner very similar to the human trafficking ring that was uncovered this Monday. The locations the trafficking rings used to pick up and trade victims are less than 20 miles apart. The most recent case was discovered when a Charlotte 911 dispatcher received a call reporting a kidnapping. Allegedly, the caller was waiting to pick up a person that was in the van. There obviously was an issue with the drop off and the passenger was not allowed to get out of the van. The crime of human trafficking is not new in Charlotte or NC.
At a Greensboro City Council briefing held this summer, I was given the opportunity to present information about NC human trafficking. At that briefing, Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy reported that the GPD had already assigned a detective to work with the Guilford County Sheriff's Departments' human trafficking task force. Bellamy reported that Pitt County NC had partnered with the Guilford County Sheriff's Department to form the NC Human Trafficking Task Force. I was surprised to hear this because I was under the impression that the GCSD had not officially partnered with Pitt County and only discussions were taking place. After communicating with the GCSD yesterday, I learned that nothing has been agreed upon and the GCSD has not officially joined Pitt County to form the NC Human Trafficking Task Force.
I got 146 votes. I am thankful for all of them. Nothing has changed here and I have no plans of going anywhere anytime soon. Many good things came from my attempt at running for city council. I will continue to be the Troublemaker.
During the last city council meeting there was a closed session. During that closed session the council requested the personnel files of Chief Ron Rogers (left), Captain Cherry and Captain Phipps because the council has heard of the alleged sex scandal that is currently ripping through the department.
The scandal was first reported on this blog (of course) in the comments section. Allegedly, Corporal Steve Evans (pictured right N&R photo) resigned from the GPD because of his sexual involvement with a subordinate. Read the first comments on the issue below.
Anonymous said...
I am somewhat surprised that no mention has been made of the fate of yet another one of the 40 officers wanting to sue. Steve Evans? He was on the list the last time I looked. Was promoted to Cpl and put over the police academy by the Chief or Assistant Chief,,,while he was under discipline for shit-canning cases in the youth division...Ya' think they would do such a favor for a white officer?
And then he goes on to dick, or certainly try to dick, a female recruit. What a Dumb Ass!!! Can't keep his dick in his pants!!
As long as you play golf with GPD Chief, you ok. Ask Wallace(fingerman), Hinson, Fulmore, and now Steve EVANS, the naked man in the pictures. You did not say the truth, during your 1rstinteview, but Bellamy got your naked ass! Stop screwing young police women in the academy Steve!Wow, the Black Maffia is strong, ain't that right Chief Rogers?
Anonymous said... So what's up with Steve Evans. Ben, I can't believe you haven't picked up on one of the "black mafia" members being canned along with the black female officer he drug down with him. I think your readers would like to see what you can find out about this. Did GPD actually do something right? Tuesday, July 21, 2009 2:28:00 PM Anonymous said...
Anonymous said... I heard that the recruit Steve was banging was servicing several other people in the department (except for her husband who is also a police officer). I guess she can say it was career advancement training. What's going to happen to her? Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:57:00 PM
Anonymous said... GPD needs to do what is right! Did LaTania Marrow fall victim to a veteran officer or is she trying to rip the department apart like Sherry Ryan by screwing every Tony, Eddie, and... Steve? How can she be a good cop if she is in the back of a patrol car with Steve instead of keeping the citizens of Greensboro safe?
La Tania Marrow is a graduate of the 88th recruiting class of the Greensboro Police Department. At that graduating ceremony, former City Manger Mitch Johnson told the class, "You’re joining a great family. They will take care of you and make sure you take care of them.” Mitch's speech focused on family and friends and how they create a foundation for the new officers. Mitch emphasized that the new class was joining a family that involved love, respect, protection and honoring its name and history.
La Tania Marrow was allegedly involved in a sex scandal with her Corporal Steve Evans. Their relationship is rumored to have cost Evans his job. However, when Marrow was called by Internal Affairs and questioned about her relationship with Evans, she reportedly gave up three high ranking officers in the GPD for also being involved in a sexual relationship. There has been no further discipline against any of the officers involved and the whole thing stinks of a cover up.
Now the council has caught wind of the scandal and they want answers. However, what the council needs to realize is it is not what is in the officers personnel file that will tell the story. It is what is not in their personnel files that should cause concern.
Allegedly, several high ranking officers have been involved in a sexual relationship with a subordinate officer. That is a no no. However, what really makes this story sick is the high ranking officers allegedly involved were having a sexual relationship with a police officer that is married to one of their fellow Greensboro Police Officers. The family Mitch talked about at Marrow's graduation obviously has some serious disregard for family.
You would think that the Shannon Crawley case would have scared any and all officers away from screwing around with each other. Sadly, it appears that nobody learned anything from that. Not even an assistant chief. I asked Chief Tim Bellamy about the scandal recently and he laughed and said it was all just rumors. Now, the council wants to see if that is true. I will suggest to council members to call on Captain Jane Allen for a yes or no question session. Allen will not lie nor will she cover for the officers involved. The council needs to take these allegations seriously and fight to get to the truth. Once the truth is obtained, heads need to roll. It is time to stop the double standard and start operating the GPD with honesty and integrity. If they will do this to protect themselves, I can only imagine what they would do to an ordinary citizen.
Over at Ed Cone's there is a discussion about the Greenway benches. Brian Higgins asked me the following question in the comment section.
Brian wrote:
"Really Ben?...why can't the problem get solved? Especially when there has been no effort to get everyone at the table to try and solve the problem. So, if moving the benches doesn't solve the problem, remind me why we moved them.
Brian is talking about my comment that was played on the Fox 8 story. First of all, Chris Weaver and Bill Buckley both can report that I had no idea they were filming me at the time they were filming me. I was there to see a resident not Fox 8 and had no idea they would be there. I talked to Buckley and they filmed me. While speaking with Buckley, TDBS called and he talked to her for several minutes. After his conversation he asked me if they could use my comments. I said, "What comments?" He told me they filmed me talking to Buckley. I told both of them that they could use what I said but I would rather be interviewed. They both said something like, "Oh, you'll be fine. You did great." I left and didn't think anything else about it.
I saw tonight's story and man did they do some chopping! After they got me saying the problem can't be solved, they did not put in that I was all for getting everyone together because the problem can't be solved easily. To answer Brian's first question, I think it can be solved. But it won't be easy.
Brian claims that there has been " no effort to get everyone at the table to try and solve the problem." I disagree. I have tried repeatedly to get people together. Watch the video below.
I was told after this presentation by Chris Wilson (City Staff) that they were working on getting everyone together. Brian is wrong to say there was no effort to get folks to the table. I tried more than anyone. I also said moving the benches would NOT solve the problem. Guess what? Keeping them there won't solve it either. Guess what else? Taking the benches away does not cause the Greenway to explode. Brian can still ride his bike on the path.
For the people who have been following this close know what really happened. While I was working to find a solution to this problem (many know I said to simply slide the public art bench down the Greenway) Skip Alston went to Action Greensboro and told them move the benches or there would be an NAACP protest. There was a meeting that followed at Warnersville and on Thursday night I was told by Andy Scott (City Staff) that the COUNCIL voted to move the benches. Brian, I was always for the residents and I was always for the Greenway. I don't like people to feel ignored and that is why I fought along side of the residents. If you would call me or take me up on one of my invites to my house, you would have been better informed. After all, we are neighbors.
Brian is talking about my comment that was played on the Fox 8 story. First of all, Chris Weaver and Bill Buckley both can report that I had no idea they were filming me at the time they were filming me. I was there to see a resident not Fox 8 and had no idea they would be there. I talked to Buckley and they filmed me. While speaking with Buckley, TDBS called and he talked to her for several minutes. After his conversation he asked me if they could use my comments. I said, "What comments?" He told me they filmed me talking to Buckley. I told both of them that they could use what I said but I would rather be interviewed. They both said something like, "Oh, you'll be fine. You did great." I left and didn't think anything else about it.
I saw tonight's story and man did they do some chopping! After they got me saying the problem can't be solved, they did not put in that I was all for getting everyone together because the problem can't be solved easily. To answer Brian's first question, I think it can be solved. But it won't be easy.
Brian claims that there has been " no effort to get everyone at the table to try and solve the problem." I disagree. I have tried repeatedly to get people together. Watch the video below.
I was told after this presentation by Chris Wilson (City Staff) that they were working on getting everyone together. Brian is wrong to say there was no effort to get folks to the table. I tried more than anyone. I also said moving the benches would NOT solve the problem. Guess what? Keeping them there won't solve it either. Guess what else? Taking the benches away does not cause the Greenway to explode. Brian can still ride his bike on the path.
For the people who have been following this close know what really happened. While I was working to find a solution to this problem (many know I said to simply slide the public art bench down the Greenway) Skip Alston went to Action Greensboro and told them move the benches or there would be an NAACP protest. There was a meeting that followed at Warnersville and on Thursday night I was told by Andy Scott (City Staff) that the COUNCIL voted to move the benches. Brian, I was always for the residents and I was always for the Greenway. I don't like people to feel ignored and that is why I fought along side of the residents. If you would call me or take me up on one of my invites to my house, you would have been better informed. After all, we are neighbors.